WO2011097413A1

WO2011097413A1 - Location-based service level adjustment

Info

Publication number: WO2011097413A1
Application number: PCT/US2011/023648
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michiel Petrus Lotter
Original assignee: Nextivity, Inc.
Priority date: 2010-02-03
Filing date: 2011-02-03
Publication date: 2011-08-11

Abstract

A communication apparatus comprises communication apparatus comprise a communication controller configured to adjust service level based on location of a subscriber.

Description

LOCATION-BASED SERVICE LEVEL ADJUSTMENT

Michiel Lotter

BACKGROUND

[0001] Existing cellular networks, such as (Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and IS95, are intended to enable contiguous and continuous coverage to support the high terminal mobility expected from such systems. However, despite careful network design, indoor (in-building) coverage or the coverage of places with high shadowing attenuation (e.g. tunnels) of such networks is often "patchy", with "coverage holes" at best, and no coverage at worst. Impaired indoor coverage occurs because the cellular base stations are usually placed outside buildings, higher than the average building heights, to cover large areas. The signal may be adequate at "street- level", but is severely attenuated by the building materials, reducing the signal power in-building and resulting in the poor coverage. Loss of signal power (attenuation) depends on the building composition and can be tens of dBs for each wall penetration. The problem is exacerbated in the 3.sup.rd generation systems such as Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) and cdma2000 that have high data transmission capability, which results in lower information bit energy (E.sub.b), and much reduced link budget and cell footprint. Currently, common solutions enabling indoor coverage include (1 ) adding more outdoor base stations in the same geographical area thus supporting smaller cell sizes, (2) microcells, (3) picocells (in-building cells), and (4) conventional repeaters for usage in boosting signal over a selected geographical area.

[0002] Other than the conventional repeater, the various solutions are expensive, involve extensive investment in the cellular network infrastructure, and are complex in planning and operation.

[0003] The conventional repeater, although less expensive than a base station, has several drawbacks. Outdoor repeaters remain too expensive for a private user, and involve careful planning. Many repeaters use large directional antennas or support additional backhaul frequencies to reduce antenna gain specifications, which results in lower spectral efficiency and capacity limitations. Conventional repeaters tend to transmit the maximum allowed transmit power and often cause increased interference in the network and accordingly may be unsuitable for network operators. Indoor repeaters are less expensive than outdoor repeater versions, but typically involve installation of high directional antennas on the roof, and ensured antenna isolation, creating costly demand for skilled installation and operation.

Therefore, the system generally remains too complicated for an unskilled user and not sufficiently inexpensive for usage in a much localized coverage area. SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments of a communication apparatus comprise a

communication controller configured to adjust service level based on location of a subscriber. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Embodiments of the invention relating to both structure and method of operation may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic block diagram depicting an example embodiment of a communication apparatus comprising a

communication controller configured to adjust service level based on location of a subscriber;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an example embodiment of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System

(UMTS) network with added functional blocks for Home-Zone services, service level adjustment, and billing;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic block diagram showing an example embodiment of a smart repeater with Removable Flash for

communicating with a network attached to a network unit to record and extract activation time information;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic block diagram showing an example embodiment of a smart repeater with Removable SimCard and application SW attached to a network unit for communicating with a network;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic block diagram showing an example arrangement with a Cel-Fi SimCard in user equipment for

communicating with a network;

FIGURES 6A, 6B, and 6C are schematic block diagrams showing a system and usage of an example embodiment of a smart repeater (Cel-Fi) with embedded SimCard and application software for communicating with a network which is attached to a network unit and with a Bluetooth unit attached to the user unit to record and extract activation time information;

FIGURE 7A is a schematic block diagram showing an example embodiment of a smart repeater (Cel-Fi) with inserted NodeB waveform for communicating with a network;

FIGURE 7B is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example usage for embodiment of a smart repeater (Cel-Fi) with inserted NodeB waveform for communicating with a network; and

FIGURES 8A and 8B are schematic flow charts depicting an

embodiment of a method for managing communications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0006] In recent years, a number of so called "Home-zone" services have been launched by mobile operators. These services enable operators to charge differently for services such as voice calls when made from a specific geographic location (typically the subscriber's home). A new system modifies this concept and varies service levels, as opposed to the cost of service, based on location.

