Mobile devices with femto cell functionality

• US 9,037,134 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Grob, Matthew S., Yavuz, Mehmet, Nanda, Sanjiv
• Primary Examiner(s): Agosta, Steve D
• Application Number:
  US12/433,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20090312017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,210 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/432.1, 455436-444, 4554561-457, 455/434, 370/310.2, 370/328, 370331-334, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• 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 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Aspects describe communications environments in which femtocell capability is provided to devices within the communications network. A non-femto enabled device and/or a femto enabled device can communicate with a femto enabled device in the same geographical area for femto-enabled peer-to-peer communication. Two non-femto enabled devices can be provided femto functionality through utilization of a femto enabled device, which operates as a hub between the two devices. Other aspects relate to enhanced position determination, adaptive coverage enhancement, local mobile networks, open access femtocells without a backhaul, and local broadcast of media though utilization of femto enabled devices.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a paging message from a Radio Access Network (RAN) at a first mobile device to setup communication with a second mobile device, wherein the paging message comprises an enhanced channel assignment message (ECAM) and a service connect message (SCM);

receiving from the RAN at the first mobile device a reverse link user code of the second mobile device and a request to search for the second mobile device on the reverse link;

receiving at the first mobile device a pseudorandom noise offset and designated frequency from the RAN, wherein the pseudorandom noise offset and designated frequency assignment is based on measurements performed by the first mobile device, wherein the designated frequency is designated for femtocell use;

transmitting a pilot or common overhead channel on the designated frequency from the first mobile device having a mobile station modem (MSM) and a cell site modem (CSM); and

establishing a first communication link including at least one of the first mobile device transmitting forward link communication to the second mobile device and the first mobile device receiving reverse link communication from the second mobile device via the first communication link, wherein establishing the first communication link comprises performing a handoff of the second mobile device from the RAN to the first mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a pilot or common overhead channel from the first mobile device on a plurality of frequencies.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting broadcast content on the forward link from the first mobile device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the broadcast content is broadcast on a plurality of frequencies.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accepting at least one registration request from the second mobile device in response to the pilot or common overhead channel.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving forward link communication from the RAN on a second communication link.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting reverse link communication to the RAN on the second communication link.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second mobile devices are beyond coverage of the RAN.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication link is established by transmitting communication on the forward link to the second mobile device and by receiving communication on the reverse link from the second mobile device the method further comprising:

establishing a second communication link with the RAN, wherein the first mobile device is operable to enable communication between the second mobile device and the RAN.

10. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a paging message from a Radio Access Network (RAN) at a first mobile device to setup communication with a second mobile device, wherein the paging message comprises an enhanced channel assignment message (ECAM) and a service connect message (SCM);

means for receiving from the RAN at the first mobile device a reverse link user code of the second mobile device and a request to search for the second mobile device on the reverse link;

means for receiving at the first mobile device a pseudorandom noise offset and designated frequency from the RAN, wherein the pseudorandom noise offset and designated frequency assignment is based on measurements performed by the first mobile device, wherein the designated frequency is designated for femtocell use;

means for transmitting a pilot or common overhead channel on the designated frequency from the first mobile device having a mobile station modem (MSM) and a cell site modem (CSM); and

means for establishing a communication link including at least one of the first mobile device transmitting forward communication to the second mobile device and the first mobile device receiving reverse link communication from the second mobile device, wherein the means for establishing the communication link comprises means for performing a handoff of the second mobile device from the RAN to the first mobile device.

11. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

means for receiving forward link communication from the RAN on a second communication link.

12. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a receiver for;

receiving a paging message from a Radio Access Network (RAN) at a first mobile device to setup communication with a second mobile device, wherein the paging message comprises an enhanced channel assignment message (ECAM) and a service connect message (SCM),

receiving at the first mobile device a reverse link user code of the second mobile device and a request to search for the second mobile device on the reverse link, and

receiving a pseudorandom noise offset and designated frequency from the RAN, wherein the pseudorandom noise offset and designated frequency assignment is based on measurements performed by the first mobile device, wherein the designated frequency is designated for femtocell use; and

a transmitter for transmitting a pilot or common overhead channel on the designated frequency from the first mobile device having a mobile station modem (MSM) and a cell site modem (CSM),

wherein the transmitter and the receiver are configured to establish a communication link including at least one of the first mobile device transmitting forward link communication to the second mobile device and the first mobile device receiving reverse link communication from the second mobile device, wherein establishing a communication link comprises performing a handoff of the second mobile device from the RAN to the first mobile device.

13. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 12, wherein the pilot or common overhead channel is transmitted on a selected frequency.

14. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the pilot or common overhead channel from the first mobile device on a plurality of frequencies.

15. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit broadcast content on the forward link from the first mobile device.

16. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 15, wherein the broadcast content is broadcast on a plurality of frequencies.

17. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a processor for accepting at least one registration request from the second mobile device in response to the pilot or common overhead channel.

18. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 12, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a forward link communication from the RAN.

19. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit a reverse link communication to the RAN.

20. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first and the second mobile devices are beyond coverage of the RAN.

21. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 12, wherein the communication link is established by transmitting communication on the forward link to the second mobile device and by receiving communication on the reverse link from the second mobile device, and wherein the first mobile device is in communication with the RAN via a second forward link and a second reverse link, and wherein the first mobile device is operable to establish a second communication link with the RAN via at least one of a forward link and a reverse link, wherein the first mobile device is configured to enable communication between the second mobile device and the RAN.

22. A tangible and non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

a first set of codes for causing a first mobile device to receive a paging message from a Radio Access Network (RAN) to setup communication with a second mobile device, wherein the paging message comprises an enhanced channel assignment message (ECAM) and a service connect message (SCM);

a second set of codes for causing the first mobile device to receive a reverse link user code of the second mobile device and a request to search for the second mobile device on the reverse link from the RAN;

a third set of codes for causing the first mobile device to receive a pseudorandom noise offset and designated frequency from the RAN, wherein the pseudorandom noise offset and designated frequency assignment is based on measurements performed by the first mobile device, wherein the designated frequency is designated for femtocell use;

a fourth set of codes for causing the first mobile device to transmit a pilot or common overhead channel on the designated frequency, the first mobile device having a mobile station modem (MSM) and a cell site modem (CSM); and

a fifth set of codes for causing the first mobile device to establish a communication link including at least one of the first mobile device transmitting communication on a forward link to the second mobile device and the first mobile device receiving communication on a reverse link from the second mobile device, wherein establishing the communication link comprises performing a handoff of the second mobile device from the RAN to the first mobile device.

23. At least one processor, comprising:

a first module for receiving a paging message from a Radio Access Network (RAN) at a first mobile device to setup communication with a second mobile device, wherein the paging message comprises an enhanced channel assignment message (ECAM) and a service connect message (SCM);

a second module for receiving from the RAN at the first mobile device a reverse link user code of the second mobile device and a request to search for the second mobile device on the reverse link;

a third module for receiving at the first mobile device a pseudorandom noise offset and designated frequency from the RAN, wherein the pseudorandom noise offset and designated frequency assignment is based on measurements performed by the first mobile device, wherein the designated frequency is designated for femtocell use;

a fourth module for transmitting a pilot or common overhead channel from the first mobile device having a mobile station modem (MSM) and a cell site modem (CSM); and

a fifth module for establishing a communication link including at least one of the first mobile device transmitting communication on a forward link to the second mobile device and the first mobile device receiving communication on a reverse link from the second mobile device, wherein establishing the communication link comprises performing a handoff of the second mobile device from the RAN to the first mobile device.

24. The at least one processor according to claim 23, further comprising:

a sixth module for receiving forward link communication from the RAN on a second communication link.