CLOSED SUBSCRIBER GROUP (CSG) HANDLING FOR SUPPORTING NETWORK SHARING OF HOME BASE STATIONS

• US 20120157095A1
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Fodor, Gabor, Mildh, Gunnar, Vikberg, Jari, Hedberg, Tomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,392,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management

Abstract

A system and method for enhanced support for handling of Closed Subscriber Groups (CSGs) and sharing of Radio Access Network (RAN) for home base stations and other small cells. An enhanced System Information (SI) structure indicates multiple CSG IDs and CSG Indications, thereby making it possible to support different CSG IDs and CSG Indications for every Public Land Mobile Network Identity (PLMN-ID) and also to support a PLMN-ID with multiple associated CSG IDs and CSG Indications. The enhanced SI makes it possible to have different CSG IDs for different operators, to have multiple CSG IDs for one operator (i.e., a single PLMN), and to selectively use the CSG concept for some PLMNs (as given by their respective CSG Indications), but not for all. A network of base stations (e.g., a RAN) thus can be effectively shared by multiple operators, leading to better cellular coverage, peak rates, and capacity.

Claims

1. A method of communicating Closed Subscriber Group (CSG)-related information with a User Equipment (UE) that is in wireless communication with a processor, the method comprises:

using the processor, providing System Information (SI) to the UE containing at least one of the following;

a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)-specific CSG Identity (ID) parameter for each of a plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI, and a PLMN-specific CSG Indication parameter for each of the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI; and

using the processor, receiving from the UE a first intimation of a PLMN selected by the UE from the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one PLMN-specific CSG-ID parameter in the SI includes a corresponding plurality of PLMN-specific CSG sub-identifiers.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the processor, receiving from the UE a second intimation of a PLMN-specific CSG-ID parameter for the PLMN selected by the UE.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the PLMN-specific CSG-ID parameter for the UE-selected PLMN includes a plurality of PLMN-specific CSG sub-identifiers for the UE-selected PLMN, and wherein receiving the second intimation includes:

receiving at least one of the plurality of CSG sub-identifiers from the UE as part of the second intimation.

5. A method of communicating Closed Subscriber Group (CSG)-related information with a processor that is in wireless communication with a User Equipment (UE), the method comprises:

the UE receiving System Information (SI) from the processor containing at least one of the following;

a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)-specific CSG Identity (ID) parameter for each of a plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI, and a PLMN-specific CSG Indication parameter for each of the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI; and

the UE sending to the processor a first intimation of a PLMN selected by the UE from the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

the UE sending to the processor a second intimation of a PLMN-specific CSG-ID parameter for the PLMN selected by the UE.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the PLMN-specific CSG-ID parameter for the UE-selected PLMN includes a plurality of PLMN-specific CSG sub-identifiers for the UE-selected PLMN, and wherein the UE sending the second intimation includes:

the UE sending at least one of the plurality of CSG sub-identifiers as part of the second intimation to the processor.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the UE sending the second intimation includes:

the UE checking a list of allowed CSGs stored therein to determine whether there is a matching entry in the list for the PLMN-specific CSG-ID parameter for the PLMN selected by the UE; and

the UE sending the second intimation to the processor when the matching entry is present in the list of allowed CSGs.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the UE checking the list of allowed CSGs includes:

the UE checking a PLMN-specific CSG Indication parameter in the SI for the PLMN selected by the UE; and

the UE checking the list of allowed CSGs when the PLMN-specific CSG Indication parameter for the PLMN selected by the UE indicates that the UE-selected PLMN is a closed CSG cell.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the UE sending the first intimation to the processor includes one of the following:

the UE selecting a Registered Public Land Mobile Network (RPLMN) from the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI;

the UE selecting that PLMN from the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI which is also listed in a list of allowed CSGs stored in said UE; and

the UE selecting an Equivalent Public Land Mobile Network (EPLMN) from the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI.

11. A mobile communication node configured to provide a radio interface to a User Equipment (UE), wherein the mobile communication node comprises:

a processor operable to provide System Information (SI) to the UE, the SI containing at least one of the following;

a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)-specific CSG Identity (ID) parameter for each of a plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI, and

a PLMN-specific CSG Indication parameter for each of the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI; and

a receiver operable to receive from the UE a first intimation of a PLMN selected by the UE from the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI.

