Method and apparatus for updating femtocell proximity information

• US 8,923,892 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2011
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Zhou, Yan, Singh, Damanjit, Meshkati, Farhad, Yavuz, Mehmet
• Primary Examiner(s): TAYLOR, BARRY W
• Application Number:
  US13/106,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20120122492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.6, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/444, 455/434
• US Class Current: 455/456.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00835 Determination of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Techniques are described herein for updating proximity information associated with a femtocell in a wireless communication system. An example of a method described herein includes identifying a location within a wireless communication network, associating the location with a femtocell for which proximity information relating to position of the femtocell is maintained, performing at least one search for the femtocell, and updating the proximity information maintained for the femtocell based on results of the at least one search. Another example of a method described herein includes obtaining a report of proximity information relating to a femtocell, identifying one or more network devices for which the proximity information is relevant, and communicating proximity information update signaling to the one or more network devices.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communication device comprising:

a positioning module configured to identify a location of the device;

a proximity store module communicatively coupled to the positioning module and configured to maintain proximity data for a femtocell and to associate the femtocell with the location of the device, wherein the proximity data aids the mobile wireless communication device in determining its proximity to the femtocell; and

a proximity update module communicatively coupled to the proximity store module and configured to perform at least one search for the femtocell, to update the proximity data maintained for the femtocell according to results of the at least one search, to maintain an obsoleteness level for the femtocell, and to discard the proximity data maintained for the femtocell if the femtocell is not found in N consecutive searches in each one of M visits to a proximity of the femtocell, wherein N is a positive integer and M is a positive integer.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximity update module is further configured to discard the proximity data maintained for the femtocell if the femtocell is not found via the at least one search within an allotted time.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximity update module is further configured to update the obsoleteness level of the femtocell according to the results of the at least one search.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the proximity update module is further configured to discard the proximity data maintained for the femtocell if the obsoleteness level for the femtocell exceeds a threshold.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the proximity update module is further configured to perform searches for the femtocell at a rate determined according to the obsoleteness level for the femtocell.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the proximity update module is further configured to increase the obsoleteness level for the femtocell if the femtocell is not found in N consecutive searches conducted at periods of a time interval, wherein N is a positive integer.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the proximity update module is further configured to increase the obsoleteness level for the femtocell if the femtocell is not found via the at least one search within an allotted time.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximity update module is further configured to update the proximity data maintained for the femtocell according to received proximity update signaling.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximity update module is further configured to modify a schedule on which at least a portion of the proximity data maintained for the femtocell is transmitted to an associated wireless communication network.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximity data is provided to the device by a network based on detection of the femtocell by another mobile wireless communication device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximity data is provided to the device by a network based on a radio scan performed by another femtocell.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximity data is provided to the device by a network based on deployment information configured by an operator.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximity data is based on detection of the femtocell by the device during a prior visit of the device to the femtocell.

14. A femtocell proximity management system comprising:

a receiver configured to obtain a proximity data report relating to a femtocell;

a user selection module configured to identify one or more mobile devices for which the proximity data report is relevant;

a signaling generator module communicatively coupled to the receiver and configured to generate proximity data update signaling based on the proximity data report, wherein, if the femtocell is not found in N consecutive searches in each one of M visits to a proximity of the femtocell, the proximity data update signaling instructs a mobile device to discard proximity data for the femtocell, wherein N is a positive integer and M is a positive integer; and

a transmitter communicatively coupled to the user selection module and the signaling generator module and configured to transmit the proximity data update signaling to the one or more mobile devices identified by the user selection module.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the user selection module is further configured to identify the one or more mobile devices for which the proximity data report is relevant based on access restrictions of the femtocell.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the proximity data update signaling within a transmission of additional information relating to the femtocell.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the proximity data update signaling in response to at least one of expiration of an allotted amount of time or a modification of proximity data associated with the femtocell.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the proximity data update signaling instructs each of the one or more mobile devices to discard proximity data for the femtocell stored on the mobile device when the femtocell is removed from a network.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the proximity data update signaling instructs each of the one or more mobile devices to store proximity data for the femtocell on the mobile device when the femtocell is added to a network.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the proximity data report includes a location of the femtocell.

21. A mobile wireless communication device comprising:

a proximity store module configured to maintain proximity data for a femtocell, wherein the proximity data aids the mobile wireless communication device in determining its proximity to the femtocell;

a receiver configured to obtain proximity data update signaling relating to the femtocell, wherein, if the femtocell is not found in N consecutive searches in each one of M visits to a proximity of the femtocell, the proximity data update signaling instructs the mobile wireless communication device to discard the proximity data for the femtocell, wherein N is a positive integer and M is a positive integer; and

a proximity update module communicatively coupled to the proximity store module and the receiver and configured to discard the proximity data for the femtocell based on the proximity data update signaling.

