Abstract: The present disclosure presents a method and an apparatus for off-loading user equipment (UE) from a small cell base station. For example, the method may include identifying a first and a second set of UEs from a plurality of UEs at a small cell base station, prioritizing the first and the second set of UEs, and off-loading one or more UEs from the first or the second set of UEs based at least on the prioritization. As such, off-loading of UEs from a small cell base station may be achieved.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents a method and an apparatus for calibrating a small cell base station for backhaul management. For example, the method may include exchanging backhaul probing messages with a probing server by initiating a plurality of probing packets at the small cell base station, wherein the exchanging is performed over a backhaul after determining that a full queue condition associated with the backhaul is satisfied, computing calibration statistics for the backhaul based on characteristics associated with the backhaul probing messages, and adjusting one or more backhaul parameters of the small cell based on the calibration statistics. As such, calibration of a small cell base station for backhaul management may be achieved.

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: Described herein are techniques for radio technology selection and power calibration in multi-RAT small cells. For example, the technique may involve determining, at an access point, path loss information for a circuit switched fallback failure location. The technique may involve building a path loss database over a time period from the path loss information and managing power or operation mode of a first RAT and a second RAT of the access point based on the path loss database.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents a method and an apparatus for a light active estimation mechanism for backhaul management at a small cell base station. For example, the method may include transmitting a first data packet from the small cell base station to a network entity, receiving a second data packet from the network entity in response to the transmission, calculating a time delay between the transmitting of the first data packet and the receiving of the second data packet, and determining whether or not a backhaul of the small cell base station is congested based on the calculated time delay. As such, light active estimation mechanism for backhaul management at a small cell base station may be achieved.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents a method and an apparatus for optimizing coverage area of a small cell. For example, the disclosure presents a method for estimating an available backhaul capacity of a small cell and determining a target OTA data rate for the small cell based at least on the estimated available backhaul capacity, and changing a coverage area of the small cell based at least on the determined target OTA data rate by. As such, optimizing coverage area of a small cell may be achieved.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided that include adjusting rise-over-thermal (RoT) or noise rise (NR) threshold based on detecting interference from one or more devices. A device can communicate within close proximity of a femto node such that the device does not respond to power down commands from the femto node due to operating at a minimum transmit power. The device can cause the RoT or NR at the femto node to potentially rise over a threshold, however. Thus, the femto node can increase the RoT or NR threshold to allow the device to communicate with the femto node without impacting other devices communicating with the femto node. Out-of-cell interference from devices communicating with other base stations can be detected as well, and the RoT or NR threshold can be adjusted based thereon.

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: Methods and apparatuses are provided for determining a transmission power cap for one or more devices based at least in part on pathloss measurements to one or more access points received from the one or more devices. A common transmission power cap can also be computed for assigning to devices communicating with an access point, and the transmission power cap for a given device can be adjusted when the transmission power is at or a threshold level from the common power cap to conserve signaling in the wireless network. Adjustment of the transmission power cap can additionally or alternatively be based on a received power at an access point related to signals from the device, an interference report from one or more access points, and/or the like.

