ACCESS TERMINAL AUTHORIZATION AT PRIVATE ACCESS POINTS IN WIRELESS NETWORKS

• US 20100075658A1
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Airvana Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hou, Jindong, Jones, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 8,229,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.100
• 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 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence

Abstract

This description relates to access terminal authorization methods in wireless networks.

Claims

1. A private access point, comprising:

a memory, the memory configured to store instructions for execution; and

one or more processing devices configured to execute the instructions, the instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to;

broadcast a first access point identifier from the private access point, the private access point being in a radio access network;

broadcast a second access point identifier from the private access point;

receive a first message from a first access terminal that is authorized on the private access point, the first message comprising the second access point identifier; and

send a second message to the first access terminal, the second message comprising the first access point identifier, and the second message being configured to cause the first access terminal to remove the first access point identifier from an access point identifier block list of the first access terminal if the first access point identifier is on the access point identifier block list of the first access terminal.

2. One or more machine-readable media storing executable instructions, the instructions for causing one or more processing devices to:

broadcast a first access point identifier from a private access point in a radio access network;

broadcast a second access point identifier from the private access point;

receive a first message from a first access terminal that is authorized on the private access point, the first message comprising the second access point identifier; and

send a second message to the first access terminal, the second message comprising the first access point identifier, and the second message being configured to cause the first access terminal to remove the first access point identifier from an access point identifier block list of the first access terminal if the first access point identifier is on the access point identifier block list of the first access terminal.

3. A method, comprising:

broadcasting a first access point identifier from a private access point in a radio access network;

broadcasting a second access point identifier from the private access point;

receiving a first message from a first access terminal that is authorized on the private access point, the first message comprising the second access point identifier; and

sending a second message to the first access terminal, the second message comprising the first access point identifier, and the second message being configured to cause the first access terminal to remove the first access point identifier from an access point identifier block list of the first access terminal if the first access point identifier is on the access point identifier block list of the first access terminal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first access point identifier comprises a first location area identifier and the second access point identifier comprises a second location area identifier;

and

wherein the access point identifier block list comprises a forbidden list.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein sending the second message comprises:

sending a location area update accept message to the first access terminal, the location area update accept message comprising the first access point identifier, the first access point identifier comprising a first location area identifier; and

wherein receiving the first message comprises;

receiving a location area update request message from the first access terminal, the location area update request message comprising the second access point identifier, the second access point identifier comprising a second location area identifier.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the private access point is configured so that the second access point identifier is never sent in any message from the private access point that would cause the second access point identifier to be placed on an access point identifier block list of any access terminal that is authorized on the private access point.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the private access point is configured so that the second access point identifier is never sent in any reject message originating from the private access point.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

stopping broadcasting the second access point identifier when every access terminal that is authorized on the private access point is using the private access point.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein broadcasting the second access point identifier from the private access point comprises:

broadcasting the second access point identifier at least one of periodically or randomly.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein when the second access point identifier is being broadcast from the private access point, the first access point identifier is not being broadcast from the private access point.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein broadcasting the first access point identifier from the private access point comprises:

broadcasting the first access point identifier in a first pilot signal from the private access point; and

for at least some of a time that the first access point identifier is broadcast, broadcasting the first access point identifier concurrently with broadcasting the second access point identifier; and

wherein broadcasting the second access point identifier from the private access point comprises;

broadcasting the second access point identifier in a second pilot signal from the private access point.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first pilot signal has a corresponding first scrambling code and the second pilot signal has a corresponding second scrambling code;

the first scrambling code being different from the second scrambling code, the method further comprising;

broadcasting a first neighbor list, the first neighbor list comprising a third scrambling code, the third scrambling code corresponding to a macrocell access point; and

broadcasting a second neighbor list, the second neighbor list comprising the first scrambling code.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein broadcasting the second access point identifier in the second pilot signal comprises:

broadcasting the second access point identifier in a greeting pilot signal from the private access point.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

stopping broadcasting the greeting pilot signal when every access terminal that is authorized on the private access point is using the private access point.

15. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a third message from the first access terminal, the third message comprising the second access point identifier; and

sending a fourth message to the first access terminal, the fourth message comprising the second access point identifier.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

translating the second access point identifier to the first access point identifier to facilitate communication between one or more other entities in the radio access network and the first access terminal via the private access point and so that the second access point identifier is not used in communication between the private access point and the one or more entities.

17. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a second location area update request message from the first access terminal, the second location area update request message comprising the second access point identifier, the second access point identifier comprising the second location area identifier; and

sending a second location area update accept message to the first access terminal, the second location area update accept message comprising the second access point identifier, the second access point identifier comprising the second location area identifier.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a third message from the first access terminal, the third message comprising the second access point identifier;

sending a reject message to the first access terminal;

receiving a fourth message from the first access terminal in response to the first pilot signal, the fourth message comprising the first access point identifier; and

sending a fifth message to the first access terminal, the fifth message comprising the first access point identifier.

19. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

listening to information broadcast from a macrocell access point; and

determining an interval within which to broadcast the second access point identifier using a portion of the information.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the portion of the information comprises discontinuous receive cycle length parameters.

21. A method, comprising:

broadcasting a first access point identifier from a private access point in a radio access network; and

broadcasting a second access point identifier from the private access point, the first access point identifier and the second access point identifier being configured to identify the private access point to access terminals in the radio access network, the second access point identifier being different from the first access point identifier, and individual ones of the access terminals being either authorized or unauthorized on the private access point.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first access point identifier comprises a first location area identifier and the second access point identifier comprises a second location area identifier.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining whether an access terminal of the access terminals is authorized or unauthorized on the private access point by comparing an access terminal identifier of the access terminal to an access control list.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising, prior to broadcasting the second access point identifier from the private access point:

receiving a first message from a first access terminal of the access terminals, the first message comprising the first access point identifier;

determining that the first access terminal is unauthorized on the private access point; and

determining that the first access point identifier is the same as an access point identifier of an other private access point on which the first access terminal is authorized.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein receiving the first message comprises:

receiving a location area update request message from the first access terminal, the location area update request message comprising the first access point identifier, the first access point identifier comprising a first location area identifier.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein determining that the first access point identifier is the same as the access point identifier of the other private access point comprises at least one of accessing a database, or receiving an indication that the first access point identifier is the same as the access point identifier of the other private access point.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

prior to broadcasting the second access point identifier, determining that the second access point identifier is not on an access point identifier block list of a second access terminal of the access terminals, the second access terminal being authorized on the private access point.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the access point identifier block list comprises a forbidden list.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein determining that the second access point identifier is not on the access point identifier block list of the second access terminal comprises at least one of accessing a database, or receiving an indication that the second access point identifier is not on the access point identifier block list of the second access terminal.

30. The method of claim 21, further comprising, prior to broadcasting the second access point identifier from the private access point:

determining that the first access point identifier was at least recently on an access point identifier block list of a first access terminal of the access terminals, the first access terminal being authorized on the private access point.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein determining that the first access point identifier was at least recently on the access point identifier block list of the first access terminal comprises at least one of accessing a database, or receiving an indication that the first access point identifier was at least recently on the access point identifier block list of the first access terminal.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the second access point identifier is configured to not be on an access point identifier block list of a first access terminal of the access terminals, the first access terminal being authorized on the private access point.

33. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

stopping broadcasting the second access point identifier when every access terminal that is authorized on the private access point is using the private access point.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein the second access point identifier is never included in a reject message sent from the private access point to any access terminal of the access terminals.

35. The method of claim 21, further comprising, prior to broadcasting the second access point identifier from the private access point:

determining that the private access point is within a removal window broadcast interval.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein broadcasting the second access point identifier from the private access point further comprises:

broadcasting the second access point identifier from the private access point in a greeting pilot signal; and

wherein the removal window broadcast interval comprises a greeting pilot broadcast interval.

37. The method of claim 21, wherein broadcasting the second access point identifier from the private access point comprises:

broadcasting the second access point identifier at least one of periodically or randomly.

38. The method of claim 21, wherein broadcasting the second access point identifier from the private access point comprises:

broadcasting the second access point identifier from the private access point instead of the first access point identifier.

39. The method of claim 21, wherein broadcasting the first access point identifier from the private access point comprises:

broadcasting the first access point identifier in a first pilot signal from the private access point; and

for at least some of a time that the first access point identifier is broadcast, broadcasting the first access point identifier concurrently with broadcasting the second access point identifier;

and wherein broadcasting the second access point identifier from the private access point comprises;

broadcasting the second access point identifier in a second pilot signal from the private access point.

40. A method, comprising:

assigning one or more reserved access point identifiers to a private access point network that comprises two or more private access points, so that each private access point of the two or more private access points is assigned at least one reserved access point identifier of the one or more reserved access point identifiers; and

configuring the two or more private access points of the private access point network so that each reserved access point identifier of the one or more reserved access point identifiers is never sent in any message from the private access point network that would cause the reserved access point identifier to be placed on an access point identifier block list of any access terminal in range of one or more private access points of the private access point network.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the one or more reserved access point identifiers comprise one or more reserved location area identifiers, and

wherein the access point identifier block list comprises a forbidden list.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein assigning the one or more reserved access point identifiers to the private access point network comprises:

assigning one reserved access point identifier to the private access point network so that each private access point of the two or more private access points is assigned the same one reserved access point identifier.

