MOBILITY PROCEDURES AND DIFFERENTIATED CHARGING IN HOME NODE-Bs

Abstract

A method and apparatus for implementing Idle and Connected Mode mobility to and from a Home evolved Node-B (HNB) in a wireless environment. Methods to implement differentiated charging when accessing HNBs, as well as the criteria used to make a cell reselection decision when an HNB is detected, criteria for making a handoff decision and methods to indicate charging and other policies/preferences and configurations to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for handover and reselection when macro-cell coverage is not available, the method comprising:
 determining whether macro-cell coverage is available; and   connecting to a Home evolved Node-B (HNB).   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the HNB connection is made only when macro-cell coverage is unavailable. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the HNB connection is made when a desired macro-cell coverage is unavailable. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) is configured to connect to at least one preferred HNB. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the WTRU connects to the at least one preferred HNB when one preferred HNB is available. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein multiple HNBs are available, the WTRU determines whether a plurality of selection criteria are equal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of selection criteria includes at least one of a favorable radio environment, offered services, and charging policies. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the WTRU makes a decision based on random selection if all the selection criteria of the plurality of selection criteria are equal. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the WTRU makes a decision based on a priority order if the plurality of selection criteria are not equal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the WTRU gives a non-preferred HNB second preference when a preferred HNB is unavailable. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the WTRU camps on the non-preferred HNB if macro-cell coverage is not available. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the HNB is blacklisted such that a WTRU will be denied access. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the blacklisted HNB can be accessed in an emergency. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the WTRU is granted access to a non-preferred HNB in an emergency. 
     
     
         15 . A method for reselection based on Home evolved Node-B (HNB) radio strength, the method comprising:
 determining whether HNB radio strength is greater than a surrounding macro-cell radio strength;   determining whether the surrounding macro-cell radio strength is below an absolute value;   reselecting to a HNB if the macro-cell radio strength is below an absolute value; and   deciding not to reselect to a HNB if the macro-cell radio strength is above an absolute value.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the absolute value is dynamically changed based at least one of a plurality of factors, the plurality of factors including network traffic, WTRU identity, location, and a comparison of services offered in a macro-cell and a HNB. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 configuring a HNB offset value, the HNB offset value configured to be higher than a surrounding macro-cell radio strength, or configured to be lower than the surrounding macro-cell radio strength.   
     
     
         18 . A method for reselection comprising:
 determining whether multiple cells are available;   determining whether a WTRU is anticipating starting multiple services if multiple cells are available;   implementing a priority for the multiple services if the WTRU is anticipating starting multiple services; and   reselecting to a HNB cell.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the WTRU camps on an available cell if only one cell is available. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein reselection to a HNB is based on a WTRU configuration when the WTRU is not anticipating starting multiple services.