Interface Authorization Scheme

• US 20120220301A1
• Filed: 05/09/2012
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gupta, Rajarshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,543,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

An authorization scheme controls whether an interface is established between communication nodes. Such a scheme may be used, for example, to determine whether to establish a direct interface (e.g., an X2 interface) between a pair of access points. A decision to establish a direct interface between nodes may be based on a node type of one or both of the nodes. A decision to establish a direct interface between nodes may be based on whether the nodes belong to the same group.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

identifying a first node and a second node for establishing an interface;

determining a type of the second node;

determining whether to send a request to initiate establishing the interface based on the determined type; and

sending the request to the second node based on the determination of whether to send the request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of whether to send the request is further based on whether the type is a macro access point or a femto access point.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of whether to send the request is further based on a type of the first node.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the request is sent if the type of the first node is a macro access point and the type of the second node is a macro access point.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the request is sent if the type of the first node is a macro access point and the type of the second node is a femto access point.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the request is not sent if the type of the first node is a femto access point and the type of the second node is a macro access point.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the request is sent if the type of the first node is a femto access point and the type of the second node is a femto access point.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of whether to send the request comprises determining whether the first node and the second node belong to a common group.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination of whether the first node and the second node belong to the common group comprises determining whether the first node and the second node belong to a common closed subscriber group.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination of whether the first node and the second node belong to the common group comprises determining whether the first node and the second node belong to a common enterprise.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination of whether the first node and the second node belong to the common group comprises determining whether the first node and the second node are under a common gateway.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the type is based on at least one of the group consisting of:

an identifier of the second node, and information obtained about the second node before the identification of the second node.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a direct access point to access point interface.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an X2 interface.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises a CSG indicator associated with one or more of the first node or second node.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination is based on whether the second node is associated with a CSG.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising sending a handover request to the second node, the handover request corresponding to a UE that is associated with the CSG and served by the first node.

18. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

an interface authorization controller configured to identify a first node and a second node for establishing an interface, and further configured to determine a type of the second node, and further configured to determine whether to send a request to initiate establishing the interface based on the determined type; and

a communication controller configured to send the request to the second node based on the determination of whether to send the request.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the determination of whether to send the request is further based on whether the type is a macro access point or a femto access point.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the determination of whether to send the request is further based on a type of the first node.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the determination of whether to send the request comprises determining whether the first node and the second node belong to a common group.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the interface comprises an X2 interface.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the request comprises a CSG indicator associated with one or more of the first node or second node.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the interface authorization controller determines whether to send the request further based on whether the second node is associated with a CSG.

25. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for identifying a first node and a second node for establishing an interface;

means for determining a type of the second node;

means for determining whether to send a request to initiate establishing the interface based on the determined type; and

means for sending the request to the second node based on the determination of whether to send the request.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the determination of whether to send the request is further based on whether the type is a macro access point or a femto access point.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the determination of whether to send the request is further based on a type of the first node.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the determination of whether to send the request comprises determining whether the first node and the second node belong to a common group.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the interface comprises an X2 interface.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the request comprises a CSG indicator associated with one or more of the first node or second node.

31. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the means for determining whether to send the request further determines whether to send the request based on whether the second node is associated with a CSG.

32. A computer-program product, comprising:

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

identify a first node and a second node for establishing an interface;

determine a type of the second node;

determine whether to send a request to initiate establishing the interface based on the determined type; and

send the request to the second node based on the determination of whether to send the request.

33. The computer-program product of claim 32, wherein the determination of whether to send the request is further based on whether the type is a macro access point or a femto access point.

34. The computer-program product of claim 32, wherein the determination of whether to send the request is further based on a type of the first node.

35. The computer-program product of claim 32, wherein the determination of whether to send the request comprises determining whether the first node and the second node belong to a common group.

36. The computer-program product of claim 32, wherein the interface comprises an X2 interface.

37. The computer-program product of claim 32, wherein the request comprises a CSG indicator associated with one or more of the first node or second node.

38. The computer-program product of claim 32, wherein the code to determine whether to send the request further determines whether to send the request based on whether the second node is associated with a CSG.