CN101310551A - Access Control in Radio Access Networks with Pico Base Stations - Google Patents

Abstract

Methods and apparatus provide access control to a femto radio base station (28f) of a radio access network (24). The radio access network (24) maintains a database (44) of allowed user equipment units which are to be permitted access for use of a femto radio base station (28f). The database (44) is consulted and used to determine if a candidate user equipment (30) unit attempting to use the femto radio base station (28f) for access to the radio access network (24) is to be given access. In some implementations, the candidate user equipment unit (30) is permitted to use the femto radio base station (28f) only if the candidate user equipment unit is an allowed user equipment unit as determined by the database (44). In some implementations, if the candidate user equipment unit (30) is not an allowed user equipment unit as determined by the database (44), the candidate user equipment unit is redirected to another frequency, or to another cell, or to another radio access technology network. In some implementations, if the candidate user equipment unit (30) is not an allowed user equipment unit as determined by the database (44), the candidate user equipment unit is required to wait for a specified wait time before again attempting to use the femto radio base station (28f) for access to the radio access network.

Description

Access Control in Radio Access Networks with Pico Base Stations

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to wireless telecommunications and, in particular, to access control in radio access networks with pico or "femto" radio base stations.

Background technique

[0002] In a typical cellular radio system, a wireless user equipment unit (UE) communicates with one or more core networks via a radio access network (RAN). User Equipment Units (UE) may be mobile stations, such as mobile telephones ("cellular" telephones) and laptop computers with mobile terminals, and thus may be, for example, portable, pocket, hand-held, in-computer or vehicle-mounted mobile devices, which communicate with The radio access network conducts voice and/or data communications. Alternatively, the wireless user equipment unit may be a fixed wireless device, such as a fixed cellular device/terminal or the like that is part of a wireless local loop.

[0003] A radio access network (RAN) covers a geographical area divided into cells, where each cell is served by a base station. A cell is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by radio base station equipment at a base station site. Each cell is identified by a unique identification code broadcast in the cell. The base station communicates with user equipment units (UE) within range of the base station via an air interface. In a radio access network, several base stations are usually connected (eg by landline or microwave) to a radio network controller (RNC). A radio network controller, sometimes called a base station controller (BSC), monitors and coordinates the various activities of the connected base stations. Radio network controllers are usually connected to one or more core networks. The core network has two service domains with which the RNC has interfaces.

[0004] An example of a radio access network is the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). UMTS is a third generation system based in some respects on a radio access technology developed in Europe called Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). UTRAN is essentially a radio access network that provides Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) to User Equipment Units (UEs). The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has undertaken to further develop UTRAN and GSM-based radio access network technologies.

[0005] Those skilled in the art understand that in WCDMA technology, a common frequency band allows simultaneous communication between a user equipment unit (UE) and multiple base stations. Signals occupying a common frequency band are discriminated at the receiving station by based on spread spectrum CDMA waveform characteristics using a high-speed pseudo-noise (PN) code. These high-speed PN codes are used to modulate signals transmitted from base stations and user equipment units (UEs). Transmitting stations using different PN codes (or PN codes offset in time) produce signals that can be individually demodulated at the receiving station. High-speed PN modulation also allows a receiving station to conveniently generate a received signal from a single transmitting station by combining several different propagation paths of the transmitted signal. Thus, in CDMA, the user equipment unit (UE) does not need to switch frequencies when performing a connection handover from one cell to another. In this way, the target cell can support the connection with the user equipment unit (UE) while the originating cell continues to serve the connection. Since the user equipment unit (UE) always communicates through at least one cell during the handover, there is no interruption to the call. Hence the name "soft handover". In contrast to hard handover, soft handover is a "break-before" transition operation.

[0006] Other types of telecommunication systems that include a radio access network include: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM); Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) system; Narrowband AMPS System (NAMPS); Total Access Communications System (TACS); Digital Cellular (PDC) system; United States Digital Cellular (USDC) system; and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system as described in EIA/TIA IS-95.

[0007] There are several interfaces of interest in UTRAN. The interface between the Radio Network Controller (RNC) and the core network is called the "Iu" interface. The interface between the Radio Network Controller (RNC) and its Base Stations (BS) is called the "Iub" interface. The interface between the user equipment unit (UE) and the base station is called the "air interface" or "radio interface" or "Uu interface". In some cases, a connection involves a source or serving RNC (SRNC) and a destination or drift RNC (DRNC), where the SRNC controls the connection but one or more diverse legs of the connection are handled by the DRNC. The inter-RNC transmission link can be used for the transmission of control and data signals between the source RNC and the drift or target RNC, and can be a direct link or a logical link. The interface between radio network controllers [eg between a Serving RNC (SRNC) and a Drift RNC (DRNC)] is called the "Iur" interface.

