SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PERFORM ACCESS CONTROL AND PAGING USING FEMTO CELLS

• US 20100112982A1
• Filed: 11/02/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Radulescu, Andrei D., Deshpande, Manoj M., Flore, Oronzo, Zhao, Lijun, Gupta, Rajarshi, Singh, Damanjit
• Application Number:
  US12/610,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20100112982A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/086 using security domains
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for performing femto cell access and paging control for a wireless access terminal (e.g. a cell phone handset) within a network of multiple femto cell components (e.g. HNBs) and an access control component (e.g. a mobile operator'"'"'s core network). One method comprises storing a first group association of femto cells, using common characteristic (e.g. a Closed Subscriber Group ID), storing a second group association among access terminals (e.g. defining which access terminals belong to which Closed Subscriber Group), and authorizing access to an access terminal to all of the femto cell components belonging to the first group. The access terminal may receive pages from any or all of the femto cells belonging to the group. Residential and enterprise deployments may be co-located.

Claims

1. A method for access control in a femto cell, comprising:

assigning at least one femto cell to correspond to a first identifier that identifies valid access to said femto cell;

storing a list comprising at least one second identifier and at least one first identifier, wherein a second identifier corresponds to an AT and said list indicates valid first identifier and second identifier pairs;

receiving, at a femto cell, a request from an AT for access;

sending, by the femto cell, the first identifier to at least one access control component;

determining, from said list, whether a second identifier for said AT corresponds to a valid first identifier for said femto cell; and

granting access to said AT at said femto cell in response to said request if said AT is identified.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said access control component is a Home NodeB gateway (HNB-GW).

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said storing said list comprises storing said list at a femto cell gateway.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein assigning at least one femto cell to correspond to a first identifier comprises assigning one femto cell to a first identifier in a residential deployment.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein assigning at least one femto cell to correspond to a first identifier comprises assigning a plurality of femto cells to a first identifier in an enterprise deployment.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID).

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second identifier comprises an international mobile station identity (IMSI).

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID);

said second identifier comprises an IMSI; and

said list comprises a list of at least one CSGID that is valid for an IMSI.

9. A femto cell comprising:

at least one processor and memory for;

receiving a request from an AT for access;

sending, by the femto cell, at least one first identifier; and

granting said AT access to said femto cell in response to said request if said AT has access rights to said femto cell,

wherein said access rights are derived from a list comprising at least one second identifier and at least one first identifier, wherein a first identifier identifies valid access to said femto cell and a second identifier corresponds to an AT, said list indicates valid first identifier and second identifier pairs.

10. The femto cell as set forth in claim 9, further for storing said list.

11. The femto cell as set forth in claim 10, wherein said storing said list comprises storing said list at a femto cell gateway.

12. The femto cell as set forth in claim 9, wherein said granting is performed in a residential deployment.

13. The femto cell as set forth in claim 9, wherein said granting is performed in an enterprise deployment.

14. The femto cell as set forth in claim 9, wherein said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID).

15. The femto cell as set forth in claim 9, wherein said second identifier comprises an IMSI.

16. The femto cell as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID);

said second identifier comprises an IMSI; and

said list comprises a list of IMSIs that are valid for a CSGID.

17. The femto cell as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID);

said second identifier comprises an IMSI; and

said list comprises a list of at least one CSGID that is valid for an IMSI.

18. A femto cell gateway comprising:

at least one processor and memory for;

storing a list comprising at least one second identifier and at least one first identifier, wherein a first identifier identifies valid access to said femto cell and a second identifier corresponds to an AT, said list indicates valid first identifier and second identifier pairs;

receiving a request to determine whether an AT is valid to access a femto cell; and

generating an indication to grant said AT access to said femto cell if said AT is identified from said list.

19. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 18, wherein said femto cell gateway is in a residential deployment.

20. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 18, wherein said femto cell gateway is in an enterprise deployment.

21. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 18, wherein said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID).

22. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 18, wherein said second identifier comprises an IMSI.

23. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID);

said second identifier comprises an IMSI; and

said list comprises a list of IMSIs that are valid for a CSGID.

24. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID);

said second identifier comprises an IMSI; and

said list comprises a list of at least one CSGID that is valid for an IMSI.

25. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 18, wherein receiving a request to determine whether an AT is valid to access a femto cell is determined by at least one of, mobility management entity (MME), a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), Serving GPRS Serving Node (SGSN).

26. An access terminal (AT) comprising:

at least one processor and memory for;

generating a request for access to a femto cell; and

receiving access to said femto cell in response to said request if said AT has access rights to said femto cell,

wherein said access rights are derived from a list comprising at least one second identifier and at least one first identifier, wherein a first identifier identifies valid access to said femto cell and a second identifier corresponds to an AT, said list indicates valid first identifier and second identifier pairs.

