Access control in radio access network having pico base stations

Abstract

Methods and apparatus provide access control to a femto radio base station (28f) of a radio access network (24). The radio access network (24) maintains a database (44) of allowed user equipment units which are to be permitted access for use of a femto radio base station (28f). The database (44) is consulted and used to determine if a candidate user equipment (30) unit attempting to use the femto radio base station (28f) for access to the radio access network (24) is to be given access. In some implementations, the candidate user equipment unit (30) is permitted to use the femto radio base station (28f) only if the candidate user equipment unit is an allowed user equipment unit as determined by the database (44). In some implementations, if the candidate user equipment unit (30) is not an allowed user equipment unit as determined by the database (44), the candidate user equipment unit is redirected to another frequency, or to another cell, or to another radio access technology network. In some implementations, if the candidate user equipment unit (30) is not an allowed user equipment unit as determined by the database (44), the candidate user equipment unit is required to wait for a specified wait time before again attempting to use the femto radio base station (28f) for access to the radio access network.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.