Patent Publication Number: US-9848448-B2

Title: Communication management method, management server, and communication system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/048,970, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,084,227, filed Mar. 16, 2011, which claims the priority benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2010-068273 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Mar. 24, 2010, the entire content of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a communication management method, a management server, and a communication system. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     A 3G mobile telephone service called the third generation was started in Japan in 2002. In the beginning, the main application was transmission of small packets such as sound and emails, but with the introduction of High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and the like, download of larger packets, such as download of music files or shared videos, has come to be performed. 
     As such, with the increase in the size of packets to be downloaded, wireless communications between a base station and a terminal were expanded, and HSPA+ service realizing maximum 21 Mbps was started. Furthermore, LTE that uses OFDMA in downlink is expected to start around 2010 and a 4G service is expected to start around 2015, and a world where maximum 1 Gbps is realized with a semi-fixed terminal and maximum 100 Mbps is realized in a mobile environment is becoming a reality. 
     To realize a wireless environment with a high communication rate as described above, it is assumed that cells will shift to microcells and picocells. Wireless environment of dead spots at the edge of a cell can be improved to a certain degree by placing relay stations, for example, but in the case resources of base stations are in short supply, the effect obtained by placing relay stations may be reduced. 
     Accordingly, in indoors having Fiber To The Home (FTTH), a high-speed data communication environment is anticipated to be realized without placing load on outdoor wireless resources, by placing small base stations called femtocell base stations. 
     Authentication between this femtocell base station and a communications company&#39;s network is performed by a memory card for authentication typified by a USIM. Furthermore, access to a base station for home use is generally limited to communication terminals registered in a whitelist. Additionally, in 3GPP, this whitelist for femtocells is called a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) list. The whitelist above is information stored in the server of a communications company, and is considered to be generally registered with the communications company based on an application from a subscriber. Additionally, restriction on connection to a base station is described in JP-A-2009-207106, for example. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Here, it is assumed that a subscriber of a femtocell base station for home use applies the communication terminal of a family member as a terminal to be registered in the whitelist. Thus, an issue may be expected that, in the case a friend visits the home of the subscriber of the femtocell base station, the communication terminal of the friend is not permitted to connect to the femtocell base station due to not being registered in the whitelist. 
     In light of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a communication management method, a management server, a communication system which are novel and improved, and which are capable of flexibly changing a communication terminal capable of connecting to a base station such as a femtocell base station. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a communication management method which includes the steps of registering, by a management server managing communication of a base station, a communication terminal whose connection to the base station is to be permitted as a first communication terminal, registering, by the management server, another communication terminal as a second communication terminal based on a request from the communication terminal registered as the first communication terminal, requesting the base station, by a communication terminal, for connection, and permitting, by the management server, connection to the base station in a case the communication terminal which has requested the base station for connection is registered as the first communication terminal or the second communication terminal. 
     The communication management method may further include the step of deleting the communication terminal registered as the second communication terminal, based on a request from the communication terminal itself or the communication terminal registered as the first communication terminal. 
     An expiration date may be set for registration of the communication terminal as the second communication terminal. 
     The communication management method may further include the steps of deciding, in a case connection to the base station is requested by the communication terminal registered as the first communication terminal, whether a predetermined number is already reached by the number of communication terminals currently connected to the base station or not, and issuing, in a case the predetermined number is already reached by the number of the communication terminals currently connected to the base station, a notification of handover or disconnection command to the communication terminal registered as the second communication terminal among the communication terminals currently connected to the base station. 
     The predetermined number may be a maximum number of communication terminals that can connect to the base station. 
     The management server may register, as the first communication terminal, a communication terminal for which an application has been made by a subscriber of the base station, and registers the other communication terminal as the second communication terminal also in a case registration of the other communication terminal is requested by the subscriber of the base station. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a management server which includes a communication unit for communicating with a base station, a storage unit for storing, as a first communication terminal, a communication terminal whose connection to the base station is to be permitted, a registration management unit for registering, in the storage unit, another communication terminal as a second communication terminal based on a request from the communication terminal registered as the first communication terminal, and a communication control unit for permitting connection to the base station in a case a communication terminal requests the base station for connection and the communication terminal is registered as the first communication terminal or the second communication terminal. 
