Method and apparatus for utilizing femtocell

• US 8,897,773 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Chun, Young Gun
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US12/855,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20110053592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/432.3, 455/433, 455/434, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/436, 455/444, 455/449, 455/450, 455/451, 455/452.1, 455/552.1, 455/566, 370/328, 370/329, 370/331
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

A femtocell utilizing method and apparatus are disclosed. A mobile terminal may establish a communication channel to a microminiaturized base station for mobile communication creating a femtocell on the basis of a frequency, PSC information, or a frequency band or multiple frequencies. The mobile terminal employing the method and apparatus enables the user to initiate femtocell search at a desired point in time, increasing effectiveness in utilization of a femtocell.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying, by a communication terminal, at least two of a frequency, a Primary Scrambling Code (PSC), and a frequency band;

detecting, a selection of at least one of the frequency, the PSC, and the frequency band, the selection being received via an input device of the communication terminal;

conducting by the communication terminal, a first femtocell search based on the received selection, the first femtocell search being a search for a femtocell base station;

displaying one screen of;

a screen notifying of an attempt for the first femtocell search, a screen notifying success of the first femtocell search and a screen notifying failure of the first fennocell search based on the conducted first femtocell search; and

initiating, by the communication terminal, a registration with the femtocell base station, when the first femtocell search is successful.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting, by the communication terminal, a notification message indicating failure of the first femtocell search, when the first femtocell search is unsuccessful.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the selection includes receiving a selection of the frequency and the PSC; and

the first femtocell search is conducted based on the frequency and the PSC.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising conducting a second femtocell search based on the frequency when the first femtocell search fails.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising conducting a third femtocell search based on the frequency band or a first plurality of frequencies, when the second femtocell search fails.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising conducting a fourth femtocell search based on a second plurality of frequencies, when the third femtocell search fails.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second plurality of frequencies does not include any of the frequencies in the first plurality.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising one of:

establishing, when the registration is successful, a communication channel to the femtocell base station, and providing a notification message indicating successful registration; and

providing, when the registration is unsuccessful, a notification message indicating registration failure.

9. An apparatus comprising:

display unit;

an input unit; and

a control unit, configured to;

display, on the display unit, at least two of a frequency, a Primary Scrambling Code (PSC), and a frequency band;

receive, via the input unit, a selection of at least one of the frequency, the PSC, and the frequency band;

conduct a first femtocell search based on the received selection, the first femtocell search being a search for a femtocell base station;

display one screen of;

a screen notifying of an attempt for the first femtocell search, a screen notifying success of the first femtocell search and a screen notifying failure of the first femtocell search based on the conducted first femtocell search; and

initiate a registration with the femtocell base station, when the first femtocell search is successful.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control unit is further configured to output, a notification message indicating failure of the first femtocell search, when the first femtocell search is unsuccessful.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

receiving the selection includes receiving a selection of the frequency and the PSC; and

the first femtocell search is conducted based on the frequency and the PSC.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control unit is further configured to conduct a second femtocell search based on the frequency when the first femtocell search fails.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control unit is further configured to conduct a third femtocell search based on the frequency band or a first plurality of frequencies, when the second femtocell search fails.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control unit is further configured to conduct a fourth femtocell search based on a second plurality of frequencies, when the third femtocell search fails.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

establish, when the registration is successful, a communication channel to the femtocell base station, and providing a notification message indicating successful registration; and

provide, when the registration is unsuccessful, a notification message indicating registration failure.