Source: http://patents.com/us-10419923.html
Timestamp: 2019-10-15 02:00:29
Document Index: 575487975

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2013', 'Application No. 2015', 'Application No. 201610237186', 'Application No. 201610237452', 'Application No. 201610237452', 'Application No. 0907187']

US Patent # 1,041,9923. Communication system - Patents.com
United States Patent 10,419,923
Filipovic , et al. September 17, 2019
A home base station via which a plurality of mobile communication devices are connectable in a communication network, the home base station having an associated closed subscriber group (CSG) and including a unit for receiving a connection request from a mobile communication device wherein the connection request includes an indication of whether the mobile communication device is a member of the CSG associated with the home base station, a unit for monitoring congestion levels for the home base station and for indicating when the home base station is in a congested situation, a unit for determining if the mobile communication device requesting connection is the member of the CSG associated with the home base station from the indication of whether the mobile communication device is the member of the CSG associated with the home base station, and a unit for controlling access to the home base station.
Family ID: 1000004285202
14/524,976
US 20150043343 A1 Feb 12, 2015
13260306 8880069
PCT/JP2010/057782 Apr 26, 2010
Current CPC Class: H04W 76/18 (20180201); H04W 8/186 (20130101); H04W 12/08 (20130101); H04W 4/08 (20130101); H04W 24/08 (20130101); H04W 8/16 (20130101); H04W 36/0061 (20130101); H04W 84/045 (20130101)
Current International Class: H04W 84/04 (20090101); H04W 4/08 (20090101); H04W 8/16 (20090101); H04W 24/08 (20090101); H04W 8/18 (20090101); H04W 36/00 (20090101); H04W 12/08 (20090101); H04W 76/18 (20180101)
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The present application is a Divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/260,306, filed on Sep. 24, 2011, which is based on International Application No. PCT/JP2010/057782, filed on Apr. 26, 2010, which is based on the United Kingdom Patent Application No. 0907187.9, filed on Apr. 27, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. A mobile communication device which communicates with a base station, the mobile communication device comprising: a receiver configured to receive a cell broadcast for a neighbor cell that comprises a closed subscriber group (CSG) identity identifying a CSG; and a transmitter configured to transmit, to the base station, a measurement report comprising the CSG identity and a CSG member status information element that indicates whether the mobile communication device is a member of the CSG corresponding to the CSG identity, wherein handover of the mobile communication device is determined based at least in part on the transmitted measurement report.
2. A mobile communication device according to claim 1, the mobile communication device further comprises a processor configured to determine if the neighbor cell is a member of the CSG corresponding to the CSG identity.
3. A mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the CSG identity of the cell broadcast is broadcast in system information.
4. A mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to: receive from the neighbor cell, when the neighbor cell is a closed access mode cell, a CSG indicator set to TRUE with the CSG identity that is broadcast in the cell broadcast; and receive from the neighbor cell, when the neighbor cell is a hybrid access mode cell, the CSG identity that is broadcast in the cell broadcast without a CSG indicator set to TRUE.
5. A mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to determine whether the neighbor cell is a closed access mode cell or a hybrid access mode cell based on whether the cell broadcast received from the neighbor cell comprises a CSG indicator set to TRUE with the CSG identity.
6. A mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when the neighbor cell is a hybrid access mode cell, the mobile communication device is operable to receive differentiated treatment by said base station based on whether the mobile communication device is a member or a non-member of the CSG corresponding to the CSG identity.
7. A mobile communication device as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the neighbor cell is a hybrid access mode cell, the mobile communication device is operable to receive preferential access from said base station when the mobile communication device is a member of the CSG corresponding to the CSG identity compared to if the mobile communication device were not a member of the CSG corresponding to the CSG identity.
8. A mobile communication device as claimed in claim 6 wherein, when the neighbor cell is a hybrid access mode cell, the mobile communication device is operable to receive access from said base station when the mobile communication device is not a member of the CSG corresponding to the CSG identity, subject to any preferential access provided to any mobile communication devices that are members of the CSG corresponding to the CSG identity.