     The registration management unit may delete the communication terminal registered as the second communication terminal, based on a request from the communication terminal itself or the communication terminal registered as the first communication terminal. 
     The registration management unit may set an expiration date for registration of the communication terminal as the second communication terminal. 
     The management server may further include a deciding unit for deciding, in a case connection to the base station is requested by the communication terminal registered as the first communication terminal, whether a predetermined number is already reached by the number of communication terminals currently connected to the base station or not. The communication control unit may issue, in a case the deciding unit decides that the predetermined number is already reached by the number of the communication terminals currently connected to the base station, a notification of handover or disconnection command to the communication terminal registered as the second communication terminal among the communication terminals currently connected to the base station. 
     The predetermined number may be a maximum number of communication terminals that can connect to the base station. 
     The registration management unit may register, as the first communication terminal, a communication terminal for which an application has been made by a subscriber of the base station, and registers the other communication terminal as the second communication terminal also in a case registration of the other communication terminal is requested by the subscriber of the base station. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a communication system which includes a base station, and a management server including a storage unit for storing, as a first communication terminal, a communication terminal whose connection to the base station is to be permitted, a registration management unit for registering, in the storage unit, another communication terminal as a second communication terminal based on a request from the communication terminal registered as the first communication terminal, and a communication control unit for permitting connection to the base station in a case a communication terminal requests the base station for connection and the communication terminal is registered as the first communication terminal or the second communication terminal. 
     According to the embodiments of the present invention described above, it is possible to flexibly change a communication terminal capable of connecting to a base station such as a femtocell base station. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a function block diagram showing a configuration of a management server according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an explanatory diagram showing concrete examples of a first list and a second list; 
         FIG. 4  is an explanatory diagram showing a sequence for connecting a communication terminal and a femtocell base station; 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram showing a sequence for registering a terminal in the second list; 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory diagram showing a sequence for deleting terminal registration from the second list; 
         FIG. 7  is an explanatory diagram showing a sequence for preferentially connecting a communication terminal registered in the first list to a femtocell base station; 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of a sequence for connecting a communication terminal  20  and a femtocell base station  30 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is an explanatory diagram showing a concrete example of a terminal list according to a modification. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that, in this specification and the appended drawings, structural elements that have substantially the same function and structure are denoted with the same reference numerals, and repeated explanation of these structural elements is omitted. 
     Also, in this specification and the drawings, a plurality of structural elements having substantially the same functional configuration may be distinguished from each other by each having a different letter added to the same reference numeral. For example, a plurality of elements having substantially the same functional configuration are distinguished from each other as necessary as communication terminals  20 A and  20 B. However, if it is not particularly necessary to distinguish each of a plurality of structural elements having substantially the same functional configuration, only the same reference numeral is assigned. For example, if it is not particularly necessary to distinguish between the communication terminals  20 A and  20 B, they are simply referred to as the communication terminals  20 . 
     Additionally, “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT” will be described in the item order below. 
     1. Overall Configuration of Communication System 
     2. Configuration of Management Server 
     3. Various Operations in Communication System 
     3-1. Connection between Communication Terminal and Femtocell Base Station 
     3-2. Registration of Terminal in Second List 
     3-3. Deletion of Terminal from Second List 
     3-4. Preferential Connection of Communication Terminal Registered in First List 
     4. Summary 
     5. Modification 
     (Modification 1) 
     (Modification 2) 
     (Modification 3) 
     &lt;1. Overall Configuration of Communication System&gt; 
     First, an overall configuration of a communication system  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 1  is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of the communication system  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the communication system  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a management server  10 , the Internet  12 , communication terminals  20 A and  20 B, a femtocell base station  30 , and a BB modem  32 . Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the communication terminals  20 A and  20 B, the femtocell base station  30 , and the BB modem  32  are installed at one home, for example. 
