Access control lists and profiles to manage femto cell coverage

• US 8,522,312 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huber, Kurt Donald, Flynn, Judson John, Mansfield, William Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffman, Brandon
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, ANTHONY D
• Application Number:
  US12/276,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20090288140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 726/3, 726/4, 726/17
• US Class Current: 726/3
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 : based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 : Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 : when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 : Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 : using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 : using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 : using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 : Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 : Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 : based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 : Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 : with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 : Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 : Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 : Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 : using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

System(s) and method(s) provide access management to femto cell service through access control list(s) (e.g., white list(s), or black list(s)). White list(s) includes a set of subscriber station(s) identifier numbers, codes, or tokens, and also can include additional fields for femto cell access management based on desired complexity. White list(s) can have associated white list profile(s) therewith to establish logic of femto coverage access based on the white list(s). Values of attribute fields that determine white list(s), black list(s), or white list profile(s) can be generated through various sources. An access list management component facilitates generation and maintenance of white list(s), black list(s), or white list profile(s). Values for identifier attribute field(s) available for inclusion in a white list are validated prior to inclusion therein. Various example aspects such as white list(s) management, maintenance and dissemination; automatic population or pre-configuration; and inclusion of wireless device(s) or subscriber(s) are also provided.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a system comprising a processor, access field indication data, comprising identifier data indicative of an identifier of a mobile device, for inclusion in an access control data structure associated with a femtocell device, wherein the access control data structure is employed to control access to the femtocell device;

comparing, by the system, the identifier data with information associated with the mobile device that is received from a subscriber data store within a macro network;

and

in response to determining, based on the comparing, that the identifier is an active identifier, updating, by the system, the access control data structure with the access field indication data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving data that specifies a type of service allowed to be employed by the mobile device, in response to the mobile device being determined to be coupled to the femtocell device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving data that specifies a time period during which the mobile device is authorized to access the femtocell device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining, based on the comparing, that the identifier is not the active identifier,

receiving, by the system, active identifier data indicative of the active identifier, and

updating, by the system, the access control data structure with the active identifier data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving data that specifies a priority associated with services provided to the mobile device via the femtocell device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the access field indication data via a text message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the system, commercial standing data indicative of a commercial standing of the mobile device, wherein the updating comprises updating the access control data structure, in response to the commercial standing data being determined to satisfy a commercial standing criterion.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the access field indication data via a packet header data of a communication message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving data that specifies a wireless technology employed by the mobile device for communication.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to the updating, determining, by the system, a change in the identifier data; and

based on the change, updating the access control data structure.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the system, authorization data indicative of an authorization to store the access control data structure from a subscriber device associated with the femtocell device; and

negotiating, by the system, a level of access to femto coverage provided via through the femtocell device, in response to the receiving the authorization data.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating, by the system, a transmission of the access control data structure to the femtocell device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the access field indication is a first access field indication, and the method further comprises:

configuring, by the system, a tracking criterion for a transaction in a server of the macro network;

receiving, by the system, signaling data indicating that the transaction is determined to satisfy the tracking criterion;

determining, by the system, that the femtocell device is associated with the transaction; and

requesting, by the system, second access field indication data associated with a communication device associated with the transaction, in response to the determining that the femtocell device is associated with the transaction.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, by the system, the second access field indication data; and

based on the second access field indication data, modifying, by the system, the access control data structure linked to the femtocell device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the access field indication data that specifies a radio frequency band employed by the mobile device for communication.

16. A system, comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, that facilitates execution of the instructions to perform operations, comprising;

receiving an access field indication data associated with an access control data structure relating to a femtocell device, wherein the access control data structure is employed to control access to the femtocell device and the access field indication data comprises identifier data indicative of an identifier of a mobile device that is authorized to access the femtocell device;

receiving information associated with the mobile device from a subscriber data store of a macro network, prior to entering the access field indication data identifier into the access control data structure; and

in response to a determination, based on the information, that the identifier is an active identifier of the mobile device, adding the access field indication data to the access control data structure.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the access field indication data is received from a user equipment associated with the femtocell device via a text message.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the access field indication data further comprises data that specifies a radio frequency band employed by the mobile device for communication.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to determining, based on the information, that the identifier is not the active identifier, receiving, active identifier data indicative of the active identifier and adding the active identifier data to the access control data structure.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the access field indication data is authorized for inclusion within the access control data structure, based on status data of an election flag associated with the mobile device.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

facilitating formatting of the access control data structure in accordance with a markup language format.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the formatting comprises indexing the access control data structure.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the access field indication data further comprises data that specifies a wireless technology employed by the mobile device for communication.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the access field indication data is received from a user equipment associated with the femtocell device via a packet header of a communication message.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

monitoring a service subscribed by the mobile device; and

updating the access control data structure in response to determining a change in the service.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

subsequent to the adding, determining a change in the identifier data; and

in response to determining the change, updating the access control data structure based on the change.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

facilitating a transmission of the access control data structure to the femtocell device.

28. The system of claim 16, wherein the access field indication data is first access field indication data and the operations further comprise:

configuring a set of tracking criteria associated with a transaction in a server of the macro network;

receiving data indicating that the transaction is determined to satisfy the set of tracking criteria; and

requesting second access field indication data associated with a communication device associated with the transaction, in response to determining that the transaction is associated with the femtocell device.

29. The system of claim 16, wherein the access field indication data further comprises billing data related to the mobile device.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution, cause a system comprising a processor to perform operations, comprising:

receiving access field indication data, comprising identifier data indicative of an identifier assigned to a mobile device;

receiving information relating to the mobile device from a subscriber data store within a macro network;

based on the information, determining that the identifier is not an active identifier; and

in response to the determining, prohibiting addition of the identifier data to an access control data structure relating to a femtocell device associated with the mobile device, wherein the access control data structure is employed to control access to the femtocell device.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the identifier comprises a telephone number associated with the mobile device.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving active identifier data indicative of the active identifier associated with the mobile device; and

updating the access control data structure with the active identifier data.