[0008] A Radio Network Controller (RNC) controls the UTRAN. In fulfilling its control role, the RNC manages the resources of the UTRAN. Such resources managed by the RNC include, among others, downlink (DL) power transmitted by the base station, uplink (UL) interference perceived by the base station, and hardware located at the base station.

[0009] Those skilled in the art understand that for a certain RAN-UE connection, the RNC can function as a Serving RNC (SRNC) or as a Drift RNC (DRNC). If the RNC is a Serving RNC (SRNC), the RNC is responsible for the connection with the User Equipment Unit (UE), eg it has full control over the connection in the Radio Access Network (RAN). Serving RNC (SRNC) is connected to the core network. On the other hand, if the RNC is a Drift RNC (DRNC), it supports the Serving RNC (SRNC) by providing the radio resources (in a cell controlled by the Drift RNC (DRNC)) needed for connection with the User Equipment Unit (UE) . A system comprising a Drift Radio Network Controller (DRNC) and base stations controlled by the Drift Radio Network Controller (DRNC) over the Iub interface is referred to herein as the DRNC Subsystem or DRNS. The RNC is said to be the Controlling RNC (CRNC) of the base stations to which it is connected via the Iub interface. This CRNC role is not UE specific. The CRNC is also responsible for handling the radio resource management of the cells in the base stations connected to it through the Iub interface.

[00010] Some operators are investigating the possibility of using small radio base stations ("RBS"), also referred to in some contexts as "Femto RBS" and/or "Home RBS" and/or "Pico RBS" and/or "Micro RBS". According to this survey, a small RBS will provide regular WCDMA coverage to end users (eg, to user equipment units (UEs)), and will use some kind of IP-based transport to connect to the RNC. The coverage area so provided is referred to as a "femtocell" (to indicate that the coverage area is relatively small). Other terms for a femtocell include "picocell" or "microcell," which is contrasted with a macrocell, or a standard radio base station (RBS) coverage.

[00011] An alternative to IP-based transport is to use fixed broadband access (eg xDSL, Cable, etc.) to connect the home RBS to the RNC. Another alternative is to use wireless broadband access (eg HSDPA and Enhanced Uplink, or WiMAX). Figure 5 shows two different backhaul alternatives in more detail. The first alternative is labeled "xDSL backhaul", while the second alternative is labeled "WiMAX backhaul".

[00012] In general, a normal WCDMA base station (macro RBS) can connect to the RNC using IP-based transport. Operators, such as employees of an operator company that owns or maintains the macro RBS nodes and RNC nodes of the Radio Access Network (RAN), typically install the macro RBS nodes. As part of the installation, the macro RBS is manually configured with the IP addressing information (DNS name, fully qualified domain name FQDN or IP address) of the RNC to which the macro RNC is connected.

[00013] In contrast, femto RBSs are typically installed by end users rather than by network operators. An end user is also able to geographically move a femto RBS from one place to another without the operator being able or willing to control the relocation of the femto RBS. This user commanded relocation requires that no matter where the Femto RBS is installed or set up, it should be connected to the correct RNC. The "correct RNC" or "preferred RNC" in this respect is the same RNC that controls the overlapping macrocells of the Radio Access Network (RAN).

[00014] When a femto RBS is used to enhance localized coverage in, for example, a small or home office (SOHO) environment, it should be dedicated to the home or enterprise, since the transmission to the radio network controller node (and the mobile core network) can Use transmissions provided and paid for by the home or business itself. In this case, only terminals belonging to the SOHO or enterprise should be allowed to access the femto radio base station.

[00015] In some cases, an end user or SOHO purchases and may operate a femto radio base station. In some cases, a femto radio base station may be a type of base station that can only serve a limited number of end users. It is therefore very important that end users or SOHOs who have purchased femto RBSs have access and not be denied access, given that femto radio base stations are being pre-occupied to provide services by unauthorized users.

[00016] From the above two use cases of femto radio base stations it can be understood that access control is important in order to gain acceptance of the femto radio base station concept by end users.

[00017] UE access control to femto radio base stations is very lacking. There are two popular mechanisms that have the illusion of possible access control, or appear to be related to access control. These mechanisms, Access Control Classes and Location Update (or Routing Area Update) are located in the UTRAN, or between the mobile station and the Core Network (CN). Both mechanisms are briefly discussed below.