9. A method in a mobile communication device which communicates with a base station, the method comprising: receiving a cell broadcast for a neighbor cell that comprises a closed subscriber group (CSG) identity identifying a CSG; and transmitting, to the base station, a measurement report that comprises the CSG identity and a CSG member status information element that indicates whether the mobile communication device is a member of the CSG corresponding to the CSG identity, wherein handover of the mobile communication device is determined based at least in part on the transmitted measurement report.
10. A method according to claim 9, the method further comprising: determining if the neighbor cell is a member of the CSG corresponding to the CSG identity.
The present invention relates to mobile telecommunication networks, particularly but not exclusively networks operating according to the (3.sup.rd Generation Partnership Project) 3GPP standards or equivalents or derivatives thereof. The invention has particular although not exclusive relevance to the provision of access to home base stations and more specifically the access prioritisation for home base stations operating using a hybrid access mode.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile communication device for connection in a communication network, the mobile communication device comprising: means for receiving (e.g. a receiver, transceiver, or the like) information identifying a closed subscriber group (CSG) associated with a home base station; means for identifying (e.g. an identifier, an identification module, a processor, or the like) the CSG associated with the home base station from the received information; means for determining (e.g. a determiner, determination module, processor, or the like) whether the mobile communication device is a member of the identified CSG associated with the home base station; means for generating a message including an indication of whether the mobile communication device is a member of the identified CSG, in dependence on a result of a determination made by the determining means; and means for sending (e.g. an transmitter, a transceiver, or the like) the generated message.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a home base station via which a plurality of mobile communication devices are connectable in a communication network, the home base station having an associated closed subscriber group (CSG) and comprising: means for receiving (e.g. a receiver, transceiver, or the like) a connection request from a mobile communication device wherein the connection request includes an indication of whether the mobile communication device is a member of the CSG associated with the home base station; means for monitoring (e.g. a monitor) congestion levels for the home base station and for indicating when the home base station is in a congested situation; means for determining (e.g. a determiner, determination module, processor, or the like) if the mobile communication device requesting connection is a member of the CSG associated with the home base station from the indication of whether the mobile communication device is a member of the CSG associated with the home base station; and means for controlling (e.g. a controller, processor, or the like) access to the home base station, when the monitoring means indicates the home base station is in a congested situation, in dependence on whether or not the mobile communication device is determined to be a member of the CSG associated with the home base station.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a home base station via which a plurality of mobile communication devices are connectable in a communication network, the home base station having an associated closed subscriber group (CSG) and comprising: means for receiving (e.g. a receiver, transceiver, or the like) connection requests from a plurality of mobile communication devices wherein each connection request includes a respective indication of whether the mobile communication device making the request is a member of the CSG associated with the home base station; means for establishing respective connections (e.g. a connection establisher) with each mobile communication device making a request; means for storing (e.g. a memory) information indicating a membership status for each established connection based on the respective indication of whether the mobile communication device is a member of the CSG associated with the home base station; means for monitoring (e.g. a monitor) congestion levels for the home base station and for indicating when the home base station is in a congested situation; and means for controlling (e.g. a controller, processor or the like) the established connections, when the monitoring means indicates the home base station is in a congested situation, in dependence on the respective membership status for each established connection.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a communication node via which a plurality of mobile communication devices are connectable in a communication network, the communication node comprising: means for receiving (e.g. a receiver, transceiver, or the like) a measurement report from a mobile communication device having an established connection with the communication node, wherein the measurement report includes an indication of whether the mobile communication device is a member of a CSG associated with a home base station; means for determining (e.g. a determiner, determination module, processor, or the like) whether handover of the established connection to the home base station is allowable based on the indication of whether the mobile communication device is a member of the CSG associated with the home base station; and means for initiating (e.g. an initiator, initiation module, or the like) a handover of the established connection to the home base station in dependence on whether the handover is determined to be allowable.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile communication device for connection in a communication network, the mobile communication device comprising: means for generating a measurement report including an indication of whether the mobile communication device is a member of a CSG associated with a home base station; and means for sending (e.g. an transmitter, a transceiver, or the like) the measurement report to another base station.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a communication node via which a plurality of mobile communication devices are connectable in a communication network, the communication node comprising: means for receiving (e.g. a receiver, transceiver, or the like) a measurement report from a mobile communication device having an established connection with the communication node, wherein the measurement report includes information identifying an access mode for the home base station; means for determining (e.g. a determiner, determination module, processor, or the like) whether handover of another established connection to the home base station is allowable based on the information identifying an access mode for a home base station; and means for initiating (e.g. an initiator, initiation module, or the like) a handover of the established connection, or the another established connection, to the home base station in dependence on whether the handover is determined to be allowable.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile communication device for connection in a communication network, the mobile communication device comprising: means for generating a measurement report including information identifying an access mode for a home base station; and means for sending (e.g. an transmitter, a transceiver, or the like) the measurement report to another base station.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a communication node via which a plurality of mobile communication devices are connectable in a communication network, the communication node comprising: means for receiving (e.g. a receiver, transceiver, or the like) information identifying an access mode for a home base station over an interface with the home base station; means for determining (e.g. a determiner, determination module, processor, or the like) whether handover of an established connection to the home base station is allowable based on the information identifying an access mode for the home base station; and means for initiating (e.g. an initiator, initiation module, or the like) a handover of the established connection to the home base station in dependence on whether the handover is determined to be allowable.
