ACCESS MODE-BASED ACCESS CONTROL

• US 20100279687A1
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Horn, Gavin Bernard, Agashe, Parag Arun, Prakash, Rajat, Gupta, Rajarshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,954,077 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0038 of security context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• 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 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Access control for an access point (e.g., a cell of the access point) may be based on an access mode associated with the access point. For example, depending on the access mode, access control may involve performing a membership check for the access point. Such a membership check may be performed at a network entity, a source access point, or some other suitable location in a network. In some aspects, access control may involve performing a membership check for an access point in conjunction with a context fetch procedure. Such a procedure may be performed, for example, when an access terminal arrives at the access point after experiencing RLF at another access point.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

determining whether an access terminal is a member of a subscriber group associated with a cell, wherein the determination is based on a subscriber group list associated with the access terminal; and

sending a message to initiate handover of the access terminal to the cell, wherein the message comprises an indication of whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an identifier of the subscriber group, wherein the determination of whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group comprises determining whether the subscriber group list includes the subscriber group identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determination of the subscriber group identifier comprises receiving the subscriber group identifier from the access terminal

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the determination of the subscriber group identifier comprises obtaining the subscriber group identifier via at least one of the group consisting of:

neighbor relations, configuration by an operations, administration, and maintenance network entity, and direct transfer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an access mode of the cell; and

determining whether to include the indication in the message based on the access mode.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the access mode indicates whether the cell is a hybrid cell that provides a different level of service for member access terminals than is provided for non-member access terminals.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the determination of the access mode comprises receiving an indication of the access mode from the access terminal

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the determination of the access mode comprises determining the access mode based on a physical cell identifier of the cell.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the determination of the access mode comprises determining the access mode based on a cell global identifier of the cell.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the determination of the access mode comprises obtaining an indication of the access mode via at least one of the group consisting of:

neighbor relations, configuration by an operations, administration, and maintenance network entity, and direct transfer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination is made at an access point.

12. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

an access controller configured to determine whether an access terminal is a member of a subscriber group associated with a cell, wherein the determination is based on a subscriber group list associated with the access terminal; and

a transmitter configured to send a message to initiate handover of the access terminal to the cell, wherein the message comprises an indication of whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the access controller is further configured to:

determine an access mode of the cell; and

determine whether to include the indication in the message based on the access mode.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the access mode indicates whether the cell is a hybrid cell that provides a different level of service for member access terminals than is provided for non-member access terminals.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the determination of the access mode comprises determining the access mode based on a physical cell identifier of the cell.

16. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for determining whether an access terminal is a member of a subscriber group associated with a cell, wherein the determination is based on a subscriber group list associated with the access terminal; and

means for sending a message to initiate handover of the access terminal to the cell, wherein the message comprises an indication of whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

means for determining an access mode of the cell; and

means for determining whether to include the indication in the message based on the access mode.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the access mode indicates whether the cell is a hybrid cell that provides a different level of service for member access terminals than is provided for non-member access terminals.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the determination of the access mode comprises determining the access mode based on a physical cell identifier of the cell.

20. A computer-program product, comprising:

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

determine whether an access terminal is a member of a subscriber group associated with a cell, wherein the determination is based on a subscriber group list associated with the access terminal; and

send a message to initiate handover of the access terminal to the cell, wherein the message comprises an indication of whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group.

21. The computer-program product of claim 20, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to:

determine an access mode of the cell; and

determine whether to include the indication in the message based on the access mode.

22. The computer-program product of claim 21, wherein the access mode indicates whether the cell is a hybrid cell that provides a different level of service for member access terminals than is provided for non-member access terminals.

23. The computer-program product of claim 21, wherein the determination of the access mode comprises determining the access mode based on a physical cell identifier of the cell.

24. A method of communication, comprising:

receiving a first message from a first cell, wherein the first message requests context information associated with an access terminal that has accessed the first cell;

determining a subscriber group associated with the first cell;

determining whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group based on a subscriber group list associated with the access terminal; and

sending a second message to a second cell as a result of the determination of whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group, wherein the second message requests the context information from the second cell.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the determination of the subscriber group comprises determining an identifier of the subscriber group; and

the determination of whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group comprises determining whether the subscriber group list includes the subscriber group identifier.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the determination of the subscriber group identifier comprises receiving the subscriber group identifier from the first cell.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the subscriber group identifier is received from the first cell via the first message.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the subscriber group identifier is received from the first cell via a registration message.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the second message comprises the subscriber group identifier.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining an access mode of the first cell, wherein the determination of whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group is based on the access mode.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the access mode indicates whether the cell is a hybrid cell that provides a different level of service for member access terminals than is provided for non-member access terminals.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the determination of the access mode comprises receiving an indication of the access mode from the first cell.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the access mode indication is received from the first cell via the first message.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the access mode indication is received from the first cell via a registration message.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the second message comprises an indication of the access mode.

36. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving an identifier of the access terminal from the first cell via the first message.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein the first message is received as a result of the access terminal accessing the first cell after experiencing radio link failure at the second cell.

38. The method of claim 24, wherein the determination of whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group is made at a mobility management entity.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the first message comprises a context fetch; and

the mobility management entity forwards the context fetch as the second message.

40. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a first message from a first cell, wherein the first message requests context information associated with an access terminal that has accessed the first cell;

an access controller configured to determine a subscriber group associated with the first cell, and further configured to determine whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group based on a subscriber group list associated with the access terminal; and

a transmitter configured to send a second message to a second cell as a result of the determination of whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group, wherein the second message requests the context information from the second cell.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein:

the access controller is further configured to determine an access mode of the first cell; and

the determination of whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group is based on the access mode.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the access mode indicates whether the cell is a hybrid cell that provides a different level of service for member access terminals than is provided for non-member access terminals.

43. The apparatus of claim 40, the receiver is further configured to receive an identifier of the access terminal from the first cell via the first message.

44. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the first message is received as a result of the access terminal accessing the first cell after experiencing radio link failure at the second cell.

45. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for receiving a first message from a first cell, wherein the first message requests context information associated with an access terminal that has accessed the first cell;

means for determining a subscriber group associated with the first cell;

means for determining whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group based on a subscriber group list associated with the access terminal; and

means for sending a second message to a second cell as a result of the determination of whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group, wherein the second message requests the context information from the second cell.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising means for determining an access mode of the first cell, wherein the determination of whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group is based on the access mode.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the access mode indicates whether the cell is a hybrid cell that provides a different level of service for member access terminals than is provided for non-member access terminals.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising means for receiving an identifier of the access terminal from the first cell via the first message.

49. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the first message is received as a result of the access terminal accessing the first cell after experiencing radio link failure at the second cell.

50. A computer-program product, comprising:

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

receive a first message from a first cell, wherein the first message requests context information associated with an access terminal that has accessed the first cell;

determine a subscriber group associated with the first cell;

determine whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group based on a subscriber group list associated with the access terminal; and

send a second message to a second cell as a result of the determination of whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group, wherein the second message requests the context information from the second cell.

51. The computer-program product of claim 50, wherein:

the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to determine an access mode of the first cell; and

the determination of whether the access terminal is a member of the subscriber group is based on the access mode.

52. The computer-program product of claim 51, wherein the access mode indicates whether the cell is a hybrid cell that provides a different level of service for member access terminals than is provided for non-member access terminals.

53. The computer-program product of claim 50, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to receive an identifier of the access terminal from the first cell via the first message.

54. The computer-program product of claim 50, wherein the first message is received as a result of the access terminal accessing the first cell after experiencing radio link failure at the second cell.

55. A method of communication, comprising:

receiving a request from an access terminal to establish a connection at a cell;

determining that context information associated with the access terminal is needed as a result of the request; and

sending a message requesting the context information, wherein the message comprises a subscriber group identifier associated with the cell and an access mode identifier associated with the cell.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the message is sent to a mobility management entity.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the request is received as a result of the access terminal experiencing radio link failure at another cell.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the request comprises an identifier of the another cell.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the request comprises a subscriber group identifier associated with the another cell.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the message further comprises the subscriber group identifier of the another cell.

61. The method of claim 55, wherein the message further comprises a cell global identifier of the cell.

62. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a request from an access terminal to establish a connection at a cell;

an access controller configured to determine that context information associated with the access terminal is needed as a result of the request; and

a transmitter configured to send a message requesting the context information, wherein the message comprises a subscriber group identifier associated with the cell and an access mode identifier associated with the cell.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the request is received as a result of the access terminal experiencing radio link failure at another cell.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the request comprises a subscriber group identifier associated with the another cell.

65. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for receiving a request from an access terminal to establish a connection at a cell;

means for determining that context information associated with the access terminal is needed as a result of the request; and

means for sending a message requesting the context information, wherein the message comprises a subscriber group identifier associated with the cell and an access mode

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the request is received as a result of the access terminal experiencing radio link failure at another cell.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the request comprises a subscriber group identifier associated with the another cell.

68. A computer-program product, comprising:

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

receive a request from an access terminal to establish a connection at a cell;

determine that context information associated with the access terminal is needed as a result of the request; and

send a message requesting the context information, wherein the message comprises a subscriber group identifier associated with the cell and an access mode identifier associated with the cell.

69. The computer-program product of claim 68, wherein the request is received as a result of the access terminal experiencing radio link failure at another cell.

70. The computer-program product of claim 69, wherein the request comprises a subscriber group identifier associated with the another cell.