Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for determining one or more parameters of an access point that can be set or adjusted to mitigate interference to other access points. A rise-over-thermal (RoT) threshold can be set at an access point based on one or more parameters, such as pathloss measurements, location of the access point, etc., such that interference from devices communicating with the access point can be mitigated. In addition, a noise floor, RoT threshold, etc., can be adjusted based on determining a transmit power difference, out-of-cell interference, and/or similar measurements.

Abstract: An access point transmits cell information via a physical layer channel. In some cases, the cell information sent on the physical layer channel comprises a physical layer identifier. For example, a physical layer channel may be modulated based on a cell identifier and/or a closed subscriber group identifier associated with the access point. Through the use of this cell information, an access point may be quickly identified for mobility and/or interference management operations. In addition, this cell information may be used for finger-printing operations.

Abstract: An access point transmits cell information via a physical layer channel. In some cases, the cell information sent on the physical layer channel comprises a physical layer identifier. For example, a physical layer channel may be modulated based on a cell identifier and/or a closed subscriber group identifier associated with the access point. Through the use of this cell information, an access point may be quickly identified for mobility and/or interference management operations. In addition, this cell information may be used for finger-printing operations.

Abstract: An access point (e.g., a femto cell) that is connected in an active call with an access terminal may cooperate with that access terminal or another access terminal to derive timing information from one or more neighboring access points (e.g., macro access points). In addition, an access point may cooperate with an idle access terminal to derive timing information from one or more neighboring access points. For example, an access terminal may determine the difference between pilot transmission timing or frame transmission timing of a femto cell and a macro cell, and report this timing difference to the femto cell. Based on this timing difference, the femto cell may adjust the timing and/or frequency of its transmissions so that these transmissions are synchronized in time and/or frequency as per network operation requirements.

Abstract: A parameter for transmission by an access point is determined in a manner that facilitates access terminal mobility. For example, a cell reselection parameter and/or a handover parameter may be determined based on the quality of a signal from one access point (e.g., a macro cell) at another access point (e.g., a femto cell). In addition, a cell reselection parameter and/or a handover parameter may be determined based on the proximity of one access point (e.g., a femto cell) to another access point (e.g., a macro cell). Through the use of these techniques, a parameter may be determined in a manner that mitigates access terminal ping-ponging between access points and that mitigates outages that may otherwise occur as a result of an access terminal remaining on an access point too long.

Abstract: A parameter for transmission by an access point is determined in a manner that facilitates access terminal mobility. For example, a cell reselection parameter and/or a handover parameter may be determined based on the quality of a signal from one access point (e.g., a macro cell) at another access point (e.g., a femto cell). In addition, a cell reselection parameter and/or a handover parameter may be determined based on the proximity of one access point (e.g., a femto cell) to another access point (e.g., a macro cell). Through the use of these techniques, a parameter may be determined in a manner that mitigates access terminal ping-ponging between access points and that mitigates outages that may otherwise occur as a result of an access terminal remaining on an access point too long.

Abstract: A cell reselection parameter is transmitted on one carrier frequency for a defined period of time to cause access terminals operating on that carrier frequency to more aggressively search for access points on at least one other carrier frequency. For example, a femto cell operating on one carrier frequency may transmit a broadcast channel including a cell reselection parameter such as Sintersearch on another carrier frequency that is used by a macro cell. Here, the value of the cell reselection parameter (e.g., Sintersearch) is chosen so that the access terminals will more aggressively conduct inter-frequency searches. In addition, the cell reselection parameter is transmitted for a period of time that ensures that a nearby access terminal will receive the parameter during its wakeup interval.

