SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING FEMTOCELL FUNCTIONALITY IN USER DEVICES

• US 20180270670A1
• Filed: 03/15/2017
• Published: 09/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Soelberg, Emily Lyons, Shaw, Venson, Hirvela, George
• Granted Patent: US 10,616,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0289 Congestion control load shedding arrangements in network planning H04W16/08; performing reselection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

A first user equipment is provided with femtocell functionality. The femtocell is instantiated based upon a user defined trigger. A second user equipment inside the area of coverage of a stationary transmitting component receives a message from the first user equipment that is outside the area of coverage of a stationary transmitting component. The second user equipment transmits the message to the stationary transmitting component.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

instantiating, based upon a user defined trigger, a first femtocell module incorporated into a first hybrid femtocell equipped user equipment, wherein the first hybrid femtocell equipped user equipment is outside an area of coverage of a stationary transmitting component;

receiving a message from the first femtocell module in the first hybrid femtocell equipped user equipment in a second hybrid femtocell equipped user equipment having a second femtocell module, wherein the second hybrid femtocell equipped user equipment is inside the area of coverage of the stationary transmitting component; and

transmitting the message from the second hybrid femtocell equipped user equipment to the stationary transmitting component.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user defined trigger comprises an occurrence of a high priority event.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user defined trigger comprises local traffic congestion at the stationary transmitting component.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the user defined trigger comprises a vehicle to vehicle communication.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein instantiating the first femtocell module comprises instantiating the first femtocell module through a command generated by a third user equipment.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein instantiating the first femtocell module comprises instantiating the first femtocell module through a command generated by a network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the stationary transmitting component is a macro cell.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the stationary transmitting component is a WiFi component.

9. A system comprising:

a first user equipment disposed outside an area of coverage of a stationary transmitting component, wherein the first user equipment comprises;

a first femtocell module; and

a first processor;

a second user equipment disposed inside the area of coverage of a stationary transmitting component, wherein the second user equipment comprises;

a second femtocell module; and

a second processor;

wherein the first processor is configured to;

instantiate the first femtocell module based upon a user defined trigger;

direct a transmission of a message to the second user equipment; and

wherein the second processor is configured to;

transmit the message to the stationary transmitting component.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the user defined trigger comprises an occurrence of a high priority event.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the user defined trigger comprises local traffic congestion at the stationary transmitting component.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the user defined trigger comprises a vehicle to vehicle communication.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the first femtocell module is instantiated through a command generated by a third user equipment.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the first femtocell module is instantiated through a command generated by a network.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the stationary transmitting component is a macro cell.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the stationary transmitting component is a WiFi component.

17. A non-transitory computer readable media comprising program code that when executed by a programmable processor causes the programmable processor to execute a method, the non-transitory computer readable media comprising:

program code for instantiating, based upon a user defined trigger, a first femtocell module incorporated into a first hybrid femtocell equipped user equipment, wherein the first hybrid femtocell equipped user equipment is outside an area of coverage of a stationary transmitting component;

program code for receiving a message from the first hybrid femtocell equipped user equipment in a second hybrid femtocell equipped user equipment having a second femtocell module, wherein the second hybrid femtocell equipped user equipment is inside the area of coverage of the stationary transmitting component; and

transmitting the message from the second hybrid femtocell equipped user equipment to the stationary transmitting component.

18. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 17 wherein the user defined trigger comprises the occurrence of a high priority event.

19. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 17 wherein the user defined trigger comprises local traffic congestion at the stationary transmitting component.

20. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 17 wherein the user defined trigger comprises a vehicle to vehicle communication.