     The femtocell base station  30  is a small indoor base station compatible with a UMTS mobile phone wireless method standardized by 3GPP, for example, and can connect with the communication terminal  20  having a mobile phone interface compatible with the UMTS method. The femtocell base station  30  is connected with the management server  10  via the BB (broadband) modem  32  and the Internet  12 . This femtocell base station  30  has a structure for mounting a memory card for authentication that stores authentication information used for performing authentication with a communications company (for example, the management server  10 ). Additionally, this memory card for authentication is a universal subscriber identity module (USIM) mounted by a subscriber of the femtocell base station  30 , for example. 
     Additionally, the femtocell base station  30  is only an example of a base station controlling communication with the communication terminal  20 , and the base station is not limited to the femtocell base station  30 . For example, the embodiment of the present invention can also be applied to a base station such as a microcell base station, a picocell base station, and a relay station that relays communication between a macrocell base station and the communication terminal  20 . Also, an example is shown in  FIG. 1  where only the femtocell base station  30  is connected to the management server  10 , but in reality, a large number of femtocell base stations are assumed to connect to the management server  10 . 
     In the case connection with the femtocell base station  30  is permitted by the management server  10  or the femtocell base station  30 , the communication terminal  20  can perform data communication via the femtocell base station  30 . For example, the communication terminal  20  can perform voice communication or exchange of content data such as video data and voice data via the femtocell base station  30 . 
     Additionally, in  FIG. 1 , a mobile phone is shown as an example of the communication terminal  20 , but the hardware of the communication terminal  20  is not limited to a mobile phone. For example, the communication terminal  20  may also be an information processing apparatus, such as a personal computer (PC), a home video processing apparatus (such as a DVD recorder or a video cassette recorder), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a home game machine, or a home appliance. Furthermore, the communication terminal  20  may also be an information processing apparatus such as a personal handyphone system (PHS), a portable music playback device, a portable video processing device, a portable game machine, or the like. 
     The management server  10  is installed in a communications company&#39;s network (core network of a communications company), for example, and performs authentication of the femtocell base station  30 , the communication terminal  20 , and the like. Specifically, the management sever  10  according to the embodiment of the present invention stores first and second lists of different properties. The management server  10  permits connection with the femtocell base station  30  to only the communication terminal registered in either of the first and second lists. In the following, a configuration of the management server  10  having such first and second lists will be described in greater detail. 
     &lt;2. Configuration of Management Server&gt; 
       FIG. 2  is a function block diagram showing a configuration of the management server  10  according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the management server  10  includes a communication unit  110 , a storage unit  120 , a communication control unit  130 , a registration management unit  140 , and a connection number deciding unit  150 . 
     The communication unit  110  is an interface to the femtocell base station  30 , and exchanges various types of information with the femtocell base station  30  via the BB modem  32  or the Internet. For example, the communication unit  110  receives, from the femtocell base station  30 , terminal information (a terminal ID, a telephone number, a user name, or the like) of the communication terminal  20  which has made a connection request to the femtocell base station  30 , or transmits, to the femtocell base station  30 , a notification indicating connection permission or connection denial. 
     The storage unit  120  stores, for each femtocell base station  30 , a terminal list showing communication terminals permitted to connect to the femtocell base station  30 . Specifically, the storage unit  120  stores first and second lists. A communication terminal for which an application has been made by a subscriber of the femtocell base station  30  is registered, based on the application from the subscriber of the femtocell base station  30 , in the first list as a first communication terminal. Also, other communication terminal requested by the communication terminal registered in the first list is registered, by the registration management unit  140 , in the second list as a second communication terminal. 
     Additionally, a case is also conceivable where the subscriber of the femtocell base station  30  and the user of the communication terminal registered in the first list are not the same. For example, in an apartment, the owner of the apartment is assumed to be the subscriber of the femtocell base station  30  and a resident of the apartment is assumed to be the user of the communication terminal registered in the first list. Thus, not only the communication terminal registered in the first list, but also the subscriber of the femtocell base station  30  may have the authority for terminal registration in the second list. 