[0007] A system can dynamically adjust service levels based on the location of a subscriber. This can be done for many reasons, including the condition that a subscriber at home may be using a signal booster device (such as a Cel-Fi system supplied by Nextivity, Inc. of San Diego, CA) which has the benefit of reducing the network capacity required to deliver high speed service. For example, the booster device can allocate higher data bandwidths to a subscriber when a subscriber is determined to be at home and using a booster system that consumes fewer network resources.

Whenever the subscriber is determined to not be available at a designated home location, the maximum data rate assigned to the subscriber can be limited.

[0008] The cellular industry continuously attempts to improve the indoor coverage of 3G and 4G systems to meet the rising customer expectation for better voice services and high data-rate service requirements. Thus, many solutions such as Femtocells, 3G-router, and smart repeaters have been developed to address indoor coverage improvements. One such device is a three-hop cellular booster (referred to hereinafter as "Cel-Fi") which is described in detail in patent applications no. WO2005025078 by Mohebbi, filed on 3^rd of September 2003 and WO2005069249 by Mohebbi filed on 12 of January 2004. The Cel-Fi is an example of "smart repeater" for usage in a WCDMA system. However, the ideas and embodiments described herein are not limited to the described 3-hop repeater (Cel-Fi), and thus can be used for any indoor device including a booster, repeater, a router, a Femtocell, and the like. Neither is the disclosure limited to WCDMA system, and with appropriate modifications, can be applied to any type of cellular or wireless system.

[0009] Referring to FIGURE 1 , an example of a communication apparatus is shown comprising a communication controller configured to adjust service level based on location of a subscriber.

[0010] The communication controller can be configured to enable a mobile operator to determine service charges as a function of geographic location of the subscriber.

[0011] The communication controller can be operated by a mobile operator configured to determine service charges as a function of geographic location of the subscriber. [0012] In some embodiments, the communication controller can be configured to dynamically adjust service level based on the location of a subscriber. [0013] In some implementations or applications, the communication controller can be configured to selectively adjust operation. For example, an operator can choose either service level or cost of service based on the location of a subscriber.

[0014] The illustrative communication apparatus can be configured as a smart repeater 100 can be a Cel-Fi, a 3-hop repeater with a middle hop (hop 2) operating in wireless mode in UNII band. In other examples, the middle hop (hop 2) can be over a wire-line such as CAT5, electricity or telephone lines. The middle hop (hop 2) is an "autonomous" hop in that the waveform, bandwidth, and the signaling content is somewhat different from hop 1 that exists between Network unit 102 and Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 106, and hop 3 that exists between User unit 104 and the Mobile Station (MS) 108. The difference in signal characteristics can be due to modulation and/or the control channels that exist between the Network unit 102 and the User unit 104. The waveform and bandwidth are changed to modulate the original signal such that the fading in the middle hop (hop 2) can be mitigated by the use of broadband modulation techniques such as Orthogonal Frequency- Division Multiplexing (OFDM), so that the repeated signal is only subject to two fading hops (hops 1 and 3), or to enable transmission of the captured cellular waveform in a digital mode over wire-line and exchanging control messages. An additional hop that imposes yet another fading pattern

(Rayleigh or Rician) on the original signal can degrade the end signal considerably and push the required fading margins on all three hops sufficiently high, to render the repeater ineffective. The middle hop contains a bi-directional link including at least two channels, the "Control" (CCH) and "Traffic" (TCH) channels.

[0015] The smart repeater 100 can be used as a signal booster device operative to reduce network capacity for delivery of high-speed service. The signal booster device can function in combination with a communication controller that is implemented, for example, by a service provider via the communication network, or in the network unit 102 or the user unit 104. The communication controller can be configured to determine whether a subscriber is at a predetermined home location and whether the subscriber is using the signal booster device that conserves network resources. The communication controller can further be configured to assign a maximum data rate according to the determined home location and use of the signal booster device.

