Systems, methods, and computer program products for managing access to femtocell coverage

• US 8,295,882 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fan, James, Kuo, Richard, Liu, Cheng P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Wesley
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DINH
• Application Number:
  US12/906,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20120094648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/310.2, 370/312, 370/328, 370/338, 455/41.2, 455/403, 455/407, 455/408, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/415, 455/418, 455/422.1, 455/424, 455/425, 455/426.2, 455/432.1, 455/433, 455/434, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/436, 455/437, 455/438, 455/439, 455/440, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5061 Pools of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/36 due to handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products are for managing access to a femtocell coverage area. An exemplary method includes storing in a memory component a first identifier corresponding to a subscribed service of a communication device and a second identifier corresponding to a user of the communication device, and granting access to the femtocell coverage area using the second identifier.

Claims

1. A method, for managing access to a femtocell coverage area, comprising:

receiving, by a system including at least one computer processor, information indicating that a communication device is in the femtocell coverage area;

granting, by the system, the communication device temporary access to the femtocell coverage area using a first identifier, corresponding to a service to which the communication device is subscribed, to facilitate selection of a second identifier;

obtaining, by the system, the second identifier, the second identifier corresponding to the communication device;

storing, by the system, in a memory component the first identifier and the second identifier; and

granting, by the system, the communication device access to the femtocell coverage area using the second identifier;

wherein obtaining the second identifier comprises one of;

(i) generating a second identifier request including a second-identifier list;

sending the second-identifier request to the communication device, wherein the second-identifier request is routed to the communication device using the first identifier; and

receiving, in response to the second-identifier request, a second-identifier response comprising one of (i_a) a selection of the second identifier, wherein the selection is of a specific identifier selected from the second-identifier list, and (i_b) a user-created code comprising at least one alphanumeric character to be used as the second identifier; and

(ii) selecting the second identifier from a plurality of unassigned identifiers which are generated by at least one of (ii_a) a mobile network operator associated with the femtocell coverage area, (ii_b) a first establishment associated with the femtocell coverage area, and (iii_c) a second establishment associated with the first establishment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile network operator associated with the femtocell coverage area is a provider of the service to the communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first establishment provides the femtocell coverage area independent of the mobile network operator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first establishment is a shopping mall and the second establishment is a particular establishment within the mall.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second identifier provides a first femtocell access identification of a user of the communication device for communicating with at least one of the first establishment and the second establishment.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining, by the system, a third identifier, wherein:

the second identifier provides a first femtocell access identification of a user of the communication device user for communicating with the first establishment; and

the third identifier provides a second femtocell access identification of the user for communicating with the second establishment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first establishment and the second establishment are located within a multi-establishment location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein (i) the communication device is associated with a first user and (ii) granting access to the femtocell coverage area using the second identifier comprises one of:

granting access to the femtocell coverage area for communications originating from and terminating within the femtocell coverage area;

granting access to the femtocell coverage area for communications originating from within the femtocell coverage area and terminating external to the femtocell coverage area;

facilitating local routing of communications between the communication device and at least one device located within the femtocell coverage area, wherein the at least one device comprises a second communication device associated with one of (i) the second user and (ii) one of (ii_a) the first establishment and (ii_b) the second establishment, the local routing of the communications occurs within the femtocell coverage area, and the second identifier is used for the local routing; and

facilitating external routing of communications between the communication device and at least one device located within the femtocell coverage area, wherein the at least one device comprises a second communication device associated with one of (i) the second user and (ii) one of (ii_a) the first establishment and (ii_b) the second establishment, and the external routing of the communications occurs via an external network provided via the subscribed service, and the first identifier is used for the external routing.

