Abstract: A method for at least one service provider to collect wireless communication unit location related data for multiple mobile network operators, MNOs. The method comprises, at a base station supporting multiple MNOs: broadcasting on a first frequency only a first public land mobile network identifier, PLMN-ID, of a first MNO at a first instant in time for detection by first wireless communication units associated with the first MNO; receiving location related information from the first wireless communication units associated with the first MNO in response to the broadcast first PLMN-ID; broadcasting on a second frequency only a second PLMN-ID of a second MNO, at a second instant in time for detection by second wireless communication units associated with the second MNO; and receiving location related information from the second wireless communication units associated with the second MNO in response to the broadcast second PLMN-ID.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for redirecting a wireless communication unit (113) from a LTE cell to a neighboring 3G or 2G cell for the purposes of performing a procedure which is available in the 2G or 3G cell but not available in the LTE cell includes the provision of an additional LTE access point (109) within the coverage area of an LTE macrocell. The additional LTE access point (109) is arranged to capture a wireless communication unit (113) which is camped onto the LTE macrocell and redirect it to a 3G/2G cell irrespective of whether or not a better service may be provided in the 2G/3G cell. The invention has application to presence detection where collection of wireless communication units' and subscribers' IDs for such a purpose is possible in 3G and 2G cells but not in LTE cells.

Abstract: “Spoof” paging messages including the TMSI of a user equipment (129) known to be a vicinity are transmitted with a relatively high periodicity in an indoor cluster of presence nodes (113-121) and the node which receives the paging response from the user equipment is recorded, thus giving an indication of presence (and location) with a fine granularity. An additional presence node (125) having a different LAC from the macrolayer (123) is located at the entrance to the indoor cluster so that the TMSI and IMSI of the user equipment can be obtained. The invention can advantageously be employed in a retail store where a fine granularity in tracking subscriber movements around the store is desired. To conserve the user equipment's battery life, spoof paging messages are not sent to those user equipments which enter the vicinity on a regular basis, such as employees of the retail store.

Abstract: A presence service can be provided by an access point 101 serving a small cell 100 by rejecting a request for registration from a user equipment 103 after acquiring its IMSI and sending the IMSI to a presence database 105. The user equipment determines if the cell is a presence cell by comparing the cell's location area code (LAC) with LACs stored in a list and looking for a match. It the cell is a presence cell then the user equipment, rather than placing the LAC in a forbidden list, re-tries registration again but only after a pre-set time period of 5-10 minutes has elapsed. This has the advantage that a presence service can be notified of subscribers who linger in a particular area or return to that area at regular intervals.

Abstract: A radio access network element (101) obtains a permanent subscriber identity (IMSI) of a User Equipment (103) in an LTE wireless communication system (100) by sending a “fake” service reject message to a User Equipment which has attempted to attach to a cell (102) in a request for services message which includes its S-TMSI. The reject message may include a cause code which results in the UE attempting to attach again, this time using its IMSI. The fake service reject message may be generated in a an eNode B serving one or more macrocells or a evolved Home Node B serving a small cell.

Abstract: A TAI (Tracking Area Identifier) assigned to a small, ‘presence’ cell (106), which is different from that assigned to a neighbouring cell (101), forces a User Equipment (105) entering the presence cell's coverage area to attempt to register with the presence cell. The presence cell forwards the registration request (which includes the UE's temporary subscriber identity and the identity of the most recently serving Mobility Management Entity) to an additional network node (107) that appears as a Mobility Management Entity to other MMEs in the network. The network node then generates a request for the permanent subscriber identity of the UE and sends it to the most recently serving MME (103). The received permanent identity can be forwarded to a presence analytics server (108) for presence purposes.

Abstract: The likelihood of dropping a call while a User Equipment (112) is moving quickly from a macrcell (C) into a small cell (B) and then out again because there is insufficient time to set up measurements in the User Equipment, is mitigated by forcing the User Equipment to enter compressed mode as soon as it enters the small cell (B). By immediately forcing the User Equipment to enter compressed mode rather than waiting until it reports that the serving cell is getting weak, it stands a better chance of finding inter-frequency (ie. non-co-channel) and inter-RAT (ie. different radio access technologies) neighboring cells ready to hand out to.

Abstract: A method and network elements for obtaining a subscriber identity of a User Equipment (105) being served by a LTE cell (104) exploits a conventional handover procedure by generating a “fake” handover request at the LTE (source) cell (104) designating a 3G cell (102) as the target. The target 3G cell is arranged to forward the subscriber identity which is included in a relocation request message received from a core network (107) to the LTE cell and to send a relocation failure message back to the core network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for facilitating identification of a cell in a cellular communication system and particularly a system which incorporates different radio access technologies. A network element such as a Radio Network Controller (RNC) includes a store containing a neighbor cell list, the neighbor cell list containing parameters relating to neighbor cells wherein parameters of cells in the neighbor cell list which have a common area of coverage and which support radio access technologies different from one another are linked together. A signal processor correlates measurement reports received by the RNC from a user equipment with the neighbor cell list to determine the identity of a cell in the cellular communication system. The invention has particular applicability to resolving the problem of Primary Scrambling Code confusion where a repeating pattern of small cells lies underneath a macrocell.

