Femto Cell Information Transfer for Guest Access Authorization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current femto cell systems face challenges in efficient discovery and authorization of access for mobile devices, leading to battery drainage and uncertainty about allowed usage, as devices often need to frequently scan across frequencies to find and authenticate with femto cells.

Innovation Solution

A method for efficiently transmitting femto cell information from a host terminal device to a guest terminal device, allowing authorized access by establishing a database entry and granting network access, which includes storing and transferring femto cell data, authorizing access, and managing access periods and restrictions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If frequent scanning across frequencies is used for femto cell discovery, then device awareness of available femto cells is improved, but battery drainage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefemto cell discoveryVSAvoidbattery drainage
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The host terminal device performs preliminary action by storing femto cell information locally and proactively providing it to guest terminal devices before the guest devices need to scan for available cells. This pre-sharing mechanism eliminates the need for frequent frequency scanning by guest devices, thereby reducing battery drainage while maintaining awareness of available femto cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If mobile units wait until registration attempt to know if they are allowed to use a femto cell, then authorization is determined, but battery drainage increases and access efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthorization determinationVSAvoidaccess efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The host terminal device performs preliminary authorization by storing authorization information about which guest devices are allowed to access which femto cells, and proactively providing this information to guest devices before they attempt registration. This allows guest devices to know in advance whether they are authorized to use a particular femto cell, eliminating unnecessary registration attempts and improving access efficiency while maintaining reliable authorization determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If host terminal devices frequently scan for available femto cells, then device awareness is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice awarenessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism where the host terminal device acts as a mediator that stores and shares femto cell information with guest terminal devices. Instead of guest devices independently scanning for available cells, the host device provides this information through a defined interface, reducing the energy consumption of guest devices while maintaining their awareness of available femto cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2213113B1System and method for enabling transaction of femto cell information from a host terminal device to a guest terminal device
Publication Date: 2012.11.14 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2213113B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2213113B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2213113B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for managing access to a macro mobile operator core network (250) by a guest terminal device (225) through a femto cell (210), and more particularly through a femto cell (210) connected to the Internet (240). When a guest terminal seeks guest access to network services at a site for example while a guest at a person s home, or a customer in a shop, or a traveler in a transportation station, access may be granted by information exchange between the proprietor of the site and the macro mobile operator core network (250). Access may be granted via the proprietor via a terminal device (220) connected wirelessly to the core network, or by any device connected to the Internet. Once access is granted, the guest terminal device (225) receives sufficient information to initiate communication with femto cells (210) in the proximity of the site, and thereby begin using Internet-based communication.