       FIG. 3  is an explanatory diagram showing concrete examples of the first and second lists. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first list is compiled from one or more entries each made up of a terminal ID, a telephone number, and a user name, for example. Also, the second list is compiled from one or more entries each made up of a terminal ID, and a telephone number, for example. Additionally, the elements making up each entry are not limited to the examples shown in  FIG. 3 , and some of the elements shown in FIG.  3  may be omitted or other element, such as a mail address, may be added. 
     The memory  120  storing the first and second lists as described may be a storage medium such as a non-volatile memory, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a magneto-optical (MO) disk. The non-volatile memory may be, for example, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM). Also, the magnetic disk may be a hard disk, a discoid magnetic disk, or the like. Furthermore, the optical disk may be a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc recordable (DVD-R), a Blu-ray disc (BD; registered trademark), or the like. 
     As will be described in detail in “3-1. Connection between Communication Terminal and Femtocell Base Station,” the communication control unit  130  permits connection to the femtocell base station  30  in the case the communication terminal  20  which has made a connection request to the femtocell base station  30  is registered in the first or second list. Also, as will be described in detail in “3-4. Preferential Connection of Communication Terminal Registered in First List,” the communication control unit  130  performs control to prioritise connection between the communication terminal registered in the first list and the femtocell base station  30  over connection between the communication terminal registered in the second list and the femtocell base station  30 . 
     The registration management unit  140  performs editing of list such as registration of a terminal in the second list and deletion of a terminal from the second list. Specifically, in the case registration of another communication terminal in the second list is requested by the communication terminal registered in the first list, the registration management unit  140  registers such another communication terminal in the second list. As a result, such another communication terminal is enabled to connect to the femtocell base station  30 . 
     For example, a case is considered where the femtocell base station  30  is installed at a certain home, the communication terminal  20  of a family member of this home is registered in the first list, and a friend visits this home. In this case, the communication terminal of the friend is enabled to connect to the femtocell base station  30  by requesting, from the communication terminal  20  of the family member, registration of the communication terminal of the friend in the second list and registering the communication terminal of the friend in the second list. 
     As described, according to the embodiment of the present invention, a communication terminal that can connect to the femtocell base station  30  can be flexibly changed, and thus a high convenience can be achieved. Furthermore, since the authority for terminal registration in the second list is granted only to the communication terminal registered in the first list, and thus security can be guaranteed. 
     The connection number deciding unit  150  decides whether a specific number is already reached by the number of terminals currently connected to the femtocell base station  30  or not. The specific number may be a maximum possible connection number of the femtocell base stations  30  or may be a number smaller than the maximum possible connection number by N (N is any positive number that is 1 or more). The decision result by the connection number deciding unit  150  is used for control by the communication control unit  130  for prioritizing communication by the communication terminal  20  registered in the first list. 
     &lt;3. Various Operations in Communication System&gt; 
     In the foregoing, the configuration of the management server  10  according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Next, various operations in the communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be sequentially described. 
     (3-1. Connection Between Communication Terminal and Femtocell Base Station) 
       FIG. 4  is an explanatory diagram showing a sequence for connecting the communication terminal  20  and the femtocell base station  30 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the communication terminal  20  requests for connection with the femtocell base station  30  (S 204 ), the femtocell base station  30  transmits terminal information of the communication terminal  20  to the management server  10  (S 208 ). Here, a terminal ID, a telephone number, a user name, or the like, can be cited as the terminal information. 
     Next, the communication control unit  130  of the management server  10  decides whether the communication terminal  20  is registered in the first list or not, based on the terminal information received from the femtocell base station  30  (S 212 ). Furthermore, in the case the communication terminal  20  is not registered in the first list, the communication control unit  130  decides whether the communication terminal  20  is registered in the second list or not (S 216 ). 
     Then, in the case the communication terminal  20  is registered in the first or second list, the communication control unit  130  permits connection between the communication terminal  20  and the femtocell base station  30  (S 224 ). Then, the communication terminal  20  and the femtocell base station  30  are connected. On the other hand, in the case the communication terminal  20  is not registered in either of the first and second lists, the communication control unit  130  denies connection between the communication terminal  20  and the femtocell base station  30  (S 220 ). 