[00018] The radio access network mechanism is based on an access control class concept. At the time of subscription, one or more access control classes are assigned to the subscriber and stored in the USIM of the subscriber's user equipment unit (UE). Primarily for load control reasons, these access control classes can be used to prevent selected classes of users from sending initial access messages. Unfortunately, the concept of access control classes in UTRAN cannot be used for fine-grained access control. One reason for this flaw relates to the fact that only ten different access control classes are available to regular end users. For such a limited number of access control classes, it is impossible to construct any logic for access control of the femto radio base station concept.

[00019] The mechanism between a mobile station (eg a mobile terminal or user equipment unit (UE)) and the core network is based on location update control. This means that when a mobile station performs a location update to the core network, the core network may reject the location update, eg depending on the location of the mobile station. While the core network can reject location updates, the problem is that the rejection level can only be done at the location area (LAI) or PLMN level. The core network does not even know the cell identifiers assigned to each femto radio base station.

[00020] Accordingly, what is needed and an object provided herein is a method, technique, apparatus and system for providing efficient access control to femto radio base stations in a radio access network.

Contents of the invention

[00021] Methods and apparatus provide access control to femto radio base stations of a radio access network. The radio access network maintains a database of permitted user equipment units that are permitted to access using the femto radio base station. The database is queried and used to determine whether to provide access to a candidate user equipment unit attempting to access the radio access network using the femto radio base station.

[00022] In some implementations, the candidate user equipment unit is permitted to use the femto radio base station only if the candidate user equipment unit is an allowable user equipment unit as determined by the database.

[00023] In some implementations, if the candidate user equipment unit is not an allowable user equipment unit as determined by the database, the candidate user equipment unit is redirected to another frequency or to another cell or to another radio access technology network.

[00024] In some implementations, if the candidate user equipment unit is not an allowable user equipment unit as determined by the database, the candidate user equipment unit is required to wait a specified waiting time before attempting to access the radio access network using the femto radio base station again.

[00025] The access control database may be preconfigured and/or dynamically configured with identities of permitted user equipment units that are permitted to access using the femto radio base station.

[00026] One example manner in which a candidate user equipment unit attempts to access the radio access network using a femto radio base station is for the candidate user equipment unit to attempt to establish a radio resource control (RRC) connection with the radio access network via the femto radio base station.

[00027] One aspect of the technology relates to a method of operating a radio access network. The method includes: (1) maintaining a database of permissible user equipment units that are permitted to access using a femto radio base station; and (2) using the database to determine whether a candidate user equipment attempting to access a radio access network using a femto radio base station Units provide access.

[00028] Another aspect of the technology relates to a radio access network comprising: at least one femto cell, a femto radio base station serving the femto cell of the radio access network; at least one radio network controller node (configured for controlling a connection between a user equipment unit and a radio access network using resources of a femto radio base station); and accessing a control database. The access control database is configured to assist in determining whether to provide access to a candidate user equipment unit attempting to access the radio access network using the femto radio base station. The access control database can be set as an independent node of the radio access network, or located at a radio network controller node of the radio access network. Preferably, the access control database is configured to facilitate the determination in response to a query by the radio network controller node.

[00029] Yet another aspect of the technology relates to a radio access network node comprising an access control database configured to facilitate determining whether to provide access to a candidate user equipment unit attempting to access the radio access network using a femto radio base station Femto radio base station access to the radio access network. The access control database can be set as an independent node of the radio access network, or located at a radio network controller node of the radio access network.

Description of drawings

[00030] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more specific description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

[00031] FIGS. 1A-1E are diagrammatic views of an example embodiment of a telecommunications system including a radio access network, showing different stages of access control operations with respect to femto radio base stations.

[00032] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example embodiment of a femto radio base station.

[00033] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example radio network controller (RNC) node.

[00034] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of an example structure of an access control database of a femto radio base station.

[00035] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing two different backhaul alternatives.

[00036] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of an example embodiment of a status message returned by a radio network controller node after querying a femto access control database.

Detailed ways

[00037] For purposes of illustration and not limitation, specific details such as specific architectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. That is, those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are therefore included within its spirit and scope. In some instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. All statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, ie, any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

[00038] Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that block diagrams herein may represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles of the technology. Similarly, it is to be understood that any flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudocode, etc. represent various processes that are substantially representable by computer-readable media and thus executed by a computer or processor, whether such computer is explicitly shown or not. or processor.

