Patent ID: 9215707
Filing Date: 2015-12-15
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of a femtocell providing time-division-multiplexed wireless service to wireless communication devices (WCDs) during a time period divided into contiguous cycles, wherein each cycle is divided into contiguous slots, the method comprising: during a first cycle, the femtocell (i) receiving, from each of a plurality of WCDs, at least one respective request to use a resource and (ii) assigning each of the plurality of WCDs to a respective slot of the first cycle; the femtocell providing service to each of the plurality of WCDs during the respective assigned slot of the first cycle; the femtocell detecting a trigger, wherein detecting the trigger comprises detecting that a first WCD in the plurality is less-preferred than every other WCD in the plurality, wherein detecting that the first WCD is less-preferred than every other WCD in the plurality comprises (i) checking for the presence of an identifier associated with the first WCD in a whitelist of WCDs maintained by the femtocell, and (ii) determining that the identifier associated with the first WCD is not present in the whitelist; responsive to the femtocell detecting the trigger, the femtocell (i) identifying at least one WCD in the plurality, and (ii) assigning each of the plurality of WCDs, except for the identified at least one WCD, to a respective slot of a second cycle that is subsequent to the first cycle; during the second cycle, the femtocell receiving, from each of the plurality of WCDs, at least one respective request to use a resource; and the femtocell providing service to each of the plurality of WCDs, except for the identified at least one WCD, during the respective assigned slot of the second cycle.