Systems, methods, and computer program products for managing access to femtocell coverage

• US 9,173,162 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2013
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fan, James, Kuo, Richard, Lui, Cheng P.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DINH
• Application Number:
  US13/952,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20130310034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/411, 455/414.1, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/434, 455/444, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5061 Pools of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/36 due to handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products are for managing access to a femtocell coverage area. An exemplary method includes storing in a memory component a first identifier corresponding to a subscribed service of a communication device and a second identifier corresponding to a user of the communication device, and granting access to the femtocell coverage area using the second identifier.

Claims

1. A method, for managing access to a femtocell, comprising:

granting, by a system having a processor, using a first identifier corresponding to a service to which a communication device is subscribed, a communication device temporary access to the femtocell to facilitate obtaining a second identifier;

obtaining, by the system, during the temporary access, the second identifier, the second identifier corresponding to the communication device; and

granting, by the system, the communication device access to the femtocell using the second identifier;

wherein obtaining the second identifier includes an operation selected from a group consisting of;

receiving, from the communication device, a first second-identifier response comprising a selection of the second identifier selected from a second-identifier list;

receiving, from the communication device, a second second-identifier response comprising a user-created code to be used as the second identifier; and

selecting the second identifier from a plurality of unassigned identifiers allocated for assignment to the communication device for access to the femtocell;

and further comprising;

generating a second-identifier request including the second-identifier list; and

sending, using the first identifier, the second-identifier request to the communication device;

wherein receiving the first second-identifier response, including the selection of the second identifier selected from the second-identifier list, follows sending the second-identifier request, including the second-identifier list, to the communication device and the communication device sending the first second-identifier response.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the second second-identifier response, including the user-created code to be used as the second identifier, follows sending the second-identifier request to the communication device and the communication device sending the second second-identifier response.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the femtocell is associated with a femtocell coverage area; and

the unassigned identifiers are generated by at least one entity selected from a group consisting of a mobile network operator associated with the femtocell coverage area, a first establishment associated with the femtocell coverage area, and a second establishment associated with the first establishment.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the mobile network operator associated with the femtocell coverage area is a provider of the service to the communication device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first establishment provides the femtocell coverage area independent of the mobile network operator.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the first establishment is a shopping mall and the second establishment is a particular establishment within the mall.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the second identifier provides a first femtocell access identification corresponding to a user of the communication device for communicating with at least one entity selected from a group consisting of the first establishment and the second establishment.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining, by the system, a third identifier, wherein:

the second identifier provides a first femtocell access identification, corresponding to a user of the communication device, for communicating with a first establishment; and

the third identifier provides a second femtocell access identification, corresponding to the user of the communication device, for communicating with a second establishment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first establishment and the second establishment are located within a multi-establishment facility.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the femtocell is associated with a femtocell coverage area;

the communication device is associated with a first user; and

granting access to the femtocell using the second identifier comprises granting access to the femtocell for communications originating from and terminating within the femtocell coverage area.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the femtocell is associated with a femtocell coverage area;

the communication device is associated with a first user; and

granting access to the femtocell using the second identifier comprises granting access to the femtocell for communications originating from within the femtocell coverage area and terminating external to the femtocell coverage area.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the communication device is a first communication device;

the femtocell is associated with a femtocell coverage area;

granting access to the femtocell using the second identifier comprises facilitating local routing of communications between the first communication device and a second communication device located within the femtocell coverage area;

the local routing of the communications occurs within the femtocell coverage area, and

the second identifier is used for the local routing.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the communication device is a first communication device;

the femtocell is associated with a femtocell coverage area;

granting access to the femtocell using the second identifier comprises facilitating external routing of communications between the first communication device and a second communication device located within the femtocell coverage area;

the external routing of the communications occurs using an external network; and

the first identifier is used for the external routing.

14. A femtocell access system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium in communication with the processor and having instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, for managing access to a femtocell, comprising;

granting, using a first identifier corresponding to a service to which a communication device is subscribed, the communication device temporary access to the femtocell to facilitate obtaining a second identifier;

obtaining, during the temporary access, the second identifier, the second identifier corresponding to the communication device; and

granting the communication device access to the femtocell using the second identifier;

wherein the operation of obtaining the second identifiers comprises an act selected from a group consisting of;

receiving, from the communication device, a first second-identifier response comprising a selection of the second identifier selected from a second-identifier list;

receiving, from the communication device, a second second-identifier response comprising a user-created code to be used as the second identifier; and

selecting the second identifier from a plurality of unassigned identifiers allocated for assignment to the communication device for access to the femtocell;

and further comprising;

generating a second-identifier request including tile second-identifier list; and

sending, using the first identifier, the second-identifier request to the communication device;

wherein receiving the first second-identifier response, including the selection of the second identifier selected from the second-identifier list, follows sending the second-identifier request, including the second-identifier list, to the communication device and the communication device sending the first second-identifier response.

15. The femtocell access system of claim 14, wherein the user-created code comprises an alphanumeric character to be used as the second identifier.

16. The femtocell access system of claim 14, wherein:

the femtocell is associated with a femtocell coverage area; and

the unassigned identifiers are generated by at least one entity selected from a group consisting of a mobile network operator associated with the femtocell coverage area, a first establishment associated with the femtocell coverage area, and a second establishment associated with the first establishment.

17. The femtocell access system of claim 14, wherein:

the femtocell is associated with a femtocell coverage area; and

the operation of granting access to the femtocell using the second identifier comprises a granting operation selected from a group consisting of;

granting access to the femtocell for communications originating from and terminating within the femtocell coverage area;

granting access to the femtocell for communications originating from within the femtocell coverage area and terminating external to the femtocell coverage area;

facilitating local routing of communications between the communication device and another device, wherein;

the communication device is a first communication device;

granting access to the femtocell using the second identifier comprises facilitating local routing of communications between the communication device and a second communication device located within the femtocell coverage area;

the local routing of the communications occurs within the femtocell coverage area; and

the second identifier is used for the local routing; and

facilitating external routing of communications between the communication device and a third communication device located within the femtocell coverage area, wherein;

granting access to the femtocell using the second identifier comprises facilitating external routing of communications between the first communication device and the third communication device located within the femtocell coverage area;

the external routing of the communications occurs using art external network; and

the first identifier is used for the external routing.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

granting, using a first identifier corresponding to a service to which a communication device is subscribed, the communication device temporary access to the femtocell to facilitate obtaining a second identifier;

obtaining, during the temporary access, the second identifier, the second identifier corresponding to the communication device; and

granting the communication device access to the femtocell using the second identifier;

wherein the operation of obtaining the second identifier comprises an act selected from a group consisting of;

receiving, from the communication device, a first second-identifier response comprising a selection of the second identifier selected from a second-identifier list;

receiving, from the communication device, a second second-identifier response comprising a user-created code to be used as the second identifier; and

selecting the second identifier from a plurality of unassigned identifiers allocated for assignment to the communication device for access to the femtocell;

and further comprising;

generating a second-identifier request including the second-identifier list; and

sending, using the first identifier, the second-identifier request to the communication device;

wherein receiving the first second-identifier response, including the selection of the second identifier selected from the second-identifier list, follows sending the second-identifier request, including the second-identifier list, to the communication device and the communication device sending the first second-identifier response.