The mobile telephone registration module 65 of the HNB 11 is operable to respond to the connection request in dependence on whether the HNB 11 is in a congested situation (step 302), and whether the mobile telephone 3 is a member of the CSG (step 304) as follows: (a) If the HNB 11 is not in a congested situation, then connection is allowed irrespective of CSG membership (subject to any other typical connection acceptance criteria) (step 306). (b) If the HNB 11 is in a congested situation and the mobile telephone 3 is not a member of the CSG then the connection is either rejected, or diverted to another cell (e.g. a neighbouring cell 9 of an HNB 11 or a macro cell) (step 308). (c) If the HNB 11 is in a congested situation and the mobile telephone 3 is a member of the CSG and connection is allowed (subject to any other typical connection acceptance criteria) (step 310).
As described previously, the connection management module 67 is operable to monitor and manage established connections. More particularly, the connection management module 67 is operable to store membership details for established connections (e.g. the CSG membership flag or other data from which the CSG membership can be derived) and to assist preferential establishment of a new connection with a member mobile telephone 3 (step 312) as follows: (a) by initiating relocation of a non-member mobile telephone 3 (if one is connected) to another cell (e.g. a neighbouring cell 9 of an HNB 11 or a macro cell); and/or (b) by initiating a reduction in the data rate of an established connection with a non-member mobile telephone 3 (if one is connected).
As described with reference to FIG. 6, the connection management module 67 is operable to store membership details for established connections (e.g. the CSG membership flag or other data from which the CSG membership can be derived). As seen in FIG. 7, the connection management module 67 is further operable to monitor the level of congestion (steps 400 and 402) and, when the HNB 11 enters a congested situation from a non-congested situation, to identify non-member connections from the stored CSG membership information (step 404). Moreover, the connection management module 67 is further operable to assist provision of preferential access to member mobile telephones 3 having established connections (step 406) as follows: (a) by initiating relocation of a non-member mobile telephone 3 (if one is connected) to another cell (e.g. a neighbouring cell 9 of an HNB 11 or a macro cell); and/or (b) by initiating a reduction in the data rate of an established connection with a non-member mobile telephone 3 (if one is connected).
The HNB 11 is further operable to continue monitoring congestion after a change in access mode and monitor the level of congestion (steps 507 and 508). The CSG management module 69 of the HNB 11 is configured to respond to a change from a congested state to a non-congested state by changing the access mode from the closed access mode to the hybrid access mode (step 510). The system information module 68 is operable to broadcast system information, including information identifying the return to the hybrid CSG access mode of the HNB 11 (CSG Indicator/Indication IE set to FALSE), to mobile telephones 3 in the vicinity (which may be substantially immediately or at another suitable time according to its normal broadcast cycle) (step 512).
In accordance with the implementation shown in FIG. 10, a measurement module 42 (FIG. 2) of the mobile telephone 3 is operable, when the mobile telephone 3 is in a connected mode/state, to perform measurements (e.g. Intra frequency, inter frequency and inter RAT mobility, Quality, DE internal, positioning measurements, or the like) in other cells 9 (e.g. neighbouring/nearby cells) in the vicinity (step 700). The measurements may be automatic or may be explicitly requested by or via the base station 11, 5.
