Automatic Service Area Identifier Selection for Femto Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communications networks, the manual configuration of service area identifiers (SAIs) for a large number of femto cells is not feasible, especially when end users install these cells without operator intervention, leading to excessive configuration load in the core network and difficulties in supporting location-based services and differentiated charging.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for automatically selecting a SAI for a user equipment (UE) in a femto cell by acquiring information identifying the UE and requesting user type information from a database, allowing selection of the appropriate SAI based on the user type and femto cell location, thereby supporting location-based services and differentiated charging without increasing configuration load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration of service area identifiers is performed for each femto cell, then location-based services and differentiated charging can be supported, but the configuration load in the core network becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic SAI selection where the network infrastructure itself performs the configuration task. When a UE accesses a femto cell, the RNC automatically selects an appropriate SAI based on stored mapping relationships between femto cell identifiers and SAIs, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention for each femto cell configuration while still supporting location-based services and differentiated charging
Solution Approach 2:
The mapping relationships between femto cell identifiers and service area identifiers are pre-configured and stored in the RNC before actual femto cell deployment. This preliminary preparation allows the system to handle any number of femto cells without increasing real-time configuration load, as the RNC can automatically resolve SAIs using the pre-established mappings
2Productivity
If end users install femto cells without operator intervention, then deployment flexibility and speed are improved, but automatic SAI selection becomes necessary to avoid configuration bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The RNC automatically performs SAI selection based on the femto cell identifier and pre-configured mapping relationships, enabling end users to install femto cells without operator intervention. The system self-manages the configuration task that would otherwise require manual operator action, allowing rapid deployment while maintaining proper service area identification
Solution Approach 2:
Mapping relationships between femto cell identifiers and service area identifiers are pre-configured in the RNC before deployment. This preliminary preparation enables the system to handle automatic SAI selection for any femto cell installed by end users, as the RNC can resolve appropriate SAIs using the pre-established mappings without requiring real-time operator intervention
3Area of stationary object
If a large number of femto cells are deployed, then network coverage is improved, but manual configuration becomes infeasible
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic SAI selection where the RNC autonomously determines appropriate service area identifiers for any femto cell based on pre-configured mapping relationships. This self-service mechanism makes the deployment of large numbers of femto cells feasible, as the configuration task is automatically performed without requiring manual operator intervention for each cell
Solution Approach 2:
The RNC is pre-configured with mapping relationships between femto cell identifiers and service area identifiers before large-scale deployment. This preliminary preparation enables the system to handle any number of femto cells efficiently, as the pre-established mappings allow automatic SAI resolution without manual configuration, making large-scale deployment practical
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for allocating service area identifiers (SAI) for a femto cell (200A) upon the femto cell (200A) being created. According to the method, information is received about detected cells obtained by scanning performed by a femto radio base station (210A) that is serving the femto cell (200A) in addition to information identifying the femto base station (210A) or the femto cell (200A); a request for SAIs, is transmitted to a SAI selection entity (250, 400) based on the received information, and SAIs selected by a selection entity (250) are received together with an associated user type. The identifiers are further allocated for the created femto cell (200A). The present invention also relates to an apparatus (100, 300) and to the selection entity (250, 400).