1584 results about "Femtocell" patented technology

A location system is disclosed for wireless telecommunication infrastructures. The system is an end-to-end solution having one or more location systems for outputting requested locations of hand sets or mobile stations (MS) based on, e.g., AMPS, NAMPS, CDMA or TDMA communication standards, for processing both local mobile station location requests and more global mobile station location requests via, e.g., Internet communication between a distributed network of location systems. The system uses a plurality of mobile station locating technologies including those based on: (1) two-way TOA and TDOA; (2) home base stations and (3) distributed antenna provisioning. Further, the system can be modularly configured for use in location signaling environments ranging from urban, dense urban, suburban, rural, mountain to low traffic or isolated roadways. The system is useful for 911 emergency calls, tracking, routing, people and animal location including applications for confinement to and exclusion from certain areas.

Telephone calls between a mobile station (MS) and the mobile network or PSTN are routed through the Internet via VoIP using a femtocell, as opposed to the traditional macrocellular network. The femtocell can comprise a USB Transceiver Station that is connected to a personal computer through a universal serial bus port, which provides both power and a multi-megabit per second connection between the personal computer and the USB transceiver station. The USB transceiver station can comprise a microcontroller to manage signaling between the RF front end / baseband processor and the personal computer, as well as a precise timing mechanism to assist the synchronization of femtocell timing with the surrounding macrocellular network, if it is present. The USB transceiver station can have a compact form factor that that facilitates a high degree of portability by the subscriber, such as being readily attachable to their keychain.

Some embodiments are implemented in a communication system that includes a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication system that includes a Femtocell access point (FAP) and a network controller that can communicatively couple the FAP to the first wireless communication system. In some embodiments, the network controller can communicatively couple to the first wireless communication system through a UTRAN Iu interface. Some embodiments provide a resource management method that determines that a user equipment (UE) has roved in a region serviced by the FAP. The FAP includes a generic access resource control (GA-RC) protocol sub-layer. The method creates a separate GA-RC state dedicated to the UE in the GA-RC protocol sub-layer. The method also sets the GA-RC state dedicated to the UE to a deregistered state to indicate that the UE is not registered to use the services of the wireless communication system.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a communication system that includes a first communication network, a second communication network, and a core network. The second communication network includes a network controller and a group of two or more access areas that are communicatively coupled to the core network by the network controller. Some embodiments service the second network access areas by providing access area identifiers to each access area while communicating with the first network or core network using a single are identifier assigned to the network controller. Some embodiments provide access control by sending a series of invalid messages to a user equipment (UE) that is not authorized to access services of the second network to reject the UE. Some embodiments reject the UE by sending a message to ban a UE from an access area with a particular access area identifier.

A radio access network (24) comprises a radio network control node (26); a database (40); and a femto radio base station node (28f) serving a femtocell (Cf) of the radio access network. The femto radio base station node (28f) comprises a receiver (54) for receiving scanned cell information broadcast for one or more receivable cells of the radio access network, and a reporting unit (60). The reporting unit (60) provides the scanned cell information for the one or more receivable cells of the radio access network to the radio network control node (26). The radio network control node (60) is arranged, upon receipt of the scanned cell information, for providing configuration information to the femto radio base station node (for configuring the femto radio base station node) and for storing macro cell information for one or more receivable cells in the database (40). The macrocell information is stored in the database (40) in association with the femto radio base station node.

Some embodiments are implemented in a communication system that includes a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication system that includes a Femtocell access point (FAP) and a network controller that can communicatively couple the FAP to the first wireless communication system. In some embodiments, the network controller can communicatively couple to the first wireless communication system through a UTRAN Iu interface. Some embodiments provide a method for performing discovery. The method sends a discovery request message that includes a licensed wireless cell information to a provisioning network controller. The method receives a discovery accept message at the FAP. The discovery accept message includes identification of a default network controller determined based on the cell information. The discovery accept message is sent by the provisioning network controller when the provisioning network controller determines that the provisioning network controller can accept the discovery request message.

A method for hand-off of a CDMA access mobile from a macrocell to a femtocell is disclosed. The method includes tracking each femtocell which mobile stations have allowed access incorporating a mobile station identification for each of the mobile stations. The method continues with storing the mobile station identification for each femtocell. This may occur in a database or similar structure. The message continues on with requesting a hand-off from the macrocell to the femtocell via PN offset and the method concludes with querying all femtocells that have that PN offset that are within range of the macrocell's neighbor list. If only one femtocell fits that criteria the method is done. If more than one femtocell fits that criteria, a priority list may be set up based at least in part on the number of times and / or frequency that the mobile station has been allowed access on the femtocell. The method could include allocating resources for all high priority femtocells and cleaning up resources for the femtocells that do not send a hand-off complete message.