The base station 11, 5 (or RNC 7) is operable to make handover/relocation/redirection decisions for the mobile telephone 3, taking the presence/absence of the CSG membership indication (or its `TRUE`/`FALSE` value) into account, as follows: (a) If the nearby/neighbouring cell (e.g. `target cell` of the `target radio network`) has a hybrid access mode, the HNB 11 or RNC 7 of the source radio network may decide not to handover the mobile telephone 3 to the target cell if the UE is not a CSG member; (b) If the cell of the target radio network has a closed access mode and the mobile telephone 3 has indicated that it is not a CSG member of the target cell, the HNB 11 or RNC 7 of the source radio network will not allow handover of the mobile telephone 3 to the target cell.
FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the operation of implementations of the system of FIG. 1 in which the source radio access network is operable to obtain information regarding the access mode (open, hybrid or closed) of the neighbouring cells (e.g. to allow the source radio access network to perform handover decisions as described above) in at least one of the following ways: (a) From a mobile telephone via radio resource control measurement reporting (e.g. on the UTRA RAN (Radio Access Network) interface (Uu interface)) or (FIG. 11); (b) Directly from the neighbouring cells via a protocol used on an interface between two radio access network (RAN) nodes (e.g. based on the EUTRAN X2 Application Protocol (X2AP) for a Long Term Evolution (LTE)) (FIG. 12).
It is proposed to introduce a simple flag sent from the UE to the HNB which will indicate the CSG membership of the UE attempting to access the Hybrid BNB.
CSG Indicator (or CSG Indication) IE CSG Identity IE
These IEs are set as follows: If the SRAN cell is an Open Access Mode: CSG Indicator (or CSG Indication) IE=FALSE CSG Identity IE not broadcast If the SRAN cell is a Hybrid Access Mode: CSG Indicator (or CSG Indication) IE=FALSE CSG Identity IE broadcast If the SRAN cell is a Closed Access Mode: CSG Indicator (or CSG Indication) IE=TRUE CSG Identity IE broadcast 3) The UE initiates RRC Connection in a Hybrid Access Mode SRAN cell. If the UE is a CSG member of the SRAN cell, the UE sends the CSG membership flag to the SRAN in the RRC Connection Request message. If the UE is not a CSG member, the UE does not need to send this flag to the SRAN (or the flag is set to FALSE). 4) The SRAN cell uses the membership flag as follows: If the SRAN cell is in a congested situation and the UE attempting to access the cell is not a CSG member, the SRAN cell rejects or diverts the UE to another cell (e.g. the neighbouring cell) If the SRAN cell is in a congested situation and the UE attempting to access the cell is a CSG member, the SRAN cell allows the UE on the cell. The SRAN cell can also decide to divert or reduce the data rate of the existing connections in order to admit the incoming UE connection to the cell. The SRAN may store this membership flag in order to use it when a connection is established, to determine whether the established connection should be diverted (or the data rate reduced) when congestion occurs later. Connected Mode 1) The UE is in connected mode and performs the measurements of the neighbouring cells. 2) The UE obtains CSG Indicator (or CSG Indication) IE and CSG Identity TB of the neighbouring cells from the System Information. 3) The UE sends the measurements performed on the neighbouring cells to the SRAN. In the measurement report, the UE sends the CSG membership flag to indicate whether the UE is a CSG member of the neighbouring cell. 4) The SRAN can use this information for the HO decisions as follows: If the TRAN cell has Hybrid Access Mode, the SRAN may decide not to handover the UE to the TRAN cell if the UE is not a CSG member If the TRAN cell has Closed Access Mode and the UE indicates that it is not a CSG member of the TRAN cell, the SRAN shall not allow the HO of the UE to the TRAN cell. Obtaining Access Mode Indication
With these two possibilities the SRAN can prevent the non CSG members from accessing when the SRAN node is congested. For these possibilities it is assumed that the SRAN may get the information on the CSG membership from some other node (e.g. Core Network or BNB-GW) and not from the UE.
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