[0016] In an illustrative embodiment, the smart repeater 100 can be a three-hop repeater configured to detect user equipment transmissions in a repeater coverage area that detects presence of mobile communications at a home location and records the duration of user equipment activity in the repeater coverage area. The three-hop repeater can then adjust the service level based on the detected user equipment transmissions and location of the subscriber.

[0017] In some embodiments, the three-hop repeater 100 can be configured to make user equipment activity information available selectively for adjusting service level and for billing according to home-zone usage and tariffs.

[0018] Emerging devices such as Cel-Fi improve and extend the indoor coverage of cellular systems such as WCDMA (UMTS), resulting in an increasing desire by the operator to price differentiate between ordinary mobile calls and calls that are made from a predefined indoor location such as the subscriber residential home. "Home-Zone Billing" (HZB) enables a cellular operator to encourage subscribers to use cellular services at home and eventually relinquish landline phones in favor of their cell phones. To be able to offer Services such as HZB, a cellular network may require new functional entities that interwork with the current network entities such as Mobile Switching Center (MSC) and Home Location Register (HLR). An example of an HZB-enabled cellular network 200 is shown in FIGURE 2, which includes two new functional blocks, "Home-Zone Location Server" (HZLS) 202 and "Home-Zone Service Client" (HZSC) 204. A task of HZLS 202 is establishment of the presence of a subscriber in the "Home-zone" which may be enabled using a new application element, based on an available services such as Short Message Service (SMS) supported by packet or circuit switched bearer services. The new application element also verifies and monitors calls/sessions durations of a subscriber within in the subscriber's "Home-Zone". The monitored information is then passed to HZSC 204, where a database exists for collecting the information supplied by HZLS 202 and uses the information for adjusting service level and generating appropriate billing information. The example network shown in FIGURE 2 is based on existing 3GPP (WCDMA) Location-Based Services (LCS) architecture, and is used only as an example for purposes of illustration. HZLS 202 and HZSC 204 are added to the architecture to enable the Home- Zone services, service level adjustment, and billing functionality. Other networks, with major variations or minor modifications, can still support the novel system disclosed herein. The home-zone identification structures and operation are unrelated to details of the HBZ so that detail modifications of network elements and functionalities for support of the HBZ need not be described herein. HZB can be considered as an extension of Location-Based Services, using the existing network elements after the appropriate modifications.

[0019] The example network 200 shown in FIGURE 2 includes, in addition to the HZLS 202 and HZSC 204, Radio Network Controllers (RNC) 206 that connect to a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 208 through a node 210. In the example configuration, the RNC 206 can communicate via networks such as Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 212, Internet Protocol (IP) 124, and other networks through functional blocks including Global System for Mobile Communications (GMSC), Media Gateway (MGW), Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN), Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Service GPRS support node (SGSN), and other blocks. [0020] A smart repeater 200 such as Cel-Fi can be configured to detect User Equipment (UE) transmissions (on the uplink) in a coverage area. Thus the presence of mobile at home can be detected and the duration of the UE(s) activity in the coverage area of a given Cel-Fi recorded. The activity information can then be used to dynamically adjust service levels based on the location of a subscriber. For example, a subscriber at a home location may be using the smart repeater 200 as a signal booster which can reduce the network capacity needed to deliver high-speed service. Thus, the subscriber can be allocated higher data bandwidths when the repeater 200 detects presence of the subscriber at home (in the home zone), thus the maximum data rate assigned to the subscriber can be limited.

[0021] In some embodiments or in selected circumstances, the activity information can be used to bill the Cel-Fi user according to home-zone usage and tariffs. Several ways of recording and extracting the "Cel-Fi activation time" information from a given Cel-Fi unit can be implemented. [0022] Referring to FIGURE 3, a smart repeater with Removable Flash can be attached to a network unit to record and extract activation time information. The information can be saved on a removable flash memory 310 that can later be removed and taken to the operator agents for further processing. FIGURE 3 shows an example of an arrangement 300 with Flash memory 310 attached to the Network Unit 302. In other implementations, flash memory can alternately be attached to the User Unit 304.

