SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS TO FACILITATE IDENTIFICATION AND ACQUISITION OF ACCESS POINTS

• US 20100008259A1
• Filed: 07/13/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Deshpande, Manoj M., Balasubramanian, Srinivasan, Yoon, Young C., Sundarraman, Chandrasekhar T., Chen, Jen Mei
• Granted Patent: US 8,229,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point

Abstract

Systems, apparatus and methods for facilitating identification and/or acquisition of an access point are provided. Methods can include transmitting or receiving access point information (“API”) indicative of an identification of the access point (“AP”). The API can be provided at the AP through hardwiring or receipt of configuration information input by a user or transmitted to the AP by a network operator through Over-The-Air (“OTA”) signaling. The API can be computer-readable and, in some embodiments, the API can also be human-readable. The API can be transmitted on a paging channel from which user equipment (“UE”) can receive information. The frequency at which the API is transmitted can be fixed, dynamic and/or configurable. Upon receipt of the API, acquisition of the AP is attempted if the AP is determined to be a permitted AP.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating identification and acquisition of an access point, the method comprising:

receiving access point information indicative of an identification of the access point; and

in response to determining that the access point is a permitted access point, attempting acquisition of the access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the access point is a permitted access point comprises:

comparing the access point information to information indicative of identities of one or more access points to which access is permitted; and

in response to determining that the access point information corresponds to at least one of the identities of the one or more access points to which access is permitted, determining that the access point is a permitted access point.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the information indicative of the identities of one or more access points to which access is permitted is included in a white list.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the information indicative of the identities of one or more access points to which access is not permitted is included in a black list.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein, prior to comparing the access point information to information indicative of identities of one or more access points to which access is permitted, masking a portion of the access point information such that a portion of the access point information is compared to the information indicative of identities of one or more access points to which access is permitted.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the access point information is 128 bits long.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the access point information is 48 bits long.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the access point information comprises a computer-readable address indicative of the identification of the access point.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the computer-readable address is an Internet Protocol version 6 address for the access point.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the access point information further comprises human-readable information indicative of the identification of the access point.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the human-readable information is a text string.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the access point information is included in a message that also includes information indicative of an identity of a mobile switching center and information indicative of an identity of a cell to which the access point is associated.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting the information indicative of an identity of a mobile switching center and information indicative of an identity of a cell to which the access point is associated during handoff.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the access point information is received after a first predetermined time interval or after a second predetermined time interval, the first predetermined time interval and the second predetermined time interval being based on a length of the access point information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, when the access point information is a first length and includes a computer-readable address and human-readable information, the access point information is received at the first predetermined time interval and wherein, when the access point information is a second length and includes a computer-readable address, the first length being longer than the second length, the access point information is received at a second predetermined time interval, the second predetermined time interval being less than the first predetermined time interval.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second predetermined time interval occurs at approximately every 1.28 seconds.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second predetermined time interval occurs at approximately every 2.0 seconds.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first predetermined time interval occurs at approximately every 10 seconds.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the access point information is received on a paging channel.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the access point information is 128 bits long.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the access point information is 48 bits long.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the access point is a femto cell.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the access point is one of a pico cell or a personal cell.

24. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive access point information indicative of an identification of an access point; and

code for causing at least one computer to attempt acquisition of the access point in response to determining that the access point is a permitted access point.

25. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving access point information indicative of an identification of an access point;

means for masking a portion of the access point information;

means for comparing an unmasked portion of the access point information with information indicative of identities of one or more access points to which access by the apparatus is authorized; and

means for attempting to acquire the access point if the means for comparing generates an output indicative of the apparatus being permitted to access the access point.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a user equipment (“

UE”

) database module configured to store information indicative of identities of one or more access points to which access by the apparatus is authorized;

a UE receiver module configured to receive a first signal including access point information indicative of an identification of an access point proximate to a geographical location of the apparatus;

a UE filter module coupled to the UE receiver module and configured to mask a portion of the received access point information;

a UE processor module coupled to the UE filter module and the UE database module and configured to compare an unmasked portion of the access point information with the information indicative of identities of one or more access points to which access by the apparatus is authorized, and determine whether the access point is a permitted access point based on a result of the comparison; and

a UE transmitter module coupled to the UE processor module and configured to transmit a signal to the access point for attempting acquisition of the access point if the UE processor module determines that the access point is a permitted access point.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the information indicative of the identities of the one or more access points to which access by the apparatus is authorized is a white list.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the UE database module is further configured to store information indicative of identities of one or more access points to which access by the apparatus is not authorized.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the information indicative of the identities of the one or more access points to which access by the apparatus is not authorized is a black list.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a UE display module coupled to the UE processor module and configured to display human-readable information included in the received access point information.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the UE display module is further configured to display the information indicative of the identities of the one or more access points to which access by the apparatus is authorized.

32. A method for facilitating identification and acquisition of an access point, the method comprising:

transmitting, to user equipment, access point information indicative of an identification of the access point;

receiving, from the user equipment, information indicative of a registration request, wherein the registration request is transmitted by the user equipment if the user equipment determines that the access point is a permitted access point; and

providing access to the user equipment in response to receiving the information indicative of the registration request.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising, prior to transmitting, to the user equipment, the access point information, receiving configuration information for associating the access point with the access point information.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein receiving configuration information comprises receiving information from a network to which the access point is associated, the configuration information being received via over-the-air signaling.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the network is a mobile operator core network.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein receiving configuration information comprises receiving information indicative of a time interval for transmitting the access point information.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein transmitting access point information, to the user equipment, is performed at predetermined time slots on a paging channel.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the access point information comprises a computer-readable address.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the access point information further comprises a human-readable text string.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the access point information is 128 bits long.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein transmitting, to the user equipment, the access point information comprises transmitting, to the user equipment, the access point information in a message also including information indicative of an identity of a mobile switching center and information indicative of an identity of a cell to which the access point is associated.

42. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to transmit to user equipment access point information indicative of an identification of the access point;

code for causing at least one computer to receive information indicative of a registration request from the user equipment in response to transmitting the access point information if the user equipment determines that that the access point is a permitted access point; and

code for causing at least one computer to provide access to the user equipment in response to receiving the information indicative of the registration request.

43. An apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting to user equipment, access point information indicative of an identification of the access point;

means for receiving information indicative of a registration request from the user equipment in response to transmitting the access point information; and

means for permitting the user equipment to access the apparatus if the user equipment is permitted to access the apparatus.

44. An apparatus comprising:

a database module configured to store information indicative of one or more user equipment authorized to access the apparatus;

a memory module configured to store first access point information indicative of the identity of the apparatus;

a transmitter module configured to transmit the first access point information;

a receiver module configured to receive a first signal including information indicative of a registration request from the user equipment; and

a processor module configured to provide access to the user equipment if the user equipment is authorized to access the apparatus.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive, via over-the-air signaling from a network to which the apparatus is associated, configuration information for configuring the first access point information of the access point.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive, via over-the-air signaling from a network to which the apparatus is associated, configuration information for transmitting the first access point information at a predetermine time interval.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the memory module is further configured to store a second access point information, the second access point information comprising a computer-readable address and the first access point information comprising a computer-readable address and human-readable information indicative of the identity of the apparatus, and the transmitter module is further configured to transmit the second access point information, wherein the second access point information is transmitted more frequently than the first access point information.

48. A method for facilitating identification and acquisition of a femto cell access point, the method comprising:

transmitting, to user equipment, access point information indicative of an identification of the femto cell access point.

49. A method for performing handoff to a target access point, the method comprising:

transmitting, by user equipment, handoff information received from the target access point, the handoff information comprising;

information indicative of an identity of a mobile switching center to which the target access point is associated; and

information indicative of an identity of a cell to which the target access point is associated.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the handoff information is transmitted within a handoff supplementary information notification message (“

HSINM”

).

