Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for causing active hand-in of a device from a macrocell base station to a femto node, which can be an inter-frequency hand-in. The femto node can broadcast a beacon over an operating frequency of the macrocell base station, and the macrocell base station, and/or one or more network components, can identify the femto node based on one or more parameters reported by the device from receiving the beacon. The beacon can be transmitted at varying powers to ensure active hand-in triggering, mitigate interference and/or can be powered on and off for such purposes. In addition, a macrocell base station can regulate compressed mode periods during which a device can measure the femto node based on receiving information regarding device proximity to the femto node, or a device can generate proximity indication messages base on measuring the beacon signals, etc.

Abstract: A timer parameter used for transitioning between radio protocol states is adapted based on a change of a handover parameter. For example, as a direct result of a change in a handover parameter such as time-to-trigger, offset, or hysteresis, an inactivity timer that is used for switching an access terminal from a connected state to an idle state may be adapted. As another example, as a direct result of a change in a handover parameter, a radio link failure (RLF) timer that is used for switching an access terminal to an RLF state may be adapted.

Abstract: Access terminals are provisioned to conduct intra-frequency, inter-frequency, and inter-RAT measurements and report physical layer identifiers of detected cells. The provisioning may involve cycling through all or a portion of a defined superset of physical layer identifier one subset at a time. In addition, the physical layer identifiers may be prioritized to improve the search procedure. Measurement report messages (including physical layer identifiers of the detected cells) are received at an access point as a result of the provisioning. A neighbor cell list for the femtocell is maintained based on the received measurement report messages and, optionally, other information.

Abstract: Techniques for supporting location services for a home Node B (HNB) and its user equipments (UEs) are disclosed. In an aspect, location services may be supported for a UE by having an HNB inter-work between user plane and control plane location solutions. In one design, the HNB receives a request for a location service for the UE and communicates (i) with a location server via the user plane location solution and (ii) with the UE via the control plane location solution to support the location service for the UE. The HNB inter-works between the user plane and control plane location solutions. In another aspect, a location server may be used to support assisted GNSS (A-GNSS) for HNBs and UEs. In one design, an HNB exchanges PCAP messages with the location server via an HNB GW and exchanges RRC messages with a UE to support a location service for the UE.

Abstract: Information is communicated between access points to cause a recipient access point to invoke an action. In some aspects, a mapping is defined between: 1) sets of physical layer identifiers and/or associated time offsets; and 2) different types of information. The mapping information is provided to access points in a wireless communication system such that an access point can use this scheme to communicate specified types of information to another access point. Based on the mapping, an access point that receives a set of physical layer identifiers from another access point is able to determine the type of information being communicated. The recipient access point may then invoke a specific action based on the type of information that was communicated.

Abstract: Access terminals are provisioned to conduct intra-frequency, inter-frequency, and inter-RAT measurements and report physical layer identifiers of detected cells. The provisioning may involve cycling through all or a portion of a defined superset of physical layer identifier one subset at a time. In addition, the physical layer identifiers may be prioritized to improve the search procedure. Measurement report messages (including physical layer identifiers of the detected cells) are received at an access point as a result of the provisioning. A neighbor cell list for the femtocell is maintained based on the received measurement report messages and, optionally, other information.

Abstract: Information is communicated between access points to cause a recipient access point to invoke an action. In some aspects, a mapping is defined between: 1) sets of physical layer identifiers and/or associated time offsets; and 2) different types of information. The mapping information is provided to access points in a wireless communication system such that an access point can use this scheme to communicate specified types of information to another access point. Based on the mapping, an access point that receives a set of physical layer identifiers from another access point is able to determine the type of information being communicated. The recipient access point may then invoke a specific action based on the type of information that was communicated.

Abstract: Aspects of the methods and apparatus relate to exploiting the spectrum of a high power base station cell to provide higher capacity in a wireless communication system. Generally, a small cell with multi-carrier support may detect an absence of high power base station cell coverage or absence of high power base station cell users and may harness the high power base station cell carrier spectrum to provide higher data download rates and/or serve more mobility users. Specifically, aspects of the methods and apparatus include transmitting a first signal on a first carrier from a first access point and determining a current ability of a second access point on a second carrier. Thereafter, aspects of the methods and apparatus include transmitting a second sit-mat on the second carrier from the first access point according to the determined current ability of the second access point.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for configuring mobility or paging parameters of a femto node. A method includes determining capabilities of one or more neighboring access points based in part on signals received from the one or more neighboring access points. The method includes comparing the capabilities to one or more capabilities of the femto node to determine a mobility or paging parameter adjustment. The method includes adjusting one or more mobility or paging parameters based on the mobility or paging parameter adjustment.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate communicating PSC split information regarding neighboring cells. The PSC split information can be transmitted in one or more overhead messages selected based on network deployment. Where macro cells and femto cells provide PSC split information, which can be a PSC range for related cells, PSC list, etc., the information can be transmitted in a low priority overhead message since it can be obtained at a source cell. Where only femto cells or closed subscriber group (CSG) cells provide PSC split information, the information can be transmitted in a higher priority more frequently transmitted message. In this regard, the information is available at target cells since not all devices can access CSG cells. Thus, by providing the PSC split information in a more frequently transmitted message, devices can retrieve the PSC split information early on in communications to lower power consumption.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate multiplexing communications from multiple downstream access points to one or more mobility management entities (MME). In particular, a concentrator component is provided that can establish a single transport layer connection with an MME along with multiple application layer connections over the single transport layer connection for each of multiple downstream access points and/or related mobile devices. The downstream access points and/or mobile devices can provide identifiers, such as tracking identifiers, to the concentrator component, which can utilize the identifiers to track communications with the MME. In this regard, the MME can send paging messages, and the concentrator component can determine downstream access points related to the paging messages based on a stored association with a tracking identifier in the paging message.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents a method and an apparatus for backhaul management at a small cell base station. For example, the method may include receiving an indication from a radio resource management (RRM) framework of a small cell base station, wherein the indication received from the RRM framework is related to a coverage problem at a user equipment (UE), and wherein the UE is in communication with the small cell, and modifying a backhaul estimation mechanism at the small cell base station for the UE based on the indication received from the RRM framework of the small cell base station. As such, backhaul management at a small cell base station may be achieved.

