METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NEGOTIATION AND NOTIFICATION OF A NETWORK ACCESS TIME PERIOD IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20150223206A1
• Filed: 04/15/2015
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Han, Guang, Chen, Bonnie
• Granted Patent: US 10,045,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

In a wireless communication system wherein a user equipment (UE) that accesses a cell served by an access point (sometimes known as femtocell) is granted only a limited time period during which to camp on, attach to, or connect to the cell, the communication system permits a user of the UE to anticipate an expiration of the time period and, if desired negotiate an extension of the time period. More particularly, the communication system provides for notification of the UE of the duration of this limited time period and further permits the UE to negotiate an extension of the time period when the UE desires to do so. In the event an extension is requested by the user and granted by the owner/operator, a notification will be sent to the user and the UE may reset a timer.

Claims

1. A method for extending a period of time during which a user equipment may camp on a wireless network, the method comprising:

when the user equipment is camping on a cell associated with an access point, receiving, from the user equipment, a request for a grant of an additional period of time during which the user equipment may camp on the cell;

in response to receiving the request, determining, by reference to one or more of (1) a group policy and (2) one or more of an owner and an operator of the access point serving the user equipment, an additional access time period during which the user equipment may camp on the cell; and

conveying, to the user equipment, a grant of an additional time period during which the user equipment may camp on the cell based on the determined access time period.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the grant of additional time period; and

in response to receiving the grant, resetting a timer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying a user of the user equipment of an expiration of the period of time during which a user equipment may camp on a wireless network; and

in response to the notification, receiving an instruction from the user to request additional time to camp on the cell.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the group policy comprises a Closed User Group policy and wherein the granted access time period is a time period associated with the Closed User Group.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an additional access time period during which the user equipment may camp on the cell comprises:

conveying, to the one or more of an owner and an operator of an access point serving the user equipment, a request for a grant of an additional period of time during which the user equipment may camp on the cell; and

receiving, from the one or more of an owner and an operator, a grant of an additional time period during which the user equipment may camp on the cell.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying a user, by the user equipment, of the grant of the additional access time period.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising restarting a timer, by the user equipment, to count down the granted additional access time period.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for a grant of an access time period comprises a Tracking Area Update Request message and wherein the grant of the access time period comprises one or more of a Tracking Area Update Accept message and a Short Message Service message.

9. An apparatus capable of granting an access time period during which a user equipment may camp on a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

an at least one memory device that maintains a group policy associated with an access point; and

a processor that is configured to receive, when the user equipment is camping on a cell associated with the access point, receive, from the user equipment, a request for a grant of an additional period of time during which the user equipment may camp on the cell, in response to receiving the request, determine, by reference to one or more of (1) the group policy and (2) one or more of an owner and an operator of the access point, an additional access time period during which the user equipment may camp on the cell, and convey, to the user equipment, a grant of an additional time period during which the user equipment may camp on the cell based on the determined access time period.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to determine, by reference to the group policy, an additional access time period during which the user equipment may camp on the cell, wherein the group policy comprises a Closed User Group policy, and wherein the granted additional access time period is a time period associated with the Closed User Group.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to determine an additional access time period during which the user equipment may camp on the cell by conveying, to the owner/operator of the access point serving the user equipment, a request for a grant of an additional access time period and, in response to conveying the request, receive from the one or more of an owner and an operator a grant of an additional access time period.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the request for a grant of an additional period of time during which the user equipment may camp on the cell comprises a Tracking Area Update Request message and wherein the grant of an additional time period comprises a Tracking Area Update Accept message.