METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONFIGURING AND LOCATING A HOME BASE STATION

• US 20140038642A1
• Filed: 10/10/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Edge, Stephen William
• Granted Patent: US 9,560,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

Techniques for configuring a Home evolved Node B (HeNB) in a location server and positioning the HeNB are disclosed. In one aspect, location for a HeNB is supported based on LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) messages. The HeNB communicates LPP messages with a location server. These LPP messages are terminated at the HeNB instead of a UE. At least one location transaction for the HeNB can be performed to configure in the location server and/or locate the HeNB based on the LPP messages. In another aspect, location for a HeNB is supported based on an embedded UE in the HeNB. The HeNB establishes a location session with a location server based on an embedded UE ID, which is assigned to the HeNB and recognized by the location server as being for a HeNB instead of a UE. At least one location transaction for the HeNB is performed during the location session.

Claims

1. A method of supporting location of a Home evolved Node B (HeNB), comprising:

communicating Long Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) messages between the HeNB and a location server, the LPP messages being terminated at the HeNB and the location server; and

performing at least one location transaction for the HeNB based on the LPP messages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating LPP messages comprises

generating transport messages carrying the LPP messages, and

communicating the transport messages between the HeNB and the location server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transport messages comprise LPP annex (LPPa) messages, or Non-Access Stratum (NAS) messages, or Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) messages.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating messages between the HeNB and the location server to configure the HeNB in the location server.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a message by the HeNB to initiate configuring of the HeNB in the location server.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the message comprises an identity of the HeNB, or a location of the HeNB, or both.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing at least one location transaction comprises configuring the HeNB in the location server, or performing positioning of the HeNB, or both at initialization of the HeNB.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a connection with the location server or a designated network entity based on an identity of an embedded User Equipment (UE) in the HeNB.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating LPP messages comprises communicating the LPP messages between the HeNB and the location server for positioning of the HeNB.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the LPP messages comprise an LPP message carrying a request for assistance data from the location server, or assistance data from the location server, or a request for measurements from the HeNB, or measurements from the HeNB, or a request for a location estimate from the HeNB or the location server, or a location estimate from the HeNB or the location server, or a request for positioning capabilities of the HeNB or the location server, or a combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating LPP messages and the performing at least one location transaction are performed by the HeNB, wherein the communicating LPP messages comprises sending LPP messages from the HeNB to the location server and receiving LPP messages at the HeNB from the location server.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating LPP messages and the performing at least one location transaction are performed by the location server, wherein the communicating LPP messages comprises sending LPP messages from the location server to the HeNB and receiving LPP messages at the location server from the HeNB.

13. An apparatus for supporting location of a Home evolved Node B (HeNB), comprising:

means for communicating Long Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) messages between the HeNB and a location server, the LPP messages being terminated at the HeNB and the location server; and

means for performing at least one location transaction for the HeNB based on the LPP messages.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for communicating messages between the HeNB and the location server to configure the HeNB in the location server.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for sending a message by the HeNB to initiate configuring of the HeNB in the location server.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for performing at least one location transaction comprises means for configuring the HeNB in the location server, or performing positioning of the HeNB, or both at initialization of the HeNB.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for establishing a connection with the location server or a designated network entity based on an identity of an embedded User Equipment (UE) in the HeNB.

18. An apparatus for supporting location of a Home evolved Node B (HeNB), comprising:

at least one processor configured to communicate Long Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) messages between the HeNB and a location server, the LPP messages being terminated at the HeNB and the location server, and to perform at least one location transaction for the HeNB based on the LPP messages.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate messages between the HeNB and the location server to configure the HeNB in the location server.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send a message by the HeNB to initiate configuring of the HeNB in the location server.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform at least one location transaction at initialization of the HeNB to configure the HeNB in the location server, or to perform positioning of the HeNB, or both.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is configured to establish a connection with the location server or a designated network entity based on an identity of an embedded User Equipment (UE) in the HeNB.

23. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for communicating Long Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) messages between the HeNB and a location server, the LPP messages being terminated at the HeNB and the location server, and

code for performing at least one location transaction for the HeNB based on the LPP messages.

24. A method of supporting location of a Home evolved Node B (HeNB), comprising:

establishing a location session between the HeNB and a location server based on an embedded User Equipment (UE) identity (ID) assigned to the HeNB, the embedded UE ID being recognized by the location server as being assigned to the HeNB instead of a UE; and

performing at least one location transaction for the HeNB during the location session.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the embedded UE ID is within a predetermined range of UE IDs reserved for assignment to HeNBs.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

performing an attach procedure with the embedded UE ID to attach the HeNB to a Mobility Management Entity (MME), the HeNB appearing as a UE to the MME.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

communicating messages between the HeNB and the location server via the MME during the location server, the MME being unaware of the messages being communicated by the HeNB instead of a UE.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the HeNB is assigned a plurality of embedded UE IDs, wherein the MME associates the plurality of embedded UE IDs with a plurality of location servers, and wherein the HeNB configures itself with each of the plurality of location servers based on a different one of the plurality of embedded UE IDs.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the establishing a location session comprises sending a message by the HeNB to the location server to initiate a Mobile Originated Location Request (MO-LR) location session.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

establishing a secure data connection between the HeNB and the location server based on the embedded UE ID, the location server recognizing the embedded UE ID being for the HeNB instead of a UE.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the establishing a location session comprises sending a message by the HeNB to the location server to initiate a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) location session.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the establishing a location session comprises sending a message by the location server to the HeNB to initiate a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) location session.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein the performing at least one location transaction comprises configuring the HeNB in the location server, or performing positioning of the HeNB, or both at initialization of the HeNB.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein the establishing a location session and the performing at least one location transaction are performed by the HeNB.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein the establishing a location session and the performing at least one location transaction are performed by the location server.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

detecting the embedded UE ID being assigned to the HeNB instead of a UE by the location server; and

configuring the HeNB in the location server.

37. An apparatus for supporting location of a Home evolved Node B (HeNB), comprising:

means for establishing a location session between the HeNB and a location server based on an embedded User Equipment (UE) identity (ID) assigned to the HeNB, the embedded UE ID being recognized by the location server as being assigned to the HeNB instead of a UE; and

means for performing at least one location transaction for the HeNB during the location session.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

means for performing an attach procedure with the embedded UE ID to attach the HeNB to a Mobility Management Entity (MME), the HeNB appearing as a UE to the MME.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

means for establishing a secure data connection between the HeNB and the location server based on the embedded UE ID, the location server recognizing the embedded UE ID being for the HeNB instead of a UE.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for performing at least one location transaction comprises means for configuring the HeNB in the location server, or performing positioning of the HeNB, or both at initialization of the HeNB.

41. An apparatus for supporting location of a Home evolved Node B (HeNB), comprising:

at least one processor configured to establish a location session between the HeNB and a location server based on an embedded User Equipment (UE) identity (ID) assigned to the HeNB, the embedded UE ID being recognized by the location server as being assigned to the HeNB instead of a UE, and to perform at least one location transaction for the HeNB during the location session.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform an attach procedure with the embedded UE ID to attach the HeNB to a Mobility Management Entity (MME), the HeNB appearing as a UE to the MME.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the at least one processor is configured to establish a secure data connection between the HeNB and the location server based on the embedded UE ID, the location server recognizing the embedded UE ID being for the HeNB instead of a UE.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform at least one location transaction at initialization of the HeNB to configure the HeNB in the location server, or to perform positioning of the HeNB, or both.

45. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for establishing a location session between the HeNB and a location server based on an embedded User Equipment (UE) identity (ID) assigned to the HeNB, the embedded UE ID being recognized by the location server as being assigned to the HeNB instead of a UE, and

code for performing at least one location transaction for the HeNB during the location session.