PROVIDING FEMTOCELL ACCESS VIA PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES

• US 20110053569A1
• Filed: 02/03/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, James D., Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Granted Patent: US 8,965,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A personal communication device may operate as a femtocell providing femtocell accessibility and services to a plurality of communication devices that are communicatively coupled to the personal communication device via one or more cellular connections. The personal communication device may connect to one or more broadband networks, via a plurality of wired and/or wireless interfaces, to enable the communication of packets when providing the femtocell accessibility and/or services. The personal communication device may support direct communications via the personal communication device when providing femtocell services. Signal strength may be boosted in the personal communication device when providing femtocell servicing via a signal booster that may be integrated within the personal communication device or may be externally attached to it during femtocell operations. The personal communication device may receive compensation for providing femtocell services to one or more of the plurality of communication devices.

Claims

1. A method for communication, the method comprising:

performing by one or more processors and/or circuits integrated within a personal communication device;

establishing a femtocell that is accessible by one or more communication devices when said one or more communication devices are communicatively coupled to said personal communication device via one or more cellular connections; and

providing femtocell services to said one or more communication devices via said established femtocell, wherein said femtocell services comprise communication of packets to and/or from said one or more communication devices during cellular communication sessions via said one or more communication devices.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising connecting to one or more broadband networks to enable said communication of packets when providing said femtocell services by said personal communication device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said broadband networks comprise satellite networks, cable networks, DVB networks, Internet, and/or local or wide area networks.

4. The method according to claim 2, comprising establishing said connections via a plurality of wired and/or wireless interfaces supported via said personal communication device.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said wireless interfaces comprise wireless personal area network (WPAN) interfaces, wireless local area network (WLAN) interfaces, satellite interfaces, Ultra-wide band (UWB) interfaces, and/or 60 GHz interfaces.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising supporting direct communications via said personal communication device when providing said femtocell services by said personal communication device.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising boosting transmission and/or reception signal strength during femtocell operations via said personal communication device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said signal strength boosting is performed via a signal booster, said signal booster is integrated within said personal communication device or is externally attached to said personal communication device during femtocell operations.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving, by said personal communication device, compensation for providing said femtocell services.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said compensation comprises payment and/or credit for providing said femtocell services.

11. A system for communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a personal communication device, said one or more circuits are operable to establish a femtocell that is accessible by one or more communication devices when said communication devices are communicatively coupled to said personal communication device via cellular connections; and

said one or more circuits are operable to provide femtocell services to said one or more communication devices via said established femtocell, wherein said femtocell services comprise communication of packets to and/or from said one or more communication devices during cellular communication session via said one or more communication devices.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to connect said personal communication device to one or more broadband networks to enable said communication of packets when providing said femtocell services via said personal communication device.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said broadband networks comprise satellite networks, cable networks, DVB networks, Internet, and/or local or wide area networks.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to establish said connections via a plurality of wired and/or wireless interfaces supported via said personal communication device.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said wireless interfaces comprise wireless personal area network (WPAN) interfaces, wireless local area network (WLAN) interfaces, satellite interfaces, Ultra-wide band (UWB) interfaces, and/or 60 GHz interfaces.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to support direct communications via said personal communication device when providing said femtocell services by said personal communication device.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to boost transmission and/or reception signal strength during femtocell operations via said personal communication device.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said signal strength boosting is performed via a signal booster, said signal booster is integrated into said personal communication device or is externally attached to said personal communication device during femtocell operations.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to receive by said personal communication device compensation for providing said femtocell services.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said compensation comprises payment and/or credit for providing said femtocell services.