Method and Apparatus For Remote Monitoring of FEMTO Radio Base Stations

Abstract

A method for operation and maintenance of Access Points in a wireless communications network, and a network node and an access point for use in such a network. Access points are used for connecting wireless networks to core networks. The method comprises the step of first receiving, at a network node, an on-demand triggered request for status information, wherein the request includes an access point identity. The network node investigates, using the received access point identity, if the access point is registered. If the access point is registered, then the network node uses the access point identity to retrieve access point address information. The network node uses the retrieved address information to establish a connection with the access point. Thereafter the network node receives access point status information.

1 . A method for operation and maintenance of small area access points in a wireless communications network, the access points connecting wireless networks to a core network, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
 investigating, using access point identity information associated with a small area access point, if the small area access point is a registered small area access point; and   in response to determining that the small area access point is a registered small area access point, performing the following steps:   using the access point identity information to retrieve access point address information from a database;   establishing a connection to the access point using the retrieved access point address information; and   after establishing the connection, receiving access point status information from the access point.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a message, initiated by an end user of the small area access point, indicating that the end user may be experiencing a problem with the small area access point, the message including the access point identity information, wherein the investigating step is performed in response to receiving the message; and   sending a response message to the end user after receiving the access point status information.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the response message includes at least some of the received access point status information. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the message indicating that the end user is experiencing a problem with the small area access point is received by a network node that is connected to an electronic customer care program. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the network node is a H3GAP manager, an Operation Support System node or a node including functions which might be distributed in the wireless communications network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message indicating that the end user is experiencing a problem with the small area access point is transmitted in response to the end user making a phone call or sending a message to a network node, the end user using one of the following devices to make the phone call or send the message:
 a telephone,   a computer, and   the access point.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising terminating the connection, wherein the small area access point is configured to return to a previous mode of operation in response to termination of the connection. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the small area access point is a Femto Radio Base Station or home a 3G access point. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the small area access point is connected to a core network via a Femto Radio Network Controller (RNC). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the access point, upon power up, automatically registers with the Femto RNC that provides configuration data to the small area access point. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the small area access point uses the Internet Protocol to communicate with the Femto RNC. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the access point address information is an Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned to the small area access point or an address of the Femto RNC. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein requests sent from the Femto RNC to the small area access point are part of an extended Iub interface (Iub+). 
     
     
         14 . A network node for a wireless communications network, the wireless communications network having a small area access point for connecting a wireless network to a core network, wherein the network node comprises:
 a receiver;   an investigating module configured to determine, using access point identity information associated with a small area access point, whether the small area access point is a registered access point;   a retrieving module configured to retrieve access point address information in response to the investigating module determining that the small area access point is a registered access point; and   a connection establishing module configured to set up a connection to the small area access point using the retrieved access point address information in response to the retrieving module retrieving the access point address information, whereby, after the connection establishing module sets up the connection to the small area access point, the receiver receives from the small area access point access point status information.   
     
     
         15 . The network node of  claim 14 , wherein the network node is a stand alone node, an H3GAP manager, a part of a Radio Network Controller, or a part of the Core Network. 
     
     
         16 . The network node of  claim 14 , wherein the investigating module is configured to perform the determination in response to the receiver receiving a particular request, wherein the particular request includes the access point identity information associated with the small area access point. 
     
     
         17 . The network node of  claim 16 , wherein the particular request is triggered by an action taken by an end-user of the small area access point. 
     
     
         18 . The network node of  claim 17 , further comprising responding equipment for sending to the end user a response to the request after the receiver receives the access point status information. 
     
     
         19 . An access point, connecting a small area wireless communication network, to a core network, via a Femto RNC, the access point comprising:
 registration equipment for sending registration messages to the Femto RNC, in purpose of registering the access point, upon an initial start-up;   downloading equipment for downloading configuration data from the Femto RNC;   a transmitter for transmitting a request in response to an action taken by an end-user indicating that a status checkup of the access point should be performed, the request requesting a network node to perform the on-demand status check-up; and   a receiver for receiving a response message sent in response to the request, the response message including access point status information.   
     
     
         20 . The access point of  claim 19 , wherein the access point comprises a display for displaying at least some of the access point status information. 
     
     
         21 . The access point of  claim 19 , wherein the access point is a Home 3G Access Point (H3GAP). 
     
     
         22 . The access point of  claim 19 , wherein the network node is an H3GAP manager. 
     
     
         23 . The access point of  claim 19 , wherein the connections between the access point and the Femto RNC are Internet Protocol (IP) based connections. 
     
     
         24 . The access point of  claim 19 , wherein the access point is associated with access point address information, wherein the access point address information is an Internet Protocol address or an address of the Femto RNC. 
     
     
         25 . The access point of  claim 19 , wherein the receiver is also for receiving a second message sent in response to the request, the second message requesting the access point to connect to an application. 
     
     
         26 . The access point of  claim 25 , wherein the configuration data is received from the Femto RNC according to an extended part of an Iub interface. 
     
     
         27 . The access point of  claim 25 , wherein the access point is a Radio Base Station.