Low-cost-internet-base-station-(LCIB) user-adaptation algorithm

• US 8,559,339 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Talley, Ryan S., Barbee, Bryan T., Sill, Timothy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Xavier S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COSTIN, JEREMY M
• Application Number:
  US11/940,159
• Time in Patent Office: 2,162 Days
• Field of Search: 370/358, 370/230, 370/228, 370/238, 370/318
• US Class Current: 370/255
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for implementing a low-cost-Internet-base-station-(LCIB) user-adaptation algorithm. In an embodiment, an LCIB receives usage attempts from a plurality of mobile stations. The LCIB stores records corresponding to the usage attempts, where each record identifies the corresponding mobile station from which the corresponding usage attempt was received. The LCIB uses the records to classify each mobile station in the plurality of mobile stations as authorized or rather as unauthorized. The LCIB then configures its coverage area so as to exclude the unauthorized mobile stations.

Claims

1. A method of adaptation to mobile-station usage attempts, carried out by a low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) having a coverage area, the method comprising:

an LCIB transmitting a pilot beacon having a pilot-beacon transmission-power level that defines the coverage area of the LCIB;

the LCIB receiving usage attempts from a plurality of mobile stations;

the LCIB storing records corresponding to the usage attempts, each record identifying the corresponding mobile station from which the corresponding usage attempt was received, each record having a corresponding timestamp that identifies at least one of (i) a time of day at which the corresponding usage attempt was received, (ii) a day of the week on which the corresponding usage attempt was received, and (iii) a date on which the corresponding usage attempt was received;

the LCIB storing data that reflects the respective pilot-beacon transmission-power level at which each respective usage attempt was received;

the LCIB using the records to classify each mobile station in the plurality of mobile stations as authorized or rather as unauthorized, wherein classifying a given mobile station as authorized or rather as unauthorized comprises classifying the given mobile station based at least in part on at least one of the frequency and the recentness of the timestamps of the records corresponding to the usage attempts from the given mobile station; and

the LCIB configuring the coverage area by setting the pilot-beacon transmission-power level to be less than the lowest level at which the stored data indicates that a usage attempt from an unauthorized mobile station had been received.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the LCIB communicates with each mobile station in the plurality of mobile stations over a code division multiple access (CDMA) air interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each usage attempt comprises at least one of a registration attempt and a connection attempt.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein classifying a given mobile station as authorized or rather as unauthorized further comprises classifying the given mobile station based at least in part on the number of records corresponding to the usage attempts from the given mobile station.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving each usage attempt, calculating a distance to the mobile station from which the usage attempt was received, and storing the distance in the record corresponding to the usage attempt,

wherein classifying a given mobile station as authorized or rather as unauthorized further comprises classifying the given mobile station based at least in part on the distances stored in the records corresponding to the usage attempts from the given mobile station.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein calculating a distance to a given mobile station comprises calculating the distance based on at least one of forward-link-signal-quality reports from the given mobile station, reverse-link transmission power of the given mobile station, and Global Positioning System (GPS) locations of the LCIB and the given mobile station.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising classifying as authorized mobile stations that have (i) at least a first number of corresponding records, (ii) an average distance among their corresponding records that is less than a threshold distance, and (iii) at least a second number of corresponding records having a timestamp within a time period.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising classifying as unauthorized all other mobile stations.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising classifying as authorized mobile stations that have at least a first number of corresponding records that have (i) a distance that is less than a first distance and (b) a timestamp within a time period.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising classifying as unauthorized all other mobile stations.

11. The method of claim 1, carried out periodically.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising waiting a grace period prior to classifying the mobile stations and configuring the coverage area.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the records to prioritize the authorized mobile stations for access to a set of channel elements.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein prioritizing the authorized mobile stations for access to the set of channel elements comprises prioritizing the authorized mobile stations based on at least one of time spent registered with the LCIB, number of calls made, timestamps of calls made, and distance from the LCIB when making calls.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising prioritizing one or more home mobile stations over one or more authorized mobile stations for access to the set of channel elements.

16. A low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) having a coverage area, the LCIB comprising:

a communication interface;

a processor; and

data storage comprising instructions executable by the processor for;

transmitting a pilot beacon having a pilot-beacon transmission-power level that defines the coverage area of the LCIB;

receiving usage attempts from a plurality of mobile stations;

storing records corresponding to the usage attempts, each record identifying the corresponding mobile station from which the corresponding usage attempt was received, each record having a corresponding timestamp that identifies at least one of (i) a time of day at which the corresponding usage attempt was received, (ii) a day of the week on which the corresponding usage attempt was received, and (iii) a date on which the corresponding usage attempt was received;

storing data that reflects the respective pilot-beacon transmission-power level at which each respective usage attempt was received;

using the records to classify each mobile station in the plurality of mobile stations as authorized or rather as unauthorized, wherein classifying a given mobile station as authorized or rather as unauthorized comprises classifying the given mobile station based at least in part on at least one of the frequency and the recentness of the timestamps of the records corresponding to the usage attempts from the given mobile station; and

configuring the coverage area by setting the pilot-beacon transmission-power level to be less than the lowest level at which the stored data indicates that a usage attempt from an unauthorized mobile station had been received.

17. The LCIB of claim 16, wherein the LCIB communicates with each mobile station in the plurality of mobile stations over a code division multiple access (CDMA) air interface.

18. The LCIB of claim 16, wherein each usage attempt comprises at least one of a registration attempt and a connection attempt.

19. The LCIB of claim 16, wherein classifying a given mobile station as authorized or rather as unauthorized further comprises classifying the given mobile station based at least in part on the number of records corresponding to the usage attempts from the given mobile station.

20. The LCIB of claim 16, the data storage further comprising instructions executable by the processor for waiting a grace period prior to classifying the mobile stations and configuring the coverage area.