27. The access terminal as set forth in claim 26, wherein said femto cell is in a residential deployment.

28. The access terminal as set forth in claim 26, wherein said femto cell is in an enterprise deployment.

29. The access terminal as set forth in claim 26, wherein said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID).

30. The access terminal as set forth in claim 26, wherein said second identifier comprises an IMSI.

31. The access terminal as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID);

said second identifier comprises an IMSI; and

said list comprises a list of IMSIs that are valid for a CSGID.

32. The access terminal as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID);

said second identifier comprises an IMSI; and

said list comprises a list of at least one CSGID that is valid for an IMSI.

33. The access terminal as set forth in claim 26, wherein said list is stored by at least one of, a femto cell gateway, Home NodeB Gateway, mobility management entity (MME), a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), Serving GPRS Serving Node (SGSN).

34. A tangible computer readable media embodying a method for access control in a femto cell, the method comprising:

assigning at least one femto cell to correspond to a first identifier that identifies valid access to said femto cell;

storing a list comprising at least one second identifier and at least one first identifier, wherein a second identifier corresponds to an AT and said list indicates valid first identifier and second identifier pairs;

sending, by the femto cell, the first identifier;

receiving, at a femto cell, a request from an AT for access;

determining, from said list, whether a second identifier for said AT corresponds to a valid first identifier for said femto cell; and

granting access to said AT at said femto cell in response to said request if said AT is identified.

35. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 34, wherein said storing said list comprises storing said list at a femto cell gateway or Home NodeB Gateway.

36. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 34, wherein assigning at least one femto cell to correspond to a first identifier comprises assigning one femto cell to a first identifier in a residential deployment.

37. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 34, wherein assigning at least one femto cell to correspond to a first identifier comprises assigning a plurality of femto cells to a first identifier in an enterprise deployment.

38. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 34, wherein said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID).

39. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 34, wherein said second identifier comprises an IMSI.

40. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 34, wherein:

said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID);

said second identifier comprises an IMSI; and

said list comprises a list of IMSIs that are valid for a CSGID.

41. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 34, wherein:

said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID);

said second identifier comprises an IMSI; and

said list comprises a list of at least one CSGID that is valid for an IMSI.

42. An apparatus for access control in a femto cell comprising:

means for assigning at least one femto cell to correspond to a first identifier that identifies valid access to said femto cell;

means for storing a list comprising at least one second identifier and at least one first identifier, wherein a second identifier corresponds to an AT and said list indicates valid first identifier and second identifier pairs;

means for sending, by the femto cell, the first identifier;

means for receiving, at a femto cell, a request from an AT for access;

means for determining, from said list, whether a second identifier for said AT corresponds to a valid first identifier for said femto cell; and

means for granting access to said AT at said femto cell in response to said request if said AT is identified.

43. The apparatus as set forth in claim 42, wherein said storing said list comprises storing said list at a femto cell gateway.

44. The apparatus as set forth in claim 42, wherein assigning at least one femto cell to correspond to a first identifier comprises assigning one femto cell to a first identifier in a residential deployment.

45. The apparatus as set forth in claim 42, wherein assigning at least one femto cell to correspond to a first identifier comprises assigning a plurality of femto cells to a first identifier in an enterprise deployment.

46. The apparatus as set forth in claim 42, wherein said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID).

47. The apparatus as set forth in claim 42, wherein said second identifier comprises an IMSI.

48. The apparatus as set forth in claim 42, wherein:

said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID);

said second identifier comprises an IMSI; and

said list comprises a list of IMSIs that are valid for a CSGID.

49. The apparatus as set forth in claim 42, wherein:

said first identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID);

said second identifier comprises an IMSI; and

said list comprises a list of at least one CSGID that is valid for an IMSI.

50. A method for paging in femto cells comprising:

assigning a plurality of femto cells to correspond to a first identifier that identifies valid access to any of said first plurality of femto cells;

assigning at least one of said plurality of femto cells to correspond to a second identifier that identifies a location;

sending, by the femto cell, the first identifier to at least one access control component;

granting access to an AT from at least one of said plurality of femto cells, said AT having a third identifier;

storing an association comprising at least one first identifier and at least one second identifier, and at least one third identifier; and

paging said AT from said at least one of said plurality of femto cells using said first identifier and said second identifier, and said third identifier.

51. The method as set forth in claim 50, wherein said access control component is a Home NodeB gateway (HNB-GW).

52. The method as set forth in claim 50, wherein the first identifier is a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID), and wherein the second identifier is a location area code (LAC).

53. The method as set forth in claim 50, wherein the third identifier is an international mobile station identity (IMSI).

