Interface for access management of FEMTO cell coverage

• US 9,155,022 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2013
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): BROWN, ANTHONY D
• Application Number:
  US13/917,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20130273885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 726 2- 3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Access to femto cell service is managed through access control list(s), or “white list(s).” Such white list(s) can be configured via a networked interface which facilitates access management to a femto cell. White list(s) includes a set of subscriber station(s) identifier numbers, codes or tokens, and can also include additional fields for femto cell access management based on desired complexity. Various interfaces and user profiles are associated with granting different levels of access to requesting UEs.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a memory that stores executable instructions; and

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

employing a first access control data structure to manage access to a femto access point device;

receiving, from a user equipment, instruction data to perform an action associated with femtocell access provisioning, wherein the instruction data is received via a text message and comprises timing data indicative of a time period during which a device is allowed to access the femto access point device associated with the user equipment;

based on the instruction data, initiating the action; and

in response to determining that first identifier data representing the user equipment is stored in a second access control data structure that is employed to manage access to a second femto access point device associated with a second device, directing, to the user equipment via a second text message, configuration data that requests an authorization to add second identifier data representing the second device to the first access control data structure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

directing, to the user equipment via the second text message, request data indicative of a request to confirm the instruction data.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the initiating comprises initiating the action in response to receiving, from the user equipment, a third text message that confirms the instruction data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the action comprises a removal of an entry from an access control data structure that is employed to manage access to the femto access point device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the text message is a first text message and the action comprises a transmission of access control data to the user equipment via a second text message, and wherein the access control data is represented in an access control data structure that is employed to manage access to the femto access point device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the text message is a first text message and the operations further comprise:

in response to determining that the time period has expired, directing, to the user equipment via the second text message, request data that requests an authorization to extend the time period for which the device is allowed to access the femto access point device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the second device, request data via the second text message, and wherein the request data is indicative of a request to access to the femto access point device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to determining that information related to the second device satisfies an access criterion, adding identifier data associated with the second device to an access control data structure that is employed to manage access to the femto access point device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the text message comprises an unstructured supplementary service data message.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the text message comprises an email message.

11. A method, comprising:

employing, by a system comprising a processor, a first access control data structure to manage access to a femto access point device;

receiving, by the system, instruction data that is indicative of an action associated with femtocell access provisioning, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the instruction data from a user equipment via a text message and receiving information indicative of a time period during which a device is allowed to access the femto access point device associated with the user equipment;

based on the instruction data, facilitating, by the system, an execution of the action;

determining, by the system, that first identifier data representing the user equipment is stored in a second access control data structure that is employed to manage access to a second femto access point device associated with a second device; and

in response to the determining, directing, by the system, to the user equipment via a second text message, configuration data that requests an authorization to add second identifier data representing the second device to the first access control data structure.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

directing, by the system, the second text message to the user equipment that requests a confirmation of the instruction data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the facilitating comprises facilitating the execution of the action in response to receiving, from the user equipment, a third text message indicative of the confirmation.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining, by the system, the second text message in response to the receiving the instruction data.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the facilitating comprises facilitating, based on the instruction data, a deletion of an entry in an access control data structure that is employed to control access to the femto access point device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the facilitating comprises facilitating, based on the instruction data, a transmission of access control data to the user equipment via the second text message.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution, cause a mobile device comprising a processor to perform operations, comprising:

facilitating management of access to a femto access point device based on a first access control data structure;

determining instruction data that specifies an action associated with femtocell access provisioning, wherein the instruction data comprises information indicative of a time period during which a device is allowed to access the femto access point device associated with a user equipment;

facilitating a transmission of the instruction data to a network management device via a text message to facilitate an execution of the action;

determining that first identifier data representing the user equipment is stored in a second access control data structure that is employed to manage access to a second femto access point device associated with a second device; and

in response to the determining, directing to the user equipment via a second text message, configuration data that requests an authorization to add second identifier data representing the second device to the first access control data structure.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the network management device, the second text message that requests a confirmation of the instruction data.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to the receiving, facilitating a second transmission of confirmation data indicative of the confirmation to the network management device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the facilitating the execution of the action comprises facilitating the execution of the action in response to receiving, from the user equipment, a third text message indicative of the confirmation.