Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate handing off from a first sector to a second sector. An established link to the first sector may be employed to communicate with the second sector. A handoff request from a wireless terminal to the second sector and an associated handoff response from the second sector to the wireless terminal may both traverse the first sector.

Abstract: Improved ways of communicating assignment signals using flash signaling are described, e.g., for wireless terminals with low SNR, that are more robust against large variation of channel gains due to e.g., frequency selective fading and fast fading in time. Coding and modulation methods and apparatus that have excellent properties against symbol erasures are described. The use of flash signaling provides an improved assignment channel having strong performance on the fading channel without compromising the performance on the AWGN channel. In one exemplary embodiment, the coding and modulation method can tolerate up to 5 erased symbols out of 8 transmitted symbols. One embodiment reduces or minimizes the sector interference on the flash assignment by improving or maximizing orthogonality between different sectors. In addition, one embodiment describes improved ways of swapping flash assignment tone-symbols in the presence other high priority signals, like sector pilots and sector null pilots.

Abstract: Methods, devices and computer program products facilitate self-configuration and self-optimization of radio networks. An internal topology discovery is performed to assess characteristics of a plurality of access points within an internal network. An external cell discovery can also be performed to identify one or more access points operating within an external network. Based on the assessments obtained through the internal and/or external topology discovery processes, operational parameters are assigned to each access point within the internal network. Such operational parameters can include a transmit power associated with each radio node.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer program products facilitate various handoff operations to/from a network. A self-configuring and self-optimizing topology discovery operation provides detailed information regarding the various radio nodes that are internal and external to the network. This information is utilized to construct a plurality of neighbor lists that identify multiple tiers of neighboring radio nodes of the network. The neighbor lists and the measurements obtained from the user equipment within the network provide up-to-date information that facilitates various types of handoff operations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for maintaining, selecting and indicating a preferred communications link with an access node, e.g., base station, are described.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate supporting multiple connections associated with a wireless terminal. Notifications may be provided to a primary base station upon establishment and/or removal of connections between the wireless terminal and secondary base station(s). Additionally, the multiple connections may be evaluated and a preferred connection from the set of multiple connections may be utilized to transfer data to the wireless terminal over a downlink connection.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate supporting multiple connections associated with a wireless terminal. Notifications may be provided to a primary base station upon establishment and/or removal of connections between the wireless terminal and secondary base station(s). Additionally, the multiple connections may be evaluated and a preferred connection from the set of multiple connections may be utilized to transfer data to the wireless terminal over a downlink connection.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for communicating transmission backlog information are described. Reporting control factors are utilized to expand reporting possibilities for a fixed bit size request report. At least one report control factor is determined as a function of channel quality information, power information, device capability information, and/or quality of service information. A transmission backlog report value is interpreted as a function of a reporting control factor. A wide range of quantization schemes for reporting transmission backlog information are facilitated corresponding to a small bit size report. A communications device can adaptively select a quantization request level closely matched to its current needs such as to provide an accurate representation of its current traffic channel resource needs.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate transitioning between states associated with a wireless terminal. The wireless terminal may transition to and/or from a split-tone on state, which may enable increasing overall user capacity related to a base station or sector. Further, such state transitions may reduce power consumption associated with the wireless terminal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing channel diversity to wireless terminals (WTs) in a manner that reduces the latency between the time a WT encounters satisfactory channel conditions are described. A plurality of communications channels with different physical characteristics are maintained in a cell by a base station (BS). Each WT monitors multiple channels and maintains multiple channel estimates at the same time so that rapid switching between channels is possible. Channel quality information is conveyed from each WT to the BS. The WT or BS selects a channel based on the measured channel quality. By supporting multiple channels and by introducing periodic variations into the channels in various embodiments, the time before a WT encounters a channel with good or acceptable channel conditions is minimized even if the WT does not change location. Multiple antennas are used at the BS to support numerous channels simultaneously, e.g., by controlling antenna patterns.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for power control for mitigation or control of interference in a wireless communications environment. Control techniques can consider the effect of interference on an access point and the access point can identify interfering wireless terminals and cause a message to be sent to a controlling access point of the interfering wireless terminal to cause the uplink power of the interfering wireless terminal to be adjusted.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reconfiguration of a communication environment based on loading requirements. Network operations are monitored and analyzed to determine loading balance across the network or a portion thereof. Where warranted, the network is reconfigured to balance the load across multiple network entities. For example, in a cellular-type of network, traffic loads and throughput requirements are analyzed for the access points and their user equipment. Where loading imbalances occur, the cell coverage areas of one or more access points can be reconfigured to alleviate bottlenecks or improve balancing.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of performing interference mitigation in a communication network. The interference mitigation can include a controller sending a message to a first access point instructing the first access point to measure at least one signal transmitted by a first wireless terminal communicating a signal having known characteristics; the controller receiving from the first access point signal measurement information; and the controller communicating at least some of the signal measurement information received from the first access point to a second access point.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for power control for mitigation or control of interference in a wireless communications environment. Power control techniques can consider the effectiveness of interference cancellation before making power control determinations. For example, where interference with a base station from an interfering wireless terminal is being canceled such that the effects of that interference are not adversely affecting operations of the base station, the offending terminal can be left unchanged, or its transmit power can be increased. On the other hand, where the interference cancellation operation is not able to cancel the effects of the interfering signal sufficiently, the operation can lower the uplink transmit power of the offending signal so as to not cause interference to the other base station.

