Mobile devices with femto cell functionality

• US 9,924,436 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2014
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• 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): Nguyen, Brian D
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TOAN D
• Application Number:
  US14/275,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20140248870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• 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 for enabling communication through a mobile device, comprising:

receiving, at the mobile device, communication from a Radio Access Network (RAN) regarding an origination request received at the RAN from a first device, wherein the origination request requests the first device to establish communication with a second device;

activating, at the mobile device, a femto functionality that facilitates communication between the first device and the second device via the mobile device; and

initiating, by the mobile device, a femto-enabled peer-to-peer communication session between the first device and the second device using the femto functionality to allow local communications between the first device and second device via the mobile device and the femto-enabled peer-to-peer communication session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is a femto enabled device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device is a femto enabled device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device are non-femto enabled devices, the method further comprising:

receiving communication from the first device; and

transmitting the communication to the second device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user code information and a search request for at least one of the first device and the second device from the RAN; and

reporting an Ecp measurement to the RAN.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a Pseudorandom Noise (PN) offset and designated frequency information from the RAN.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

performing a self calibration on the designated frequency.

8. A wireless communications apparatus for enabling communication through a mobile device, comprising:

means for receiving, at the mobile device, communication from a Radio Access Network (RAN) regarding an origination request received at the RAN from a first device, wherein the origination request requests the first device to establish communication with a second device;

means for activating, at the mobile device, a femto functionality that facilitates communication between the first device and the second device via the mobile device; and

means for initiating, at the mobile device, a femto-enabled peer-to-peer communication session between the first device and the second device using the femto functionality to allow local communications between the first device and second device via the mobile device and the femto-enabled peer-to-peer communication session.

9. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first device and the second device are non-femto enabled devices, the method further comprising:

means for receiving communication from the first device; and

means for transmitting the communication to the second device.

10. A wireless communication apparatus for enabling communication through a mobile device comprising:

memory; and

a processor configured to;

receive, at the mobile device, communication from a Radio Access Network (RAN) regarding an origination request received at the RAN from a first device, wherein the origination request requests the first device to establish communication with a second device;

activate, at the mobile device, a femto functionality that facilitates communication between the first device and the second device via the mobile device; and

initiating, by the mobile device, a femto-enabled peer-to-peer communication session between the first device and the second device using the femto functionality to allow local communications between the first device and second device via the mobile device and the femto-enabled peer-to-peer communication session.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive wireless communications on a forward link from the RAN and on a reverse link from at least one mobile communication apparatus; and

transmit wireless information on a reverse link to the RAN and on a forward link to the at least one mobile communication apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive communication on a reverse link from the first device, and to transmit communication on the forward link to the second device.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a Mobile Station Modem (MSM) chipset; and

a Cell Site Modem (CSM) chipset.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first device is a femto enabled device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second device is a femto enabled device.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first device and the second device are non-femto enabled devices, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive communication from the first device; and

transmit the communication to the second device.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive user code information and a search request for at least one of the first device and the second device from the RAN; and

report an Ecp measurement to the RAN.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a Pseudorandom Noise (PN) offset and designated frequency information from the RAN.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to:

perform a self calibration on the designated frequency.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor for enabling communication through a mobile device comprising:

code for receiving, at the mobile device, communication from a Radio Access Network (RAN) regarding an origination request received at the RAN from a first device, wherein the origination request requests the first device to establish communication with a second device;

code for activating, at the mobile device, a femto functionality that facilitates communication between the first device and the second device via the mobile device; and

code for initiating, by the mobile device, a femto-enabled peer-to-peer communication session between the first device and the second device using the femto functionality to allow local communications between the first device and second device via the mobile device and the femto-enabled peer-to-peer communication session.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, comprising:

code for receiving communication from the first device; and

code for transmitting the communication to the second device.