Communications system including maintained cell history data
First Claim
1. A base station including a processor and a memory operable to communicate, over a wireless communications link defined by a base station cell, with one or more mobile communications devices in a communication network comprising a plurality of cells having one or more of an Open access mode, a Closed access mode, and a Hybrid access mode in which the cell operates as a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell where at a same time, non-CSG members are allowed access,wherein the base station is operable to maintain cell history data for a mobile communications device, the cell history data identifying the plurality of cells with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically,wherein the cell history includes, for the cell, from among the plurality of cells, with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically having the Open access mode, data indicating that the cell has the Open access mode, andfor the cell, from among the plurality of cells, with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically having the Closed access mode, data indicating that the cell has the Closed access mode;
- wherein the cell history data includes data indicating that the cell from among the plurality of cells with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically has the Hybrid access mode in which the cell operates as a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell where at a same time, non-CSG members are allowed access; and
wherein the base station is operable to provide the cell history data to another base station or to an RNC via a base station interface or via a core network interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user communications device having active and idle states operates in a cellular communications network in which user communications devices communicate via network communications devices of cells of the network. History data identifying the cells in which the user communications device has camped whilst in the idle mode or identifying the cells in which the mobile device has been connected whilst in the connected mode is maintained. This history data can be used to identify a home base station.
12 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A base station including a processor and a memory operable to communicate, over a wireless communications link defined by a base station cell, with one or more mobile communications devices in a communication network comprising a plurality of cells having one or more of an Open access mode, a Closed access mode, and a Hybrid access mode in which the cell operates as a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell where at a same time, non-CSG members are allowed access,
wherein the base station is operable to maintain cell history data for a mobile communications device, the cell history data identifying the plurality of cells with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically, wherein the cell history includes, for the cell, from among the plurality of cells, with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically having the Open access mode, data indicating that the cell has the Open access mode, and for the cell, from among the plurality of cells, with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically having the Closed access mode, data indicating that the cell has the Closed access mode; -
wherein the cell history data includes data indicating that the cell from among the plurality of cells with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically has the Hybrid access mode in which the cell operates as a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell where at a same time, non-CSG members are allowed access; and wherein the base station is operable to provide the cell history data to another base station or to an RNC via a base station interface or via a core network interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16)
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10. A mobile communications device including a processor and a memory operable to camp on cells in a communication network comprising a plurality of cells having one or more of an Open access mode, a Closed access mode, and a Hybrid access mode in which the cell operates as a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell where at a same time, non-CSG members are allowed access, the mobile communications device including an idle mode and a connected mode,
wherein the mobile communications device is operable in the idle mode to store history data identifying the plurality of cells in which the mobile communications device has camped historically, wherein the cell history includes, for the cell, from among the plurality of cells, with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically having the Open access mode, data indicating that the cell has the Open access mode, and for the cell, from among the plurality of cells, with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically having the Closed access mode, data indicating that the cell has the Closed access mode; - and
wherein the history data includes data indicating that the cell with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically has the Hybrid access mode in which the cell operates as a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell where at a same time, non-CSG members are allowed access. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 17)
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14. A method performed by a mobile communications device in a communication network comprising a plurality of cells having one or more of an Open access mode, a Closed access mode, and a Hybrid access mode in which the cell operates as a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell where at a same time, non-CSG members are allowed access, the mobile communications device including an idle mode and a connected mode,
the method comprising, in the idle mode, storing history data identifying the plurality of cells in which the mobile communications device has camped historically, wherein the cell history includes, for the cell, from among the plurality of cells, with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically having the Open access mode, data indicating that the cell has the Open access mode, and for the cell, from among the plurality of cells, with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically having the Closed access mode, data indicating that the cell has the Closed access mode; - and
wherein the history data includes data indicating that the cell with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically has the Hybrid access mode in which the cell operates as a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell where at a same time, non-CSG members are allowed access.
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15. A method performed by a base station operable to communicate, over a wireless communications link defined by a base station cell, with one or more mobile communications devices in a communication network comprising a plurality of cells having one or more of an Open access mode, a Closed access mode, and a Hybrid access mode in which the cell operates as a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell where at a same time, non-CSG members are allowed access,
the method comprising maintaining cell history data for a mobile communications device, the cell history data identifying the plurality of cells with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically, wherein the cell history includes, for the cell, from among the plurality of cells, with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically having the Open access mode, data indicating that the cell has the Open access mode, and for the cell, from among the plurality of cells, with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically having the Closed access mode, data indicating that the cell has the Closed access mode; - and
wherein the cell history data includes data indicating that the cell with which the mobile communications device has been registered historically has the Hybrid access mode in which the cell operates as a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell where at a same time, non-CSG members are allowed access; and providing the cell history data to another base station or to an RNC via a base station interface or via a core network interface.
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Specification