Abstract: Transmit and/or receive diversity is achieved using multiple antennas. In some embodiments, a single transmitter chain within a wireless terminal is coupled over time to a plurality of transmit antennas. At any given time, a controllable switching module couples the single transmitter chain to one the plurality of transmit antennas. Over time, the switching module couples the output signals from the single transmitter chain to different transmit antennas. Switching decisions are based upon predetermined information, dwell information, and/or channel condition feedback information. Switching is performed on some dwell and/or channel estimation boundaries. In some OFDM embodiments, each of multiple transmitter chains is coupled respectively to a different transmit antenna. Information to be transmitted is mapped to a plurality of tones. Different subsets of tones are formed for and transmitted through different transmit chain/antenna sets simultaneously.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described that enable a deployment of a system of wireless nodes, e.g., femtocells, which can self-configure themselves into a balanced and optimized wireless network. In various embodiments, access points switch between a network monitoring mode in which network monitoring is performed and a communications mode in which the access point serves one or more wireless terminals and communicates traffic data to/from the wireless terminals. Traffic data transmission to wireless terminals are not supported in network monitoring mode. Based on information gathered from one or more access nodes while they operating in network monitoring mode of operation, access point configuration information is generated and one or more access points are automatically configured.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing channel diversity to wireless terminals (WTs) in a manner that reduces the latency between the time a WT encounters satisfactory channel conditions are described. A plurality of communications channels with different physical characteristics are maintained in a cell by a base station (BS). Each WT monitors multiple channels and maintains multiple channel estimates at the same time so that rapid switching between channels is possible. Channel quality information is conveyed from each WT to the BS. The WT or BS selects a channel based on the measured channel quality. By supporting multiple channels and by introducing periodic variations into the channels in various embodiments, the time before a WT encounters a channel with good or acceptable channel conditions is minimized even if the WT does not change location. Multiple antennas are used at the BS to support numerous channels simultaneously, e.g., by controlling antenna patterns.

Abstract: Methods of using superposition coding in a communications systems, e.g., a multi-user communications system. Superposition coding in accordance with the invention occurs in the case of an uplink by transmissions of different wireless terminals transmitting using the same communications resource, e.g., simultaneously transmitting using the same frequencies. The signals combine in the communications channel resulting in one transmission being superimposed on the other transmission. The device, e.g., base station, receiving the superimposed signals uses superposition decoding techniques to recover both signals. To obtain the benefit of the superposition, assignments of channel segments to multiple wireless terminals is controlled by the base station and/or transmission power levels are controlled by on or more wireless terminals sharing the same uplink communications resource, e.g.

Abstract: Transmit and/or receive diversity is achieved using multiple antennas. In some embodiments, a single transmitter chain within a wireless terminal is coupled over time to a plurality of transmit antennas. At any given time, a controllable switching module couples the single transmitter chain to one the plurality of transmit antennas. Over time, the switching module couples the output signals from the single transmitter chain to different transmit antennas. Switching decisions are based upon predetermined information, dwell information, and/or channel condition feedback information. Switching is performed on some dwell and/or channel estimation boundaries. In some OFDM embodiments, each of multiple transmitter chains is coupled respectively to a different transmit antenna. Information to be transmitted is mapped to a plurality of tones. Different subsets of tones are formed for and transmitted through different transmit chain/antenna sets simultaneously.

Abstract: Methods of using superposition coding in a communications systems, e.g., a multi-user communications system. Superpostion coding in accordance with the invention occurs in the case of an uplink by transmissions of different wireless terminals transmitting using the same communications resource, e.g., simultaneously transmitting using the same frequencies. The signals combine in the communications channel resulting in one transmission being superimposed on the other transmission. The device, e.g., base station, receiving the superimposed signals uses superposition decoding techniques to recover both signals. To obtain the benefit of the superposition, assignments of channel segments to multiple wireless terminals is controlled by the base station and/or transmission power levels are controlled by on or more wireless terminals sharing the same uplink communications resource, e.g.