[00039] The functions of the various units including functional blocks labeled "processor" or "controller" may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of running software in combination with appropriate software. When provided by a processor, the functionality may be provided by a single dedicated processor, by a single shared processor, or by multiple independent processors, some of which may be shared or distributed. Furthermore, explicit use of the terms "processor" or "controller" should not be read as expressly referring to hardware capable of running software, but may include, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, Read memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), and nonvolatile storage.

[00040] The present invention is described in the non-limiting example context of telecommunications system 10 shown in FIG. 1A. The telecommunications system 10 is connected to a core network 20 . The telecommunications system 10 includes a radio access network 24 . The radio access network 24 includes one or more radio network controller nodes (RNC) 26 and radio base stations (BS) 28 . For illustration, FIG. 1A specifically shows two radio network controller nodes, a first radio network control node 26 ₁ and a second radio network control node 26 ₂ , and one or more macro radio base stations (only A macro radio base station 28 _M ) and a plurality of femto radio base stations 28 _f1 , 28 _f2 , . . . 28 _fx . The macro radio base station _28M serves the macro cell C _M . The femto radio base stations 28 _f1 , 28 _f2 , ... 28 _fx serve respective femto cells C _f1 , C _f2 , ... C _fx . At least some of the femtocells _Cf1 , _Cf2 , ... _Cfx geographically overlap or are covered by the macrocell _CM .

[00041] "Femtoradio base station" as used herein also has the meaning of a picoradio base station or microradio base station serving a femtocell (or picocell or microcell). A femtocell typically overlaps with one or more macrocells and serves a smaller geographic area or subscriber area than a macrocell. The techniques described herein are extremely advantageous for femto radio base stations that can be installed and/or relocated in a radio access network without the owner/operator of the radio access network controlling the installation or relocation. In other words, a non-network operator entity (femto operator) can obtain femto radio base stations and configure femto radio base stations according to the femto operator's preferences.

[00042] A user equipment unit (UE), such as user equipment unit (UE) 30 shown in FIG. 1A communicates over a radio or air interface 32 with one or more cells or one or more base stations (BS) 28 . User equipment units may be mobile stations, such as mobile telephones ("cellular" telephones) and laptop computers with mobile terminals, and thus may be, for example, portable, pocket-sized, hand-held, in-computer or vehicle-mounted mobile devices, which are connected to the radio access network for voice and/or data communications.

[00043] As a non-limiting example, the radio access network 24 shown in FIG. 1A may be a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). In UTRAN, radio access is preferably based on Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), where individual radio channels are allocated using CDMA spreading codes. Of course other access methods may also be used. In terms of the example of UTRAN, nodes 26 and 28 are referred to as radio network control nodes and radio base station nodes, respectively. However, it should be understood that the terms "radio network control" and "radio base station" also encompass nodes with similar functionality for other types of radio access networks. Other types of telecommunication systems incorporating other types of radio access networks include: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM); Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) system; Narrowband AMPS System (NAMPS); Total Access Communications System (TACS); Digital Cellular (PDC) system; United States Digital Cellular (USDC) system; and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system as described in EIA/TIA IS-95.

[00044] The radio access network 24 is connected to the core network 20 via an interface, such as the Iu interface of UTRAN. The core network 20 of FIG. 1A may include therein a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) node, a Gateway MSC Node (GMSC), a Gateway General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (GGSN) and a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN). A circuit switched (CS) network or a packet switched (PS) network may be connected to the core network 20 .

[00045] The radio access network 24 of FIG. 1A is shown with only two RNC nodes 26 for simplicity. Multiple Radio Network Controller Nodes (RNCs) may be provided, with each RNC 26 connected to one or more Base Stations (BS) 28 . It is to be understood that the radio network control 26 may serve a different number of base stations than that shown in Figure 1A, and that the RNC need not serve the same number of base stations. Furthermore, the RNC may be connected to one or more other RNCs in the radio access network 24 via the Iur interface. A radio network controller node (RNC) 26 communicates with a macro radio base station _28M via an interface Iub. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that a base station, such as macro radio base station 28, is sometimes referred to in the art as a radio base station, Node B or Node B. Each of the radio interface 32, the Iu interface, the Iur interface and the Iub interface is shown by a dotted line in FIG. 1A.

[00046] FIG. 1A also shows the Iub interface, which exists between the femto radio base station _28f and the RNC node 26, by dotted lines. The Iub interface is preferably formed via an Internet Protocol (IP) connection.

