Abstract: Ambiguity (e.g., confusion) associated with access point identifiers may be resolved by querying candidate target access points and/or by using historical records indicative of one or more access points that the access point has previously accessed. For example, messages may be sent to access points that are assigned the same identifier to cause the access points to monitor for a signal from an access terminal that received the identifier from a target access point. The target access point may then be identified based on any responses that indicate that a signal was received from the access terminal. In some aspects the access points subject to being queried may be selected using a tiered priority. In addition, it may be determined based on prior handoffs of a given access terminal that when that access terminal reports a given identifier, the access terminal usually ends up being handed-off to a particular access point.

Abstract: Transmissions of beacons by a set of access points (e.g., femtocells) are synchronized to facilitate discovery of the access points by an access terminal moving through the coverage areas of the access points. In some embodiments, periodic beacon transmissions are synchronized across all of the femtocells of a set of femtocells such that each femtocell transmits a beacon signal according to a similar pattern and at the same time. In some embodiments, an opportunistic beacon control scheme involves commencing beacon transmissions by at least one femtocell of a set of femtocells upon determining that an access terminal has communicated with one or more of the femtocells.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided that include providing switching functionality at a low power base station to allow the low power base station to route communications related to mobile devices and a local area network (LAN) over one or more broadband connections. In this configuration, the low power base station communicates over the one or more broadband connections without traversing the LAN, and can thus implement quality-of-service (QoS) or other parameters for connections from various devices and the LAN. In addition, the low power base station can provide additional switching to route communications between the mobile devices and LAN devices using local internet protocol access.

Abstract: Techniques for enhanced backhaul flow control are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a backhaul control system is described that comprises a base station controller (BSC), a backhaul network, and a base transceiver station (BTS). Each is responsive to data and messaging transmitted and received. In one aspect, the BTS includes a queue and a controller. The amount of data in a queue is adjusted by a controller based upon calculating a target queue size value. The controller non-uniformly adjusts the amount of data in a queue based upon a target queue size value which is based upon communication system parameters. The target queue size and amount of data in a queue is adjusted so as to reduce buffer underrun, decrease system latency, and increase communication system throughput.

Abstract: A location of an access terminal is estimated based on uplink signals that a plurality of femto cells receive from the access terminal. The transmit power of the access terminal may be adjusted in some cases to facilitate the reception of signals at the femto cells during a location determination operation. In some embodiments, a location of an access terminal is estimated based on relative path loss values derived from the signals received by the femto cells.

Abstract: A location of an access terminal is estimated based on signals received by the access terminal. The manner in which a femto cell transmits signals and/or the manner in which the access terminal monitors for signals may be controlled in some cases to facilitate the reception of signals at the access terminal during a location determination operation. In some embodiments, the number of femto cells for which the access terminal monitors for signals may be controlled by controlling the manner in which the access terminal maintains its active set. In some embodiments, in the event a given femto cell is interfering with the ability of an access terminal to receive signals from other femto cells, that femto cell may be instructed to temporarily stop transmissions (e.g., on the traffic channel and/or a beacon channel).

Abstract: A set of wireless relay nodes are managed to facilitate inter-node routing of packets in the set. In some aspects, unique identifiers are defined for the wireless relay nodes to facilitate routing packets within the set. In some aspect a routing table is provided to each of the wireless relay nodes, wherein the routing table identifies each wireless relay node in the set and a next-hop entity for each of these wireless relay nodes. Each of the wireless relay nodes may then define a forwarding table based on the routing table.

Abstract: Systems and methods for switching among networks (e.g., heterogeneous) and inter-working between a source access system and a target access system, by implementing tunneling from the AT to the target access system via the source access system. An inter-system handoff control component can facilitate setting tunneling by the mobile unit to the target access and/or between the source access system and the target access system—wherein signaling/packeting associated with the target system can be transferred over the source system.

Abstract: A location of an access terminal is estimated based on signals received by the access terminal. The manner in which a femto cell transmits signals and/or the manner in which the access terminal monitors for signals may be controlled in some cases to facilitate the reception of signals at the access terminal during a location determination operation. In some embodiments, the number of femto cells for which the access terminal monitors for signals may be controlled by controlling the manner in which the access terminal maintains its active set. In some embodiments, in the event a given femto cell is interfering with the ability of an access terminal to receive signals from other femto cells, that femto cell may be instructed to temporarily stop transmissions (e.g., on the traffic channel and/or a beacon channel).