     (3-2. Registration of Terminal in Second List) 
       FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram showing a sequence for registering a terminal in the second list. As shown in  FIG. 5 , first, the management server  10  receives a terminal registration request for the second list from the communication terminal  20  (S 304 ). For example, the management server  10  receives, as the terminal registration request, terminal IDs, telephone numbers, or the like, of the communication terminal  20  which is a request source and another communication terminal which is a request target. Additionally, the communication terminal  20  may transmit the terminal registration request via the femtocell base station  30  or may transmit the same over a wire. 
     Next, the registration management unit  140  of the management server  10  decides whether the communication terminal  20  which is the request source is registered in the first list or not (S 308 ). Then, in the case the communication terminal  20  which is the request source is registered in the first list, the registration management unit  140  additionally registers the other communication terminal which is the request target in the second list (S 312 ). On the other hand, in the case the communication terminal  20  which is the request source is not registered in the first list, the registration management unit  140  denies the terminal registration request (S 316 ). 
     As described, by granting the authority for terminal registration in the second list to the communication terminal  20  registered in the first list, security in use can be guaranteed. 
     Additionally, the registration management unit  140  may set an expiration date when registering a terminal in the second list, and may delete registration of the terminal for which the expiration date is reached. This expiration date may be specified by the communication terminal  20 , or may be a specific date or time such as 24 hours later, 1 week later or 1 month later. 
     (3-3. Deletion of Terminal from Second List) 
       FIG. 6  is an explanatory diagram showing a sequence for deleting terminal registration from the second list. As shown in  FIG. 6 , first, the management server  10  receives a terminal deletion request for the second list from the communication terminal  20  (S 404 ). For example, the management server  10  receives, as the terminal deletion request, terminal IDs, telephone numbers, or the like of the communication terminal  20  which is a request source and a communication terminal which is a request target. Additionally, the communication terminal  20  may transmit the terminal deletion request via the femtocell base station  30  or may transmit the same over a wire. 
     Next, the registration management unit  140  of the management server  10  decides whether the communication terminal  20  which is the request source is registered in the first list or not (S 408 ). Then, in the case the communication terminal  20  is not registered in the first list, the registration management unit  140  decides whether the communication terminal  20  is registered in the second list or not (S 412 ). Furthermore, in the case the communication terminal  20  is registered in the second list, the registration management unit  140  decides whether the communication terminal  20  which is the request source and the communication terminal which is the request target are the same or not (S 416 ). 
     Then, in the case it is decided in S 408  that the communication terminal  20  which is the request source is registered in the first list or in the case it is decided in step S 416  that the communication terminal  20  which is the request source and the communication terminal which is the request target are the same, the registration management unit  140  deletes the communication terminal which is the request target from the second list (S 420 ). On the other hand, in the case the communication terminal  20  which is the request source is registered in neither the first list nor the second list or in the case it is decided in S 416  that the communication terminal  20  which is the request source and the communication terminal which is the request target are not the same, the registration management unit  140  denies the terminal deletion request (S 424 ). 
     As described above, the authority for terminal registration in the second list is granted only to the communication terminal that is registered in the first list, but on the other hand, the authority for terminal deletion from the second list is granted also to the communication terminal registered in the second list. Accordingly, the communication terminal registered in the second list is not permitted to register another communication terminal in the second list, but can delete itself from the second list. 
     (3-4. Preferential Connection of Communication Terminal Registered in First List) 
     As has been described, according to the embodiment of the present invention, not only the communication terminal registered in the first list, but also the communication terminal registered in the second list can connect to the femtocell base station  30 . Here, it is assumed that the number of terminals that can simultaneously connect to the femtocell base station  30  is limited to, for example, four. 
     Thus, a case is conceivable where, due to the communication terminal registered in the second list being connected to the femtocell base station  30 , the communication terminal registered in the first list is not permitted to connect to the femtocell base station  30 . More specifically, a case is conceivable where the father or the mother is not allowed to use the femtocell base station  30  due to their son&#39;s friend visiting the home and the communication terminal of the son&#39;s friend being connected to the femtocell base station  30 . 