22. The device of claim 21, further comprising a transmitter communicatively coupled to the proximity store module and configured to report proximity data relating to one or more femtocells to a proximity information management entity within a wireless communication network or a serving cell within the wireless communication network.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive control signaling having the proximity data update signaling embedded therein.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the proximity update module is further configured to perform at least one search for the femtocell and to update the proximity data maintained for the femtocell according to results of the at least one search.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein the proximity data for the femtocell includes a location of the femtocell.

26. A method comprising:

identifying a location within a wireless communication network;

associating the location with a femtocell for which proximity information relating to a position of the femtocell is maintained, wherein the proximity information aids a mobile wireless communication device in determining its proximity to the femtocell;

performing at least one search for the femtocell; and

updating, at the mobile wireless communication device, the proximity information maintained for the femtocell based on results of the at least one search, wherein the updating comprises maintaining an obsoleteness level for the femtocell and discarding the proximity information maintained for the femtocell if the femtocell is not found in N consecutive searches in each one of M visits to a proximity of the femtocell, wherein N is a positive integer and M is a positive integer.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the performing comprises performing searches for the femtocell at intervals of a proximity search period.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the updating further comprises discarding the proximity information maintained for the femtocell if the femtocell is not found via the at least one search within an allotted time interval.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the updating comprises:

increasing the obsoleteness level for the femtocell if the femtocell is not found in one or more of the at least one search.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the performing comprises performing searches for the femtocell at a rate determined according to the obsoleteness level for the femtocell.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the updating further comprises discarding the proximity information maintained for the femtocell if the obsoleteness level for the femtocell exceeds an allotted obsoleteness threshold.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the performing comprises performing searches for the femtocell at intervals of a proximity search period.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the updating further comprises increasing the obsoleteness level for the femtocell if the femtocell is not found via the at least one search within an allotted time interval.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the proximity information comprises at least one of satellite positioning system coordinates, cell identifiers, device addresses, media access control (MAC) addresses, observed signal strengths, observed signal-to-noise ratio of at least one of a cellular, television or radio system, observed carrier frequencies or associated radio access technologies.

35. The method of claim 26, further comprising updating the proximity information maintained for the femtocell based on update information received from the wireless communication network.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the updating further comprises altering a schedule on which at least a portion of the proximity information maintained for the femtocell is transmitted to the wireless communication network.

37. A method comprising:

obtaining a report of proximity information relating to a femtocell;

identifying one or more mobile devices for which the proximity information is relevant; and

communicating proximity information update signaling to the one or more mobile devices, wherein, if the femtocell is not found in each one of M visits to a proximity of the femtocell, the proximity information update signaling instructs a mobile device to discard proximity information for the femtocell, wherein N is a positive integer and M is a positive integer.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the obtaining comprises obtaining the report from at least one of the mobile device, the femtocell, a femtocell management system or a femtocell gateway.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the identifying comprises identifying the one or more mobile devices based on access restrictions of the femtocell.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the communicating comprises communicating the proximity information update signaling within a transmission of additional information relating to the femtocell.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the communicating further comprises communicating the proximity information update signaling to ones of the one or more mobile devices operating in a connected mode.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the communicating comprises communicating the proximity information update signaling based on at least one of a transmission period or a modification of parameters related to the femtocell.

43. A method comprising:

identifying a femtocell within a wireless communication network for which proximity information is maintained, wherein the proximity information aids a mobile wireless communication device in determining its proximity to the femtocell;

receiving proximity information update signaling relating to the femtocell, wherein, if the femtocell is not found in N consecutive searches in each one of M visits to a proximity of the femtocell, the proximity information update signaling instructs the mobile wireless communication device to discard the proximity information for the femtocell, wherein N is a positive integer and M is a positive integer; and

discarding the proximity information maintained for the femtocell based on the proximity information update signaling.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising reporting proximity information relating to one or more femtocells to a proximity information management entity within the wireless communication network.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising reporting proximity information relating to one or more femtocells to a serving cell within the wireless communication network.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the proximity information update signaling embedded within a transmission of control signaling from the wireless communication network.

47. A mobile wireless communication device comprising:

means for identifying a location of the device;

means for maintaining proximity data for a femtocell, wherein the proximity data aids the mobile wireless communication device in determining its proximity to the femtocell;

means for associating the femtocell with the location of the device;

means for performing at least one search for the femtocell; and

means for updating the proximity data maintained for the femtocell according to results of the at least one search, wherein the means for updating is configured to maintain an obsoleteness level for the femtocell and to discard the proximity data maintained for the femtocell if the femtocell is not found in N consecutive searches in each one of M visits to a proximity of the femtocell, wherein N is a positive integer and M is a positive integer.

48. The device of claim 47, wherein the means for updating is configured to update the obsoleteness level of the femtocell according to the results of the at least one search.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein the means for updating is configured to increase the obsoleteness level for the femtocell upon at least one selected event from a plurality of events, and wherein the plurality of events comprise the femtocell not being found in N searches for a positive integer N and the femtocell not being found within an allotted time.

