REGISTRATION AND ACCESS CONTROL IN FEMTO CELL DEPLOYMENTS

• US 20090305699A1
• Filed: 06/04/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Agashe, Parag A., Deshpande, Manoj M., Song, Osok, Chen, Jen M., Pica, Francesco, Horn, Gavin B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,626,162 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate distributing and/or utilizing a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) Identifier (ID) that identifies a CSG corresponding to a base station and a CSG indication that distinguishes between the base station permitting access to members of the CSG and permitting access to members and non-members of the CSG. For instance, the CSG ID can uniquely identify the CSG corresponding to the base station. A mobile device can receive the CSG ID and the CSG indication from the base station. Further, the received CSG ID can be compared to CSG IDs included in an allowed CSG list to recognize whether the mobile device is a member or a non-member of the CSG. Moreover, a preference for selecting the base station as compared to a disparate base station can be generated as a function of the received CSG ID and CSG indication.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an advertised Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) Identifier (ID) that identifies a CSG corresponding to a base station;

receiving an advertised CSG indication that distinguishes between the base station permitting access to members of the CSG and permitting access to members and non-members of the CSG;

identifying whether the advertised CSG ID matches one or more CSG IDs included in an allowed CSG list; and

generating a preference for selecting the base station as compared to a disparate base station when the advertised CSG indication specifies that the base station permits access to the members and the non-members of the CSG and the advertised CSG ID matches at least one of the one or more CSG IDs included in the allowed CSG list.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertised CSG ID uniquely identifies the CSG corresponding to the base station in an operator network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertised CSG ID uniquely identifies the CSG corresponding to the base station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertised CSG indication signifies that the base station is associated with a CSG cell, which restricts services to only members of the CSG, when the base station is identified to permit access to the members of the CSG.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertised CSG indication signifies that the base station is associated with a hybrid cell, which permits services to both members and non-members of the CSG, when the base station is recognized to permit access to the members and the non-members of the CSG.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the hybrid cell provides higher Quality of Service (QoS) to the members compared to the non-members.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the preference for selecting the base station as opposed to a differing base station when the advertised CSG indication specifies that the base station permits access to the members of the CSG and the advertised CSG ID matches at least one of the one or more CSG IDs included in the allowed CSG list.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the differing base station is associated with a differing CSG indication which identifies that the differing base station permits access to the members and the non-members of the CSG.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the preference for selecting the base station as a function of a billing model.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the billing model provides different billing levels to the members of the CSG versus the non-members of the CSG.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising differentiating the base station from a macro cell base station, wherein the base station is one of a Home Evolved Node B (HeNB) or a Home Node B (HNB).

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising managing cell selection priority based upon an ordering of the one or more CSG IDs included in the allowed CSG list.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more CSG IDs included in the allowed CSG list is controlled by an operator.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

adding a CSG ID to the allowed CSG list;

or

removing a CSG ID from the allowed CSG list.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting to access the base station automatically based at least in part upon the preference.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting to access the base station manually based upon user input in response to a displayed ranking of detected base stations.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the displayed ranking of detected base stations includes an indication of whether the base station one of permits access to the members of the CSG or permits access to the members and the non-members of the CSG.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing the preference for selecting the base station to at least one of camp on the base station for idle mode, register with the base station, or access the base station.

19. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

compare a received Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) Identifier (ID), which identifies a CSG associated with a base station, to one or more CSG IDs included in an allowed CSG list to recognize existence of a match; and

generate a preference for selecting the base station as compared to a disparate base station when a received CSG indication signifies that the base station permits services to both members and non-members of the CSG and the received CSG ID matches at least one of the one or more CSG IDs included in the allowed CSG list.

20. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, wherein the received CSG ID uniquely identifies the CSG associated with the base station.

21. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, wherein the received CSG ID uniquely identifies the CSG associated with the base station within an operator network.

22. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

generate the preference for selecting the base station as opposed to a differing base station when the received CSG indication signifies that the base station restricts services to only members of the CSG and the received CSG ID matches at least one of the one or more CSG IDs included in the allowed CSG list.

23. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 22, wherein the differing base station is associated with a differing CSG indication which identifies that the differing base station permits services to both members and non-members of the CSG.

24. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

generate the preference for selecting the base station as a function of a billing model.

25. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

distinguish the base station from a macro cell base station, wherein the base station is one of a Home Evolved Node B (HeNB) or a Home Node B (HNB).

26. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

control cell selection priority as a function of an ordering of the one or more CSG IDs included in the allowed CSG list.

27. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

employ the preference for selecting the base station to at least one of camp on the base station for idle mode, register with the base station, or access the base station.

28. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) Identifier (ID) that corresponds to a CSG pertaining to a base station; and

means for receiving a CSG indication that differentiates between the base station allowing access to members of the CSG and allowing access to both members and non-members of the CSG.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the received CSG ID uniquely corresponds to the CSG pertaining to the base station.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the received CSG ID uniquely corresponds to the CSG pertaining to the base station in an operator network.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising means for identifying whether the received CSG ID matches one or more CSG IDs included in an allowed CSG list.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the one or more CSG IDs included in the allowed CSG list is controlled by an operator.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein a CSG ID is at least one of added to or removed from the one or more CSG IDs included in the allowed CSG list.

34. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising means for generating a preference for selecting the base station as compared to a disparate base station based upon the received CSG ID and the received CSG indication.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means camping on the base station for idle mode based upon the preference.

36. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive an advertised Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) Identifier (ID) that identifies a CSG corresponding to a base station;

code for causing at least one computer to receive an advertised CSG indication that distinguishes between the base station permitting access to members of the CSG and permitting access to members and non-members of the CSG;

code for causing at least one computer to identify whether the advertised CSG ID matches one or more CSG IDs included in an allowed CSG list; and

code for causing at least one computer to generate a preference for selecting the base station as compared to a disparate base station when the advertised CSG indication specifies that the base station permits access to the members and the non-members of the CSG and the advertised CSG ID matches at least one of the one or more CSG IDs included in the allowed CSG list.

37. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the advertised CSG ID uniquely identifies the CSG corresponding to the base station.

38. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the advertised CSG ID uniquely identifies the CSG corresponding to the base station in an operator network.

39. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing at least one computer to generate the preference for selecting the base station as opposed to a differing base station when the advertised CSG indication specifies that the base station permits access to the members of the CSG and the advertised CSG ID matches at least one of the one or more CSG IDs included in the allowed CSG list.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the differing base station is associated with a differing CSG indication which identifies that the differing base station permits access to members and non-members of a differing CSG associated with a differing CSG ID.

41. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing at least one computer to generate the preference for selecting the base station as a function of a billing model.

42. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing at least one computer to manage cell selection priority based upon an ordering of the one or more CSG IDs included in the allowed CSG list.

43. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiving component that obtains an advertised Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) Identifier (ID) that identifies a CSG corresponding to a base station and an advertised CSG indication that differentiates between the base station permitting access to members of the CSG and permitting access to members and non-members of the CSG;

a comparison component that evaluates whether the advertised CSG ID matches a CSG ID included in an allowed CSG list; and

a preference generation component that generates a preference for selecting the base station as compared to a disparate base station when the advertised CSG indication specifies that the base station permits access to the members and the non-members of the CSG and the advertised CSG ID of the base station matches the CSG ID included in the allowed CSG list.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, the preference generation component generates the preference for selecting the base station as opposed to a differing base station when the advertised CSG indication specifies that the base station permits access to the members of the CSG and the advertised CSG ID matches the CSG ID included in the allowed CSG list.

45. A method, comprising:

transmitting a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) Identifier (ID) that identifies a CSG pertaining to a base station; and

transmitting a CSG indication that distinguishes between the base station permitting access to members of the CSG and permitting access to the members and non-members of the CSG.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the CSG ID uniquely identifies the CSG pertaining to the base station.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the CSG ID uniquely identifies the CSG pertaining to the base station in an operator network.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the CSG indication signifies that the base station is associated with one of a CSG cell or a hybrid cell, wherein the CSG cell restricts services to only members of the CSG and the hybrid cell permits services to both the members and the non-members of the CSG.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the hybrid cell provides preferred Quality of Service (QoS) to the members versus the non-members of the CSG upon receiving an access from a mobile device.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the hybrid cell supports different billing levels for the members versus the non-members of the CSG upon receiving an access from a mobile device.

