MANAGING ACCESS CONTROL TO CLOSED SUBSCRIBER GROUPS

• US 20100203865A1
• Filed: 02/05/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Griot, Miguel, Agashe, Parag A., Subramanian, Ramachandran, Song, Osok, Singh, Damanjit, Horn, Gavin B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,571,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• 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 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate managing access control to Closed Subscriber Groups (CSGs) in a wireless communication environment. A user equipment (UE) can store an operator CSG list, which can be read only and controlled by an operator. Further, the operator CSG list can lack synchronization to a CSG subscription for the UE retained in the network. Thus, upon selecting to access a CSG cell associated with a CSG with a corresponding CSG Identifier (ID) included in the operator CSG list of the UE, a reject message that indicates that the UE lacks authorization for the CSG can be received. Moreover, the CSG ID can be stored as a forbidden CSG ID of the UE in a set of forbidden CSG IDs in response to receipt of the reject message when the CSG ID is included in the operator CSG list.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

selecting to access a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell associated with a CSG with a corresponding CSG Identifier (ID) included in an operator CSG list of a user equipment (UE), the operator CSG list being read only and controlled by an operator;

receiving a reject message that indicates the UE lacks authorization for the CSG; and

storing the CSG ID as a forbidden CSG ID of the UE in a set of forbidden CSG IDs in response to receipt of the reject message when the CSG ID is included in the operator CSG list.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the forbidden CSG ID in a forbidden CSG list of the UE.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE is removed from the CSG before the operator CSG list is updated to delete the CSG ID.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a membership of the UE for the CSG expires before the operator CSG list is updated to delete the CSG ID.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a given CSG cell associated with a given CSG with a corresponding CSG ID stored as a given forbidden CSG ID in the set of forbidden CSG IDs is considered unsuitable for access by the UE.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the set of forbidden CSG IDs from a set of CSG IDs included in the operator CSG list to yield a remaining subset of CSG IDs, wherein CSG cells associated with CSGs with corresponding CSG IDs included in the remaining subset of CSG IDs are considered suitable for access by the UE.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein CSG cells with forbidden CSG IDs are considered unsuitable for access by the UE.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein CSG cells with CSG IDs omitted from the operator CSG list and omitted from an allowed CSG list of the UE are considered unsuitable for access by the UE, the UE having read and write permissions for the allowed CSG list.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating an update of the operator CSG list when at least one forbidden CSG ID is stored.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising initiating the update of the operator CSG list at a time of a next access when the at least one forbidden CSG ID is stored.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising initiating the update of the operator CSG list after a predetermined length of time during which the at least one forbidden CSG ID is stored.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising erasing the set of forbidden CSG IDs.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising erasing the set of forbidden CSG IDs upon switching off the UE.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising erasing the set of forbidden CSG IDs upon removal of a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) from the UE.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising erasing the set of forbidden CSG IDs periodically.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising erasing the set of forbidden CSG IDs upon the operator CSG list being updated.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) identity associated with the CSG cell with the forbidden CSG ID.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the CSG ID from the set of forbidden CSG IDs.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

sending an attach request message to the CSG cell corresponding to the CSG ID stored as the forbidden CSG ID based upon a manual CSG selection;

receiving an attach accept message from the CSG cell in response to the attach request message; and

removing the CSG ID from the set of forbidden CSG IDs in response to receipt of the attach accept message.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

sending a request message to the CSG cell corresponding to the CSG ID stored as the forbidden CSG ID based upon a manual CSG selection, wherein the request message is one of a tracking area update request message, a location area updating request message, or a routing area update request message;

receiving an accept message from the CSG cell in response to the request message, wherein the accept message is one of a tracking area update accept message, a location area updating accept message, or a routing area update accept message; and

removing the CSG ID from the set of forbidden CSG IDs in response to receipt of the accept message.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising removing the CSG ID from the set of forbidden CSG IDs when the CSG ID is removed from the operator CSG list.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending at least one of an attach request message, a detach request message, a tracking area update request message, a location area updating request message, or a routing area update request message upon selecting to access the CSG cell associated with the CSG with the corresponding CSG ID included in the operator CSG list.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising inhibiting inclusion of the CSG ID in a list of allowed CSG identities provided to an Access Stratum (AS) for cell selection in response to receipt of the reject message when the CSG ID is included in the operator CSG list.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising inhibiting display of the CSG ID as being in the operator CSG list for manual CSG selection mode upon the CSG ID being stored as the forbidden CSG ID.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising inhibiting display of the CSG ID as being associated with a CSG for which the UE is a member when the CSG ID is stored as the forbidden CSG ID.

26. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

select to access a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell associated with a CSG with a corresponding CSG Identifier (ID) included in an operator CSG list of a user equipment (UE), the operator CSG list being read only and controlled by an operator;

receive a reject message that indicates the UE lacks authorization for the CSG; and

retain the CSG ID as a forbidden CSG ID of the UE in a set of forbidden CSG IDs in response to receipt of the reject message when the CSG ID is included in the operator CSG list.

27. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least one of the UE is removed from the CSG before the operator CSG list is updated to delete the CSG ID or a membership of the UE for the CSG expires before the operator CSG list is updated to delete the CSG ID.

28. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 26, wherein a given CSG cell is recognized as being one of suitable or unsuitable for access by the UE as a function of at least the operator CSG list and the set of forbidden CSG IDs.

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

at least one processor configured to;

initiate an update of the operator CSG list when at least one forbidden CSG ID is retained.

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

at least one processor configured to;

erase the set of forbidden CSG IDs at least one of upon switching off the UE, upon removal of a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) from the UE, periodically, or upon the operator CSG list being updated.

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

at least one processor configured to;

retain a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) identity associated with the CSG cell with the forbidden CSG ID.

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

at least one processor configured to;

remove the CSG ID from the set of forbidden CSG IDs upon receipt of an accept message from the CSG cell obtained in response to an attach request message sent as part of a manual CSG selection.

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

at least one processor configured to;

remove the CSG ID from the set of forbidden CSG IDs when the CSG ID is removed from the operator CSG list.

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

at least one processor configured to;

inhibit inclusion of the CSG ID in a list of allowed CSG identities provided to an Access Stratum (AS) for cell selection in response to receipt of the reject message when the CSG ID is included in the operator CSG list.

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

at least one processor configured to;

inhibit display of the CSG ID as being in the operator CSG list for manual CSG selection mode upon the CSG ID being stored as the forbidden CSG ID.

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

at least one processor configured to;

inhibit display of the CSG ID as being associated with a CSG for which the UE is a member when the CSG ID is retained as the forbidden CSG ID.

37. An apparatus, comprising:

means for selecting to access a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell associated with a CSG with a corresponding CSG Identifier (ID) included in an operator CSG list of a user equipment (UE), the operator CSG list being read only and controlled by an operator; and

means for storing the CSG ID as a forbidden CSG ID in response to receipt of a reject message that indicates that the UE lacks authorization for the CSG when the CSG ID is included in the operator CSG list.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising means for removing at least the forbidden CSG ID from a set of forbidden CSG IDs.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein a set of forbidden CSG IDs is erased.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising means for identifying CSG cells suitable for access.

41. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein at least one of the UE is removed from the CSG before the operator CSG list is updated to delete the CSG ID or a membership of the UE for the CSG expires before the operator CSG list is updated to delete the CSG ID.

42. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to select to access a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell associated with a CSG with a corresponding CSG Identifier (ID) included in an operator CSG list of a user equipment (UE), the operator CSG list being read only and controlled by an operator; and

code for causing at least one computer to store the CSG ID as a forbidden CSG ID in response to receipt of a reject message that indicates that the UE lacks authorization for the CSG when the CSG ID is included in the operator CSG list.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing at least one computer to remove at least the forbidden CSG ID from a set of forbidden CSG IDs.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the set of forbidden CSG IDs is erased.

45. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing at least one computer to identify CSG cells suitable for access based upon the operator CSG list and a set of forbidden CSG IDs that includes the forbidden CSG ID.

46. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein at least one of the UE is removed from the CSG before the operator CSG list is updated to delete the CSG ID or a membership of the UE for the CSG expires before the operator CSG list is updated to delete the CSG ID.

47. An apparatus, comprising:

a selection component that selects to access a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell associated with a CSG with a corresponding CSG Identifier (ID) included in an operator CSG list of a user equipment (UE), the operator CSG list being read only and controlled by an operator; and

a forbidden CSG management component that stores the CSG ID as a forbidden CSG ID in a set of forbidden CSG IDs in response to receipt of a reject message that indicates that the UE lacks authorization for the CSG when the CSG ID is included in the operator CSG list.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising a filter component that recognizes CSG cells that are suitable for access by the UE based upon the operator CSG list and the set of forbidden CSG IDs.

49. A method, comprising:

receiving a message indicating that a user equipment (UE) is not authorized for a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG);

recognizing whether a CSG Identifier (ID) corresponding to the CSG is present in an operator CSG list, the operator CSG list being read only and controlled by an operator; and

inhibiting inclusion of the CSG ID in a list of allowed CSG IDs provided to an Access Stratum (AS) for cell selection when the CSG ID is present in the operator CSG list.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the list of allowed CSG IDs is provided to the AS by a Non-Access Stratum (NAS).

51. The method of claim 49, further comprising inhibiting the CSG ID from being included in the list of allowed CSG IDs for at least one of a period of time, until the UE is switched off, until a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) is removed from the UE, or the operator CSG list is updated.

52. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a message indicating that a user equipment (UE) is not authorized for a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG);

recognize whether a CSG Identifier (ID) corresponding to the CSG is present in an operator CSG list, the operator CSG list being read only and controlled by an operator; and

inhibit inclusion of the CSG ID in a list of allowed CSG IDs provided to an Access Stratum (AS) for cell selection when the CSG ID is present in the operator CSG list.

53. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 52, wherein the list of allowed CSG IDs is provided to the AS by a Non-Access Stratum (NAS).

54. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 52, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

inhibit the CSG ID from being included in the list of allowed CSG IDs for at least one of a period of time, until the UE is switched off, until a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) is removed from the UE, or the operator CSG list is updated.

55. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a message indicating that a user equipment (UE) is not authorized for a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG); and

means for inhibiting inclusion of a CSG Identifier (ID) corresponding to the CSG in a list of allowed CSG IDs provided to an Access Stratum (AS) for cell selection when the CSG ID is present in an operator CSG list, the operator CSG list being read only and controlled by an operator.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising means for identifying whether the CSG ID corresponding to the CSG is present in the operator CSG list.

57. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive a message indicating that a user equipment (UE) is not authorized for a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG); and

code for causing at least one computer to inhibit inclusion of a CSG Identifier (ID) corresponding to the CSG in a list of allowed CSG IDs provided to an Access Stratum (AS) for cell selection when the CSG ID is present in an operator CSG list, the operator CSG list being read only and controlled by an operator.

58. The computer program product of claim 57, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing at least one computer to identify whether the CSG ID corresponding to the CSG is present in the operator CSG list.

59. An apparatus, comprising:

a forbidden CSG management component that receives a message indicating that a user equipment (UE) is not authorized for a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG); and

a filter component that inhibits inclusion of a CSG Identifier (ID) corresponding to the CSG in a list of allowed CSG IDs provided to an Access Stratum (AS) for cell selection when the CSG ID is present in an operator CSG list, the operator CSG list being read only and controlled by an operator.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, the filter component inhibits the CSG ID from being included in the list of allowed CSG IDs for at least one of a period of time, until the UE is switched off, until a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) is removed from the UE, or the operator CSG list is updated.

61. A method, comprising:

receiving a message indicating that a user equipment (UE) is not authorized for a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG);

recognizing whether a CSG Identifier (ID) corresponding to the CSG is present in an operator CSG list, the operator CSG list being read only and controlled by an operator; and

inhibiting the UE from indicating that the CSG ID is in the operator CSG list stored in the UE for manual CSG selection mode.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising inhibiting the UE from indicating that the CSG ID is in the operator CSG list stored in the UE for at least one of a period of time, until the UE is switched off, until a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) is removed from the UE, or until the operator CSG list is updated.

63. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a message indicating that a user equipment (UE) is not authorized for a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG);

recognize whether a CSG Identifier (ID) corresponding to the CSG is present in an operator CSG list, the operator CSG list being read only and controlled by an operator; and

inhibit the UE from indicating that the CSG ID is in the operator CSG list stored in the UE for manual CSG selection mode.

64. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 63, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

inhibit the UE from indicating that the CSG ID is in the operator CSG list stored in the UE for at least one of a period of time, until the UE is switched off, until a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) is removed from the UE, or until the operator CSG list is updated.

65. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a message indicating that a user equipment (UE) is not authorized for a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG); and

means for inhibiting the UE from indicating that a CSG Identifier (ID) corresponding to the CSG is in an operator CSG list stored in the UE for manual CSG selection mode, the operator CSG list being read only and controlled by an operator.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, further comprising means for identifying whether the CSG ID corresponding to the CSG is present in the operator CSG list.

67. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive a message indicating that a user equipment (UE) is not authorized for a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG); and

code for causing at least one computer to inhibit the UE from indicating that a CSG Identifier (ID) corresponding to the CSG is in an operator CSG list stored in the UE for manual CSG selection mode, the operator CSG list being read only and controlled by an operator.

68. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing at least one computer to identify whether the CSG ID corresponding to the CSG is present in the operator CSG list.

69. An apparatus, comprising:

a display component that renders a list of Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) Identifiers (IDs) included in an operator CSG list stored in a user equipment (UE) for manual CSG selection, the operator CSG list being read only and controlled by an operator;

a forbidden CSG management component that receives a message indicating that the UE is not authorized for a CSG; and

a filter component that inhibits the display component from indicating that a CSG ID corresponding to the CSG is in the operator CSG list stored in the UE for manual CSG selection.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, the filter component inhibits the display component from indicating that the CSG ID corresponding to the CSG is in the operator CSG list stored in the UE for at least one of a period of time, until the UE is switched off, until a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) is removed from the UE, or until the operator CSG list is updated.