Access control for closed subscriber groups

Abstract

A user equipment receives from a network a transmitted (broadcast) access mode indicator that indicates whether a closed subscriber group CSG network is being operated as open or closed, and if it indicates open a user equipment UE that is not a registered member of the CSG is allowed access to the closed subscriber group network as a guest member. The CSG network can provide higher priority services to its registered members by differentiating them over guest members by an indication, received from each UE in its RADIO RESOURCE CONTROL CONNECTION REQUEST message, whether it is registered or a guest. The CSG can also transmit its ID/name for display at the UE so the UE may select whether and which CSG to join.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 transmitting an access mode indicator that indicates whether a closed subscriber group network is being operated as open or closed; and   for the case that the access mode indicator indicates that the closed subscriber group network is being operated as open, establishing a bidirectional link with a user equipment that is not a registered member of a user group of the closed subscriber group network and allowing the user equipment access to the closed subscriber group network as a guest member.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the access node indicator comprises broadcasting the access node indicator. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising broadcasting one of a name and an identifier of the closed subscriber group network for display at the user equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the closed subscriber group network providing higher priority services to user equipments that are registered members of at least one user group of the closed subscriber group network and lower priority services to user equipments that are guest members. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the closed subscriber group network differentiates user equipments that are registered members from user equipments according to an indication received from individual ones of the user equipments that indicates one of guest member or registered member. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the indication that indicates guest member or registered member is included in a RADIO RESOURCE CONTROL CONNECTION REQUEST message that is received from individual ones of the user equipments. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus comprising:
 a transmitter configured to send an access mode indicator that indicates whether a closed subscriber group network is being operated as open or closed; and   a processor configured, for the case that the access mode indicator indicates that the closed subscriber group network is being operated as open, to operate the transmitter and a receiver to establish a bidirectional link with a user equipment that is not a registered member of a user group of the closed subscriber group network and thereby allow the user equipment access to the closed subscriber group network as a guest member.   
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 receiving at an apparatus from a closed subscriber group network an access mode indicator that indicates whether a closed subscriber group network is being operated as open or closed; and   for the case that the access mode indicator indicates that the closed subscriber group network is being operated as open and that the apparatus is not previously a registered member of a user group of the closed subscriber group network, establishing a bidirectional link between the apparatus and the closed subscriber group network and the apparatus accessing the closed subscriber group network as a guest member.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the access mode indicator is received over a broadcast channel. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the access mode indicator is received as a result of a search by the apparatus for networks having their access mode indicator set to open, wherein the search is performed using network configuration parameters that are stored in a local memory prior to the search. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising receiving one of a name and an identifier of each of the closed subscriber group networks that are searched, displaying at a display interface of the apparatus the name or identifier of those networks having their access mode indicator set to open, and receiving a manual selection of the displayed name or identifier, and wherein establishing the bidirectional link between the apparatus and the closed subscriber group network is with that network for which the manual selection is received. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising receiving an identifier of the closed subscriber group network which is accessed as a guest member, storing the received identifier in a local memory of the apparatus, and using the stored identifier to facilitate handover between cells within the closed subscriber group network. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the identifier is received via non-access stratum signaling. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising sending to the closed subscriber group network an indication that the apparatus is accessing as a guest member. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the indication that the apparatus is accessing as a guest member is included in a RADIO RESOURCE CONTROL CONNECTION REQUEST message that is sent to the closed subscriber group network. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive at an apparatus from a closed subscriber group network an access mode indicator that indicates whether a closed subscriber group network is being operated as open or closed; and   a processor configured, for the case that the access mode indicator indicates that the closed subscriber group network is being operated as open and that the apparatus is not previously a registered member of a user group of the closed subscriber group network, to operate the receiver and a transmitter to establish a bidirectional link between the apparatus and the closed subscriber group network and thereby access the closed subscriber group network as a guest member.   
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 a closed subscriber group network storing content on a platform of a non-restricted network; and   the closed subscriber group network configuring messaging options and sending, from the closed subscriber group network via a core network that is a public network, messages that include at least some of the content to users of the closed subscriber group that are in a cell according to the messaging options.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the users to whom the messages are sent include both registered members of the closed subscriber group network and guest members. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the messaging options include frequency at which the messages are sent. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising:
 a memory storing content and messaging options of a closed subscriber group network; and   a transmitter configured to send, from the closed subscriber group network via a core network that is a public network, at least some of the content to users of the closed subscriber group that are in a cell according to the messaging options.