Method and apparatus for configuring and locating a home base station

• US 9,560,624 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2013
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Edge, Stephen William
• Primary Examiner(s): MAPA, MICHAEL Y
• Application Number:
  US14/051,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20140038642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/414.2, 455/410, 455/435.1, 455/444, 455448-449, 4554561-457
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

Techniques for configuring a Home evolved Node B (HeNB) in a location server and positioning the HeNB are disclosed. In one aspect, location for a HeNB is supported based on LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) messages. The HeNB communicates LPP messages with a location server. These LPP messages are terminated at the HeNB instead of a UE. At least one location transaction for the HeNB can be performed to configure in the location server and/or locate the HeNB based on the LPP messages. In another aspect, location for a HeNB is supported based on an embedded UE in the HeNB. The HeNB establishes a location session with a location server based on an embedded UE ID, which is assigned to the HeNB and recognized by the location server as being for a HeNB instead of a UE. At least one location transaction for the HeNB is performed during the location session.

Claims

1. A method of supporting location of a Home evolved Node B (HeNB), comprising:

establishing a location session between the HeNB and a location server based on an embedded User Equipment (UE) identity (ID) assigned to the HeNB, the embedded UE ID being recognized by the location server as being assigned to the HeNB instead of a UE;

communicating, from the HeNB to the location server, measurements made by the HeNB in accordance with a positioning method included in a message previously communicated to the HeNB by the location server;

performing at least one location transaction for the HeNB during the location session, including determining the location of the HeNB using the measurements made by the HeNB; and

performing an attach procedure with the embedded UE ID to attach the HeNB to a Mobility Management Entity (MME), the HeNB appearing as a UE to the MME.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the embedded UE ID is within a predetermined range of UE IDs reserved for assignment to HeNBs.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating messages between the HeNB and the location server via the MME during the location server, the MME being unaware of the messages being communicated by the HeNB instead of a UE.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the HeNB is assigned a plurality of embedded UE IDs, wherein the MME associates the plurality of embedded UE IDs with a plurality of location servers, and wherein the HeNB configures itself with each of the plurality of location servers based on a different one of the plurality of embedded UE IDs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing a location session comprises sending a message by the HeNB to the location server to initiate a Mobile Originated Location Request (MO-LR) location session.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a secure data connection between the HeNB and the location server based on the embedded UE ID, the location server recognizing the embedded UE ID being for the HeNB instead of a UE.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing a location session comprises sending a message by the HeNB to the location server to initiate a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) location session.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing a location session comprises receiving a message from the location server to the HeNB to initiate a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) location session.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing at least one location transaction comprises configuring the HeNB in the location server, or performing positioning of the HeNB, or both at initialization of the HeNB.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing a location session and the performing at least one location transaction are performed by the HeNB.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing a location session and the performing at least one location transaction are performed by the location server.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting the embedded UE ID being assigned to the HeNB instead of a UE by the location server; and

configuring the HeNB in the location server.

13. An apparatus for supporting location of a Home evolved Node B (HeNB), comprising:

means for establishing a location session between the HeNB and a location server based on an embedded User Equipment (UE) identity (ID) assigned to the HeNB, the embedded UE ID being recognized by the location server as being assigned to the HeNB instead of a UE;

means for communicating, from the HeNB to the location server, measurements made by the HeNB in accordance with a positioning method included in a message previously communicated to the HeNB by the location server;

means for performing at least one location transaction for the HeNB during the location session, including determining the location of the HeNB using the measurements made by the HeNB; and

means for performing an attach procedure with the embedded UE ID to attach the HeNB to a Mobility Management Entity (MME), the HeNB appearing as a UE to the MME.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for establishing a secure data connection between the HeNB and the location server based on the embedded UE ID, the location server recognizing the embedded UE ID being for the HeNB instead of a UE.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for performing at least one location transaction comprises means for configuring the HeNB in the location server, or performing positioning of the HeNB, or both at initialization of the HeNB.

16. An apparatus for supporting location of a Home evolved Node B (HeNB), comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

establish a location session between the HeNB and a location server based on an embedded User Equipment (UE) identity (ID) assigned to the HeNB, the embedded UE ID being recognized by the location server as being assigned to the HeNB instead of a UE;

communicate, from the HeNB to the location server, measurements made by the HeNB in accordance with a positioning method included a message previously communicated to the HeNB by the location server;

perform at least one location transaction for the HeNB during the location session, including determine the location of the HeNB using the measurements made by the HeNB; and

perform an attach procedure with the embedded UE ID to attach the HeNB to a Mobility Management Entity (MME), the HeNB appearing as a UE to the MME.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is configured to establish a secure data connection between the HeNB and the location server based on the embedded UE ID, the location server recognizing the embedded UE ID being for the HeNB instead of a UE.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform at least one location transaction at initialization of the HeNB to configure the HeNB in the location server, or to perform positioning of the HeNB, or both.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

code for establishing a location session between the HeNB and a location server based on an embedded User Equipment (UE) identity (ID) assigned to the HeNB, the embedded UE ID being recognized by the location server as being assigned to the HeNB instead of a UE;

code for communicating, from the HeNB to the location server, measurements made by the HeNB in accordance with a positioning method included in a message previously communicated to the HeNB by the location server;

code for perfoiming at least one location transaction for the HeNB during the location session, including determining the location of the HeNB using the measurements made by the HeNB; and

code for perfouning an attach procedure with the embedded UE ID to attach the HeNB to a Mobility Management Entity (MME), the HeNB appearing as a UE to the MME.