Some embodiments are implemented in a communication system that includes a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication system that includes a Femtocell access point (FAP) and a network controller that can communicatively couple the FAP to the first wireless communication system. In some embodiments, the network controller can communicatively couple to the first wireless communication system through a UTRAN Iu interface. In some embodiments, the FAP can communicatively couple to a user equipment using a short-range licensed wireless frequency. Some embodiments provide a method that registers a Femtocell access point (FAP). The method sends a register request message that includes a registration type from the FAP to the network controller. The registration type identifies the FAP as a device to be registered with network controller. When the register request message is acceptable by the network controller, the FAP receives a register accept message.

Common techniques for processing cellular service uses a signal cellular tower, but these techniques are limited to the capacity of the single cellular tower. In contrast, a system employing an example embodiment of the invention increases ability to process cellular service by using an access point access network using resident wireless devices, referred to as a femtocell. A system supports communications of a resident and roaming device while employing the access point access network, based on database information, to support soft handoff between adjacent femtocells or from femtocell to cell tower and vice-versa. As a result, the system enables the resident and roaming devices to have seamless transitions between the cellular access network and the access point access network. Thus, the access point access network supplements cellular access networks and can provide cellular service regardless of the capacity of the cellular tower.

A method and a communication system including femtocells within a macrocell efficiently manage interference between the different femtocells, and between each femtocell and a macrocell. An efficient frequency assignment scheme for the femtocells minimizes interference between a femtocell and a macrocell and among different femtocells using a spectrum-sensing technique carried out by the femtocells. The frequency assignment scheme selects a suitable channel from a set of candidate channels and ensures that the femtocell has an acceptable coverage area even when it is close to the macrocell base station (BS). The frequency assignment scheme favors a co-channel implementation to take advantage of the hand-off and cell search characteristics of the co-channel implementation. In one embodiment, a joint power control and frequency band assignment technique is used, which partitions the coverage area of the macrocell into an inner region, a power control region, and an outer region. Depending on a femtocell's location, it is assigned a certain power level and a frequency band. Power control may be used within the power-control region while, in the other regions, a fixed transmission power may be used.

Disclosed herein is a critical band encoding technology (CBET) system having at least one portable people meter (PPM) and a home base station and / or household hub, the CBET system containing a radio frequency (RF) proximity detection and identification system, comprising at least one RF transmitter for receiving a control signal, modulating an RF signal to a present modulation frequency upon receipt of the control signal, and wireless transmitting the modulated signal; and an RF receiver for receiving the wirelessly transmitted modulated signal, determining the modulation frequency, and transmitting the modulation frequency to a remote location, wherein the transmission power of the RF transmitter is preset to transmit the modulated data within a predetermined range.

Some embodiments are implemented in a communication system that includes a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication system that includes a Femtocell access point (FAP) and a network controller that can communicatively couple the FAP to the first wireless communication system. In some embodiments, the network controller can communicatively couple to the first wireless communication system through a UTRAN Iu interface. In some embodiments, the FAP can communicatively couple to a user equipment using a short-range licensed wireless frequency. Some embodiments provide method of securing communication between the FAP and the network controller. The method establishes a secure tunnel between the FAP and the network controller. The method communicatively couples the FAP and several user equipments (UEs) to the network controller by using the secure tunnel. The UEs are communicatively coupled to the FAP through an air interface.

The present invention provides a method implemented in a base station router. One embodiment of the method includes determining a transmission power for a pilot signal transmitted by the base station router. The transmission power being determined based upon a number of mobile units that are camped on the base station router. Another embodiment of the method includes deploying the first base station router in a physical structure and estimating the dimensions of the physical structure based on a statistical representation of at least one handover attempt associated with the first base station router. Estimation of the dimensions of the physical structure occurs in response to deployment of the first base station router in the physical structure.

A method and apparatus for providing a local IP access service to a User Equipment (UE) attached to a femtocell including a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway function in a wireless communication system. A method includes receiving a service request from a User Equipment (UE), transmitting an initial UE message including information on a local gateway to a Mobility Management Entity (MME), storing bearer information carried in an initial context setup request transmitted by the MME, receiving a Packet Data Network (PDN) connectivity request from the UE, forwarding the PDN connectivity request to the MME, receiving a create session request from the MME, and establishing a radio bearer with the local gateway, the local gateway being co-located with the femtocell.

