Method for controlling access to a mobile communications network

A method for redirecting communication requests made by user equipment to an access point in a cellular communication system wherein the access point of a femtocell has a shorter communication range than the access point of a macrocell in the system, the method comprising;n(a) sending a communication request from user equipment to the access point of the femtocell;(b) determining whether the access point of the femtocell has reached a maximum capacity;(c) sending a communication rejection signal to the user equipment if the access point of the femtocell has reached maximum capacity; and(d) redirecting the communication request into the access point of the macrocell in which the access point is positioned wherein the macrocell and femtocell operate at the same frequency,wherein the access point comprises a low-power femtocell transmitter or/and receiver.

A method for redirecting communication requests made by user equipment to an access point in a cellular communication system wherein the access point of a femtocell has a shorter communication range than the access point of a macrocell in the system, the method comprising;n(a) sending a communication request from user equipment to the access point of the femtocell;(b) determining whether the access point of the femtocell has reached a maximum capacity;(c) sending a communication rejection signal to the user equipment if the access point of the femtocell has reached maximum capacity; and(d) redirecting the communication request into the access point of the macrocell in which the access point is positioned wherein the communication request or communication reject signal or both comprise information identifying the access point from which the user equipment was redirected, and in which the user equipment is redirected back to the access point when the user equipment is released from communication with the macrocell.

An access point in a cellular communication system for redirecting communication requests made by a user equipment wherein the access point of a femtocell has a shorter communication range than the access point of a macrocell in the system, the access point comprising:na unit that determines whether the access point of the femtocell has reached a maximum capacity; anda unit that sends a communication rejection signal to the user equipment if the access point of the femtocell has reached maximum capacity,wherein the communication rejection signal includes information identifying a macrocell, and the femtocell is positioned in which the macrocell and femtocell operate at the same frequency.

Apparatus for redirecting communication requests made by user equipment to an access point in a cellular communication system wherein the access point of a femtocell has a shorter communication range than the access point of a macrocell in the system, the apparatus comprising;na unit that sends a communication request from user equipment to the access point of the femtocell;a unit that determines whether the access point of the femtocell has reached a maximum capacity;a unit that sends a communication rejection signal to the user equipment if the access point of the femtocell has reached maximum capacity; anda unit that redirects the communication request into the access point of the macrocell in which the access point is positioned wherein the macrocell and femtocell operate at the same frequency,wherein the access point comprises a low power femtocell transmitter or/and receiver.

Apparatus for redirecting communication requests made by user equipment to an access point in a cellular communication system wherein the access point of a femtocell has a shorter communication range than the access point of a macrocell in the system, the apparatus comprising the steps of;na unit that sends a communication request from user equipment to the access point of the femtocell;a unit that determines whether the access point of the femtocell has reached a maximum capacity;a unit that sends a communication rejection signal to the user equipment if the access point of the femtocell has reached maximum capacity; anda unit that redirects the communication request into the access point of the macrocell in which the access point is positioned wherein the communication request or communication reject signal or both comprise information identifying the access point from which the user equipment was redirected, and in which the user equipment is redirected back to the access point when the user equipment is released from communication with the macrocell.