Interactive white list prompting to share content and services associated with a femtocell

• US 8,179,847 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huber, Kurt Donald, Flynn, Judson John, Mansfield, William Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hyun, Soon-Dong
• Application Number:
  US12/275,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20090285166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 : based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 : Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 : when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 : Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 : using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 : using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 : using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 : Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 : Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 : based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 : Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 : with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 : Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 : Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 : Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 : using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

System(s) and method(s) provide access management to femtocell service through access control list(s) (e.g., white list(s)). A white list(s) includes a set of subscriber station(s) identifier numbers, codes or tokens, and also can include additional fields for femtocell access management based on desired complexity. Various example aspects such as white list(s) management, maintenance and dissemination; pre-configuration; and inclusion of wireless device(s) or subscriber(s) are also provided. An access management component can facilitate interactive and automatic prompting of detected communication devices to facilitate granting access to content and/or services associated with the femtocell to a desired communication device(s) and adding a desired communication device(s) to the white list(s) associated with a femtocell, and to facilitate modifying or terminating access of the femtocell by a communication device(s) based in part on monitored activity of the communication device(s) with regard to femtocell access.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an access management component that scans a frequency band and detects at least one communication device in response to a determination that the at least one communication device has entered a femtocell coverage area associated with a femtocell, automatically generates and transmits a query to the at least one communication device in response to detection of the at least one communication device in the femtocell coverage area of the femtocell to prompt the at least one communication device to request access to the femtocell and be entered on a data storage associated with the femtocell, and grants access to the femtocell and a subset of services associated with the femtocell to the at least one communication device, based on the data storage and at least one predefined access criterion; and

the femtocell that facilitates provision of access of the femtocell and the subset of services to the at least one communication device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the access management component detects resources available in the at least one communication device and functions supported by the at least one communication device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the access management component automatically generates and transmits a query to the at least one communication device to prompt the at least one communication device to indicate type of access of the femtocell requested by the at least one communication device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the access management component determines whether the type of access of the femtocell requested by the at least one communication device is available.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the access management component grants access of the femtocell and the subset of services based on the type of access of the femtocell requested by the at least one communication device when available, and, in response to the type of access of the femtocell not being available, prompts the at least one communication device to request another type of access of the femtocell.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the access management component monitors activity associated with access to the femtocell and the subset of services by the at least one communication device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the access management component determines whether the at least one communication device has been inactive in relation to accessing the femtocell and the subset of services for at least a predefined period of time.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the access management component automatically generates and transmits a query to the at least one communication device to prompt the at least one communication device to indicate whether the at least one communication device requests to continue access to the femtocell and the subset of services.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the access management component continues to grant access to the femtocell and the subset of services to the at least one communication device in response to receipt of a request for continued access by the access management component, and, in response to no request for continued access being received, terminates access to the femtocell and the subset of services.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the subset of services comprises access to content.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a content provider that is connected to the femtocell and provides content to the at least one communication device via the femtocell; and

a service provider that is connected to the femtocell and provides a service to the at least one communication device via the femtocell.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one service provider employs a communication device with computational capabilities to facilitate provision of the service.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the femtocell facilitates provision of information, which relates to the subset of services, to the at least one communication device at a broadband data transmission rate that is a faster rate than a data transmission rate associated with over-the-air data transmission via a macro base station.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the access management component transmits a permanency query to the at least one communication device, wherein the permanency query prompts the at least one communication device to indicate whether the at least one communication device requests to be added to the data storage on a permanent basis.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the access management component stores information relating to the at least one communication device in the data storage.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the information comprises information that identifies the at least one communication device, bandwidth-related information associated with the at least one communication device, and historical data relating to use of the femtocell by the at least one communication device.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein predefined access criteria, comprising the at least one predefined access criterion, relates to functions supported by the at least one communication device, type of access requested by the at least one communication device, and historical data associated with the at least one communication device in relation to the femtocell.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the access management component denies access to the femtocell and the subset of services to at least one other communication device based on the at least one predefined access criterion and enters information relating to the at least one other communication device on a black list associated with the femtocell.