Abstract: A method for enabling an active hand-in from a macro base station network to a femtocell network includes servicing an active hand-in of a mobile entity from a macro base station to a femtocell network, using a first femtocell of the femtocell network. The active hand-in includes a hard handoff of the mobile entity from the macro base station with soft handoff of the mobile entity enabled between the first femtocell and one or more neighboring femtocells in the femtocell network. The hard handoff with soft handoff enabled may be implemented using novel procedures implemented by one or more entities of a wireless communications network including the femtocells and macro base station.

Abstract: Local breakout is provided by one or more nodes (e.g., a local access point and/or a local gateway) in a wireless network to facilitate access to one or more local services. In conjunction with local breakout, multiple IP points of presence relating to different levels of service may be provided for an access point. For example, one point of presence may relate to a local service while another point of presence may relate to a core network service. IP point of presence may be identified for an over-the-air packet to indicate a termination point for the packet. Also, different mobility management functionality may be provided at different nodes in a system whereby mobility management for a given node may be provided by a different node for different types of traffic. Thus, an access terminal may support multiple NAS instances. In addition, different types of paging may be provided for different types of traffic.

Abstract: An algorithm for improving efficiency of data attachment points (DAPs) in a wireless access network (AN) is provided herein. By way of example, the algorithm can identify a serving access point (APs) coupling an access terminal (AT) to the wireless AN. A cost metric for the serving AP can be determined with respect to at least one data network access gateway (AGW) of the wireless AN. The cost metric can be compared with a similar cost metric of a current or default DAP assigned to the AT. If the cost metric of the serving AP is lower than the cost metric of the current/default DAP, the DAP can be re-assigned to the serving AP, minimizing wireless AN resource costs associated with the DAP.

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: In a converged communication network, IP data packet services are provided by a core network to access terminals via radio access nodes (RAN). By positioning accounting report triggering closer to the usage, accuracy and comprehensive of accounting is achieved, which can also reduce overhead burdens on the core network. Additional responsibility is given to an access gateway (AGW) between an enhanced base station (eBS) of the RAN and the core network that can reduce the volume and increase the accuracy of accounting message traffic to an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server of the core network. The AGW informs the eBS of accounting rules to be used in making air link records that are merged and formatted in accordance with an accounting protocol for sending to the AAA server, to address duration and volume based accounting needs, postpaid and prepaid accounting types, and user, service and flow based accounting categories.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for multiple EAP-based authentications in a wireless communication system. In the method, a first master session key (MSK) is generated in a first EAP-based authentication for a first-type access. A first temporal session key (TSK) is generated from the first master session key (MSK). A second EAP-based authentication is performed, using the first temporal session key (TSK), for a second-type access. First-type access and second-type access are provided after the first and second EAP-based authentications are successfully completed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributed computing between communication devices. A femto node is treated as a trusted extension of a user equipment and performs processing tasks on behalf of the user equipment. The femto node is also treated as a trusted extension of network servers and performs services on behalf of the network servers. Tasks are thus distributed between the network servers, the femto node and one or more user equipments. The tasks include processing data, filtering incoming messages, and caching network service information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributed computing between communication devices. A femto node is treated as a trusted extension of a user equipment and performs processing tasks on behalf of the user equipment. The femto node is also treated as a trusted extension of network servers and performs services on behalf of the network servers. Tasks are thus distributed between the network servers, the femto node and one or more user equipments. The tasks include processing data, filtering incoming messages, and caching network service information.

Abstract: A method of communication involves sending a request from a first network entity (e.g., a femto convergence server) to a second network entity (e.g., a home subscriber server) for user data relating to an access point, receiving a response to the request, wherein the response identifies at least one application server, and sending registration status information to the identified at least one application server.

Abstract: In a communication system in which a gateway entity is linked to a plurality of infrastructure entities which in turn are operable to communicate with an access terminal, the access terminal needs first to establish a data attachment point (DAP) with one of the infrastructure entities. Handoff of the DAP from one infrastructure entity to another infrastructure entity is initiated by the access terminal. The access terminal weighs factors such as the link conditions with the various infrastructure entities, the time since the last DAP handoff, and time duration communicating with the current infrastructure entity before proceeding with the DAP handoff.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and computer program products are described for supporting macrocell-to-femtocell hand-ins of active macro communications for mobile access terminals. An out-of-band (OOB) link is used to detect that an access terminal is in proximity of a femtocell (e.g., using an OOB radio integrated with the femtocell or in a common subnet with the femtocell). Having detected the access terminal in proximity to the femtocell, an OOB presence indication is communicated to a femto convergence system disposed in a core network in communication with the macro network to effectively pre-register the access terminal with the femto-convergence system. When the femto convergence system receives a handoff request from the macro network implicating the pre-registered access terminal, it is able to reliably determine the appropriate target femtocell to use for the hand-in according to the pre-registration, even where identification of the appropriate target femtocell would otherwise be unreliable.