43. A method, comprising:

broadcasting a first location area identifier from a private access point in a radio access network; and

wherein the private access point never includes the first location area identifier in any reject message sent from the private access point to any access terminal that communicates with the private access point such that the first location area identifier is configured to at least not be on a forbidden list of any access terminal that is authorized on the private access point.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

broadcasting a second location area identifier from the private access point; and

wherein broadcasting the first location area identifier from the private access point comprises;

broadcasting the first location area identifier to attract to the private access point any access terminal that is authorized on the access terminal and that has the second location area identifier on the forbidden list of the access terminal.

45. A method, comprising:

broadcasting a first access point identifier from a first private access point in a radio access network;

receiving a first message from a first access terminal, the first message comprising the first access point identifier;

determining whether the first access terminal is authorized or unauthorized on the first private access point;

if the first access terminal is unauthorized, determining whether the first access point identifier is the same as an access point identifier of a second private access point on which the first access terminal is authorized; and

if the first access point identifier is the same as the access point identifier of the second private access point, broadcasting a second access point identifier from the first private access point.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the first access point identifier comprises a first location area identifier and the second access point identifier comprises a second location area identifier, and the access point identifier of the second private access point comprises a location area identifier of the second private access point.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

if the first access point identifier is the same as the access point identifier of the second private access point, selecting the second access point identifier for broadcast; and

stopping broadcasting the first access point identifier when the second access point identifier is selected.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein determining whether the first access point identifier is the same as the access point identifier of the second private access point comprises at least one of accessing a database, or receiving an indication regarding whether the first access point identifier is the same as the access point identifier of the second private access point.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein selecting the second access point identifier for broadcast comprises:

determining whether a potential second access point identifier is at least likely to be on any access point identifier block list of any access terminal that is authorized on the first private access point.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein determining whether the potential second access point identifier is likely to be on any access point identifier block list of any access terminal that is authorized on the first private access point comprises at least one of accessing a database, or receiving an indication regarding whether the potential second access point identifier is likely to be on any access point identifier block list of any access terminal that is authorized on the first private access point.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein accessing the database comprises:

accessing the database, the database storing at least one of access point identifier block list models corresponding to access terminals, or information regarding the access point identifier block list models, wherein the access terminals comprise any access terminals that are authorized on the first private access point.

52. A method, comprising:

broadcasting a first access point identifier from a first private access point in a radio access network;

determining whether a first access point identifier was at least recently on an access point identifier block list of a first access terminal that is authorized on the first private access point;

if the first access point identifier was at least recently on the access point identifier block list;

broadcasting a second access point identifier from the first private access point.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the first access point identifier comprises a first location area identifier and the second access point identifier comprises a second location area identifier;

and

wherein the access point identifier block list comprises a forbidden list.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein determining whether the first access point identifier was at least recently on the access point identifier block list of the first access terminal comprises at least one of accessing a database, or receiving an indication regarding whether the first access point identifier was at least recently on the access point identifier block list of the first access terminal.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein accessing the database comprises:

accessing the database, the database storing at least one of access point identifier block list models corresponding to access terminals, or information regarding the access point identifier block list models, wherein the access terminals comprise the first access terminal and any other access terminals that are authorized on the first private access point.

56. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

if the first access point identifier was at least recently on the access point identifier block list of the first access terminal, selecting the second access point identifier for broadcast; and

stopping broadcasting the first access point identifier when the second access point identifier is selected.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein selecting the second access point identifier for broadcast comprises:

determining whether a potential second access point identifier is at least likely to be on any access point identifier block list of any access terminal that is authorized on the first private access point.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein determining whether the potential second access point identifier is likely to be on any access point identifier block list of any access terminal that is authorized on the first private access point comprises at least one of accessing a database, or receiving an indication regarding whether the potential second access point identifier is likely to be on any access point identifier block list of any access terminal that is authorized on the first private access point.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein accessing the database comprises:

accessing the database, the database storing at least one of access point identifier block list models corresponding to access terminals, or information regarding the access point identifier block list models, wherein the access terminals comprise any access terminals that are authorized on the first private access point.

60. A method, comprising:

receiving a location area update request message from an access terminal, the location area update request message comprising a first location area identifier, the location area update request message being received at a private access point in a radio access network; and

sending an location area update accept message from the private access point to the access terminal in response to the location area update request message, the location area update accept message comprising a second location area identifier.