CSG MEMBERSHIP INDICATION

• US 20100197285A1
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Agashe, Parag A., Song, Osok, Pandit, Krishna S., Horn, Gavin B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,731,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

Problems caused by interaction between paging optimization and synchronizing CSG information are mitigated by setting a network indication indicating, for example, that a subscriber is no longer a member of a CSG, but the network has not yet received confirmation that an access terminal associated with the subscriber has been informed of this. A timer-based scheme may be employed for removing a CSG ID from the subscriber information for a subscriber once it is determined that the subscriber is no longer a member of the CSG. In addition, a temporary member of a CSG may determine whether it is still a member of a CSG upon expiration of a CSG timer. Also, the frequency with which an access terminal registers may be changed based on various criteria. Furthermore, an allowed CSG list may be selectively included in a page message depending on the destination of the page message.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

determining that a subscriber is no longer a member of a closed subscriber group;

setting an indication that the subscriber is no longer a member of the closed subscriber group as a result of the determination; and

sending the indication to a mobility manager.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting of the indication comprises setting the indication to a value that indicates that removal is pending for an identifier of the closed subscriber group from a list of closed subscriber groups at an access terminal associated with the subscriber.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the list comprises an allowed closed subscriber group list.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising sending a message to initiate updating of the list as a result of the determination.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the setting of the indication comprises updating closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber; and

the sending of the indication comprises sending the updated closed subscriber group subscriber information to the mobility manager.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination comprises determining that the subscriber has been removed from the closed subscriber group.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination comprises determining that a subscription to the closed subscriber group has expired.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the determination comprises receiving a message from a closed subscriber group administration server; and

the message indicates that the subscriber has been removed from the closed subscriber group.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication that a closed subscriber group list at an access terminal associated with the subscriber has been updated to indicate that the subscriber is no longer a member of the closed subscriber group; and

removing an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber as a result of the receipt of the indication that the list has been updated.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending a message to the mobility manager as a result of the receipt of the indication that the list has been updated, wherein the message requests the mobility manager to remove an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving of the indication that the list has been updated comprises receiving a message from a closed subscriber group list server that indicates that the closed subscriber group list has been updated.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving of the indication that the list has been updated comprises receiving a message from a mobility manager that indicates that the mobility manager has rejected an attempted access by the access terminal at an access point associated with the closed subscriber group.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobility manager comprises an MME that controls access for an access terminal associated with the subscriber or an SGSN that controls that controls access for an access terminal associated with the subscriber.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting a timer as a result of the determination;

determining that the timer expired; and

removing an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber as a result of the expiration of the timer.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising sending a message to the mobility manager as a result of the expiration of the timer, wherein the message requests the mobility manager to remove an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the expiration of the timer is dependent on an access terminal associated with the subscriber not accessing any access point associated with the closed subscriber group for a defined period of time after the setting of the timer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the accessing comprises reselection.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the accessing comprises sending of a non-access stratum message.

19. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

a subscription database configured to determine that a subscriber is no longer a member of a closed subscriber group, and further configured to set an indication that the subscriber is no longer a member of the closed subscriber group as a result of the determination; and

a communication controller configured to send the indication to a mobility manager.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the setting of the indication comprises setting the indication to a value that indicates that removal is pending for an identifier of the closed subscriber group from a list of closed subscriber groups at an access terminal associated with the subscriber.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the determination comprises determining that the subscriber has been removed from the closed subscriber group.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the determination comprises determining that a subscription to the closed subscriber group has expired.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the subscription database is further configured to:

set a timer as a result of the determination;

determine that the timer expired; and

remove an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber as a result of the expiration of the timer.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the expiration of the timer is dependent on an access terminal associated with the subscriber not accessing any access point associated with the closed subscriber group for a defined period of time after the setting of the timer.

25. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for determining that a subscriber is no longer a member of a closed subscriber group;

means for setting an indication that the subscriber is no longer a member of the closed subscriber group as a result of the determination; and

means for sending the indication to a mobility manager.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the setting of the indication comprises setting the indication to a value that indicates that removal is pending for an identifier of the closed subscriber group from a list of closed subscriber groups at an access terminal associated with the subscriber.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the determination comprises determining that the subscriber has been removed from the closed subscriber group.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the determination comprises determining that a subscription to the closed subscriber group has expired.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

means for setting a timer as a result of the determination;

means for determining that the timer expired; and

means for removing an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber as a result of the expiration of the timer.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the expiration of the timer is dependent on an access terminal associated with the subscriber not accessing any access point associated with the closed subscriber group for a defined period of time after the setting of the timer.

31. A computer-program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to;

determine that a subscriber is no longer a member of a closed subscriber group;

set an indication that the subscriber is no longer a member of the closed subscriber group as a result of the determination; and

send the indication to a mobility manager.

32. The computer-program product of claim 31, wherein the setting of the indication comprises setting the indication to a value that indicates that removal is pending for an identifier of the closed subscriber group from a list of closed subscriber groups at an access terminal associated with the subscriber.