[00047] FIG. 1A also shows that a radio network controller node (RNC) of the radio access network 24 has access to an access control database 44. Femto access control database 44 may be provided as a stand-alone node of radio access network 24, as shown, or may be an adjunct to another RAN node (e.g., contained in one or more radio network controller nodes (RNC) 26 middle). Alternatively, access to femto access control database 44 may even be provided through core network 20 in some cases. In the particular radio access network 24 shown in Figure 1A, the femto access control database 44 is shown connected to a radio network controller node, specifically a first radio network controller node RNC ₂₆₁ and a second radio network Controller node RNC 26 ₂ .

[00048] As shown in the example format shown in FIG. 4, the femto access control database 44 maintains or lists permissible user equipment units that are permitted to access using the femto radio base station. As shown in FIG. 4, the femto access control database 44 is formatted to list, for each of the L femto radio base stations, the identifications of user equipment units that have access-allowed status to the respective femto radio base station. One example of such an identification of the user equipment unit (UE) may be the user equipment unit's International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). As described below, the femto access control database 44 is queried and used to determine whether to provide access to a candidate user equipment unit attempting to access the radio access network using a femto radio base station.

[00049] FIG. 1A can be seen as illustrating the interaction of a femto radio base station _28fj to a radio access network (RAN), for example to a radio network controller node (as in the specifically shown case radio network controller node 26 ₁ ) universal access. "Universal access" means that the access provided to the femto radio base station _28fj may be broadband fixed access or broadband wireless (mobile) access (eg WiMAX), as described above. In broadband wireless (mobile) access, access to the radio access network 24 by the femto radio base station _28fj is via a macro radio base station and may use, for example, High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and Enhanced Uplink , or WiMAX. To generally accommodate the type of access, in FIG. 1A femto radio base stations 28 _f including femto radio base stations 28 _f j are connected to a communication network 38 . An example of such a communication network is IP network 38 . If not clear from the context, aspects of the techniques described herein apply to all types of access, including broadband fixed access and broadband mobile access (eg, broadband wireless access).

[00050] FIG. 2 shows selected basic typical building blocks of an example generic femtoradio base station _28f . One or more of the femto radio base stations 28 _f1 , 28 _f2 , . . . 28 _fx may take the form of the generic femto radio base station 28 _f shown in FIG. 2 . The femto radio base station _28f of FIG. 2 is shown to include, in addition to its other not shown constituent elements: an interface unit 50 for connecting to the radio network control node 26 via an Iub interface; one or more radio frequency transceivers 52; optional UTAN receiver 54; and data processing system, section or unit 56.

[00051] The IP interface unit 50 is a conventional Iub interface unit, but with connectivity to an IP network. Accordingly, the connection between the RNC 26 and the femto radio base station _28f preferably uses, for example, Internet Protocol (IP) based transport, as described below.

[00052] The radio frequency transceiver 52 is used to communicate over a radio or air interface with a user equipment unit (UE) in a femto cell served by the femto base station _28f . The number of radio frequency transceivers 52 depends on various factors, including the femto radio's ability to handle mobile connections.

[00053] Some femtoradio base station nodes may also include a receiver 54 for receiving scanning cell information broadcast to one or more receivable cells of the radio access network. For example, in one example implementation, the femto radio base station _28f includes or is equipped with a WCDMA receiver (UE) as its radio frequency receiver 54, thereby enabling the femto radio base station to camp on signals from receivable cells, including WCDMA macrocells. and femtocells) and read relevant system or network information broadcast in those cells.

[00054] FIG. 3 shows selected basic typical constituent elements of an example radio network control node 26. As shown in FIG. The radio network control node 26 may include several interface units, for example including: an interface unit 70 for connecting the radio network control node 26 to the core network 20 through the Iu interface; an interface unit 72 for connecting the radio network control node 26 to the core network 20 through the Iur interface connected to other (not shown) radio network controllers; one or more interface units 74 for connecting the radio network control node 26 to corresponding one or more macro radio base stations _28M via the Iub interface; and one or more An interface unit 76 for connecting the radio network control node 26 to the corresponding one or more femtoradio base stations 28 _f1 , 28 _f2 , . . . 28 _fx via an Iub interface. The connection between the RNC 26 and the femto radio base station _28m preferably uses eg Internet Protocol (IP) based transport. The connection between the RNC 26 and the macro radio base station _28M preferably uses eg Internet Protocol (IP) based and/or ATM based transport.

