Non-carrier dependent femtocell and related methods

• US 8,279,808 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2010
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: YMAX Communications Corporation (B. Riley Financial, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: YMAX Communications Corporation (B. Riley Financial, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sing, YuenWah, Borislow, Daniel M., Wood, Gregory L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Kwang B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anh Ngoc
• Application Number:
  US12/774,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20110274093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310.2, 370/310, 370/31, 370/328, 370/331, 370/332, 370/338, 370/400
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

The methods and devices of the present disclosure may be used to enable non-carrier dependent, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) femtocells for in-service use with one or more mobile handheld devices. The VoIP femtocell generally includes at least one Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver; and program logic that, at least in part, performs a broadcast channel selection protocol and a handheld reselection protocol, so as to enable one or more mobile handheld devices to select the VoIP femtocell for in-service use. In certain embodiments, the broadcast channel selection protocol includes a configuration phase and a broadcast phase.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) femtocell for in-service use with one or more mobile handheld devices, the method comprising:

(a) performing a broadcast channel selection protocol via, at least in part, a femtocell comprising at least one radio frequency (RF) transceiver,

wherein said broadcast channel selection protocol comprises a configuration phase and a broadcast phase;

wherein said configuration phase comprises using the VoIP femtocell in a handset/receive mode to (i) detect at least one commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) basestation, (ii) obtain CMRS basestation information from the detected CMRS basestation(s), and (iii) select a CMRS basestation that has a weak or no detectable signal strength within a user communication zone;

wherein said broadcast phase comprises using the VoIP femtocell in a basestation/broadcast mode to broadcast within the user communication zone as a VoIP femtocell using basestation information corresponding to the selected CMRS basestation; and

(b) performing a handheld reselection protocol via, at least in part, said VoIP femtocell to enable one or more mobile handheld devices to select said VoIP femtocell for in-service use;

wherein said handheld reselection protocol comprises enabling the VoIP femtocell to broadcast as the primary, dominant CMRS basestation detectable within the user communication zone to thereby enable one or more mobile handheld devices to select the VoIP femtocell for in-service use.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration phase comprises using the VoIP femtocell to detect all CMRS basestations available within the user communication zone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration phase comprises using the VoIP femtocell to detect all CMRS basestations available within the user communication zone that are compatible with a communication standard supported by the one or more mobile handheld device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration phase comprises using the VoIP femtocell to detect one or more CMRS basestations available within the user communication zone until at least one CMRS basestation with a weak signal within the user communication zone is detected.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration phase comprises using the VOIP femtocell to detect one or more CMRS basestations available within the user communication zone until identifier information for at least one CMRS basestation with no detectable signal within the user communication zone is obtained.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast channel selection protocol is performed entirely by the VoIP femtocell.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(c) performing a handheld authentication protocol via, at least in part, the VoIP femtocell to authenticate and authorize mobile handheld device access to the VoIP femtocell for in-service use,

wherein said handheld authentication protocol comprises (i) upon receipt of a location update request from a mobile handheld device, performing an identification request including detecting subscriber information associated with the mobile handheld device so as to identify the device, and (ii) initiating a registration process associated with the identified mobile handheld device via a user contact protocol.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said registration process comprises determining that the identified mobile handheld device is registered with the VoIP femtocell, and establishing a communication channel with the registered device so as to allow access to the VoIP femtocell for in-service use.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said registration process further comprises initiating a user contact protocol including contacting the registered mobile handheld device to alert a user of the registered device of access to the VoIP femtocell for in-service use, and receiving a response from a user of the registered device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said registration process comprises:

(i) determining that the identified mobile handheld device is not registered with the VoIP femtocell;

(ii) initiating a user contact protocol including contacting the unregistered mobile handheld device to perform a user registration action;

(iii) receiving a response to complete the user registration action, and (iv) establishing a communication channel with the mobile handheld device so as to allow access to the VoIP femtocell for in-service use.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said registration process comprises:

(i) determining that the identified mobile handheld device is not registered with the VoIP femtocell;

(ii) initiating a user contact protocol including contacting the unregistered mobile handheld device to perform a user registration action; and

(iii) not allowing the unregistered mobile handheld device access to said VOIP femtocell.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising contacting the unregistered mobile handheld device with an unauthorized access alert.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said CMRS basestation information is selected from location identifiers, channel identifiers, available CMRS basestations in communication with identified basestation, signal strength, user handheld reselection parameters, and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the VoIP femtocell is compatible for use with a communication standard selected from the group consisting of:

Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and CDMA2000.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising a location determination protocol,

wherein the location determination protocol includes (i) receiving one or more first signals carrying corresponding one or more commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) tower, wireless access point (WAP), and/or transmitter identifiers that each identify one or more CMRS towers, WAPs, and/or transmitters;

(ii) determining one or more signal strengths of the one or more first signals, and (iii) obtaining a location of the VoIP femtocell using the one or more locations of the CMRS towers, WAPs, and/or transmitters and the one or more signal strengths of the one or more first signals.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the location determination protocol further comprises:

(i) correlating the one or more identifiers to one or more locations of the CMRS towers, WAPs, and/or transmitters having the one or more identifiers, and (ii) calculating the location of the VoIP femtocell based on the locations and the signal strengths.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the location determination protocol further comprises:

providing location of the VoIP femtocell in connection with an emergency services call.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the emergency services call is first routed as a VoIP call via a packet switched network in communication with the VoIP femtocell, and secondarily routed via the RF transceiver(s) as a cellular call if the packet switched network is not available.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the emergency services call is first routed via the RF transceiver(s) as a cellular call, and secondarily routed as a VOIP call via a packet switched network in communication with the VOIP femtocell if a cellular signal is not available.

20. A VoIP femtocell for use with one or more mobile handheld devices and one or more computing devices, said VoIP femtocell comprising:

at least one RF transceiver(s); and

program logic that, at least in part, (a) performs a broadcast channel selection protocol including a configuration phase and a broadcast phase; and

(b) performs a handheld reselection protocol to enable one or more mobile handheld devices to select the VoIP femtocell for in-service use;

wherein said configuration phase comprises using the VoIP femtocell in a handset/receive mode to (i) detect at least one commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) basestation, (ii) obtain CMRS basestation information from the detected CMRS basestation(s), and (iii) select a CMRS basestation that has a weak or no detectable signal strength within a user communication zone;

wherein said broadcast phase comprises using the VoIP femtocell in a basestation/broadcast mode to broadcast within the user communication zone as a VoIP femtocell using basestation information corresponding to the selected CMRS basestation; and

wherein said handheld reselection protocol comprises enabling the VoIP femtocell to broadcast as the primary, dominant CMRS basestation detectable within the user communication zone to thereby enable one or more mobile handheld devices to select the VoIP femtocell for in-service use.

21. The VoIP femtocell of claim 20, wherein the configuration phase comprises using the VoIP femtocell to detect all CMRS basestations available within the user communication zone.

22. The VoIP femtocell of claim 20, wherein the configuration phase comprises using the VoIP femtocell to detect all CMRS basestations available within the user communication zone that are compatible with a communication standard supported by the one or more mobile handheld device.

23. The VoIP femtocell of claim 20, wherein the configuration phase comprises using the VoIP femtocell to detect one or more CMRS basestations available within the user communication zone until at least one CMRS basestation with a weak signal within the user communication zone is detected.

24. The VoIP femtocell of claim 20, wherein the configuration phase comprises using the VoIP femtocell to detect one or more CMRS basestations available within the user communication zone until identifier information for at least one CMRS basestation with no detectable signal within the user communication zone is obtained.

25. The VoIP femtocell of claim 20, wherein the broadcast selection protocol is performed entirely via said program logic of said VoIP femtocell.