19. A method, comprising:

scanning a frequency spectrum associated with wireless communications to facilitate detecting a mobile communication device in a cell coverage area of a femto access point;

detecting the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is located within the cell coverage area;

automatically prompting the mobile communication device detected in the cell coverage area to request to access the femto access point and a subset of services provided via the femto access point and to be entered on an access control list;

updating the access control list to include information relating to the mobile communication device; and

granting access of the femto access point and the subset of services to the mobile communication device based on information in the access control list, level of access granted to the mobile communication device, and at least one predefined access criterion.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

automatically generating a query to prompt the mobile communication device to request to be entered on the access control list and access the femto access point and the subset of services, in response to the detecting of the mobile communication device; and

transmitting the query to the mobile communication device.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

detecting information relating to a subset of functions supported by the mobile communication device;

prompting the mobile communication device to have the mobile communication device indicate type of access requested by the mobile communication device;

receiving information that indicates the type of access requested by the mobile communication device; and

determining access of the femto access point and the subset of services that is to be granted to the mobile communication device based on the detected information and the received information.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

storing the detected information and the received information in the access control list.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

monitoring the access of the femto access point and the subset of services by the mobile communication device; and

determining whether the mobile communication device has been inactive with regard to accessing the femto access point and the subset of services for at least a predefined period of time.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

prompting the mobile communication device to indicate whether the mobile communication device requests to continue access of the femto access point and the subset of services when the mobile communication device is determined to have been inactive with regard to accessing the femto access point and the subset of services for at least the predefined period of time.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

controlling whether to continue access to the femto access point and the subset of services by the mobile communication device based on response of the mobile communication device to the prompting of the mobile communication device to indicate whether the mobile communication device requests to continue access of the femto access point and the subset of services.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

inferring, based on current information and historical information relating to the mobile communication device, a level of access to be granted to a mobile communication device with regard to the femto access point.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

collecting historical information associated with the mobile communication device;

storing the historical information;

analyzing the historical information and the current information associated with the mobile communication device, to facilitate generating at least one inference relating to the level of access to the femto access point that is to be granted to the mobile communication device.

28. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

connecting at least one service provider to the femto access point; and

controlling access, by the mobile communication device, to the subset of services associated with the at least one service provider based on the access control list.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein predefined access criteria, comprising the at least one predefined access criterion, relates to slot availability associated with the femto access point, and current and historical data associated with the mobile communication device.

30. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

denying access of the femto access point and the subset of services to at least one other mobile communication device based on the at least one predefined access criterion; and

storing information related to the at least one other mobile communication device in a black list(s) associated with the femto access point.

31. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

transmitting information relating to the subset of services to the mobile communication device at a broadband data transmission rate.

32. The method of claim 19, the subset of services comprising a voice service and a service that provides access to content.

33. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a request to update a subset of the information associated with the mobile communication device stored in the access control list;

updating the subset of the information associated with the mobile communication device stored in the access control list based on the received request; and

storing the updated access control list.

34. The method of claim 33, the subset of the information comprising information that identifies an identifier number associated with the mobile communication device.

35. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution, cause a computing device including a process to perform acts, comprising:

scanning a frequency spectrum associated with wireless communications to facilitate detecting at least one subscriber station in a femtocell coverage area of a femtocell;

detecting the at least one subscriber station when the at least one subscriber station is located within the femtocell coverage area;

automatically querying the at least one subscriber station detected in the femtocell coverage area of the femtocell to prompt the at least one subscriber station to request to be entered on an access control list associated with the femtocell and to access the femtocell and a subset of services provided via the femtocell;

updating the access control list to include information related to the at least one subscriber station; and

granting access of the femtocell and the subset of services to the at least one subscriber station based on information in the access control list and at least one predefined access criterion.

36. An apparatus comprising:

a scanner component that scans a frequency spectrum associated with wireless communications to facilitate detection of a wireless communication device in a cell coverage area of a femtocell;

a detector component that detects the wireless communication device in response to the wireless communication device being located within the cell coverage area;

a query component that automatically queries the wireless communication device detected in the cell coverage area to prompt the wireless communication device to request access to the femtocell and a subset of services provided via the femtocell and to be entered on a white list associated with the femtocell;

an update component that updates the access control list to include information related to the wireless communication device; and

a control component that grants access of the femtocell and the subset of services to the wireless communication device based on information in the white list and at least one predefined access criterion.