[0023] Referring to FIGURE 4, a smart repeater with Removable Flash 410 can be attached to a network unit 402 to record and extract activation time information. A Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card 410 (an embedded SIM card) with appropriate software 412 can be embedded within a smart repeater (Cel-Fi) 400. "Cel-Fi activation time" information can then be saved on the SIM card 410 inside the Cel-Fi 400. FIGURE 4 shows an example of such arrangement with SimCard 410 attached to the network unit 402. In another configuration, the SimCard can be attached to the user unit 404. As shown in FIGURE 5, in an example configuration 500 the SIM card 510 can then be removed from Cel-Fi and placed inside user equipment (UE) 514, in place of the subscriber SIM, after which the SIM 510 (through operation of application software 512) automatically sets up a bearer services (e.g. SMS) with the network and transfers the "Cel-Fi activation time" information to the

appropriate entity (HZLS in FIGURE 2) in the network.

[0024] Referring to FIGURES 6A, 6B, and 6C are schematic block diagrams showing a repeater and usage for an example embodiment of a smart repeater (Cel-Fi) 600 with embedded SimCard 610 and application software 612 which is attached to a network unit 602 and with a Bluetooth unit 616 attached to the user unit 604. The smart repeater 600 is configured for communicating with a network. The SimCard 610, application software 612, and Bluetooth unit 616 are configured to record and extract activation time information. The SIM card 610 (or flash memory) and the Bluetooth (or WiFi) transceiver 616 with appropriate software 612 and applications are embedded within the Cel-Fi 600. As shown in FIGURES 6B and 6C, the recorded "Cel-Fi activation time" information on the SIM 610 can then be transferred to user equipment (UE) 614 via the Bluetooth transceiver 616, after pairing of the user equipment 614 and the Cel-Fi Bluetooth 616 devices. The user equipment 614, which runs installed application software 612 for HZLS and Bluetooth communications, relays monitored Home-Zone call/session duration information to the appropriate network entity (HZLS in FIGURE 2) via an appropriate bearer service such as SMS or packet data channel or even a circuit-switched voice channel.

[0025] In other configurations or operations, the Bluetooth unit 616 in the smart repeater (Cel-Fi) 600 can be used to establish the location of user equipment 614 within or near a Cel-Fi footprint, for example by using a

"discovery" mode of the Bluetooth only. Once a user equipment Bluetooth unit has discovered the presence of the smart repeater (Cel-Fi) Bluetooth signal, the user equipment 614 continues to monitor Cel-Fi presence. The "detection" and discovery information can either be used to notify the network that the user equipment 614 is at home and/or identifying (tagging) any calls made while the Cel-Fi Bluetooth signal is present as a Home-Zone call and recording the tagged calls in the handset or instantly inform the network. If recorded, the handset can later relay the information to an appropriate network entity (HZLS in FIGURE 2) via an appropriate bearer service such as SMS or packet data channel or even a circuit-switched voice channel. A user- interface indication on the user equipment 614 or Cel-Fi 600 can also inform the user that the calls are treated as "Home-zone" calls.

[0026] Cel-Fi Bluetooth transmissions (used for the options illustrated and described with respect to FIGURES 6A, 6B, and 6C), can be set to maximum defined power which is 20 dBm for Bluetooth class 1 (or set to max power of other classes). In other configurations or operations, the transmit power can be adjusted to a level to match the coverage area of the User units. The power matching enables more accurate location estimation. [0027] Referring to FIGURE 7A, a schematic block diagram shows an example embodiment of a smart repeater (e.g. Cel-Fi) 700 with an inserted NodeB waveform for communicating with a network. In a further method, a NodeB composite system waveform (used to detect a base station

transmission by user equipment) is inserted on the downlink signal of the smart repeater (Cel-Fi) 700 at the User unit 704 or Network unit 702. For example, the composite waveform can be made up of primary and secondary Synchronization Channel (SCH), Common Pilot Channel (CPICH) and

Primary Dedicated Physical Control Channel (P-DPCCH) with a unique scrambling code for Cel-Fi. P-DPCCH can be programmed to broadcast a predefined message related to the Cel-Fi identifier. The level in which the waveform is inserted is to be sufficiently low that an unacceptable level of distortion (EVM) is not generated in the repeated signal, but also sufficiently high to be detected, demodulated and measured (e.g. -18dB). The composite waveform can be generated by a NodeB generation block 718 shown in

FIGURE 7A.