54. The method as set forth in claim 50, wherein granting access to an AT includes a network element comprising at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a Home NodeB Gateway (HNB-GW), a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), a Serving GPRS Serving Node (SGSN).

55. The method as set forth in claim 50, wherein the paging is performed in a residential deployment.

56. The method as set forth in claim 50, wherein the paging is performed in an enterprise deployment.

57. The method as set forth in claim 52, wherein said LAC corresponds to one or more HNBs in an enterprise deployment.

58. The method as set forth in claim 52, wherein said LAC corresponds to one or more Home NodeBs (HNBs) in a residential deployment.

59. The method as set forth in claim 51, wherein the closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID) is received from at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a Home NodeB Gateway (HNB-GW), a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), a Serving GPRS Serving Node (SGSN).

60. The method as set forth in claim 52, wherein the location area code (LAC) is received from at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a Home NodeB Gateway (HNB-GW), a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR).

61. The method as set forth in claim 50, wherein the granting access to an AT is granted by at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a Home NodeB Gateway (HNB-GW), a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR).

62. A femto cell comprising:

at least one processor and memory for;

receiving a first identifier that identifies a group;

receiving a second identifier that identifies a location;

sending, by the femto cell, the first identifier;

receiving a page for a particular AT, said page including a third identifier that identifies the particular AT; and

paging said particular AT from said femto cell using said first identifier and said second identifier,

wherein said particular AT is not registered at said femto cell.

63. The femto cell as set forth in claim 62, wherein the first identifier is a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID).

64. The femto cell as set forth in claim 62, wherein the second identifier is a location area code (LAC).

65. The femto cell as set forth in claim 62, wherein the third identifier is an international mobile station identity (IMSI).

66. The femto cell as set forth in claim 62, wherein granting access to an AT includes a network element comprising at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a Home NodeB Gateway (HNB-GW), a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), a Serving GPRS Serving NodeB (SGSN).

67. The femto cell as set forth in claim 62, wherein the paging is performed in a residential deployment.

68. The femto cell as set forth in claim 62, wherein the paging is performed in an enterprise deployment.

69. The femto cell as set forth in claim 64, wherein said LAC corresponds to one or more HNBs in an enterprise deployment.

70. The femto cell as set forth in claim 64, wherein said LAC corresponds to one or more HNBs in a residential deployment.

71. The femto cell as set forth in claim 63, wherein the closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID) is received from at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a Home NodeB Gateway (HNB-GW), a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), a Serving GPRS Serving Node (SGSN).

72. The femto cell as set forth in claim 64, wherein the location area code (LAC) is received from at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a Home NodeB Gateway (HNB-GW), a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), a Serving GPRS Serving NodeB (SGSN).

73. The femto cell as set forth in claim 62, wherein the granting access to an AT is granted by at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a Home NodeB Gateway (HNB-GW), a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR).

74. A femto cell gateway comprising:

at least one processor and memory for;

communicating to a plurality of femto cells a first identifier that identifies valid access to any of said first plurality of femto cells;

communicating to at least one of said plurality of femto cells a second identifier that identifies a location;

sending an AT access grant signal to only one of said plurality of femto cells, said AT access grant having a third identifier; and

sending an AT page signal to said at least one of said plurality of femto cells using said first identifier and said second identifier.

75. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 74, wherein communicating to a plurality of femto cells includes receiving a CSGID at a Home NodeB Gateway (HNB-GW).

76. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 74, further comprising receiving the first identifier from a femto cell.

77. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 74, wherein the first identifier is a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID), wherein the second identifier is a location area code (LAC), and wherein the third identifier is an international mobile station identity (IMSI).

78. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 74, wherein granting access to an AT includes a network element comprising at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a Home NodeB Gateway (HNB-GW), a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR).

79. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 74, wherein the paging is performed in a residential deployment.

80. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 74, wherein the paging is performed in an enterprise deployment.

81. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 76, wherein said LAC corresponds to one or more HNBs in an enterprise deployment.

82. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 76, wherein said LAC corresponds to one or more HNBs in a residential deployment.

83. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 75, wherein the closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID) is received from at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a HNB-GW, a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), a Serving GPRS Serving Node (SGSN).

84. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 76, wherein the location area code (LAC) is received from at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a HNB-GW, a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR).

85. The femto cell gateway as set forth in claim 74, wherein the granting access to an AT is granted by at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a femto cell gateway, a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), a Serving GPRS Serving Node (SGSN).

86. An access terminal comprising:

at least one processor and memory for;

registering with a first femto cell having a first identifier that identifies a valid femto cell;

receiving from said first femto cell, a second identifier that identifies a location;

receiving an access grant from the first femto cell, said access grant having a third identifier; and

receiving a page signal from at least one femto cell.

87. The access terminal as set forth in claim 86, wherein the first identifier is a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID).