Abstract: According to some wireless network standards the size of a neighbor cell list is restricted to a maximum size. The limited size of a neighbor cell list may not reflect the realities of a wireless network deployment, especially for deployments including numerous femto cells clustered in close proximity. Accordingly, as the concentration of macro cells and/or femto cells in an area increases, there lies a challenge to identify and communicate neighbor lists to user devices that reflect the arrangement of a particular portion of the deployment and the needs of the user devices. Various systems, methods and apparatus described herein are configured to provide a user device or a group of user devices a neighbor cell list that includes neighbor cell identifiers chosen from a candidate list.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for adjusting a transmission power at a femto node are described herein. According to the systems, devices, and methods herein, a measurement of a signal transmitted from a transmitting node may be communicated to the femto node, for example from a user equipment or a neighboring femto node, for use in adjusting the power. The transmitting node may comprise the femto node, a macro node, or a neighboring femto node. In addition, statistics regarding such measurements may be communicated to the femto node for use in adjusting the power. The femto node may also adjust the power based on unsuccessful registration attempts or interference communications received at the femto node.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for adjusting a transmission power at a femto node are described herein. According to the systems, devices, and methods herein, a measurement of a signal transmitted from a transmitting node may be communicated to the femto node, for example from a user equipment or a neighboring femto node, for use in adjusting the power. The transmitting node may comprise the femto node, a macro node, or a neighboring femto node. In addition, statistics regarding such measurements may be communicated to the femto node for use in adjusting the power. The femto node may also adjust the power based on unsuccessful registration attempts or interference communications received at the femto node.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for adjusting a transmission power at a femto node are described herein. According to the systems, devices, and methods herein, a measurement of a signal transmitted from a transmitting node may be communicated to the femto node, for example from a user equipment or a neighboring femto node, for use in adjusting the power. The transmitting node may comprise the femto node, a macro node, or a neighboring femto node. In addition, statistics regarding such measurements may be communicated to the femto node for use in adjusting the power. The femto node may also adjust the power based on unsuccessful registration attempts or interference communications received at the femto node.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for adjusting a transmission power at a femto node are described herein. According to the systems, devices, and methods herein, a measurement of a signal transmitted from a transmitting node may be communicated to the femto node, for example from a user equipment or a neighboring femto node, for use in adjusting the power. The transmitting node may comprise the femto node, a macro node, or a neighboring femto node. In addition, statistics regarding such measurements may be communicated to the femto node for use in adjusting the power. The femto node may also adjust the power based on unsuccessful registration attempts or interference communications received at the femto node.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are disclosed for facilitating a beacon-assisted handover from a macro network to a femto cell during an active call. A femto cell management system assigns a unique identifier to a femto cell, which the femto cell utilizes to broadcast a beacon at a frequency different than the operating frequency of the femto cell. A wireless terminal receives a control message from the macro network directing the wireless terminal to scan particular frequencies. The wireless terminal subsequently provides a report to the macro network identifying attributes ascertained from the scan, which includes attributes associated with the beacon. The macro network then performs a handover from the macro network to the femto cell as a function of the attributes.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for interference beacon transmission are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for initiating cell reselection in a wireless communication device, such as a HNB, comprises a processor configured to determine a first frequency at which one or more wireless communication devices communicate with a first cell and a transceiver configured to transmit an interference beacon at the first frequency configured to at least partially interfere with communications at the first frequency and initiate a cell reselection process by at least one of the wireless communication devices.

Abstract: A small base node such as a Home Base Node (HNB), or femto cell, may reduce its transmit power in order to prevent co-channel or adjacent channel interference, or to limit its coverage area. Once the power is set, the HNB signal to a served Home User Equipment (HUE) its transmit Common Pilot Channel (CPICH) transmit power for accurate path loss estimation. When this power is outside of the permissible range, the HNB adjusts other parameters (such as Random Access Channel (RACH) constant value) to compensate for the error in signaled CPICH power, and thus compensate in that process the error in determining path loss. Similarly, if the uplink sensitivity is adjusted, to prevent interference, parameters would also be adjusted and signaled to the HUE to reflect the link imbalance.

Abstract: Transmit power (e.g., maximum transmit power) may be defined based on the maximum received signal strength allowed by a receiver and a total received signal strength from transmitting nodes at the receiver. Transmit power may be defined for an access node (e.g., a femto node) such that a corresponding outage created in a cell (e.g., a macro cell) is limited while still providing an acceptable level of coverage for access terminals associated with the access node. An access node may autonomously adjust its transmit power based on channel measurement and a defined coverage hole to mitigate interference and perform a self-calibration process.

Abstract: A carrier for a femtocell is selected from a set of carriers available to femtocells. The femto node determines a preference order for the set and measures received signal strength (RSS) for each carrier. The femto node determines a least interference carrier from the set based on the RSS for each carrier, then defines a selected carrier for the femtocell by comparing the RSS of the least interference carrier to the RSS of other carriers in the set. The selected carrier may have a RSS larger than or equal to the RSS of the least interference carrier offset by a predefined margin. The comparisons may be performed in the preference order. The set available to femto nodes may be a subset of all carriers available to a combination of femtocells and macrocells and one or more of the carriers available to femtocells also may be a carrier available to macrocells.