Method and System for Registering Femtocells to Provide Service

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for registering femtocells to provide service are provided. In this regard, a communication device may be operable to determine a plurality of femtocells within a vicinity of its location. The communication device may be operable to receive information communicated from one or more of the plurality of femtocells, which are managed by a femtocell management entity. One or more of the plurality of femtocells may be selected for transmitting and/or receiving cellular data based on the communicated information. The communicated information may comprise one or more of global navigation system satellite (GNSS) coordinates, an identification number, potential interference, power levels, location, associated communication devices, and/or directionality of antennas of the one or more femtocells.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for managing a plurality of femtocells, the method comprising:
 receiving information comprising a directionality of antenna of at least one of the plurality of femtocells;   receiving a location of a communication device;   determining which femtocells from the at least one of the plurality of femtocells are within a vicinity of the communication device based on the location of the communication device;   determining whether the communication device is enabled to transmit and/or receive cellular data via at least one of the determined femtocells based on the information comprising the directionality of antenna; and   transmitting data indicating whether the communication device is enabled to transmit and/or receive cellular data.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the received information further comprises a potential interference, a power level, a location, or associated communication devices of the at least one of the plurality of femtocells. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising dynamically updating a registry based on the received information of the at least one of the plurality of femtocells. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the registry comprises global navigation system satellite (GNSS) coordinates, an identification number, a potential interference, a power level, a location, associated communication devices, or the directionality of antenna of the at least one of the plurality of femtocells. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising dynamically updating the registry upon receipt of information that a femtocell of the at least one of the plurality of femtocells is installed and/or powered up. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the registry is further updated upon receipt of a command from a network administrator. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the registry is updated based on feedback received from the at least one of the plurality of femtocells. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the receiving of information further comprising information pertaining to the operational capabilities of the at least one of the plurality of femtocells. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for managing a plurality of femtocells comprising:
 communication circuitry configured to receive information comprising a directionality of antenna of at least one of the plurality of femtocells; and   a processor configured to determine which femtocells from the at least one of the plurality of femtocells are within a vicinity of a communication device based on a location of the communication device and to determine whether the communication device is enabled to transmit and/or receive cellular data via at least one of the determined femtocells based on the information comprising the directionality of antenna,   wherein the communication circuitry transmits data indicating whether the communication device is enabled to transmit and/or receive cellular data.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the received information further comprises a potential interference, a power level, a location, or associated communication devices of the at least one of the plurality of femtocells. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the processor dynamically updates a registry based on the received information of the at least one of the plurality of femtocells. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the registry comprises global navigation system satellite (GNSS) coordinates, an identification number, a potential interference, a power levels, a location, associated communication devices, or the directionality of antenna of the at least one of the plurality of femtocells. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the processor further dynamically updates the registry upon receipt of information that a femtocell of the at least one of the plurality of femtocells is installed and/or powered up. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the processor further dynamically updates the registry upon receipt of a command from a network administrator. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the processor further dynamically updates the registry based on feedback received from the at least one of the plurality of femtocells. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the received information by the communication circuitry further comprises information pertaining to the operational capabilities of the at least one of the plurality of femtocells. 
     
     
         18 . A method for managing a plurality of femtocells, the method comprising:
 receiving parameters associated with at least one of the plurality of femtocells, the received parameters comprising a directionality of antenna of the at least one of the plurality of femtocells;   dynamically updating a registry based on the received parameters associated with the at least one of the plurality of femtocells;   determining which femtocells from the at least one of the plurality of femtocells are within a vicinity of a communication device based on a location of the communication device; and   selecting a femtocell from the determined femtocells to transmit and/or receive cellular data with the communication device based on the received parameters in the registry.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 transmitting information from the updated registry and data indicative of the selected femtocell.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the parameters further comprises a potential interference, a power level, a location, or associated communication devices of at least one of the plurality of femtocells.