LOCATION OF BASESTATION

• US 20120184303A1
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ubiquisys Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Giustina, Andrea, Hatala, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,626,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0242 Determining the position of transmitters to be subsequently used in positioning G01S5/0289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0061 of neighbour cell information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• 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 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Techniques and mechanisms relating to a basestation for a cellular communication system, and in particular to a method and a system for determining the location of the basestation, are disclosed. Methods are provided for use in a basestation of a mobile communications network, or in the network itself, for determining information about the position of the basestation itself, and/or for determining the position of mobile devices having a connection to the basestation. According to other aspects of the invention, there are provided basestations and network nodes for performing these methods.

Claims

1. A basestation for a communications network, operable periodically to interrupt its own transmissions to detect signals transmitted by neighbouring basestations, such that the location of the basestation can be estimated based on the locations of neighbouring macrocell basestations from which said signals are detected, and such that, if the location of the basestation is changed to a non-approved location, an alarm is sent to the network.

2. The basestation as claimed in claim 1, operable such that, if the location is changed to an approved location, it is permitted to provide service.

3. A method of operation of a basestation for a communications network, the method comprising:

periodically interrupting transmissions of the basestation to detect signals transmitted by neighbouring basestations, such that the location of the basestation can be estimated based on the locations of neighbouring macrocell basestations from which said signals are detected, and, if the location of the basestation is changed to a non-approved location, sending an alarm to the network.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising, if the location is changed to an approved location, permitting the basestation to provide service.