12. The mobile communication node of claim 11, wherein the receiver is further operable to receive from the UE a second intimation of a PLMN-specific CSG-ID parameter for the PLMN selected by the UE.

13. The mobile communication node of claim 12, wherein the PLMN-specific CSG-ID parameter for the UE-selected PLMN includes a plurality of PLMN-specific CSG sub-identifiers for the UE-selected PLMN, and wherein the receiver is further operable to receive the-second intimation by receiving from the UE as part of the second intimation all those CSG sub-identifiers from the plurality of CSG sub-identifiers that have corresponding matching entries in a list of allowed CSGs stored in the UE.

14. A User Equipment (UE) wirelessly operable with a mobile communication node via a radio interface provided by the mobile communication node, the UE comprises:

a receiver operable to receive System Information (SI) from the mobile communication node, the SI containing at least one of the following;

a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)-specific CSG Identity (ID) parameter for each of a plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI, and

a PLMN-specific CSG Indication parameter for each of the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI; and

a processor operable to send to the mobile communication node a first intimation of a PLMN selected by the UE from the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI.

15. The UE of claim 14, wherein the processor is further operable to:

send to the mobile communication node a second intimation of a PLMN-specific CSG-ID parameter for the PLMN selected by the UE.

16. The UE of claim 15, wherein the PLMN-specific CSG-ID parameter for the UE-selected PLMN includes a plurality of PLMN-specific CSG sub-identifiers for the UE-selected PLMN, and wherein the processor is operable to send the second intimation by sending at least one of the plurality of CSG sub-identifiers as part of the second intimation to the processor.

17. The UE of claim 16, wherein the processor is operable to send at least one of the plurality of CSG sub-identifiers by sending, as part of the second intimation, all those CSG sub-identifiers from the plurality of CSG sub-identifiers that have corresponding matching entries in a list of allowed CSGs stored in the UE.

18. The UE of claim 15, wherein the processor is operable to send the second intimation by:

checking a PLMN-specific CSG Indication parameter in the SI for the PLMN selected by the UE;

checking a list of allowed CSGs stored in the UE to determine whether there is a matching entry in the list for the PLMN-specific CSG-ID parameter for the PLMN selected by the UE, wherein the list of allowed CSGs is checked when the. PLMN-specific. CSG Indication parameter for the PLMN selected by the UE indicates that the UE-selected PLMN is a closed CSG cell; and

sending the second intimation to the mobile communication node when the matching entry is present in the list of allowed CSGs.

19. The UE of claim 14, wherein the processor is operable to send the first intimation to the mobile communication node by performing one of the following operations:

selecting a Registered Public Land Mobile Network (RPLMN) from the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI;

selecting that PLMN from the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI which is also listed in a list of allowed CSGs stored in said UE; and

selecting an Equivalent Public Land Mobile Network (EPLMN) from the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI.

20. A system comprising:

a mobile communication node configured to provide a radio interface to a mobile handset and to also provide to the mobile handset, System Information (SI) including at least one of the following;

a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)-specific CSG Identity (ID) parameter for each of a plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI, and

a PLMN-specific CSG Indication parameter for each of the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI; and

the mobile handset wirelessly operable with the mobile communication node via the radio interface provided thereby, wherein the mobile handset is configured to send to the mobile communication node a first intimation of a PLMN selected by the mobile handset from the plurality of PLMNs identified in the SI.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the mobile handset is further configured to send to the mobile communication node a second intimation of a PLMN-specific CSG-ID parameter for the PLMN selected by the, mobile handset.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the PLMN-specific CSG-ID parameter for the PLMN selected by the mobile handset includes a plurality of PLMN-specific CSG sub-identifiers for the mobile handset-selected PLMN, and wherein the mobile handset is configured to send at least one of the plurality of CSG sub-identifiers as part of the second intimation to the mobile communication node.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the mobile, handset is configured to send as part of the second intimation all those CSG sub-identifiers from the plurality of CSG sub-identifiers that have corresponding matching entries in a list of allowed CSGs stored in the mobile handset, and wherein the system further comprises:

a network node configured to check network access rights of the mobile handset to each CSG corresponding to each CSG sub-identifier received from the mobile handset, and to select a single CSG to which the mobile handset has network access rights, and

wherein the mobile communication node is configured to allow the mobile handset to access the single CSG.