[0028] Various methods can be used to determine whether a call is placed to the home zone.

[0029] One example method can be NodeB based. Referring again to FIGURE 2, NodeBs 210 and the network 200 are aware of the Cel-Fi assigned scrambling codes. When a call is set up, the serving Node B 210 requests a received signal code power (RSCP) measurement on Cel-Fi assigned scrambling codes. If the call is placed in the proximity of a Cel-Fi, the CPICH RSCP will be sufficiently strong to be detected by the handset and reported to the serving NodeB 210 as being at "Home-Zone", resulting in the call being tagged as "Home Zone" and HZLS 202 informed accordingly.

[0030] Another example method can be user equipment based. Referring to FIGURE 7B, a schematic block diagram depicts operation of an

embodiment of a smart repeater (e.g. Cel-Fi) 700 with an inserted NodeB waveform for communicating with a network. A handset 714 can have a software application 712 that checks RSCP on Cel-Fi-assigned scrambling codes. If a scrambling code with an acceptable RSCP is detected, the user equipment 714 is assumed to be within the Home zone and the user equipment 714 will inform the network (HZLS 202 in FIGURE 2), via an appropriate bearer service such as SMS or packet data channel or even a circuit-switched voice channel, of the user equipment's 714 home location, enabling service level adjustment and/or billing accordingly, for example.

[0031] Assignments of the described scrambling codes to Cel-Fi can be based on several different strategies. [0032] Assignment of the codes can be random wherein Cel-Fi identity can be established via P-DPCCH messages and hard coded at the factory. [0033] Assignment of the codes can be dynamic wherein the first in-home call identifies the selected scrambling code of Cel-Fi. A complementary Cel-Fi identity can be established via P-DPCCH messages, hard coded at the factory.

[0034] Other assignment of the codes can be implemented. [0035] Referring to FIGURES 8A and 8B, schematic flow charts depict an embodiment of a method for managing communications. The method 800 can comprise determining 802 the location of a subscriber and adjusting 804 the service level based on the location of a subscriber.

[0036] In FIGURE 8B, a method 810 can further comprise determining 812 whether the subscriber is using a signal booster device that conserves network resources, and assigning 814 a maximum data rate according to the determined location of the subscriber and use of the signal booster device.

[0037] Terms "substantially", "essentially", or "approximately", may be used herein, and relate to an industry-accepted tolerance to the corresponding term. Such an industry-accepted tolerance ranges from less than one percent to twenty percent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, functionality, values, process variations, sizes, operating speeds, and the like. The term "coupled", as may be used herein, includes direct coupling and indirect coupling via another component, element, circuit, or module where, for indirect coupling, the intervening component, element, circuit, or module does not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. Inferred coupling, for example where one element is coupled to another element by inference, includes direct and indirect coupling between two elements in the same manner as "coupled". [0038] Service level is specified to relate to any aspects of service quality in the communications context including service affected by any of various factors, which may be either human and/or technical factors. Human factors may include stability of service, availability of service, delays, user

information, and the like. Technical factors may include bandwidth, throughput, reliability, scalability, effectiveness, maintainability, Grade of Service, packet dropping, error handling, latency, jitter, order of delivery, and the like. [0039] The illustrative block diagrams and flow charts depict process steps or blocks in a manufacturing process. Although the particular examples illustrate specific process steps or acts, many alternative implementations are possible and commonly made by simple design choice. Acts and steps may be executed in different order from the specific description herein, based on considerations of function, purpose, conformance to standard, legacy structure, and the like.