50. The device of claim 48, wherein the means for updating is configured to perform at least one of discarding the proximity data maintained for the femtocell or decreasing a rate at which the means for performing searches for the femtocell if the obsoleteness level for the femtocell exceeds a threshold.

51. A femtocell proximity management system comprising:

means for receiving a proximity data report relating to a femtocell;

means for identifying one or more mobile devices for which the proximity data report is relevant;

means for generating proximity data update signaling based on the proximity data report, wherein, if the femtocell is not found in N consecutive searches in each one of M visits to a proximity of the femtocell, the proximity data update signaling instructs a mobile device to discard proximity data for the femtocell, wherein N is a positive integer and M is a positive integer; and

means for transmitting the proximity data update signaling to the one or more mobile devices identified by the means for identifying.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the means for transmitting is configured to transmit the proximity data update signaling within a transmission of additional information relating to the femtocell.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the means for transmitting is configured to transmit the proximity data update signaling in response to at least one of expiration of an allotted amount of time or a modification of proximity data associated with the femtocell.

54. A mobile wireless communication device comprising:

means for maintaining proximity data for a femtocell, wherein the proximity data aids the mobile wireless communication device in determining its proximity to the femtocell;

means for receiving proximity data update signaling relating to the femtocell, wherein, if the femtocell is not found in N consecutive searches in each one of M visits to a proximity of the femtocell, the proximity data update signaling instructs the mobile wireless communication device to discard the proximity data for the femtocell, wherein N is a positive integer and M is a positive integer; and

means for discarding the proximity data for the femtocell based on the proximity data update signaling.

55. The device of claim 54, wherein the means for receiving is configured to receive control signaling having the proximity data update signaling embedded therein.

56. A computer program product residing on a non-transitory processor-readable medium and comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

identify a location within a wireless communication network;

associate the location with a femtocell for which proximity information relating to position of the femtocell is maintained, wherein the proximity information aids a mobile wireless communication device in determining its proximity to the femtocell;

perform at least one search for the femtocell; and

update, at the mobile wireless communication device, the proximity information maintained for the femtocell based on results of the at least one search, wherein updating comprises maintaining an obsoleteness level for the femtocell and discarding the proximity information maintained for the femtocell if the femtocell is not found in N consecutive searches in each one of M visits to a proximity of the femtocell, wherein N is a positive integer and M is a positive integer.

57. The computer program product of claim 56, wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to update are configured to cause the processor to update the obsoleteness level of the femtocell according to the results of the at least one search.

58. The computer program product of claim 57, wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to update are configured to cause the processor to discard the proximity data maintained for the femtocell or decrease a rate at which searches are performed for the femtocell if the obsoleteness level for the femtocell exceeds a threshold.

59. A computer program product residing on a non-transitory processor-readable medium and comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

obtain a report of proximity information relating to a femtocell;

identify one or more mobile devices for which the proximity information is relevant; and

communicate proximity information update signaling to the one or more mobile devices, wherein, if the femtocell is not found in N consecutive searches in each one of M visits to a proximity of the femtocell, the proximity information update signaling instructs a mobile device to discard proximity information for the femtocell, wherein N is a positive integer and M is a positive integer.

60. The computer program product of claim 59, wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to communicate are configured to cause the processor to transmit the proximity information update signaling within a transmission of additional information relating to the femtocell.

61. The computer program product of claim 59, wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to communicate are configured to cause the processor to transmit the proximity information update signaling in response to at least one of expiration of an allotted amount of time or a modification of proximity information associated with the femtocell.

62. A computer program product residing on a non-transitory processor-readable medium and comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

identify a femtocell within a wireless communication network for which proximity information is maintained, wherein the proximity information aids a mobile wireless communication device in determining its proximity to the femtocell;

receive proximity information update signaling relating to the femtocell, wherein, if the femtocell is not found in N consecutive searches in each one of M visits to a proximity of the femtocell, the proximity information update signaling instructs the mobile wireless communication device to discard the proximity information for the femtocell, wherein N is a positive integer and M is a positive integer; and

discard the proximity information maintained for the femtocell based on the proximity information update signaling.

63. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to receive are configured to cause the processor to receive control signaling having the proximity information update signaling embedded therein.

64. A mobile wireless communication device comprising:

a positioning module configured to identify a location of the device;

a proximity store module communicatively coupled to the positioning module and configured to maintain proximity data for a femtocell and to associate the femtocell with the location of the device, wherein the proximity data aids the mobile wireless communication device in determining its proximity to the femtocell; and

a proximity update module communicatively coupled to the proximity store module and configured to perform at least one search for the femtocell, to update the proximity data maintained for the femtocell according to results of the at least one search, to maintain an obsoleteness level for the femtocell, and to update the obsoleteness level according to the results of the at least one search and according to results of searches performed during a plurality of prior visits to a proximity of the femtocell.