26. The VoIP femtocell of claim 20, further comprising program logic that, at least in part:

(c) performs a handheld authentication protocol to authenticate and authorize mobile handheld device access to said VoIP femtocell for in-service use,

wherein said handheld authentication protocol comprises (i) upon receipt of a

location update request from a mobile handheld device, performing an identification request including detecting subscriber information associated with the mobile handheld device so as to identify the device, and (ii) initiating a registration process associated with the identified mobile handheld device via a user contact protocol.

27. The VoIP femtocell of claim 26, wherein said program logic, at least in part, implements a registration process comprising:

determining that the identified mobile handheld device is registered with the VoIP femtocell, and establishing a communication channel with the registered device so as to allow access to the VoIP femtocell for in-service use.

28. The VoIP femtocell of claim 27, wherein said program logic, at least in part, implements a registration process further comprises initiating a user contact protocol including contacting the registered mobile handheld device to alert a user of the registered device of access to the VOIP femtocell for in-service use, and receiving a response from a user of the registered device.

29. The VoIP femtocell of claim 26, wherein said program logic, at least in part, implements a registration process comprising:

(i) determining that the identified mobile handheld device is not registered with the VoIP femtocell;

(ii) initiating a user contact protocol including contacting the unregistered mobile handheld device to perform a user registration action;

(iii) receiving a response to complete the user registration action, and (iv) establishing a communication channel with the mobile handheld device so as to allow access to the VoIP femtocell for in-service use.

30. The VoIP femtocell of claim 20, wherein said CMRS basestation information is selected from location identifiers, channel identifiers, signal strength, user handheld reselection parameters, and combinations thereof.

31. The VoIP femtocell of claim 20, wherein the VoIP enhanced femtocell is compatible for use with a communication standard selected from the group consisting of:

Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), and CDMA2000.

32. The VoIP femtocell of claim 20, wherein said program logic, at least in part, implements a registration process comprising:

(i) determining that the identified mobile handheld device is not registered with the VoIP femtocell;

(ii) initiating a user contact protocol including contacting the unregistered mobile handheld device to perform a user registration action; and

(iii) not allowing the unregistered mobile handheld device access to said VOIP femtocell.

33. The VOIP femtocell of claim 32, wherein said program logic implements a registration process further comprising contacting the unregistered mobile handheld device with an unauthorized access alert.

34. The VoIP femtocell of claim 20, further comprising program logic that, at least in part, performs a location determination protocol,

wherein the location determination protocol includes (i) receiving one or more first signals carrying corresponding one or more commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) tower, wireless access point (WAP), and/or transmitter identifiers that each identify one or more CMRS towers, WAPs, and/or transmitters;

(ii) determining one or more signal strengths of the one or more first signals, and (iii) obtaining a location of the VoIP femtocell using the one or more locations of the CMRS towers, WAPs, and/or transmitters and the one or more signal strengths of the one or more first signals.

35. The VoIP femtocell of claim 34, wherein the program logic implementing the location determination protocol further performs:

(i) correlating the one or more identifiers to one or more locations of the CMRS towers, WAPs, and/or transmitters having the one or more identifiers, and (ii) calculating the location of the VoIP enhanced femtocell based on the locations and the signal strengths.

36. The VoIP femtocell of claim 34, wherein the program logic implementing the location determination protocol further performs:

providing location of the VoIP femtocell in connection with an emergency services call.

37. The VoIP femtocell of claim 36, further comprising program logic that, at least in part, first routes an emergency services call as a VoIP call via a packet switched network in communication with the VoIP femtocell, and secondarily routes the emergency services call via the RF transceiver(s) as a cellular call if the packet switched network is not available.

38. The VoIP femtocell of claim 36, further comprising program logic that, at least in part, first routes an emergency services call via the RF transceiver(s) as a cellular call, and secondarily routes the emergency services call as a VoIP call via a packet switched network in communication with the VoIP femtocell if a cellular signal is not available.