[0040] While the present disclosure describes various embodiments, these embodiments are to be understood as illustrative and do not limit the claim scope. Many variations, modifications, additions and improvements of the described embodiments are possible. For example, those having ordinary skill in the art will readily implement the steps necessary to provide the structures and methods disclosed herein, and will understand that the process parameters, materials, and dimensions are given by way of example only. The parameters, materials, and dimensions can be varied to achieve the desired structure as well as modifications, which are within the scope of the claims. Variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein may also be made while remaining within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

- 15 -WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . A communication apparatus comprising:

a communication controller configured to adjust service level based on location of a subscriber.

2. The apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising:

the communication controller configured to enable a mobile operator to determine service charges as a function of geographic location of the subscriber.

3. The apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising:

the communication controller operated by a mobile operator configured to determine service charges as a function of geographic location of the subscriber.

4. The apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising:

the communication controller configured to dynamically adjust service level based on location of a subscriber.

5. The apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising:

the communication controller configured to selectively adjust either service level or cost of service based on location of a subscriber.

6. The apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising:

a signal booster device operative to reduce network capacity for

delivery of high-speed service; and

the communication controller configured to determine whether a

subscriber is at a predetermined home location and whether the subscriber is using the signal booster device that conserves network resources, and configured to assign a maximum data rate according to the determined home location and use of the signal booster device. - 16 -

7. The apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising:

a three-hop repeater configured to detect user equipment

transmissions in a repeater coverage area that detects presence of mobile communications at a home location and records duration of user equipment activity in the repeater coverage area, the three-hop repeater further configured to adjust service level based on the detected user equipment transmissions and location of the subscriber.

8. The apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising:

a three-hop repeater configured to make user equipment activity

information available for adjusting service level and for billing according to home-zone usage and tariffs.

9. The apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising:

a three-hop repeater configured to make user equipment activity

information available for adjusting service level according to home-zone usage, the three-hop repeater comprising:

a user unit;

a network unit communicatively coupled to the user unit; and a removable flash memory coupled to at least one of the user unit and the network unit wherein the three-hop repeater is configured to save the user equipment activity information on the removable flash memory that can be made available to a home-zone network entity for processing.

10. The apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising:

a three-hop repeater configured to make user equipment activity

a user unit;

a network unit communicatively coupled to the user unit; and - 17 - a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card coupled to at least one of the user unit and the network unit; and

software loaded onto the SIM card configured to save the user equipment activity information on the SIM card for transfer to a home-zone network entity.

1 1 . The apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising:

a three-hop repeater configured to make user equipment activity

a user unit;

a network unit communicatively coupled to the user unit; and a Bluetooth transceiver coupled to at least one of the user unit and the network unit; and

software operative in combination with the Bluetooth transceiver configured to communicate the user equipment activity information to user equipment which performs home-zone location server and Bluetooth communications functionality and relays the equipment activity information to a home-zone network entity.

12. The apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising:

a three-hop repeater configured to make user equipment activity

a user unit;

a network unit communicatively coupled to the user unit; and a Bluetooth transceiver coupled to at least one of the user unit and the network unit configured to establish location of user equipment within a repeater footprint using

Bluetooth discover mode for monitoring and identifying - 18 - home-zone calls, and transferring monitored information to a home-zone network entity.

13. The apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising:

a three-hop repeater configured to make user equipment activity

a user unit;

a network unit communicatively coupled to the user unit;

a NodeB waveform generator coupled to at least one of the user unit and the network unit configured to generate a waveform for insertion on a downlink signal of the three- hop repeater to form a composite waveform for detecting a base station transmission by user equipment.

14. A method for managing communications comprising:

determining location of a subscriber; and

adjusting service level based on location of a subscriber.

15. The method according to Claim 14 further comprising:

determining whether the subscriber is using a signal booster device that conserves network resources; and

assigning a maximum data rate according to the determined location of the subscriber and use of the signal booster device.