Patent ID: 8279808

Claim:
A method for enabling a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) femtocell for in-service use with one or more mobile handheld devices, the method comprising: (a) performing a broadcast channel selection protocol via, at least in part, a femtocell comprising at least one radio frequency (RF) transceiver, wherein said broadcast channel selection protocol comprises a configuration phase and a broadcast phase; wherein said configuration phase comprises using the VoIP femtocell in a handset/receive mode to (i) detect at least one commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) basestation, (ii) obtain CMRS basestation information from the detected CMRS basestation(s), and (iii) select a CMRS basestation that has a weak or no detectable signal strength within a user communication zone; wherein said broadcast phase comprises using the VoIP femtocell in a basestation/broadcast mode to broadcast within the user communication zone as a VoIP femtocell using basestation information corresponding to the selected CMRS basestation; and (b) performing a handheld reselection protocol via, at least in part, said VoIP femtocell to enable one or more mobile handheld devices to select said VoIP femtocell for in-service use; wherein said handheld reselection protocol comprises enabling the VoIP femtocell to broadcast as the primary, dominant CMRS basestation detectable within the user communication zone to thereby enable one or more mobile handheld devices to select the VoIP femtocell for in-service use.