Abstract: A communication system comprising a core network operably coupled to a small base station (HNB) arranged to support wireless communications to a user equipment UE is described. The HNB comprises a control processor being arranged in a first embodiment to: support setting up of an air interface connection with the UE to allow the UE and the core network to exchange messages, e.g.

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.

Abstract: A radio access network element (101) obtains a permanent subscriber identity (IMSI) of a User Equipment (103) in an LTE wireless communication system (100) by sending a “fake” service reject message to a User Equipment which has attempted to attach to a cell (102) in a request for services message which includes its S-TMSI. The reject message may include a cause code which results in the UE attempting to attach again, this time using its IMSI. The fake service reject message may be generated in a an eNode B serving one or more macrocells or a evolved Home Node B serving a small cell.

Abstract: In a network comprising a cluster of small cells 100-111 underlying a macrocell 112, each small cell served by its own Home Node B 100, 101 is assigned a unique “on the air” Location Area Code so that as a User Equipment 113 moves from the coverage area of one Home Node B to another it will initiate a Location Update. Each time a Location Update is initiated, this triggers a location presence notification message to a presence server 206. The Core Network 203 is unaware of the “on the air” Location Area Codes and so does not need to be informed of User Equipment movement between Home Node B's. The Home Node B network is arranged to handle the registration procedure locally, as from the Core Network perspective, the Location Area Code has not changed. Instead, the Core Network sees a Iu LAC that is shared amongst the several Home Node B's operating through a single Home Node B Gateway. Hence the arrangement offers fine granularity of location presence detection with no additional Core Network load.

Abstract: A network element for a wireless communication system that supports a plurality of access points providing communication in small cells is described. The network element comprises a signal processor arranged to: receive and process information from a plurality of access points wherein the received information identifies a macro cell visible to a respective access point; and calculate a degree of correlation of the information from the at least two access points based at least partly on the processed macro cell information provided by the respective access point.

Abstract: A network element for supporting communication within at least one cell of a cellular communication network comprises a signal processing module arranged to identify when a first cell supported by the network element is in a capacity state, and in response thereto, indicate the first cell as being in a restricted access state within system information broadcast within the first cell and valid for wireless communication units in a connected mode state. The signal processing module is further arranged, upon receipt of a connection request message from a wireless communication unit within the first cell, to determine whether the first cell is in a capacity state, and, in response to determining that the first cell is in a capacity state, to cause the wireless communication unit from which the connection request message was received to enter a connected mode state.

Abstract: A network management system for managing communications in a cellular communication network comprising an access point operably coupled to an access controller. The network management system comprises an access controller configuration logic module arranged to configure the access controller with configuration information. The network management system further comprises an access point configuration logic module arranged to configure the access point with configuration information comprising, at least in part, configuration information intended for the access controller.

Abstract: A communication unit comprises receiver circuitry for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals from at least one wireless serving communication unit, and a signal processing logic module. The signal processing logic module is arranged to decode system information within received RF signals transmitted by the at least one wireless serving communication unit, determine whether the wireless serving communication unit supports a restricted access communication cell based on the decoded system information, and decide whether RF signals received from that at least one wireless serving communication unit are suitable as a timing signal source when synchronizing an operating frequency of the communication unit based at least partly on the determination.

Abstract: A communication unit comprises a receiver for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals from at least one wireless serving communication unit, and signal processing logic module arranged to decode information within the received RF signals is the at least one wireless serving communication unit. The signal processing logic module is further arranged to decode transmit power information in a received RF signal from the at least one wireless serving communication unit, and determine from the decoded transmit power information whether a transmission from the at least one wireless serving communication unit is suitable for use as a timing reference. If it is determined that the transmission from the at least one wireless serving communication unit is suitable for use as a timing reference, the communication unit synchronizes an operating frequency to the received RF signal of the at least one wireless serving communication unit.

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 (130, 330), for providing access control to a core network (120) of a cellular communication network (100) for a wireless communication unit (150) operating within a communication cell supported by the network element (130, 330), comprises a receiver for receiving a message (425) from the wireless communication unit (150) comprising identity information. The network element further comprises logic (160), operably coupled to the receiver, for determining whether to permit the mobile communication unit (150) access to the core network (120), based at least in part on the received identity information.