METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING FEMTOCELL ACCESS MODES AND OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS BASED ON THE PRESENCE OF NEARBY MACROCELLS

• US 20130225195A1
• Filed: 02/21/2013
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Tinnakornsrisuphap, Peerapol, Singh, Damanjit, Yavuz, Mehmet, Tokgoz, Yeliz
• Granted Patent: US 9,924,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/453
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/06 based on traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for configuring an access mode of a femtocell. The method includes determining whether a target channel is being used by a macrocell. The method includes, in response to the target channel being used by the macrocell, configuring the access mode to a closed access mode. The method includes in response to the target channel not being used by the macrocell, configuring the access mode to an open or hybrid access mode.

Claims

1. A method of selecting an access mode operable by a small-coverage base station deployed in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:

determining whether a target channel is being used by a macrocell;

in response to the target channel being used by the macrocell, configuring the access mode to a closed access mode; and

in response to the target channel not being used by the macrocell, configuring the access mode to an open or hybrid access mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising terminating, by a provisioning server associated with the small-coverage base station, the use of the target channel by the macrocell.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising commanding, by the provisioning server, the small-coverage base station to use the target channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining a location of the small-coverage base station.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the location is based on an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the small-coverage base station.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the location is based on global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the small-coverage base station.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the location is based on an installation address of the small-coverage base station.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises monitoring the target channel for signals associated with the macrocell.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises receiving, from a user equipment (UE) registered with the small-coverage base station, identification information of at least one pilot scramble code (PSC) of the macrocell, on the target channel.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

determining whether a previous location area code of a UE is associated with the macrocell, wherein the UE is registered with the small-coverage base station.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the small-coverage base station comprises a femtocell or a picocell.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising increasing a transmit power of the small-coverage base station, in response to the target channel not being used by the macrocell.

13. An apparatus for selecting an access mode of a small-coverage base station

deployed in a wireless communications network, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

determine whether a target channel is being used by a macrocell;

configure the access mode to a closed access mode, in response to the target channel being used by the macrocell; and

configure the access mode to an open or hybrid access mode, in response to the target channel not being used by the macrocell; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a location of the small-coverage base station.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the location is based on an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the small-coverage base station.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the location is based on global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the small-coverage base station.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the location is based on an installation address of the small-coverage base station.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is configured to monitor the target channel for signals associated with the macrocell.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive, from a user equipment (UE) registered with the small-coverage base station, identification information of at least one pilot scramble code (PSC) of the macrocell, on the target channel.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine whether a previous location area code of a UE is associated with the macrocell, wherein the UE is registered with the small-coverage base station.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is configured to increase a transmit power of the small-coverage base station.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the small-coverage base station comprises a femtocell or a picocell.

23. An apparatus for selecting an access mode of a small-coverage base station deployed in a wireless communications network, the apparatus comprising:

means for determining whether a target channel is being used by a macrocell;

means for configuring the access mode to a closed access mode, in response to the target channel being used by the macrocell; and

means for configuring the access mode to an open or hybrid access mode, in response to the target channel not being used by the macrocell.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for determining is further configured for determining a location of the small-coverage base station.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the location is based on an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the small-coverage base station.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the location is based on global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the small-coverage base station.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the location is based on an installation address of the small-coverage base station.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising means for monitoring the target channel for signals associated with the macrocell.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising means for receiving, from a user equipment (UE) registered with the small-coverage base station, identification information of at least one pilot scramble code (PSC) of the macrocell, on the target channel.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising means for determining whether a previous location area code of a UE is associated with the macrocell, wherein the UE is registered with the small-coverage base station.

31. A computer program product, comprising:

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

determine whether a target channel is being used by a macrocell;

configure the access mode to a closed access mode, in response to the target channel being used by the macrocell; and

configure the access mode to an open or hybrid access mode, in response to the target channel not being used by the macrocell.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the code for determining is further configured for determining a location of the small-coverage base station.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the location is based on an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the small-coverage base station.

34. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the location is based on global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the small-coverage base station.

35. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the location is based on an installation address of the small-coverage base station.

36. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to monitor the target channel for signals associated with the macrocell.

37. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to receive, from a user equipment (UE) registered with the small-coverage base station, identification information of at least one pilot scramble code (PSC) of the macrocell, on the target channel.

38. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to determine whether a previous location area code of a UE is associated with the macrocell, wherein the UE is registered with the small-coverage base station.