Femtocell Service Mobility via Set-Top Box Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Femtocells face challenges in service mobility and content access due to interference issues and regulatory complexities, particularly in dense urban areas with wideband technologies, and lack efficient methods for secure authentication and authorization of subscription-based services.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilizes an integrated femtocell and set-top-box (IFSTB) device to detect and communicate with mobile devices, where a user profile is used for authentication and authorization, enabling secure access to subscription-based content and services across compatible femtocell networks, and allowing for seamless content delivery and decryption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If femtocells use licensed frequencies in dense urban areas, then service coverage and capacity are improved, but interference between femtocells and macrocellular networks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between licensed and unlicensed frequency bands based on real-time conditions. The femtocell can switch frequency bands to avoid interference with macrocellular networks while maintaining service coverage, making the frequency selection adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the frequency band parameter from fixed licensed frequencies to variable frequencies including unlicensed bands. This parameter change allows the system to operate in different spectral environments, reducing interference while maintaining coverage capacity.
2Reliability
If femtocells are fully integrated into the wireless carrier's network using lu-b interface, then network control and management are improved, but device complexity and deployment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the network integration into optional modules: full lu-b integration, simplified SIP-based integration, or standalone operation. This segmentation allows operators to choose the appropriate level of integration based on their needs, reducing deployment complexity while maintaining reliability where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The femtocell is designed with multi-functionality to support multiple operating modes and interface types. It can function as a fully integrated lu-b node, a SIP-based access point, or an independent femtocell, making the deployment process more flexible and less complex across different operator requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If user profile information is transmitted over the air interface, then authentication flexibility is improved, but security and privacy risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a secure element or trusted platform module as an intermediary for storing and managing user profile information. This intermediary securely handles authentication data, providing flexibility in authentication methods while mitigating security risks by isolating sensitive information from the air interface transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
User profile information and authentication credentials are pre-configured and securely stored in the device before network access is required. This preliminary action reduces the need to transmit sensitive information over the air interface during authentication, thereby maintaining flexibility while reducing security exposure.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of a method and system for service mobility via a femtocell infrastructure are provided. In this regard, a mobile cellular enabled communication device may detect a femtocell operable to deliver content for one or more services to the mobile cellular enabled communication device, where the one or more services may be provided via a set-top-box communicatively coupled to the femtocell. The mobile cellular enabled communication device may communicate a user profile to the femtocell, wherein information in the profile may be utilized by the set-top-box to authenticate and/or authorize access to the services by the mobile cellular enabled communication device and thus the mobile cellular enabled communication device may receive the content from the set-top-box based on the authentication and/or authorization. The content may comprise voice, video, data, text and/or still images. The mobile cellular enabled communication device may detect the femtocell by receiving one or broadcast messages from the femtocell.