FEMTO-BTS RF ACCESS MECHANISM
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, in a mobile station operable through base stations of a macro wireless communication network operated by a carrier and through at least one of a plurality of customer premises femto cells, a transmission of a neighbor list message from a base station of the carrier'"'"'s macro network, the neighbor list message containing information for use in searching at a particular frequency for and selecting a femto cell base transceiver system (BTS),wherein the information for use in searching for and selecting a femto cell comprises an identification of a primary frequency channel designated for use by all femto cell BTSs of the carrier'"'"'s customers in a region served by the carrier'"'"'s macro network, from among a plurality of channels available for femto cell communication, and a code designated for use by femto cell BTSs of the carrier'"'"'s customers in the region communicating on the primary frequency channel;
searching for a system with which to register the mobile station for handoff, the search including searching the primary frequency channel for communications of a femto cell BTS using the code; and
upon detecting a condition for handoff, initiating a procedure to register the mobile station with one of the femto cell BTSs, based on the search detecting use of the code on the primary frequency channel.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Femto cells that extend mobile network coverage into customer premises operate in a frequency band typically assigned to a macro network. To facilitate system discovery and registrations of mobile stations with femto cells, a carrier designates one the channels within the band as a primary channel for its femto cells. For example, neighbor list messages transmitted by macro network base stations can provide frequency and PN code information directing mobile stations to search the primary channel for a PN code of the femto cells. The mobile station preferred roaming list (PRL) may identify femto cells by SID/NID. The SID is that of the carrier'"'"'s macro network, whereas the NID may be a NID of the macro network or one specifically assigned to femto cell operations. The PRL uses frequency acquisition information for the femto cells that is the same as or similar to that for one of the macro networks.
41 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, in a mobile station operable through base stations of a macro wireless communication network operated by a carrier and through at least one of a plurality of customer premises femto cells, a transmission of a neighbor list message from a base station of the carrier'"'"'s macro network, the neighbor list message containing information for use in searching at a particular frequency for and selecting a femto cell base transceiver system (BTS), wherein the information for use in searching for and selecting a femto cell comprises an identification of a primary frequency channel designated for use by all femto cell BTSs of the carrier'"'"'s customers in a region served by the carrier'"'"'s macro network, from among a plurality of channels available for femto cell communication, and a code designated for use by femto cell BTSs of the carrier'"'"'s customers in the region communicating on the primary frequency channel; searching for a system with which to register the mobile station for handoff, the search including searching the primary frequency channel for communications of a femto cell BTS using the code; and upon detecting a condition for handoff, initiating a procedure to register the mobile station with one of the femto cell BTSs, based on the search detecting use of the code on the primary frequency channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A mobile station comprising:
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a communication interface configured to enable the mobile station to operate through a plurality of base stations and a plurality of femto cells of a macro wireless communication network, wherein the macro wireless communication network is operated by a carrier and comprises the plurality of base stations and the plurality of femto cells installed in premises of a plurality of the carrier'"'"'s customers; and a processor configured to enable the mobile station to perform functions to enable handoff to one of the plurality of femto cells, including functions to; receive a transmission of a neighbor list message from a base station of the carrier'"'"'s macro network, the neighbor list message containing information for use in searching at a particular frequency for and selecting a femto cell base transceiver system (BTS), wherein the information for use in searching for and selecting a femto cell comprises an identification of a primary frequency channel designated for use by all femto cell BTSs of the carrier'"'"'s customers in a region served by the carrier'"'"'s macro network, from among a plurality of channels available for femto cell communication, and a code designated for use by femto cell BTSs of the carrier'"'"'s customers in the region communicating on the primary frequency channel; search for a system with which to register the mobile station for handoff, the search including searching the primary frequency channel for communications of a femto cell BTS using the code; and upon detecting a condition for handoff, initiate a procedure to register the mobile station with one of the femto cell BTSs, based on the search detecting use of the code on the primary frequency channel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification