User-Customized Mobility Method and System in a Mobile Communication System

• US 20100216426A1
• Filed: 10/16/2007
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Ben Jemaa, Sana, Karim, Fatima
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/73 Access point logical identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

An access point to a restricted-access cell of a cellular network detects at least one cell of the cellular network in the vicinity of the cell in which it is located. It sends a server of the cellular network an identifier (RAC1) of the restricted-access cell, an identifier of the cell(s) detected, and an identifier of at least one user (U1) authorized to access the restricted-access cell. On reception of this information, the server stores it in a database (26) and can therefore send a mobile terminal (10) of said user (U1) the identifier (RAC1) of the restricted-access cell it is authorized to access. This identifier can be sent if the server detects that the mobile terminal (10) is in the vicinity of the restricted-access cell and/or periodically and/or in the event of a change to the information stored in the database (26) of the server.

Claims

1. A server adapted to be used in a cellular network, comprising:

means for receiving an identifier of a user, an identifier of a restricted-access cell authorized for that user, and at least one identifier of a detection area of said restricted-access cell, coming from an access point to said restricted-access cell;

means for storing the received identifiers; and

means for sending said identifier of said restricted-access cell to a mobile terminal of said user.

2. The server according to claim 1, comprising means for detecting that said mobile terminal is in a detection area of a restricted-access cell that is authorized for a user of the terminal and said means for sending said restricted-access cell identifier to said mobile terminal are activated if said mobile terminal is in said detection area.

3. The server according to claim 1, wherein said detection area corresponds to the coverage area of a cell of said network.

4. The server according to claim 1, wherein said means for sending said identifier of said restricted-access cell also send to said mobile terminal said identifier of said detection area of said restricted-access cell and said sending means are activated periodically and/or in the event of changing at least one of the identifiers stored in said storage means.

5. A method of setting parameters of a mobile terminal, adapted to be used by a server in a cellular network, comprising:

a step of said server receiving an identifier of a user, an identifier of a restricted-access cell authorized for that user, and at least one identifier of a detection area of said restricted-access cell;

a step of storing the received identifiers in a database; and

a step of sending the identifier of said restricted-access cell to a mobile terminal of said user.

6. A computer program including instructions for executing the steps of the parameter setting method of claim 5 when said program is executed by a computer.

7. An access point to a restricted-access cell of a cellular network, comprising:

means for detecting at least one cell of said cellular network in the vicinity of the cell comprising said access point; and

means for sending a server of said cellular network an identifier of said restricted-access cell, an identifier of the cell(s) detected, and an identifier of at least one user authorized to access said restricted-access cell.