Wireless femtocell setup methods and apparatus
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsMaik Bienas, Hyung Nam Choi, Andreas Schmidt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus that enable a wireless femtocell to operate in its designated frequency so as to minimize interference between the wireless femtocell and neighboring base stations (and other femtocells or nomadic cells). In one exemplary embodiment, the femtocell cell comprises a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) femtocell which has the ability to scan the air interface in a manner similar to that associated with a UE in order to identify unallocated resources within the wireless network, and subsequently request access for the unallocated resources. Business methods useful in combination with the aforementioned methods and apparatus are also disclosed.
Claims20
A method of operating a cell within a wireless network, the cell comprising a network interface with a network entity of the network, the method comprising:
- by the cell:
- performing an initiation comprising:
- establishing a secure connection over the network interface to the network entity;
- and
- registering with the network entity;
- scanning a first frequency range of the wireless network;
- determining a strongest cell transmission within the wireless network received by the cell;
- determining location information indicative of a geographic location for the cell;
- scanning a second frequency range of the wireless network, the second frequency range correlated with the geographic location;
- and
- determining a signal power of at least one cell transmitting within the second frequency range of the wireless network.
A non-transitory computer readable apparatus comprising a storage medium having a plurality of instructions executable by a processor of a first wireless cell within a cellular network, the instructions configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the first wireless cell to:
- perform an initiation comprising:
- establish a secure connection over a network interface to a network entity of the cellular network;
- and
- register with the network entity;
- scan a first frequency range of the cellular network;
- determine a strongest cell transmission within the cellular network received by the cell;
- determine location information indicative of a geographic location for the cell;
- scan a second frequency range of the cellular network, the second frequency range correlated with the geographic location;
- and
- determine a signal power of at least one cell transmitting within the second frequency range of the cellular network.
A cell within a wireless network, the cell comprising:
- a processing device;
- a network interface with a network entity of the wireless network;
- and
- a memory coupled to the processing device, the memory storing executable instructions configured to, when executed by the processing device, cause the cell to:
- perform an initiation comprising:
- establish a secure connection over the network interface to the network entity;
- and
- register with the network entity;
- scan a first frequency range of the wireless network;
- determine a strongest cell transmission within the wireless network received by the cell;
- determine location information indicative of a geographic location for the cell;
- scan a second frequency range of the wireless network, the second frequency range correlated with the geographic location;
- and
- determine a signal power of at least one cell transmitting within the second frequency range of the wireless network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.