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the handoff information is transmitted within a pilot signal measurement message.

52. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing a computer to receive transmitted handoff information from a target access point, the handoff information comprising;

information indicative of an identity of a mobile switching center to which the target access point is associated; and

information indicative of an identity of a cell to which the target access point is associated.

53. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver module configured to receive transmitted handoff information from a target access point, the handoff information comprising;

information indicative of an identity of a mobile switching center to which the target access point is associated; and

information indicative of an identity of a cell to which the target access point is associated;

a memory module configured to store the handoff information; and

a processor module configured to process the handoff information and control a transmitter module to transmit the handoff information to initiate handoff to the target access point.

54. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving transmitted handoff information from a target access point, the handoff information comprising;

information indicative of an identity of a mobile switching center to which the target access point is associated; and

information indicative of an identity of a cell to which the target access point is associated;

means for storing the handoff information;

means for transmitting the handoff information; and

means for processing the handoff information and controlling the means for transmitting to transmit the handoff information to initiate handoff to the target access point.

55. A method for performing handoff of a mobile station (“

MS”

) from a macro base station controller (“

Macro BS”

) of a macro cell to a target femto access point (“

target femto AP”

), the method comprising;

transmitting, by the MS to the macro cell, information indicative of signal strength information, wherein the signal strength information includes a pilot strength measurement;

determining, by the Macro BS, whether to perform handoff of the MS to the target femto AP;

in response to determining that handoff should be performed, signaling to a mobile switching center (“

MSC”

), a message for requesting handoff;

determining, by the MSC, that a target cell is associated with information indicative of an identity of the MSC (“

MSC_ID”

) for a femto convergence server (“

FCS”

), and transmitting a facilities directive message to the FCS associated with the target cell;

reserving, by the FCS, an inter-vendor trunk (“

IVT”

) port for terminating the IVT identified with the facilities directive message, and media gateway (“

MGW”

) resources to terminate a real-time transport protocol (“

RTP”

) bearer path with the target femto AP;

transmitting, by the FCS to one or more candidate femto access points (“

femto APs”

), a session initiation protocol (“

SIP”

) message with a measurement request for the MS if no femto AP can be uniquely determined as the target femto AP;

attempting to detect, by the one or more candidate femto APs, the MS and measure the signal strength of an MS uplink while the MS is engaged in an active voice call over a network provided in the macro cell;

transmitting, by the one or more candidate femto APs to the FCS, the measured signal strengths, wherein transmitting to the FCS includes transmitting the measured signal strengths to a call session control function (“

CSCF”

), and the CSCF transmitting the measured signal strengths to the FCS;

determining, by the FCS, as the target femto AP to which handoff should be performed, one of the one or more candidate femto APs, based on the measured signal strengths received at the FCS;

transmitting, by the FCS to the target femto AP, a SIP invite message, the SIP invite message being indicative of a handoff request;

transmitting, by the target femto AP, information indicative of acknowledgement of the handoff request;

establishing a voice/bearer path for the MS;

transmitting, by the FCS, to the MSC, a Mobile Application Part (“

MAP”

) facilities directive return result message confirming establishment of an IVT connection;

transmitting, by the MSC and via the Macro BS, information directing the MS to handoff to the target femto AP;

transmitting, from the MS to the target femto AP, a handoff complete message;

acquiring a forward link traffic channel from the target femto AP; and

establishing a voice path between the MS and the target femto AP.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

transmitting, by the target femto AP to the FCS, a notification that the handoff is complete;

signaling, from the FCS to the MSC, that the MS has completed the handoff successfully; and

transmitting, from the FCS to the target femto AP, an acknowledgment of receipt of the notification.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the signal strength information further comprises a handoff supplementary information notification message (“

HSINM”

).