Abstract: Low-power access points are used to identify traffic congestion zones in a network. The low-power access points collect metrics that are used identify high demand areas. The locations of the traffic congestion zones are then determined based on the locations of the low-power access points that identified high demand. In some embodiments, metrics are collected and processed in a distributed fashion at each femtocell. Each femtocell then outputs an indication of high demand in the area and/or takes action to address the high demand at an identified traffic congestion zone. Alternatively, the femtocells may collectively take action to address the high demand at one or more identified traffic congestion zones. In other embodiments, metrics may be collected from the femtocells at a central entity and processed to identifying any traffic congestion zones near the femtocells, whereby the central entity takes appropriate action to address the high demand.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for selecting a channel to use for communicating. The methods and apparatus select a channel having the least interference and minimize a number of different channels in use. For example, a provided method includes calculating a utility value for each channel in a plurality of channels by weighting, based on a number of the neighborhood small cells (NSC) using each channel in the plurality of channels, both a respective modified non-NSC received signal strength indication (RSSI) and a respective modified reference signal received power (RSRP). The non-NSC RSSI is calculated by subtracting a respective RSRP from a total RSSI. The respective modified RSRP for each channel in the plurality of channels is calculated by applying the respective RSRP to a cumulative distribution function. The channel having the highest or the lowest utility value is chosen as the channel to use for the communicating.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for selecting a communication channel. The methods and apparatus select a channel having the least interference and minimize a number of different channels in use. For example, a method for selecting a communication channel includes measuring a transmission characteristic for each channel in a plurality of channels to create a transmission characteristic measurement for each channel. The method also includes receiving, from at least one neighboring access point, data indicating the neighboring access point uses a channel in the plurality of channels. A utility value for each channel in the plurality of channels is calculated by weighting, based on the number of the neighboring access points using each channel in the plurality of channels, the transmission characteristic measurement for each channel in the plurality of channels. Further, the channel having the highest or the lowest utility value is chosen as the communication channel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for communication at a network entity comprise receiving one or more technology layer measurements during a measurement period. The methods and apparatus further comprise determining that a first subset of the one or more technology layer measurements satisfies an adequate user equipment (UE) communication condition. In addition, the methods and apparatus comprise determining that a second subset of the one or more technology layer measurements satisfies at least one measurement threshold value. Moreover, the methods and apparatus comprise identifying a network entity conflict when the first subset of the one or more technology layer measurements satisfies the adequate UE communication condition and the second subset of the one or more technology layer measurements satisfies the at least one measurement threshold value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for communication comprise selecting a first parameter value for a first RAT transmission-related parameter from a first set of selectable first parameter values and a second parameter value for a second RAT transmission-related parameter from a second set of selectable second parameter values based at least in part on a mapping function that maps between ones of the first set of selectable first parameter values for the first RAT transmission-related parameter and the second set of selectable second parameter values for the second RAT transmission-related parameter. Moreover, the methods and apparatus comprise communicating using at least one of the first parameter value of the first RAT transmission-related parameter for the first RAT and the second parameter value of the second RAT transmission-related parameter for the second RAT.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for communication at a network entity comprise sending a measurement configuration message to a user equipment (UE) to configure the UE to perform one or more measurements during a specified measurement period. Additionally, the methods and apparatus comprise suspending, at the network entity, transmission of at least one configuration parameter to the UE during the specified measurement period, wherein the network entity is the serving network entity. Moreover, the methods and apparatus comprise receiving at least one measurement report message from the UE after the specified measurement period.

Abstract: Transmit power for an access point is controlled based on information received by the access point. For example, an access point may employ one or more algorithms that use messages received from nearby access terminals to maintain an acceptable tradeoff between providing an adequate coverage area for access point transmissions and mitigating interference that these transmissions cause at nearby access terminals. Here, the access point may employ a network listen-based algorithm upon initialization of the access terminal to provide preliminary transmit power control until sufficient information is collected for another transmit power control algorithm (e.g., an access terminal assisted algorithm). Also, the access terminal may employ an active access terminal protection scheme to mitigate interference the access point may otherwise cause to a nearby access terminal that is in active communication with another access point.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided that facilitate providing access point measurements to restricted access points. Restricted access points can lessen restrictions to allow devices to register with the restricted access point for providing measurements thereto. Additionally or alternatively, access point measurements can be provided to a minimization of drive tests (MDT) server for providing to the restricted access points. Thus, restricted access points can obtain the access point measurements for performing enhanced interference management or other functionality based at least in part on the measurements.

Abstract: Transmit power for an access point is controlled based on measurement reports received by the access point from one or more access terminals that are not currently being served by the access point. In some aspects, transmit power is controlled based on the number of received messages that correspond to a particular event. In some aspects, transmit power is controlled based on the contents of the received messages. For example, the access point may use signal strength information included in the messages to determine a level of transmit power that mitigates interference at a defined subset of reporting access terminals.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for updating proximity information associated with a femtocell in a wireless communication system. An example of a method described herein includes identifying a location within a wireless communication network, associating the location with a femtocell for which proximity information relating to position of the femtocell is maintained, performing at least one search for the femtocell, and updating the proximity information maintained for the femtocell based on results of the at least one search. Another example of a method described herein includes obtaining a report of proximity information relating to a femtocell, identifying one or more network devices for which the proximity information is relevant, and communicating proximity information update signaling to the one or more network devices.

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.