51. The method of claim 45, further comprising broadcasting an indication that distinguishes the base station from a at least one of a macro Node B or Evolved Node B, wherein the base station is one of a Home Evolved Node B (HeNB) or a Home Node B (HNB).

52. The method of claim 45, further comprising at least one of:

switching the base station from hybrid operation to CSG operation;

or

switching the base station from CSG operation to hybrid operation.

53. The method of claim 45, further comprising identifying a mobile device as one of a member or a non-member of the CSG when providing services to the mobile device.

54. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

advertise a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) Identifier (ID) to a mobile device, the CSG ID identifies a CSG associated with a base station; and

advertise a CSG indication to the mobile device, the CSG indication distinguishes between the base station permitting access to members of the CSG and permitting access to the members and non-members of the CSG.

55. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 54, wherein the CSG ID uniquely identifies the CSG associated with the base station.

56. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 54, wherein the CSG ID uniquely identifies the CSG associated with the base station in an operator network.

57. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 54, wherein the CSG indication signifies that the base station is associated with one of a CSG cell or a hybrid cell, wherein the CSG cell restricts services to only members of the CSG and the hybrid cell permits services to both the members and the non-members of the CSG.

58. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 57, wherein the hybrid cell, upon receiving an access from the mobile device, at least one of provides preferred Quality of Service (QoS) to the members versus the non-members of the CSG or supports different billing levels for the members versus the non-members of the CSG.

59. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 54, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

send an indication that distinguishes the base station from a macro cell base station, wherein the base station is one of a Home Evolved Node B (HeNB) or a Home Node B (HNB).

60. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 54, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

transition the base station between CSG mode and hybrid mode.

61. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 54, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

identify the mobile device as one of a member or a non-member of the CSG when providing services to the mobile device.

62. An apparatus, comprising:

means for sending a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) Identifier (ID), which identifies a CSG associated with a base station, to a mobile device; and

means for sending a CSG indication, which distinguishes between the base station permitting access to members of the CSG and permitting access to the members and non-members of the CSG, to the mobile device.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the CSG ID uniquely identifies the CSG associated with the base station.

64. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the CSG ID uniquely identifies the CSG associated with the base station in an operator network.

65. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the CSG indication signifies that the base station is associated with one of a CSG cell or a hybrid cell, wherein the CSG cell restricts services to only members of the CSG and the hybrid cell permits services to both the members and the non-members of the CSG.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the hybrid cell, upon receiving an access from the mobile device, at least one of provides preferred Quality of Service (QoS) to the members versus the non-members of the CSG or supports different billing levels for the members versus the non-members of the CSG.

67. The apparatus of claim 62, further comprising means for recognizing whether the mobile device is a member or a non-member of the CSG when providing services to the mobile device.

68. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to transmit a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) Identifier (ID), which identifies a CSG corresponding to a base station, to a mobile device; and

code for causing at least one computer to transmit a CSG indication, which distinguishes between the base station permitting access to members of the CSG and permitting access to the members and non-members of the CSG, to the mobile device.

69. The computer program product of claim 68, wherein the CSG ID uniquely identifies the CSG corresponding to the base station.

70. The computer program product of claim 68, wherein the CSG ID uniquely identifies the CSG corresponding to the base station in an operator network.

71. The computer program product of claim 68, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing at least one computer to identify whether the mobile device is a member or a non-member of the CSG when providing services to the mobile device.

72. The computer program product of claim 68, wherein the CSG indication signifies that the base station is associated with one of a CSG cell or a hybrid cell, wherein the CSG cell restricts services to only members of the CSG and the hybrid cell permits services to both the members and the non-members of the CSG.

73. The computer program product of claim 72, wherein the hybrid cell, upon receiving an access from the mobile device, at least one of provides preferred Quality of Service (QoS) to the members versus the non-members of the CSG or supports different billing levels for the members versus the non-members of the CSG.

74. An apparatus, comprising:

an identity advertising component that transmits a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) Identifier (ID) that identifies a CSG corresponding to a base station over a downlink; and

a mode publicizing component that transmits a CSG indication that distinguishes between the base station permitting access to members of the CSG and permitting access to the members and non-members of the CSG over the downlink.

75. The apparatus of claim 74, further comprising a mode transitioning component that switches the base station between CSG operation and hybrid operation.