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

• US 9,717,036 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2016
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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, Liu, Cheng P., Kuo, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DINH
• Application Number:
  US15/243,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20160360468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• 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 comprising:

granting, by a system having a processor, using a first identifier corresponding to a service to which a first communication device is subscribed, the first communication device temporary access to a femtocell to facilitate obtaining a second identifier for association with the first communication device, wherein the femtocell is associated with a femtocell coverage area;

obtaining, by the system, during the temporary access, the second identifier, wherein obtaining the second identifier comprises an operation selected from the group consisting of;

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

receiving, from the first 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 first communication device for access to the femtocell;

granting, by the system, the first communication device access to the femtocell to facilitate local routing of communications between the first communication device and a second communication device located within the femtocell coverage area, wherein the local routing of the communications occurs within the femtocell coverage area, and wherein the second identifier associated with the first communication device is used for the local routing;

after granting the first communication device access to the femtocell, receiving, from outside the femtocell coverage area, a communication directed to the first identifier associated with the first communication device; and

routing, using the second identifier associated with the first communication device, the communication to the first communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

sending, using the first identifier, the second-identifier request to the first communication device, wherein receiving, from the first communication device, the first second-identifier response comprising 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 first communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a second-identifier request; and

sending, using the first identifier, the second-identifier request to the first communication device, wherein receiving, from the first communication device, the second second-identifier response comprising the user-created code to be used as the second identifier follows sending the second-identifier request to the first communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the unassigned identifiers are generated by at least one 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.

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

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first establishment provides the femtocell coverage area independent of the mobile network operator.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the first establishment is a shopping mall and the second establishment is a particular establishment within the shopping mall.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the first establishment and the second establishment are located within a multi-establishment facility.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-created code comprises an alphanumeric character to be used as the second identifier.

10. A femtocell access system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

granting, using a first identifier corresponding to a service to which a first communication device is subscribed, the first communication device temporary access to a femtocell to facilitate obtaining a second identifier for association with the first communication device, wherein the femtocell is associated with a femtocell coverage area,

obtaining, during the temporary access, the second identifier, the second identifier corresponding to the first communication device, wherein obtaining the second identifier comprises an operation selected from the group consisting of;

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

receiving, from the first 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 first communication device for access to the femtocell,

granting the first communication device access to the femtocell using the second identifier to facilitate local routing of communications between the first communication device and a second communication device located within the femtocell coverage area, wherein the local routing of the communications occurs within the femtocell coverage area, and wherein the second identifier is used for the local routing,

after granting the first communication device access to the femtocell, receiving, from outside the femtocell coverage area, a communication directed to the first identifier associated with the first communication device, and

routing, using the second identifier associated with the first communication device, the communication to the first communication device.

11. The femtocell access system of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

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

sending, using the first identifier, the second-identifier request to the first communication device, wherein receiving, from the first communication device, the first second-identifier response comprising 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 first communication device.

12. The femtocell access system of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating a second-identifier request; and

sending, using the first identifier, the second-identifier request to the first communication device, wherein receiving, from the first communication device, the second second-identifier response comprising the user-created code to be used as the second identifier follows sending the second-identifier request to the first communication device.

13. The femtocell access system of claim 10, wherein the unassigned identifiers are generated by at least one 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.

14. 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 first communication device is subscribed, the first communication device temporary access to a femtocell to facilitate obtaining a second identifier for association with the first communication device, wherein the femtocell is associated with a femtocell coverage area;

obtaining, during the temporary access, the second identifier, the second identifier corresponding to the first communication device, wherein obtaining the second identifier comprises an operation selected from the group consisting of;

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

receiving, from the first 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 first communication device for access to the femtocell;

granting the first communication device access to the femtocell using the second identifier to facilitate local routing of communications between the first communication device and a second communication device located within the femtocell coverage area, wherein the local routing of the communications occurs within the femtocell coverage area, and wherein the second identifier is used for the local routing;

after granting the first communication device access to the femtocell, receiving, from outside the femtocell coverage area, a communication directed to the first identifier associated with the first communication device; and

routing, using the second identifier associated with the first communication device, the communication to the first communication device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

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

sending, using the first identifier, the second-identifier request to the first communication device, wherein receiving, from the first communication device, the first second-identifier response comprising 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 first communication device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating a second-identifier request; and

sending, using the first identifier, the second-identifier request to the first communication device, wherein receiving, from the first communication device, the second second-identifier response comprising the user-created code to be used as the second identifier follows sending the second-identifier request to the first communication device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the unassigned identifiers are generated by at least one 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.