Femtocell Handoff via Softswitch Location Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Femtocell devices require manual configuration with macro base station identifiers for inter-technology handoffs, which is costly and prone to errors, and they cannot move to new locations without reconfiguration.
Innovation Solution
A wireless softswitch with a memory block storing geographical coverage area information of macrocell base stations determines the correct macrocell base station for handoffs based on the femtocell device's location, eliminating the need for femtocell devices to be provisioned with specific macro base station information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration of macro base station identifiers is used in femtocell devices, then inter-technology handoffs can be achieved, but deployment costs increase and errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The femtocell device automatically obtains macro base station identifier information through network messaging protocols without requiring manual configuration. The device self-provisions by receiving configuration messages from macro base stations that contain the necessary identifier information, eliminating the need for manual setup while ensuring accurate handoff configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The macro base station pre-configures and transmits its identifier information to the femtocell device before handoff is needed. This preliminary action ensures that the femtocell device already has the correct macro base station identifier stored when a handoff event occurs, enabling seamless inter-technology handoff without manual intervention.
2Reliability
If femtocell devices are configured with specific macro base station information, then handoffs can be performed, but the devices cannot move to new locations without reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The femtocell device dynamically updates its knowledge of macro base station identifiers by continuously monitoring and receiving configuration messages from macro base stations in its vicinity. This dynamic approach allows the device to adapt to changes in location and macro base station coverage areas without manual reconfiguration, maintaining handoff reliability while enabling mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where femtocell devices report their location and received signal information to the network, and macro base stations respond by providing appropriate identifier information. This feedback loop ensures that femtocell devices always have current and accurate macro base station identifier information for their current location, enabling both reliable handoffs and location adaptability.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple femtocell devices are deployed across different macro base station areas, then network coverage is improved, but manual configuration becomes increasingly costly and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
Each femtocell device independently self-configures by automatically receiving macro base station identifier information through standard messaging protocols. This eliminates the need for centralized manual configuration of multiple devices, allowing network coverage to expand to multiple macro base station areas without proportionally increasing deployment complexity or cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs universal messaging protocols and standardized configuration procedures that work across all femtocell devices and macro base stations regardless of location. This universal approach allows the same automated configuration mechanism to serve multiple macro base station areas simultaneously, making network expansion straightforward and error-free.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for configuring femtocell devices for performing handoffs in a communication system. The communication system is provided with a plurality of macrocell base stations, a femtocell device, a wireless softswitch and a mobile node. In the communication system, each macrocell base station serves a macro cell, and the femtocell device serves a femto cell and is disposed in one of the plurality of macro cells. The wireless softswitch is communicatively connected with the plurality of macrocell base stations and the femtocell device, and stores geographic coverage area information for each of the plurality of macrocell base stations. The mobile node is originally disposed within the femto cell and moves out of the femto cell. The mobile node transmits a registration message to the femtocell device. The femtocell device forwards the registration message and geographical location information for the femtocell device to the wireless softswitch. The wireless softswitch determines which one of the plurality of macrocell base stations covers the macro cell where the femtocell device is disposed, in dependence upon the received geographical location information for the femtocell device and the stored geographic coverage area information for each of the plurality of macrocell base stations. Then, the wireless softswitch forwards the registration message to the macrocell base station determined.