Automatic mutual discovery femtocell system and associated method

• US 9,020,511 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2013
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SerComm Corporation
• Original Assignee: SerComm Corporation
• Inventors: Zhang, Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Rego, Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US14/024,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20140148092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 455/424, 455/426.1, 455/435.2, 455436-444, 455/449, 455/450, 370/328
• US Class Current: 455/444
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• 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

An automatic mutual discovery femtocell system and associated method are provided. Each femtocell includes: a system information self-definition and update module for pre-defining or automatically updating a self-defined system information block (SIB), a broadcast information module, a scanning module, and an analysis and connection establishment module. The self-defined SIB includes at least one of an identity code, an IP address, a UTRA absolute radio frequency channel number (UARFCN), a cell parameter identity (CPI), and a group identity. The latest self-defined SIB of a host femtocell is broadcasted to surroundings, a self-defined SIB of a neighboring cell of the host femtocell is scanned and analyzed, and a connection is established with the femtocell corresponding to the self-defined SIB. Without involving manual intervention or relying on wired networks, the femtocells can quickly discovering one another and updating changes in neighboring femtocells, thereby enhancing efficiency of collaborative operations.

Claims

1. An automatic mutual discovery femtocell system, comprising a plurality of femtocells deployed in a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standard application environment;

each of the femtocells comprising;

a system information self-definition and update module, for pre-defining or automatically updating a self-defined system information block of a host femtocell, wherein the self-defined system information block comprises at least one of an identity code, an IP address, a UTRA absolute radio frequency channel number (UARFCN), a cell parameter identity (CPI), and a group identity;

a broadcast information module, for broadcasting the latest self-defined system information block of the host femtocell to surroundings;

a scanning module, for scanning a self-defined system information block broadcasted by a neighboring femtocell of the host femtocell; and

an analysis and connection establishment module, for analyzing the self-defined system information block received by the scanning module, and establishing a connection with a femtocell corresponding to the self-defined system information block.

2. The automatic mutual discovery femtocell system according to claim 1, wherein the self-defined system information block is defined from a non-common system information block of UMTS cell system information apart from a main system information block, a scheduling block and a scheduling block;

and the non-common system information block comprises a system information block.

3. The automatic mutual discovery femtocell system according to claim 1, wherein the femtocells comprise femtocells that support scanning of all system information blocks and reading the self-defined system information block from the scanned system information blocks, and femtocells that support reading the self-defined system information block from a predetermined position.

4. An automatic discovery method for a plurality of femtocells deployed in a UMTS standard application environment, comprising:

pre-defining or automatically updating a self-defined system information block of a host femtocell, wherein the self-defined system information block comprises at least one of an identity code, an IP address, a UTRA absolute radio frequency channel number (UARFCN), a cell parameter identity (CPI), and a group identity;

broadcasting the latest self-defined system information block of the host femtocell to surroundings;

scanning a self-defined system information block broadcasted by a neighboring femtocell of the host femtocell; and

analyzing the self-defined system information block received by a scanning module, and establishing a connection with a femtocell corresponding to the self-defined system information block.

5. The automatic discovery method according to claim 4, wherein the self-defined system information block is defined from a non-common system information block of UMTS cell system information apart from a main system information block, a scheduling block and a scheduling block;

and the non-common system information block comprises a system information block.

6. The automatic discovery method according to claim 4, wherein the step of broadcasting the latest self-defined system information block comprises broadcasting the latest self-defined system information block of the host femtocell during an idle period or at a predetermined position.

7. The automatic discovery method according to claim 4, wherein in the step of scanning the self-defined system information block comprises scanning all system information blocks and reading the self-defined system information block from the scanned system information blocks, or scanning a predetermined position and reading the self-defined system information block.