[00055] In addition to the interface unit, the radio network control node 26 also includes a number of constituent units not shown as well as a data processing system, part or unit 80 . As shown in FIG. 3, in one non-limiting example implementation, the data processing system 80 of the radio network control node 26 includes: a control section (e.g., a controller 82); a switching unit 84; a combiner and splitter unit 86 (e.g., in involved in handling the various branches of the connection); and the femto radio base station handler 88. The femto radio base station handler 88 includes a searcher interface 92 to the femto access control database 44 .

[00056] At the time shown in Figure 1A, a user equipment unit (UE) 30 is trying to access the radio access network 24 via the femto radio base station _28fj . The femto radio base station 28 _fj has been activated by the femto operator and connected to the correct radio network controller node (eg radio network controller 26 ₂ ). Femto radio base stations _28fj may be connected to the correct radio network controller node in various ways.

[00057] As previously stated, there may be economic exclusivity for femto radio base stations _28fj . That is, the owner/operator of the femto radio base station 28 _fj guards which user equipment units and/or how many user equipment units utilize the femto radio base station 28 _fj to access the radio access network 24 . This caution arises, for example, from the fact that the owner/operator of the femto radio base station 28 _fj is responsible for paying for the connection to the radio access network 24 via the femto radio base station 28 _fj ; User equipment units associated with the owner/operator's community, business, SOHO, or industry etc. have priority in accessing the radio access network 24 via the femto radio base station _28fj over other user equipment units that are not members of the owner/operator's community, etc. rights or exclusive rights.

[00058] FIG. 1A shows that, as an event or step S-1A, a user equipment unit (UE) 30 (also referred to herein as a "candidate" user equipment unit) attempts to access a radio access network using a femto radio base station 28 _fj twenty four. One example manner _in which a candidate user equipment unit 30 attempts to access the radio access network 24 using the femto radio base station _28fj is for the candidate user equipment unit 30 to attempt to establish radio resource control (RRC) with the radio access network 24 through the femtoradio base station 28fj connection (RRC connection establishment). Hence, as an event or step S-1A, the candidate user equipment unit 30 sends an RRC connection setup message to the radio network controller node ₂₆₂ via the femto radio base station _28fj . The RRC connection establishment message of step S-1A includes identification information related to the candidate user equipment unit 30 , such as the IMSI of the candidate user equipment unit 30 . The femto radio base station 28 _fj forwards the RRC connection establishment message of step S-1A to the radio network controller 26 ₂ via the Iub interface.

[00059] Upon receipt of the RRC connection setup message of step S-1A, the access request inherent in the RRC connection setup message of step S-1A is processed by the radio network controller node ₂₆₂ and in particular by the femto radio base station handler 88 deal with. The femto radio base station processor 88 instructs the searcher interface 92 to prepare to query the femto access control database 44 so that the radio network controller node ₂₆₂ can determine whether the candidate user equipment unit 30 is permitted to access the radio access network via the femto radio base station _28fj twenty four. To this end, Figure IB shows that the radio network controller node ₂₆₂ sends a query to the femto access control database 44 to find out whether the candidate user equipment unit 30 is an approved user/subscriber/client of the femto radio base station _28fj . The query to the femto access control database 44 includes the identifier of the candidate user equipment unit 30 and the identifier of the femto radio base station _28fj for which permission is sought.

[00060] FIG. 1C shows that, as a step or event S-1C, the femto access control database 44 receives a query from the radio network controller ₂₆₂ and performs a search to determine whether the identifier (IMSI) of the candidate user equipment unit 30 is is listed as the allowed identifier for the particular femto radio base station identified in the query message, ie femto radio base station _28fj . In one example configuration of the femto access control database 44, as shown in FIG. Formatted according to user equipment unit identifier, eg IMSI.

[00061] FIG. 1D also shows that the femto access control database 44 returns a response to the radio network controller node ₂₆₂ after the femto access control database 44 has conducted its search. In its simplest implementation, the response message (denoted as step or event S-ID in Fig. ID) simply advises whether or not the candidate user equipment unit 30 is allowed to use the femto radio base station _28fj for RAN access.

[00062] Thus, when a candidate user equipment unit 30 establishes an RRC connection via a femto radio base station _28fj , the radio network controller node (in the illustrated case radio network controller node ₂₆₂ ) checks the femto access control database 44 In order to determine whether the allowed IMSI of this femtoradio base station _28fj is trying to establish the connection. If the femto access control database 44 indicates at step S-1D that the candidate user equipment unit 30 is allowed to use the femto radio base station _28fj to access the radio access network 24, then by the radio network controller node (e.g. radio network controller node 26 ₂ ) Approve RRC connection establishment. Figure 1E shows that the radio network controller node ₂₆₂ sends a status message to the candidate user equipment unit 30 as a step or event S-1E. In case the candidate user equipment unit 30 is an approved or admitted user equipment unit of the femto radio base station _28fj , the status message takes the form of an approval message. In case the candidate user equipment unit 30 is not an approved or permitted user equipment unit of the femto radio base station _28fj , the status message takes the form of a rejection message.

