APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO A TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

• US 20170257766A1
• Filed: 02/23/2017
• Published: 09/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vodafone IP Licensing Limited (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Vodafone IP Licensing Limited (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Fox, David A., Frost, Timothy, Wong, Gavin, Batkin, Jonathon, Carrizo Martinez, Jose-Luis
• Granted Patent: US 10,448,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/04 multi-step notification using statistical or historical mobility data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 Inter-network notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

A GSM, UMTS or LTE mobile telecommunications network includes a radio access network comprising base stations, and further includes one or more additional access points. An access point may be connected to the network core by an IP transport broadband connection. The access point is configured to appear to the mobile terminal as a base station. Arrangements are disclosed which allow the network to restrict access to the network via these access points whilst also minimizing signaling requirements. The access points may be excluded from traditional Tracking Areas, but associated therewith by a network controller in a mapping in order to notify authorized mobile terminals of the Access Point'"'"'s existence.

Claims

1. In a telecommunications network including a radio access network comprising a plurality of base stations configured to wirelessly transmit data that is receivable by one or more mobile terminals, wherein at least one of the base stations comprises an Access Point (AP), a method of managing mobile terminal handover or reselection to the Access Point, the method including:

transmitting information from each Access Point usable by each of the one or more mobile terminals to determine if each mobile terminal is allowed to access the Access Point.

2. The method of claim 1 where the mobile terminal has a list including any Access Points that the mobile terminal is authorized to use, and the method further includes the mobile terminal comparing identification information transmitted by the Access Point with the list to determine if the mobile terminal is authorized to utilize the Access Point.

3. The method of claim 2 further including the mobile terminal receiving the list from a core network node.

4. The method of claim 2 further including the mobile terminal using the list to know which allowable cells to monitor for signal strength and/or interference parameters.

5. The method of claim 2 further including the mobile terminal keeping a measurement report on any Access Points in the list that it is allowed to access.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein unless it is determined that the Access Point is an allowable cell, the mobile terminal does not attempt to reselect to the Access Point.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein unless it is determined that the Access Point is an allowable cell, the mobile terminal does not keep a measurement report on the Access Point, for the purposes of handover decisions.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the information transmitted by the Access Point is usable by the mobile terminal to determine if it is authorized to reselect to the Access Point without the need for the mobile terminal to determine the same from the core network via signaling.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the base stations comprising an Access Point are closed except to certain subscribers.

10. A mobile terminal configured for use in a telecommunications network including a radio access network comprising a plurality of base stations;

each defining a cell, and being configured to wirelessly transmit data that is receivable by the mobile terminal, with at least one of the base stations comprising an Access Point (AP); and

wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to;

receive data transmitted by the Access Point;

determine from the received data if the mobile terminal is entitled to utilize the Access Point; and

initiating a request to utilize the Access Point only if the mobile terminal is entitled to do so.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10 where the mobile terminal has a list including any Access Points that the mobile terminal is authorized to use, and the mobile terminal is further configured to compare identification information transmitted by the Access Point with the list to determine if the mobile terminal is authorized to utilize the Access Point.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11 further configured to use the list to know which allowable cells to monitor for signal strength and/or interference parameters.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 11 further configured to keep a measurement report on any Access Points in the list that it is allowed to access and excluding any Access Points that is not authorized to access.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 10 wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to initiate a handover or reselection to the Access Point if the mobile terminal determines it is entitled to use the Access Point.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the mobile terminal is configured to not attempt to handover or reselect to the Access Point unless it is determined that the Access Point is an allowable cell.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a mobile terminal to perform a method, the mobile terminal configured for use in a telecommunications network including a radio access network comprising a plurality of base stations, each defining a cell, and being configured to wirelessly transmit data that is receivable by the mobile terminal, with at least one of the base stations comprising an Access Point (AP), the method comprising:

receiving data transmitted by the Access Point;

determining from the received data if the mobile terminal is entitled to utilize the Access Point; and

initiating a request to utilize the Access Point only if the mobile terminal is entitled to do so.

17. A mobile terminal configured for use in a telecommunications network including a radio access network comprising a plurality of base stations, each defining a cell, and being configured to wirelessly transmit data that is receivable by the mobile terminal, with at least one of the base stations comprising an Access Point (AP);

and wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to;

receive data transmitted by one or more proximate base stations;

determine if the received data includes an Access Indicator Field, being data that may be transmitted by the one or more Access Points to restrict access; and

using the Access Indicator field to determine if the mobile terminal is entitled to utilize the Access Point, and only attempting to utilize the Access Point if the mobile terminal is entitled to do so.

18. In a telecommunications network including a radio access network comprising a plurality of base stations configured to wirelessly transmit data that is receivable by one or more mobile terminals, wherein at least one of the base stations comprises an Access Point (AP), a method of restricting access to the at least one Access Point, the method including:

transmitting information from each Access Point from which mobile terminals are able to determine their ability to access the given base station.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the information transmitted is an Access Indicator Field.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein unless it is determined that the mobile terminal has a right of access to the base station, the mobile terminal does not attempt to access the base station.