Abstract:
A method for location validation of a UE in a cellular communications system uses measurements on a very low power "presence cell" in order to determine whether a UE is close to the presence cell rather than trying to provide this validation of proximity to the presence cell by accessing service through the presence cell. When the owner of the UE is performing a transaction (for example, a cash withdrawal at a cash machine) for which it is required to verify that their UE is in the immediate vicinity of where that transaction is taking place, a location validation centre may request that the UE takes specific measurements of the signal strength of a cell identified by a particular cell identifier which has been assigned to the presence cell. If the UE can detect the specified presence cell can report this to the location validation centre thereby confirming its location.
Abstract:
The invention facilitates the implementation of clusters of small cells or radio heads or Home Node Bs (HNB) (102, 103, 104) managed by a local standard-luh enterprise gateway, connected to a standard release 8/9 HNB-GW. The enterprise gateway sends an HNB Registration Request corresponding to each small cell or radio head that it manages to a Home Node B Gateway over the standard luh interface, thereby presenting a single logical interface to the Home Node B Gateway (HNB-GW) that appears to the HNB-GW as a collection of luh-standard HNBs. This provides the enterprise gateway with a set of call processing and radio resources that it can implement as it wishes, but using standard messaging to control the HNBGW's view of those resources. A further advantage of the invention is the ability to permit hand-in of a user equipment from a macrocell to a small cell.
Abstract:
A method of detecting wireless communication terminals in the vicinity of non-serving basestations within a cellular communication network. The method comprises, at a network element within the cellular communication network, receiving neighbour cell measurement information from at least one wireless communication terminal, deriving at least one vulnerability indication value for the at least one wireless communication terminal based at least partly on the received neighbour cell measurement information, and determining whether the at least one wireless communication terminal is in the vicinity of a basestation of a neighbour cell for which measurement information was received based at least partly on the derived at least one vulnerability indication value therefor.
Abstract:
A network element (180) for a cellular communication network (100) comprises gateway router logic (182). The gateway router logic (182) is arranged to receive a request to create a packet data context for enabling a mobile communication device (190) to access a packet data network (120, 158, 168, 178); obtain an address for a gateway logic module (154, 156, 164, 166, 174, 176) for the packet data network (120, 158, 168, 178), the gateway logic module (154, 156, 164, 166, 174, 176) being located within a femto radio network subsystem (140); and forward the request to create a packet data context to the obtained address for the gateway logic module (154, 156, 164, 166, 174, 176).
Abstract:
An access point for supporting communication in a femto cell of a cellular communication network. The access point comprises transceiver circuitry arranged to enable communication with at least one cell subscribed wireless communication unit located within the femto cell, and signal processing logic module. The signal processing logic is arranged to configure a transmit power level of a Common Pilot CHannel (CPICH) for transmission based at least on cell subscribed wireless communication unit information.
Abstract:
A network element (124, 130) for providing access to a cellular communication network (100) via a communication cell (150, 185), the network element comprising signal processing logic (165) arranged to initiate neighbour cell attribute discovery by a wireless communication unit (114) located within the communication cell (150, 185). The signal processing logic (165) is further arranged to receive a neighbour cell attribute report from the wireless communication unit (114), extract neighbour cell attribute information from the received neighbour cell attribute report, and to update a neighbour cell list for the communication cell (150, 185) based on the extracted neighbour cell attribute information.
Abstract:
A method for location determination of a wireless communication unit (108) is described. The method comprises, at a controller (150) : identifying a wireless communication unit; causing multiple access attempts of the wireless communication unit to selected multiple cells; obtaining information (324) from each of said selected multiple cells related to the respective access attempt; and forwarding (326) the information to a device (160) to calculate a position of the wireless communication unit based on the obtained information from the selected multiple cells.
Abstract:
A method for at least one mobile network operator to provide selective features to at least one mobile handset is described. The method comprises, at a Network Operator allocating at least one public land mobile network, PLMN, identifier, ID, to at least one service offered by the at least one mobile network operator, wherein the allocated PLMN ID is distinct from said mobile network operator's normal PLMN ID; and assigning the at least one PLMN ID as an Equivalent PLMN (EPLMN) ID for Opted-In mobile handsets only. The method further comprises, at the at least one base station: broadcasting the at least one distinct PLMN ID; and supporting provision of a range of services to the at least one mobile handset on an individual opt-in or opt-out basis based on the assigned EPLMN ID. In this manner, a provision of user control of opt-in or opt-out of particular services is supported, such that individual mobile handsets will discover and access the appropriate base stations to access services. In this manner, end users are able to control whether their handset automatically provides access to particular services provided by the network operator.
Abstract:
An access point (104) for a cellular communication system is arranged to control the transmit power of its pilot signal by switching the pilot signal periodically between an "on" state and an "off" state with configurable "on" and "off' times. The "on" time is set to be long enough for a wireless communication unit (105) to perform power measurements of the pilot signal. This reduces the likelihood of pilot signal interference in neighbouring cells. The access point (104) may also switch over to operating in a continuous pilot signal transmission mode in order to improve a handover or cell selection process. The access point (104) can also be arranged to transmit the mark:space ratio of the pilot signal for reception by a user equipment (105). This permits the user equipment (105) to modify its RSCP and Ec/No calculations accordingly.
Abstract:
A network element comprises a signal processor supporting communications between a subscriber unit (UE) and a core network (CN). The signal processor is arranged to: receive a first update request message (location or routing area) from the subscriber unit; forward the first update request message to the core network; receive from the CN a first update accept (or response) message; store at least a part of the accept message content; forward the first update response message to the subscriber unit; receive a second update request from the subscriber unit; create a second update accept (or response) message using the at least part of the stored content; and respond to the subscriber unit second update accept (or response) message direct.