System, method, and computer-readable medium for multi-stage transmit protection in a femtocell system

• US 8,532,026 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: UbeeAirwalk, Inc. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Osborn, Christopher Martin Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, MARCUS
• Application Number:
  US12/252,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20090129263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/385 Uniform resource identifier for session initiation protocol [SIP URI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/009 in systems involving PBX or KTS networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00 Hand-off or reselection arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0058 Transmission of hand-off measurement information, e.g. measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0083 Determination of parameters used for hand-off, e.g. generation or modification of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0088 Scheduling hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 : Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 : by measured or perceived connection quality data
• 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 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 : based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 : Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/27 : between access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 : Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 : using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 : Access point devices with remote components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system, method, and computer readable medium for transmit protection in a femtocell system are provided. A multi-stage transmit protection routine prohibits radio transmissions for unregistered femtocell systems and transmissions from femtocell systems in unauthorized areas. A femtocell system may request transmission authorization from a base station manager. The base station manager may provide an authorization failure if the femtocell system is not registered or if the source address of the femtocell system is not within a predefined distance of a registered location of the femtocell system. If the femtocell is provided a transmission authorization, the femtocell system may obtain a GPS location from a user equipment and provide the GPS location to the base station manager which evaluates the location. The base station manager may provide an authorization failure if the GPS location is not within a predefined distance of the registered location of the femtocell system.

Claims

1. A method of providing transmission authorization in a network system, comprising:

receiving a transmission authorization request from a femtocell into a base station manager, where the request includes a network address of the femtocell and where the femtocell is connected to a cellular network via an IP network to enable call services to be provided to a mobile device in radio communication with the femtocell via the IP network, the femtocell comprising a base transceiver station and a base station controller;

determining, by the base station manager, a first geographic location based on the network address;

comparing the first geographic location with a registered location of the femtocell; and

determining whether the first geographic location is within a predefined distance of the registered locations;

receiving, by the femtocell, a user equipment registration;

receiving, by the femtocell, a global positioning system location from the user equipment;

transmitting, by the femtocell, the global positioning system location to a base station manager;

comparing, by the base station manager, the global positioning system location with the registered location;

determining whether the global positioning system location is within a predefined distance of the registered location; and

transmitting, by the base station manager, a secondary transmission authorization to the femtocell in response to determining the global positioning system location is within the predefined distance of the registered location.

2. The method of claim 1, where determining whether the first geographic location is within a predefined distance comprises determining the first geographic location is not within the predefined distance, the method further comprising transmitting a transmission authorization failure notification to the femtocell.

3. The method of claim 1, where determining whether the first geographic location is within a predefined distance comprises determining the first geographic location is within the predefined distance, the method further comprising transmitting a transmission authorization to the femtocell.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, by the femtocell, the transmission authorization; and

engaging in radio transmissions by the femtocell.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting configuration data to the femtocell.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the base station manager, a secondary transmission authorization failure notification to the femtocell in response to determining the global positioning system location is not within the predefined distance of the registered location.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for execution by a processing system, the computer-executable instructions for providing transmission authorization in a network system, the computer-readable medium comprising instructions that:

receive a transmission authorization request from a femtocell, where the request includes a network address of the femtocell and where the femtocell is connected to a cellular network via an IP network to enable call services to be provided to a mobile device in radio communication with the femtocell via the IP network, the femtocell comprising a base transceiver station and a base station controller;

determine a first geographic location based on the network address;

retrieve registration information of the femtocell that includes a registered location of the femtocell;

compare the first geographic location with the registered location; and

determine whether the first geographic location is within a predefined distance of the registered location

receive a global positioning system location of a user equipment;

compare the global positioning system location with the registered location;

determine whether the global positioning system location is within a predefined distance of the registered location; and

transmit a secondary transmission authorization to the femtocell in response to determining the global positioning system location is within the predefined distance of the registered location.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions that determine whether the first geographic location is within a predefined distance comprise instructions that determine the first geographic location is not within the predefined distance, the computer-readable medium further comprising instructions that transmit a transmission authorization failure notification to the femtocell.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions that determine whether the first geographic location is within a predefined distance comprise instructions that determine the first geographic location is within the predefined distance, the computer-readable medium further comprising instructions that transmit a transmission authorization to the femtocell.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions that:

receive, by the femtocell, the transmission authorization; and

engage in radio transmissions by the femtocell.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions that transmit configuration data to the femtocell.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising instructions that transmit, by the base station manager, a secondary transmission authorization failure notification to the femtocell in response to determining the global positioning system location is not within the predefined distance of the registered location.

13. A system for providing transmission authorization in a network system, comprising:

a packet-switched network;

a base station manager server communicatively coupled with the packet-switched network that maintains registration information of at least one femtocell, wherein the registration information includes a registered location of the at least one femtocell; and

a femtocell communicatively coupled with the packet-switched network that transmits a transmission authorization request to the base station manager server that includes a network address of the femtocell and is able to provide call services to a mobile device in radio communication with the femtocell via the IP network, wherein the femtocell is connected to a cellular network via an IP network to enable call services to be provided to a mobile device in radio communication with the femtocell via the IP network, the femtocell comprising a base transceiver station and a base station controller, wherein the base station manger server determines a first geographic location based on the network address, retrieves registration information of the femtocell that includes a registered location of the femtocell, compares the first geographic location with the registered location, determines whether the first geographic location is within a predefined distance of the registered location, and transmits one of a transmission authorization and a transmission authorization failure to the femtocell,

wherein the femtocell receives a user equipment registration, receives a global positioning system location from the user equipment and transmits the global positioning system location to the base station manager;

wherein the base station manager compares the global positioning system location with the registered location, determines whether the global positioning system location is within a predefined distance of the registered location, and transmits one of a secondary transmission authorization and a secondary transmission authorization failure to the femtocell.