     Accordingly, in the embodiment of the present invention, connection between the communication terminal registered in the first list and the femtocell base station  30  is prioritized over connection between the communication terminal registered in the second list and the femtocell base station  30 . In the following, processing for prioritizing the connection between the communication terminal registered in the first list and the femtocell base station  30  will be described in detail. 
       FIG. 7  is an explanatory diagram showing a sequence for preferentially connecting the communication terminal  20  registered in the first list to the femtocell base station  30 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , a case is considered where the management server  10  has received from a communication terminal  20 X a connection request to the femtocell base station  30  (S 504 ). In this case, the connection number deciding unit  150  decides whether a maximum possible connection number of the femtocell base station  30  is already reached by the number of terminals currently connected to the femtocell base station  30  or not (S 508 ). 
     Then, in the case the maximum possible connection number is not yet reached by the number of terminals currently connected, the communication control unit  130  decides whether the communication terminal  20 X is registered in the first list or not and whether it is registered in the second list or not (S 512 , S 516 ). 
     Here, in the case it is decided in S 512  that the communication terminal  20 X is registered in the first list, the communication control unit  130  permits connection between the communication terminal  20 X and the femtocell base station  30  (S 514 ). Then, the communication terminal  20 X and the femtocell base station  30  are connected. 
     On the other hand, in the case the maximum possible connection number is already reached by the number of terminals currently connected or in the case the communication terminal  20 X is registered in neither the first list nor the second list, the communication control unit  130  denies connection of the communication terminal  20 X (S 520 ). 
     Also, in the case it is decided in S 516  that the communication terminal  20 X is registered in the second list, the communication control unit  130  permits connection between the communication terminal  20 X and the femtocell base station  30  (S 524 ). Then, when a connection request is received by the communication unit  110  from the communication terminal  20  registered in the first list (S 528 ), the connection number deciding unit  150  decides whether the maximum possible connection number is already reached by the number of terminals currently connected (S 532 ). Then, in the case the maximum possible connection number is not yet reached by the number of terminals currently connected, the communication control unit  130  connects the communication terminal  20  which is the request source to the femtocell base station  30  (S 536 ). 
     On the other hand, in the case the maximum possible connection number is already reached by the number of terminals currently connected, the communication control unit  130  issues a notification of handover or connection disconnection command regarding the communication terminal  20 X, registered in the second list, that is currently connected (S 540 ). This enables to preferentially connect the communication terminal  20  registered in the first list to the femtocell base station  30 . 
     Additionally, in the above, an example has been explained where a notification of handover or connection disconnection command regarding the communication terminal  20 X is issued when a connection request is received from the communication terminal  20  registered in the first list in a state where the maximum possible connection number is already reached by the number of terminals currently connected, but the notification of handover or connection disconnection command regarding the communication terminal  20 X may be issued at a time point the maximum possible connection number is reached by the number of terminals currently connected. According to such a configuration, since the number of terminals currently connected will have been (the maximum possible connection number−1) at the time connection is requested by the communication terminal  20  registered in the first list, the communication terminal  20  registered in the first list can connect to the femtocell base station  30  at an early point. 
     &lt;4. Summary&gt; 
     As has been described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the communication terminal  20  connected to either the first list or the second list can connect to the femtocell base station  30 . Also, the authority for terminal registration in the second list is granted to the communication terminal  20  registered in the first list, and thus security in use can be guaranteed. 
     On the other hand, the authority for terminal registration in the second list is granted only to the communication terminal that is registered in the first list, but the authority for terminal deletion from the second list is granted also to the communication terminal registered in the second list. Accordingly, the communication terminal registered in the second list is not permitted to register another communication terminal in the second list, but can delete itself from the second list. Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, connection between the communication terminal registered in the first list and the femtocell base station  30  can be prioritized over connection between the communication terminal registered in the second list and the femtocell base station  30 . 
     &lt;5. Modification&gt; 
     It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. 
     For example, the steps of the processing of the communication system  1  and the management server  10  according to the present specification do not necessarily have to be processed chronologically according to the order described as the sequence chart or the flow chart. For example, the steps of the processing of the communication system  1  and the management server  10  can also be processed in an order different from that described as the flow chart or may be processed in parallel. 