33. The computer-program product of claim 31, wherein the determination comprises determining that the subscriber has been removed from the closed subscriber group.

34. The computer-program product of claim 31, wherein the determination comprises determining that a subscription to the closed subscriber group has expired.

35. The computer-program product of claim 31, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to:

set a timer as a result of the determination;

determine that the timer expired; and

remove an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber as a result of the expiration of the timer.

36. The computer-program product of claim 35, wherein the expiration of the timer is dependent on an access terminal associated with the subscriber not accessing any access point associated with the closed subscriber group for a defined period of time after the setting of the timer.

37. A method of communication, comprising:

receiving an indication that a subscriber is no longer a member of a closed subscriber group;

determining that an access terminal associated with the subscriber is to be paged; and

paging the access terminal at an access point associated with the closed subscriber group based on the receipt of the indication and the determination.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the indication indicates that removal is pending for an identifier of the closed subscriber group from a list of closed subscriber groups at the access terminal.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the list comprises an allowed closed subscriber group list.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein:

the receipt of the indication comprises receiving closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber; and

the subscriber information includes the indication.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising rejecting an attempted access by the access terminal at an access point associated with the closed subscriber group based on the receipt of the indication.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein:

the indication is received from a network entity;

the method further comprises sending a message to the network entity as a result of the rejection; and

the message comprises an indication that the network entity may remove an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising removing an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber as a result of the rejection.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein the indication is received from a network entity, the method further comprising receiving a message from the network entity that requests removal of an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber.

45. The method of claim 37, wherein the paging of the access terminal is performed by mobility manager that controls access for the access terminal.

46. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

setting a timer as a result of the receipt of the indication;

determining that the timer expired; and

removing an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber as a result of the expiration of the timer.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the expiration of the timer is dependent on the access terminal not accessing any access point associated with the closed subscriber group for a defined period of time after the setting of the timer.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the accessing comprises reselection.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the accessing comprises sending of a non-access stratum message.

50. The method of claim 37, wherein the determination that the access terminal is to be paged comprises receiving a message that indicates that the access terminal is to be paged.

51. The method of claim 37, wherein the determination that the access terminal is to be paged comprises receiving a packet destined for the access terminal.

52. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

a communication controller configured to receive an indication that a subscriber is no longer a member of a closed subscriber group; and

a paging controller configured to determine that an access terminal associated with the subscriber is to be paged, and further configured to page the access terminal at an access point associated with the closed subscriber group based on the receipt of the indication and the determination.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the indication indicates that removal is pending for an identifier of the closed subscriber group from a list of closed subscriber groups at the access terminal.

54. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising an access controller configured to reject an attempted access by the access terminal at an access point associated with the closed subscriber group based on the receipt of the indication.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a subscriber data manager configured to remove an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber as a result of the rejection.

56. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising a subscriber data manager configured to:

set a timer as a result of the receipt of the indication;

determine that the timer expired; and

remove an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber as a result of the expiration of the timer.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the expiration of the timer is dependent on the access terminal not accessing any access point associated with the closed subscriber group for a defined period of time after the setting of the timer.

58. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for receiving an indication that a subscriber is no longer a member of a closed subscriber group;

means for determining that an access terminal associated with the subscriber is to be paged; and

means for paging the access terminal at an access point associated with the closed subscriber group based on the receipt of the indication and the determination.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the indication indicates that removal is pending for an identifier of the closed subscriber group from a list of closed subscriber groups at the access terminal.

60. The apparatus of claim 58, further comprising means for rejecting an attempted access by the access terminal at an access point associated with the closed subscriber group based on the receipt of the indication.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, further comprising means for removing an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber as a result of the rejection.

62. The apparatus of claim 58, further comprising:

means for setting a timer as a result of the receipt of the indication;

means for determining that the timer expired; and

means for removing an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber as a result of the expiration of the timer.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the expiration of the timer is dependent on the access terminal not accessing any access point associated with the closed subscriber group for a defined period of time after the setting of the timer.

64. A computer-program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to;

receive an indication that a subscriber is no longer a member of a closed subscriber group;

determine that an access terminal associated with the subscriber is to be paged; and

page the access terminal at an access point associated with the closed subscriber group based on the receipt of the indication and the determination.

65. The computer-program product of claim 64, wherein the indication indicates that removal is pending for an identifier of the closed subscriber group from a list of closed subscriber groups at the access terminal.

66. The computer-program product of claim 64, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to reject an attempted access by the access terminal at an access point associated with the closed subscriber group based on the receipt of the indication.

67. The computer-program product of claim 66, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to remove an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber as a result of the rejection.

68. The computer-program product of claim 64, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to:

set a timer as a result of the receipt of the indication;

determine that the timer expired; and

remove an identifier of the closed subscriber group from closed subscriber group subscriber information for the subscriber as a result of the expiration of the timer.

69. The computer-program product of claim 68, wherein the expiration of the timer is dependent on the access terminal not accessing any access point associated with the closed subscriber group for a defined period of time after the setting of the timer.