Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and apparatus for facilitating a hand-in to a femto cell.SOLUTION: An identifier is assigned to a femto cell in which the identifier is based on a scrambling parameter and a timing parameter. A relationship between the identifier and the femto cell is then communicated. In another embodiment, a user equipment report is received, which includes attributes related to a signal broadcast by a femto cell. An identifier associated with the femto cell is ascertained from an attribute included in the report. The femto cell is then identified on the basis of the identifier. In a further embodiment, a timing parameter is received, and a scrambling parameter is set. A signal including the scrambling parameter is then broadcasted according to an offset related to the timing parameter.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for facilitating a beacon-assisted handover from a macro network to a femto cell during an active call.SOLUTION: A femto cell management system 422 assigns a unique identifier to a femto cell 424, and the femto cell 424 utilizes the unique identifier to broadcast a beacon at a frequency different from the operating frequency of the femto cell 424. A wireless terminal 430 receives from a macro network 410 a control message directing the wireless terminal 430 to scan particular frequencies. The wireless terminal 430 subsequently provides the macro network 410 with a report identifying attributes obtained from the scan, the report including attributes associated with the beacon. The macro network 410 then performs a handover from the macro network 410 to the femto cell 424 as a function of the attributes.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for access control in a femto cell.SOLUTION: The method comprises: assigning at least one femto cell to correspond to a first identifier that identifies valid access to the femto cell; storing a list comprising at least one second identifier and at least one first identifier (where a second identifier corresponds to an AT and the list indicates valid first identifier and second identifier pairs); receiving, at a femto cell, a request from an AT for access (1030); sending, by the femto cell, the first identifier to at least one access control component (1035); determining, from the list, whether a second identifier for the AT corresponds to a valid first identifier for the femto cell (1040); and granting access to the AT at the femto cell in response to the request if the AT is identified.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for uniquely identifying a femto cell to facilitate a hand-in to the femto cell.SOLUTION: A user equipment report is received, which includes attributes related to a signal broadcast by a femto cell. An identifier associated with the femto cell is ascertained from an attribute included in the report. The femto cell is then identified on the basis of the identifier. In a further embodiment, a timing parameter is received, and a scrambling parameter is set. A signal including the scrambling parameter is then broadcasted according to an offset related to the timing parameter. In yet another embodiment, a femto cell is detected during an active call. An identifier associated with the femto cell is then ascertained and reported.