     Furthermore, a computer program for causing hardware, such as a CPU, a ROM, or a RAM, embedded in the management server  10  to realize an equivalent function as each element of the management server  10  described above can also be created. Furthermore, a storage medium storing the computer program is also provided. 
     Furthermore, it is understood, as a matter of course, that modifications 1 to 3 described below are also within the technical scope of the present invention. 
     (Modification 1) 
     In the above, an example has been explained where terminal authentication is performed at the management server  10 , but the present invention is not limited to such an example. As will be described below as modification 1, terminal authentication can also be performed by the femtocell base station  30 . 
       FIG. 8  is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of the sequence for connecting the communication terminal  20  and the femtocell base station  30 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , first, the femtocell base station  30  transmits authentication information stored in a memory card for authentication to the management server  10 , and the management server  10  authenticates the femtocell base station  30  based on the authentication information (S 254 ). 
     Then, if authentication of the femtocell base station  30  is successful, the management server  10  transmits, to the femtocell base station  30 , the first and second lists stored in association with the femtocell base station  30  (S 258 ). 
     Then, when a connection request is received from the communication terminal  20  (S 262 ), the femtocell base station  30  decides whether the communication terminal  20  is registered in the first list or not (S 266 ). Furthermore, in the case the communication terminal  20  is not registered in the first list, the femtocell base station  30  decides whether the communication terminal  20  is registered in the second list or not (S 270 ). 
     Then, in the case the communication terminal  20  is registered in the first list or the second list, the femtocell base station  30  permits connection of the communication terminal  20  (S 278 ). On the other hand, in the case the communication terminal  30  is registered in neither the first list nor the second list, the femtocell base station  30  denies connection between the communication terminal  20  and the femtocell base station  30  (S 274 ). 
     As has been described, it is also possible to have the management server  10  supply the first and second lists to the femtocell base station  30  and to have the femtocell base station  30  perform terminal authentication based on the first and second lists. 
     (Modification 2) 
     In the above, an example has been explained where the management server  10  holds separately the first list showing the communication terminals registered as first communication terminals and the second list showing the communication terminals registered as second communication terminals, but the registration mode of communication terminals is not limited to such an example. As will be described below as modification 2, the first and second communication terminals can also be managed by a single list. 
       FIG. 9  is an explanatory diagram showing a concrete example of a terminal list according to the modification. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the terminal list according to the modification is compiled from one or more entries each made up of a terminal ID, a telephone number, and a registration type, for example. Here, the registration type is information indicating whether a communication terminal is registered as the first communication terminal or as the second communication terminal. Specifically, in the case the registration type is “1,” it is indicated that the communication terminal indicated by the entry is registered as the first communication terminal, and in the case the registration type is “2,” it is indicated that the communication terminal indicated by the entry is registered as the second communication terminal. 
     According to such configuration also, it is possible to decide whether the communication terminal  20  which has made the connection request, the terminal registration request or the terminal deletion request is registered as the first communication terminal or the second communication terminal, and to control connection processing, terminal registration processing or terminal deletion processing according to the result of the decision. 
     (Modification 3) 
     In the above, an example has been explained where the femtocell base station  30  is installed at home and the communication terminal  20  of a family member of this home is registered in the first list, but the installation location of the femtocell base station  30  and the communication terminal  20  to be registered in the first list are not particularly limited. 
     For example, the femtocell base station  30  may be installed at a store, and information indicating that any communication terminal  20  can connect to the femtocell base station  30  may be described in the first list. Then, with a user wishing to receive a specific service from this store registering his/her communication terminal  20  in the second list, the store is enabled to selectively provide the specific service (delivery of coupon or information, or the like) to the communication terminal  20  registered in the second list. 
     Furthermore, in the case legal restriction such as age restriction is placed on provision of the specific service, communication terminals to which the authority for terminal registration in the second list is granted may be limited to those that meet the legal restriction. According to such configuration, it is possible to provide the specific service to only the communication terminals that are legally recognized.