The present invention provides a method for implementation in user equipment that is configured to communicate with a wireless communication system that comprises one or more macro-cells and one or more femtocells. The method includes comparing, at the user equipment, a location of the user equipment and a location of one or more femtocells. The method also includes transmitting, from the user equipment to the macrocell(s), a first measurement report, with a location-based event, when the comparison indicates that the user equipment is within a selected range of the femtocell(s).

A system and method of minimizing signal interference within a wireless network is provided, wherein the wireless network includes a controller communicatively coupled to at least one femtocell, and the femtocell is operative to wirelessly transmit and receive data. A portable electronic device is used to collect signal environment data, and the collected signal environment data is analyzed. Based on the analyzed signal environment data, the at least one femtocell is commanded to alter at least one signal transmission characteristic.

A method for operating a femtocell in a wireless communication system comprises the steps of: triggering the switching from the operation mode for providing a service to closed subscriber group (CSG) terminals which belong to a specific terminal group and to non-CSG terminals which do not belong to the specific terminal group, to the operation mode for providing the service only to said CSG terminals; and commanding said non-CSG terminals to change the operation mode, and carrying out a handover. The method of the present invention improves efficiency of femtocell operation, and reduces restrictions on terminals disposed in the vicinity of the femtocell. The method of the present invention can utilize the unused frequency range of the femtocell, thereby providing a service with a high data ratio.

A radio access network (24) comprises a radio network control node (26); a database (40); and a femto radio base station node (28f) serving a femtocell (Cf) of the radio access network. The femto radio base station node (28f) comprises a receiver (54) for receiving scanned cell information broadcast for one or more receivable cells of the radio access network, and a reporting unit (60). The reporting unit (60) provides the scanned cell information for the one or more receivable cells of the radio access network to the radio network control node (26). The radio network control node (60) is arranged, upon receipt of the scanned cell information, for providing configuration information to the femto radio base station node (for configuring the femto radio base station node) and for storing macro cell information for one or more receivable cells in the database (40). The macrocell information is stored in the database (40) in association with the femto radio base station node.

An automatic GPS tracking system is taught that consists of a GPS tracking unit secured to a person or an asset that includes a GPS receiver and a first battery operated a processor and first RF transceiver which emits an RF signal. A home base station receives the RF signal within a pre-selected proximity communication distance. A monitoring station which is in communication from a cellular modem or a satellite modem within the GPS tracking unit such that, if a person or asset having the tracking system secured thereon moves beyond the a pre-selected proximity communication distance from a home base unit, the first transceiver RF communication signals is lost, the processor automatically powers “on” the second battery to power up the GPS receiver and the cellular modem, and the GPS tracking unit may signal the monitoring station which displays the location of the person or asset.

A method for minimizing interference is applicable to a primary network whether or not spectrum resources are assigned to its users using a block-wise subcarrier assignment scheme or a randomized allocation scheme. The identified unused spectrum resources that are to be assigned to the users of the opportunistic network exclude un-used subcarriers adjacent to subcarriers used by the users of the primary network to avoid interference. The opportunistic network may assign the identified unused spectrum resources using a scheme that selects a block size for an adaptive modulation and coding scheme or for avoidance of waste of spectrum resources.

Aspects of a method and system for mitigating interference among femtocells via intelligent channel selection are provided. In this regard, signals which may interfere with cellular communications between a femtocell and a cellular communication device may be detected via the femtocell. Based on the detection, the femtocell may be configured to transmit and / or receive signals on one or more frequencies and / or channels. The one or more frequencies and / or channels may be determined in the femtocell and / or in a network management entity. Detecting interfering signals and configuring the one or more femtocells may occur periodically, upon installation of a femtocell, upon power-up of a femtocell, and / or upon command from a network administrator. The results of the detection may be communicated to one or more other femtocells and / or to a network management entity.

The invention discloses a terminal transfer method. The method of the invention comprises the steps that: a mobile management entity monitors the time of a terminal staying in a home base station which belongs to a current internal subscriber group; when the time of the terminal staying in the home base station exceeds the preset time threshold, if the terminal and the home base station are in a connection state, the mobile management entity sends a request of switching to the home base station which is connected with the terminal to request the terminal to be switched to a target base station and carries the identifier of the terminal in the request of switching. The invention also discloses a mobile transfer system and the mobile management entity. By adopting the invention, the terminal in the current CSG is transferred to a base station which does not belong to the current CSG, thus resulting in that the normal operation of subscriber services can be guaranteed; the perception and the experience of subscribers can be improved for benefiting operators to maintain customers.