[00063] In its simplest form, the rejection message of step S-1E may comprise a brief notification about the rejection of the candidate user equipment unit 30 from using the femto radio base station _28fj . In other forms, the rejection message of step S-IE may include information to redirect the candidate user equipment unit to another frequency or to another cell or to another radio access technology network. In yet another form, the rejection message of step S-1E may require the candidate user equipment unit 30 to wait for a specified waiting time before trying again to access the radio access network 24 using the femto radio base station _28fj .

[00064] Accordingly, the RNC (eg radio network controller node 26 ₂ ) rejects the RRC connection establishment if the candidate user equipment unit 30 is not allowed to access the radio access network 24 using the femto radio base station _28fj . The RNC may indicate different actions for the mobile station in case of rejection. These are all based on existing mechanisms in the RRC protocol.

[00065] As shown in Figure 6, the example status message 100 may comprise several fields of an information element (IE) indicating different actions to be taken by the candidate user equipment unit 30 in view of the rejection. Chief among the fields or Information Elements (IEs) is Information Element (IE) 102, which specifies whether a candidate user equipment unit 30 is allowed or denied. Such fields or information elements (IEs) may include, for example, one or more of: a "Rejection Cause IE" 104; a "Waiting IE" 106; and/or a "Redirection IE" 108. Therefore, as stated above, in its reject message the RNC may:

- Indicate congestion as Deny Cause IE 104 and/or Wait Time IE 106 until the candidate user equipment unit 30 is again allowed to access the cell of the femto radio base station _28fj . The waiting time may also be set to 'infinite', meaning that the candidate user equipment unit 30 is not allowed to retry establishing an RRC connection via the femto radio base station _28fj for this transaction.

- Indicate another frequency in the redirect message IE 108. In this case, the candidate user equipment unit 30 should find a suitable cell on the indicated frequency and camp on the cell so indicated. This indicated frequency is preferably the frequency used for macro WCDMA coverage.

- Indicate inter-radio access technology (inter-RAT) cell information in the redirection information IE 108. In this case, the candidate user equipment unit 30 should find a suitable cell of another radio access technology (e.g. a GSM cell of the GSM radio access network when the current radio access technology is UTRAN) and camp on this alternative cell. RAT cell.

[00066] Information contained in information elements such as the "Rejection Cause IE" 104, the "Waiting IE" 106 and the "Redirection IE" 108 may be obtained from other databases or from resources accessible by the radio network controller node or radio network controller collected in resources kept by the nodes themselves, or alternatively by the radio access network or in some cases by the core network. In the case of disapproval, but still commanding the candidate user equipment unit 30 to "wait", it is expected that, at least in some cases, the client candidate user equipment unit will subsequently be granted access to the femto radio base station _28fj when the congestion eventually disappears or abates. The owner/operator of the femto radio base station _28fj has some input or discretion in the process. To this end, femto access control database 44 may include additional optional fields of information to provide customer privileges to otherwise inadmissible candidate user equipment units 30 when traffic conditions warrant such. In other words, a user equipment unit configured as a client in the femto access control database 44 may be allowed to optionally access the femto cell C _fj , but only when traffic conditions permit (eg low congestion).

[00067] Information such as that contained in step S-1E and the status message of FIG. 6 may optionally also be provided to the femtoradio base station 28 _fj , or any other network node that needs or desires or is beneficial to know the outcome of the access request ( macro or pico). It may be advantageous to provide such information to other nodes, for example in architectures where other nodes (eg radio base station nodes) are currently or may in the future be capable of handling access control completely or partly.

[00068] The femto access control database 44 may be preconfigured and/or dynamically configurable with identities of permitted user equipment units that are permitted to access using the femto radio base station. In this regard, the femto radio base station _28fj is identified in the RNC as well as in the femto access control database 44 with an identifier such as, for example, a serial number or the like. The association between the serial number and the mobile subscriber identity number (eg IMSI) is initially made eg at the store or other point of sale where the pico/femto owner/operator purchased or obtained the pico base station. Furthermore, it is also possible for the femto/pico owner/operator of the femto radio base station 28 _fj to define which mobile subscribers, eg which user equipment units (UEs) can access the femto radio base station 28 _{f j} . Such access control (whether remote, subsequent and/or dynamic) can be achieved, for example, using web-based services, where the owner of the base station is first authorized and then can define allowed or permitted mobile subscribers. Mobile subscribers are preferably identified using MSISDN numbers, and the service can then map these values to the user equipment unit's IMSI value for use by the femto access control database 44 .