9. A femtocell access system, for managing access to a femtocell coverage area, comprising:

a processing component;

a memory component that is in communication with the processing component and has instructions that, when executed by the processing component, perform operations comprising;

receiving information indicating that a communication device is in the femtocell coverage area;

granting the communication device temporary access to the femtocell coverage area using a first identifier, corresponding to a service to which the communication device is subscribed, to facilitate selection of a second identifier;

obtaining the second identifier, the second identifier corresponding to the communication device;

storing the first identifier and the second identifier; and

granting the communication device access to the femtocell coverage area using the second identifier;

wherein obtaining the second identifier comprises one of;

(i) generating a second-identifier request including a second-identifier list;

sending the second-identifier request to the communication device, wherein the second-identifier request is routed to the communication device using the first identifier; and

receiving, in response to the second-identifier request, a second-identifier response comprising one of (i_a) a selection of the second identifier, wherein the selection is of a specific identifier selected from the second-identifier list of the second-identifier request, and (i_b) a user-created code comprising at least one alphanumeric character to be used as the second identifier; and

(ii) selecting the second identifier from a plurality of unassigned identifiers which are generated by at least one of (ii_a) a mobile network operator associated with the femtocell coverage area, (ii_b) a first establishment associated with the femtocell coverage area, and (iii_c) a second establishment associated with the first establishment.

10. The femtocell system of claim 9, wherein:

the femtocell system further comprises a femtocell base station; and

the processing component and the memory component are part of the femtocell base station.

11. The femtocell system of claim 9, wherein the processing component and the memory component are part of a femtocell gateway that is in communication with the femtocell base station.

12. The femtocell system of claim 9, wherein (i) the communication device is associated with a first user and (ii) the instructions that, when executed by the processing component, cause the processing component to perform the operation of granting access to the femtocell coverage area using the second identifier, further comprise instructions that, when executed by the processing component, cause the processing component to perform one of the following operations:

granting access to the femtocell coverage area for communications originating from and terminating within the femtocell coverage area;

granting access to the femtocell coverage area for communications originating from within the femtocell coverage area and terminating external to the femtocell coverage area;

facilitating local routing of communications between the communication device and at least one device located within the femtocell coverage area, wherein the at least one device comprises a second communication device associated with one of (i) a second user and (ii) one of (ii_a) the first establishment and (ii_b) the second establishment, the local routing of the communications occurs within the femtocell coverage area, and the second identifier is used for the local routing; and

facilitating external routing of communications between the communication device and at least one device located within the femtocell coverage area, wherein the at least one device comprises a second communication device associated with one of (i) the second user and (ii) one of (ii_a) the first establishment and (ii_b) the second establishment, and the external routing of the communications occurs via an external network provided via the subscribed service, and the first identifier is used for the external routing.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing component, cause the processing component to perform operations comprising:

receiving information indicating that a communication device is in a femtocell coverage area;

granting the communication device temporary access to the femtocell coverage area using a first identifier which corresponds to a service to which the communication device is subscribed, to facilitate selection of a second identifier;

obtaining the second identifier, the second identifier corresponding to a user of the communication device;

storing the first identifier and the second identifier; and

granting the communication device access to a femtocell coverage area using the second identifier;

wherein obtaining the second identifier comprises one of;

(i) generating a second-identifier request including a second-identifier list;

sending the second-identifier request to the communication device, wherein the second-identifier request is routed to the communication device using the first identifier; and

receiving, in response to the second-identifier request, a second-identifier response comprising one of;

(i_a) selection of the second identifier, wherein the selection is of a specific identifier selected from the second-identifier list, and (i_b) a user-created code comprising at least one alphanumeric character to be used as the second identifier; and

(ii) selecting the second identifier from a plurality of unassigned identifiers which are generated by at least one of (ii_a) a mobile network operator associated with the femtocell coverage area, (ii_b) a first establishment associated with the femtocell coverage area, and (iii_c) a second establishment associated with the first establishment.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processing component, cause the processing component to select a third identifier, wherein:

the second identifier provides a first temporary identification of the user for communicating with a first establishment;

the third identifier provides a second temporary identification of the user for communicating with a second establishment.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the first establishment and the second establishment are located within a multi-establishment location.