A method for connecting to an access point base station is presented in the application. Current location information of the mobile access terminal may be determined. The current location information may be determined using positioning location circuitry of the mobile access terminal to determine the current location information. Alternatively, the current location information may be determined by receiving the current location information from an external source. The mobile access terminal may determine the current location based on signals from macro base stations or other base stations, e.g., using triangulation. If the current location information indicates, the mobile access terminal may then connect to an access point base station.

A method of transferring files between a computer on board a train and a remote station including determining if the remote station is within range of the train and establishing wireless communication between the onboard computer and the remote station. Next, the computer determines whether there are files to be transferred, and if so, transfers the file. If the remote station has updates to be transferred to the train, such updates are transferred to the onboard computer. Files and updates are also transferred between remote stations and between remote stations and a home base station. A method of adjusting a simulator includes inputting data from the train onto a simulator. The simulator is operated with the data and the simulator automatically adjusts the parameters of the simulator until the data of the simulator matches the data from the train. The data can then be process and analyzed.

Some embodiments are implemented in a communication system that includes a first wireless communication system that includes a Femtocell access point (FAP) and a network controller that can communicatively couple the FAP to a second wireless communication system. In some embodiments, the network controller can communicatively couple to the second wireless communication system through a UTRAN Iu interface. In some embodiments, the FAP can communicatively couple to a user equipment using a short-range licensed wireless frequency. Some embodiments provide method that determines whether a user equipment (UE) has roved-out of the first wireless communication system. The method receives a periodic message at the FAP from the UE. When the FAP fails to receive a pre-determined number of the periodic messages, the method sends a deregister message to the network controller over a unique connection dedicated to the UE and releases the dedicated connection.

Some embodiments are implemented in a communication system that includes a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication system that includes a Femtocell access point (FAP) and a network controller that can communicatively couple the FAP to the first wireless communication system. In some embodiments, the network controller can communicatively couple to the first wireless communication system through a UTRAN Iu interface. Some embodiments provide a resource management method that determines that a user equipment (UE) has roved in a region serviced by the FAP. The FAP includes a generic access resource control (GA-RC) protocol sub-layer. The method creates a separate GA-RC state dedicated to the UE in the GA-RC protocol sub-layer. The method also sets the GA-RC state dedicated to the UE to a deregistered state to indicate that the UE is not registered to use the services of the second wireless communication system.

A hybrid network controller may determine and / or communicate traffic management information for enabling setup and / or handoff of call and / or communication session among femtocells, access points and / or end-point devices. Traffic management information may comprise set-up instructions, handoff instructions, transmit power, neighbor list information, signal quality thresholds, frequency assignments, transmission time, code assignments and / or antenna pattern assignments. The hybrid network controller and / or an end-point device may control handoffs between a communication device external to the communication system and the femtocells, access points and / or end-point devices. Received signal strength, interference levels, SNR, signal path delay, power consumption, traffic loads, bandwidth usage and / or radio resource availability may be monitored and / or analyzed by the hybrid network controller. The hybrid network controller may assign time slots, codes, antenna patterns as well as a serving femtocell and / or AP for a set up and / or a handoff. The information may be communicated via wired, optical and / or wireless interfaces.

The present invention relates to methods and devices that allow for efficient transportation of traffic in conjunction with a home base station (1). Traffic arriving in the home base station from a mobile terminal (2) connected to the home base station can be transported by means of local breakout transportation, which implies that the traffic is forwarded to a local node (4) over a local network (20) or to the Internet (21) without passing a core network (15) of a mobile telecommunications system. A local breakout bearer (22) is established, which is a radio bearer that extends between the mobile terminal and the home base station. The mobile terminal forwards uplink traffic that is to be subject to local breakout transportation to the home base station on the local breakout bearer. Thus it is not required for traffic that is destined for local nodes or the Internet to pass the core network, which allows for efficient traffic forwarding.

The present invention provides a method involving a femtocell in communication with an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. In one embodiment, the femtocell operates according to code division multiple access (CDMA) standards. The method includes receiving, from the femtocell and at a first secure entity in the IMS network, first authentication information generated by the mobile unit using a first random number broadcast by the femtocell in a global challenge. The method also includes receiving, from a second secure entity in the secure network, at least one security key formed based on the global challenge and second authentication information for uniquely challenging the mobile unit. In one embodiment, the second secure entity is a CDMA-based authentication server. The method further includes providing the security key(s) to the femtocell in response to authenticating the mobile unit based upon the second authentication information.