Femtocell Temporary Subscriber Registration via Network Mediation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, femtocells face challenges in limiting their coverage to a single home, leading to unauthorized access by external mobile terminals or computers, which can affect charging policies and service quality.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for automatically registering a mobile terminal as a temporary subscriber of a small base station without user request, using a subscriber management server to manage and control temporary subscriber registrations, ensuring only authorized users access the femtocell network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a femtocell base station is installed to provide wireless communication service in a home, then the coverage is limited to a small area enabling single-home service, but the radio signal may reach adjacent buildings and unauthorized users can access the service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing CSG (Closed Subscriber Group) identification mechanisms that differentiate between authorized and unauthorized users. The base station examines the IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) of attempting terminals to determine whether they belong to the authorized CSG members, thereby providing selective service access based on local subscriber characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism through the network side server that mediates between the femtocell base station and external users. The server receives attachment accept messages from the base station, extracts CSG identification information, and uses this information to control whether to forward signaling messages to the core network, thereby acting as a mediator that prevents unauthorized access while maintaining legitimate service.
2Ease of operation
If automatic temporary subscriber registration is implemented without user request, then the registration process is simplified and user experience is improved, but the system complexity increases due to automatic request handling and authorization management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the mobile terminal to automatically initiate temporary subscriber registration without requiring explicit user intervention. The terminal autonomously determines when registration is needed (when camping on a femtocell base station), generates the registration request, and handles the entire registration process automatically, thereby simplifying user operation while managing system complexity through standardized automated procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If femtocell coverage is extended to serve multiple buildings, then more users can access the service, but the charging policies and service quality control become difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network side server continuously monitors and verifies the identity of terminals attempting to access the femtocell service. The server receives attachment accept messages, extracts CSG identification information, and uses this feedback to determine whether to allow connection to the core network. This feedback loop ensures that charging policies and service quality control are maintained even when coverage is extended to multiple buildings.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile terminal transmits a temporary subscriber request message requesting a temporary subscriber registration to a subscriber management server of a core network via a macro base station if camping on a small base station fails, a subscriber management server receives the temporary subscriber request message and transmits the temporary subscriber request message to the small base station if the mobile terminal is registrable as a temporary subscriber of the small base station, and a small base station receives the temporary subscriber request message and determines whether to accept or reject the temporary subscriber registration of the mobile terminal, and transmits, to the subscriber management server or to the mobile terminal, a temporary subscriber response message indicating that the mobile terminal is permitted to be registered as a temporary subscriber if the temporary subscriber registration is accepted.