88. The access terminal as set forth in claim 86, wherein the second identifier is a location area code (LAC).

89. The access terminal as set forth in claim 86, wherein the third identifier is an international mobile station identity (IMSI).

90. The access terminal as set forth in claim 86, wherein granting access to an AT includes a network element comprising at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a HNB-GW, a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR).

91. The access terminal as set forth in claim 86, wherein the paging is performed in a residential deployment.

92. The access terminal as set forth in claim 86, wherein the paging is performed in an enterprise deployment.

93. The access terminal as set forth in claim 88, wherein said LAC corresponds to one or more HNBs in an enterprise deployment.

94. The access terminal as set forth in claim 88, wherein said LAC corresponds to one or more HNBs in a residential deployment.

95. The access terminal as set forth in claim 87, wherein the closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID) is received from at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a HNB-GW, a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), a Serving GPRS Serving Node (SGSN).

96. The access terminal as set forth in claim 86, wherein the location area code (LAC) is received from at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a HNB-GW, a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR).

97. The access terminal as set forth in claim 86, wherein the granting access to an AT is granted by at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), an access terminal, a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), a Serving GPRS Serving Node (SGSN).

98. A tangible computer readable media embodying a method for paging in femto cells, the method comprising:

assigning a plurality of femto cells to correspond to a first identifier that identifies valid access to any of said first plurality of femto cells;

assigning to at least one of said plurality of femto cells to correspond to a second identifier that identifies a location;

sending, by at least one of said plurality of femto cells, the first identifier;

granting access to an AT from at least one of said plurality of femto cells, said AT having a third identifier;

storing an association comprising at least one first identifier and at least one second identifier, and at least one third identifier; and

paging said AT from said at least one of said plurality of femto cells using said first identifier and said second identifier.

99. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 98, wherein the first identifier is a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID).

100. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 98, wherein the second identifier is a location area code (LAC).

101. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 98, wherein the third identifier is an international mobile station identity (IMSI).

102. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 98, wherein granting access to an AT includes a network element comprising at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a HNB-GW, a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), a Serving GPRS Serving Node (SGSN).

103. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 98, wherein the paging is performed in a residential deployment.

104. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 98, wherein the paging is performed in an enterprise deployment.

105. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 100, wherein said LAC corresponds to one or more HNBs in an enterprise deployment.

106. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 100, wherein said LAC corresponds to one or more HNBs in a residential deployment.

107. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 99, wherein the closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID) is received from at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a HNB-GW, a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), a Serving GPRS Serving Node (SGSN).

108. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 100, wherein the location area code (LAC) is received from at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a HNB-GW, a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR).

109. The tangible computer readable media as set forth in claim 98, wherein the granting access to an AT is granted by at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a femto cell gateway, a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), a Serving GPRS Serving Node (SGSN).

110. An apparatus for paging in femto cells comprising:

means for assigning a plurality of femto cells to correspond to a first identifier that identifies valid access to any of said first plurality of femto cells;

means for assigning to at least one of said plurality of femto cells to correspond to a second identifier that identifies a location;

means for sending the first identifier;

means for granting access to an AT from at least one of said plurality of femto cells, said AT having a third identifier;

means for storing, an association comprising at least one first identifier and at least one second identifier, and at least one third identifier; and

means for paging said AT from said at least one of said plurality of femto cells using said first identifier and said second identifier.

111. The apparatus as set forth in claim 110, wherein the first identifier is a closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID).

112. The apparatus as set forth in claim 110, wherein the second identifier is a location area code (LAC).

113. The apparatus as set forth in claim 110, wherein the third identifier is an international mobile station identity (IMSI).

114. The apparatus as set forth in claim 110, wherein granting access to an AT includes a network element comprising at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a HNB-GW, a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), a Serving GPRS Serving Node (SGSN).

115. The apparatus as set forth in claim 110, wherein the paging is performed in a residential deployment.

116. The apparatus as set forth in claim 110, wherein the paging is performed in an enterprise deployment.

117. The apparatus as set forth in claim 112, wherein said LAC corresponds to one or more HNBs in an enterprise deployment.

118. The apparatus as set forth in claim 112, wherein said LAC corresponds to one or more HNBs in a residential deployment.

119. The apparatus as set forth in claim 111, wherein the closed subscriber group identifier (CSGID) is received from at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a HNB-GW, a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), a Serving GPRS Serving Node (SGSN).

120. The apparatus as set forth in claim 112, wherein the location area code (LAC) is received from at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a HNB-GW, a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR).

121. The apparatus as set forth in claim 110, wherein the granting access to an AT is granted by at least one of, a mobility management entity (MME), a femto cell gateway, a mobile switch center (MSC), a visiting location register (VLR), a Serving GPRS Serving Node (SGSN).