CONFIGURING AN IDENTIFIER FOR AN ACCESS POINT

• US 20090129291A1
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Agashe, Parag A., Palanki, Ravi, Prakash, Rajat, Khandekar, Aamod D., Tinnakornsrisuphap, Peerapol, Gupta, Rajarshi, Horn, Gavin B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,855,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

An access point is configured based on acquired information. An access point may be configured based on the configuration(s) of at least one other access point. An identifier to be transmitted by an access point may be selected based on the identifier(s) transmitted by at least one other access point. An access point may configure itself with assistance from a configuration server. For example, the access point may send information such as the location of the access point to a configuration server and the configuration server may respond with a list of neighboring access points for that access point. A configuration server may provide configuration information to an access point based on the location of the access point. A configuration server also may direct an access point to a different configuration server.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

determining, at an access point, at least one identifier transmitted by at least one other access point; and

selecting an identifier to be transmitted by the access point based on the at least one identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected identifier comprises a pilot identifier, a physical cell identifier, or a primary scrambling sequence.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the access point comprises an eNodeB and the at least one other access point comprises at least one other eNodeB.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the selection of the identifier comprises:

receiving a list of physical cell identifiers;

removing, from the list, at least one of the group consisting of;

a physical cell identifier reported by a user equipment, a physical cell identifier reported by a neighbor eNodeB, and a physical cell identifier received over-the-air using a downlink receiver; and

selecting a physical cell identifier for a cell associated with the access point from the list after the removal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the selection of the physical cell identifier comprises randomly selecting a physical cell identifier from the list after the removal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the identifier comprises selecting an identifier that is not used by the at least one other access point.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the identifier comprises selecting the identifier from a list of identifiers.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the list comprises a subset of a set of identifiers.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the selection of the identifier further comprises selecting the identifier in a random manner from the list.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving the list from a configuration server.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the configuration server comprises an operations, accounting, and management entity.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the list is operator configurable.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the list is associated with at least one specified type of access point.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one specified type relates to at least one of the group consisting of:

access point transmit power;

access point mobility; and

whether the access point is restricted to not provide, for at least one node, at least one of;

signaling, data access, registration, paging, or service.

15. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

sending information indicative of a type of the access point to a server; and

receiving the list from the server, wherein the list is based on the type.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the list is associated with a geographic region.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein the list is based on a location of the access point.

18. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

sending information indicative of a location of the access point to a server; and

receiving the list from the server, wherein the list is based on the information indicative of the location.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises receiving identifier information over-the-air from the at least one other access point.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises receiving identifier information from at least one associated user equipment.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises receiving identifier information via a backhaul.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises receiving at least one neighbor report that includes the at least one identifier.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises receiving at least one identifier of at least one multi-hop neighbor access point.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one identifier of the at least one multi-hop neighbor access point is received via at least one neighbor report.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the selection of the identifier for the access point comprises:

classifying each identifier of the at least one identifier according to an associated number of hops to the access point; and

selecting an identifier based on the classification if a non-conflicting identifier is not available.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises:

receiving information relating to a second-hop or third-hop access point from a first-hop access point; and

communicating with the second-hop or third-hop access point to determine an identifier used by the second-hop or third-hop access point.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a first neighbor report from one of the at least one other access point;

generating a second neighbor report that identifies any access points identified by the first neighbor report; and

sending the second neighbor report in response to a neighbor discovery request.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the at least one other access point by receiving signals over-the-air from at least one neighbor access point.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the at least one other access point by receiving an indication of at least one neighbor access point from a configuration server.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a conflict between the determined at least one identifier and an identifier previously specified for the access point; and

specifying a non-conflicting identifier for the access point in response to the identification of the conflict.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the identification of the conflict comprises receiving an indication of the conflict from an associated user equipment.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the access point comprises a femto node or a relay node.

33. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

an identifier determiner configured to determine, at an access point, at least one identifier transmitted by at least one other access point; and

an identifier selector configured to select an identifier to be transmitted by the access point based on the at least one identifier.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the selected identifier comprises a pilot identifier, a physical cell identifier, or a primary scrambling sequence.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the access point comprises an eNodeB and the at least one other access point comprises at least one other eNodeB.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the selection of the identifier comprises:

receiving a list of physical cell identifiers;

removing, from the list, at least one of the group consisting of;

a physical cell identifier reported by a user equipment, a physical cell identifier reported by a neighbor eNodeB, and a physical cell identifier received over-the-air using a downlink receiver; and

selecting a physical cell identifier for a cell associated with the access point from the list after the removal.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the selection of the physical cell identifier comprises randomly selecting a physical cell identifier from the list after the removal.

38. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the selection of the identifier comprises selecting an identifier that is not used by the at least one other access point.

39. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the selection of the identifier comprises selecting the identifier from a list of identifiers.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the list comprises a subset of a set of identifiers.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the selection of the identifier further comprises selecting the identifier in a random manner from the list.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the list is associated with at least one specified type of access point.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the at least one specified type relates to at least one of the group consisting of:

access point transmit power;

access point mobility; and

whether the access point is restricted to not provide, for at least one node, at least one of;

signaling, data access, registration, paging, or service.

44. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the list is associated with a geographic region.

45. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the list is based on a location of the access point.

46. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises receiving identifier information over-the-air from the at least one other access point.

47. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises receiving identifier information from at least one associated user equipment.

48. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises receiving identifier information via a backhaul.

49. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises receiving at least one neighbor report that includes the at least one identifier.

50. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises receiving at least one identifier of at least one multi-hop neighbor access point.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the at least one identifier of the at least one multi-hop neighbor access point is received via at least one neighbor report.

52. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for determining, at an access point, at least one identifier transmitted by at least one other access point; and

means for selecting an identifier to be transmitted by the access point based on the at least one identifier.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the selected identifier comprises a pilot identifier, a physical cell identifier, or a primary scrambling sequence.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the access point comprises an eNodeB and the at least one other access point comprises at least one other eNodeB.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the selection of the identifier comprises:

receiving a list of physical cell identifiers;

removing, from the list, at least one of the group consisting of;

a physical cell identifier reported by a user equipment, a physical cell identifier reported by a neighbor eNodeB, and a physical cell identifier received over-the-air using a downlink receiver; and

selecting a physical cell identifier for a cell associated with the access point from the list after the removal.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the selection of the physical cell identifier comprises randomly selecting a physical cell identifier from the list after the removal.

57. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the selection of the identifier comprises selecting an identifier that is not used by the at least one other access point.

58. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the selection of the identifier comprises selecting the identifier from a list of identifiers.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the list comprises a subset of a set of identifiers.

60. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the selection of the identifier further comprises selecting the identifier in a random manner from the list.

61. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the list is associated with at least one specified type of access point.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the at least one specified type relates to at least one of the group consisting of:

access point transmit power;

access point mobility; and

whether the access point is restricted to not provide, for at least one node, at least one of;

signaling, data access, registration, paging, or service.

63. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the list is associated with a geographic region.

64. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the list is based on a location of the access point.

65. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises receiving identifier information over-the-air from the at least one other access point.

66. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises receiving identifier information from at least one associated user equipment.

67. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises receiving identifier information via a backhaul.

68. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises receiving at least one neighbor report that includes the at least one identifier.

69. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises receiving at least one identifier of at least one multi-hop neighbor access point.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the at least one identifier of the at least one multi-hop neighbor access point is received via at least one neighbor report.

71. A computer-program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising codes for causing a computer to;

determine, at an access point, at least one identifier transmitted by at least one other access point; and

select an identifier to be transmitted by the access point based on the at least one identifier.

72. The computer-program product of claim 71, wherein the selected identifier comprises a pilot identifier, a physical cell identifier, or a primary scrambling sequence.

73. The computer-program product of claim 72, wherein the access point comprises an eNodeB and the at least one other access point comprises at least one other eNodeB.

74. The computer-program product of claim 72, wherein the selection of the identifier comprises:

receiving a list of physical cell identifiers;

removing, from the list, at least one of the group consisting of;

a physical cell identifier reported by a user equipment, a physical cell identifier reported by a neighbor eNodeB, and a physical cell identifier received over-the-air using a downlink receiver; and

selecting a physical cell identifier for a cell associated with the access point from the list after the removal.

75. The computer-program product of claim 74, wherein the selection of the physical cell identifier comprises randomly selecting a physical cell identifier from the list after the removal.

76. The computer-program product of claim 71, wherein the selection of the identifier comprises selecting an identifier that is not used by the at least one other access point.

77. The computer-program product of claim 71, wherein the selection of the identifier comprises selecting the identifier from a list of identifiers.

78. The computer-program product of claim 77, wherein the list is associated with at least one specified type of access point.

79. The computer-program product of claim 77, wherein the list is based on a location of the access point.

80. The computer-program product of claim 71, wherein the determination of the at least one identifier comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

receiving identifier information over-the-air from the at least one other access point, receiving identifier information from at least one associated user equipment, receiving identifier information via a backhaul, and receiving at least one neighbor report that includes the at least one identifier.