[00069] Thus, this technique enables a femto RBS to be truly dedicated to a group of users. This specificity and exclusivity is extremely important, for example, if the end user's own broadband connection is used for transmission between the base station and the RNC, or if the end user has paid for some WCDMA over-the-air capability in the Femto RBS.

[00070] Accordingly, as an aspect of the technology, an access control database is configured to facilitate (eg, conduct or assist in) determining whether to provide access to a radio access network via a femto radio base station to a candidate user equipment unit attempting to access a radio access network using a femto radio base station. Access rights of the base station to the radio access network. The access control database can be set as an independent node of the radio access network, or located at a radio network controller node of the radio access network.

[00071] The principles/methods described above are also applicable to radio technologies other than WCDMA, which is only illustrated as an example. Other suitable technologies include, but are not limited to, GSM, CDMA, WiMAX, and the like. This technique is particularly relevant to the above and duly described systems and situations, but is applicable to other situations and other networks as well.

[00072] While various embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, the claims are not limited to any particular embodiment or example. The above description should not be read as indicating that any specific element, step, range or function is absolutely essential. The invention is not intended to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims (14)

1. the method for operate wireless electricity Access Network (24) is characterized in that:

Maintenance is allowed to use nano-micro-radio base stations (28 _f) database of allowing user equipment unit (44) that conducts interviews;

Use described database (44) to help determine whether to attempting using described nano-micro-radio base stations (28 _f) candidate user equipment unit of visiting described radio access network (24) provides access right.

2. the method for claim 1, wherein said candidate user equipment unit (30) attempt using described nano-micro-radio base stations (28 _f) visit described radio access network (24) and comprising: described candidate user equipment unit (30) is attempted by described nano-micro-radio base stations (28 _f) set up dedicated radio link with described radio access network (24).

3. the method for claim 1, also comprise: only, just permit described candidate user equipment unit (30) and use described nano-micro-radio base stations (28 when described candidate user equipment unit (30) when to be that described database (44) is determined allow user equipment unit _f).

4. the method for claim 1, also comprise: if not to be described database (44) determined allows and then described candidate user equipment unit (30) is redirected to another frequency or another sub-district or another radio access technologies network by user equipment unit for described candidate user equipment unit (30).

5. the method for claim 1, also comprise:, then require described candidate user equipment unit (30) to wait for that the stand-by period of regulation just attempts using described nano-micro-radio base stations (28 once more if not to be described database (44) determined allows user equipment unit for described candidate user equipment unit (30) _f) visit described radio access network.

6. the method for claim 1 also comprises: with being allowed to use described nano-micro-radio base stations (28 _f) identification code of allowing user equipment unit that conducts interviews disposes described access control database (44).

7. the method for claim 1 also comprises: to the node transmit status message of described radio access network (24), so that relevant described definite information is provided.

8. a radio access network (24) comprising:

Nano-micro-radio base stations (28 _f), serve the Femto cell of described radio access network;

At least one radio network controller node, described at least one radio network controller node configuration is used to use described nano-micro-radio base stations (28 _Fj) resource control being connected between user equipment unit and the described radio access network (24);

It is characterized in that:

Access control database (44), configuration are used for helping to determine whether to attempting using described nano-micro-radio base stations (28 _f) candidate user equipment unit (30) of visiting described radio access network (24) provides access right.

9. device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said access control database (44) is set to the isolated node of described radio access network.

10. device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said access control database (44) are positioned at the radio network controller node (26) of described radio access network.

11. device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said access control database (44) configuration is used to respond the inquiry of described radio network controller node and helps to carry out described definite.

12. radio access network (a 24) node that comprises access control database (44), described access control database (44) configuration are used for helping to determine whether to attempting using nano-micro-radio base stations (28 _f) visit radio access network (24) candidate user equipment unit (30) provide by described nano-micro-radio base stations (28 _f) access right of visiting described radio access network (24).

13. device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said access control database (44) is set to the isolated node of described radio access network.

14. device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said access control database (44) are positioned at the radio network controller node (26) of described radio access network.

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