Abstract: Management of user equipment (UE) proximity indications to femto access points is provided using out-of-band (OOB) signals. To obtain OOB identification information on the femto access point, the UE determines the OOB identification information when in proximity to cells neighboring the femto access point. This OOB information is stored in a search information database (SID) of the UE and related to in-band information on the femto access point. To later determine proximity to the femto access point, in response to detecting its presence within a fingerprint area around the femto access point, a search for the femto access point is triggered using the OOB radio resources and OOB identification information associated with the femto access point in the SID. When the UE detects the femto access point using the OOB radio resources, the UE transmits a proximity indication to its serving base station over the in-band radio link.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate multiplexing communications from multiple downstream access points to one or more upstream access points. In particular, a concentrator component is provided that can establish a single transport layer connection with an upstream access point along with multiple application layer connections over the single transport layer connection for each of multiple downstream access points and/or related mobile devices. The downstream access points and/or mobile devices can provide identifiers to the concentrator component, which can utilize the identifiers to track communications with the upstream access points. In this regard, the upstream access points can additionally include identifiers received from the concentrator component in subsequent communications to facilitate identifying the appropriate downstream access point and/or mobile device.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents a method and an apparatus for hybrid management of handovers in a self organizing network. For example, the disclosure presents a method for transmitting, via a transmitting component at the base station, handover signaling data from the base station to a network entity, wherein the base station is one of a plurality of base stations transmitting handover signaling data to the network entity, receiving, at the base station, feedback associated with one or more handover parameters of the base station, wherein the feedback is received from the network entity and includes an indication of an amount of handover signaling data generated by the base station or the plurality of base stations, and updating the one or more handover parameters based on the feedback received and local information available at the base station. As such, hybrid management of handover in a self organizing network may be achieved.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate communicating PSC split information regarding neighboring cells. The PSC split information can be transmitted in one or more overhead messages selected based on network deployment. Where macro cells and femto cells provide PSC split information, which can be a PSC range for related cells, PSC list, etc., the information can be transmitted in a low priority overhead message since it can be obtained at a source cell. Where only femto cells or closed subscriber group (CSG) cells provide PSC split information, the information can be transmitted in a higher priority more frequently transmitted message. In this regard, the information is available at target cells since not all devices can access CSG cells. Thus, by providing the PSC split information in a more frequently transmitted message, devices can retrieve the PSC split information early on in communications to lower power consumption.

Abstract: Advertisements are presented to users of cell phones and other types of access terminals. For example, advertisements may be presented to a user when the user's access terminal is served by or camped on an access point such as a small cell. After obtaining an advertisement, an access point broadcasts a message that includes the advertisement. Advantageously, the advertisement may be broadcast via an HNB Name field defined in 3GPP. Consequently, upon receiving a broadcast including an HNB Name field, an access terminal will automatically display the advertisement included in the HNB Name field (e.g., instead of an HNB Name).

Abstract: The assignment of physical layer identifiers for access points is coordinated with the assignment of transmit powers for the access points. For example, only those access points that transmit at a relatively high power level are allowed to use a physical layer identifier from a subset of physical layer identifiers allocated for mobility measurements. Any other access points will use a physical layer identifier that is not allocated for mobility measurements. By restricting the number of access points that are allowed to use a physical layer identifier allocated for mobility measurements, confusion and collision in the network may be mitigated.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate multiplexing communications from multiple downstream access points to one or more mobility management entities (MME). In particular, a concentrator component is provided that can establish a single transport layer connection with an MME along with multiple application layer connections over the single transport layer connection for each of multiple downstream access points and/or related mobile devices. The downstream access points and/or mobile devices can provide identifiers, such as tracking identifiers, to the concentrator component, which can utilize the identifiers to track communications with the MME. In this regard, the MME can send paging messages, and the concentrator component can determine downstream access points related to the paging messages based on a stored association with a tracking identifier in the paging message.

Abstract: A system for optimizing mobility robustness is operable by a network entity that detects handovers or connection failures by served access terminals. The network entity defines classifications based on mobility, route, past serving cell, or location information for the served access terminals and associates each of the handovers or connection failures with a related classification. A system for improving handover performance records a time for which an access terminal is served by the network entity before being served by a neighboring cell. A performance metric is determined based on the recorded time and a handover policy is optimized based on the performance metric.