Interference Mitigation in Wireless Networks

• US 20090170440A1
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Airvana Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Eyuboglu, Vedat, Humblet, Pierre A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,835,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/63.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/06 Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0241 where no transmission is received, e.g. out of range of the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method of mitigating interference between a private access point and an access terminal in a radio access network, where the private access point uses a shared carrier frequency that is shared with a macro access point, and where the access terminal has an idle operational state and an active operational state, includes directing the access terminal to move to a first carrier frequency other than the shared carrier frequency if the access terminal operates on the shared carrier frequency in the active operational state. The access terminal is configured to communicate with the macro access point and the access terminal is not authorized to communicate with the private access point. N carrier frequencies are used by the macro access point, where N≧2.

Claims

1. A method of mitigating interference between a private access point and an access terminal in a radio access network, the private access point using a shared carrier frequency that is shared with a macro access point, the access terminal having an idle operational state and an active operational state, the method comprising:

directing the access terminal to move to a first carrier frequency other than the shared carrier frequency if the access terminal operates on the shared carrier frequency in the active operational state;

wherein the access terminal is configured to communicate with the macro access point and the access terminal is not authorized to communicate with the private access point;

wherein N carrier frequencies are used by the macro access point; and

wherein N≧

2.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring a first carrier list for broadcast on a second carrier frequency other than the shared carrier frequency by the macro access point to the access terminal in the idle operational state of the access terminal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first carrier list does not include the shared carrier frequency.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein configuring the first carrier list for broadcast by the macro access point to the access terminal in the idle operational state of the access terminal comprises:

configuring a set of N carrier lists for broadcast by the macro access point;

wherein each particular carrier list of the set of N carrier lists is broadcast by the macro access point on a corresponding particular different carrier frequency of the N carrier frequencies used by the macro access point;

wherein the N carrier frequencies comprise the shared carrier frequency and the first carrier frequency; and

wherein the set of N carrier lists comprises the first carrier list and a second carrier list that is broadcast by the macro access point on the shared carrier frequency.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the access terminal is configured to select an idling carrier frequency from a received carrier list of the set of N carrier lists based on an algorithm;

wherein the access terminal receives the received carrier list from the macro access point;

wherein the access terminal is configured to idle on the idling carrier frequency in the idle operational state of the access terminal.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein all carrier lists of the set of N carrier lists comprise no more than N−

1 carrier list elements;

wherein the N−

1 carrier list elements correspond to certain carrier frequencies of the N carrier frequencies; and

wherein all carrier lists of the set of N carrier lists do not include the shared carrier frequency as one of the N−

1 carrier list elements.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein all carrier lists of the set of N carrier lists comprise N carrier list elements;

wherein the N carrier list elements correspond to certain carrier frequencies of the N carrier frequencies;

wherein different carrier lists of the set of N carrier lists are permitted to have different elements from one another; and

wherein the second carrier list comprises the shared carrier frequency as one of the N carrier list elements.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein configuring the set of N carrier lists for broadcast by the macro access point comprises:

removing the shared carrier frequency from the first carrier list; and

replacing the shared carrier frequency in the first carrier list with the second carrier frequency on which the first carrier list is broadcast by the macro access point, so that the second carrier frequency appears at least two times in the first carrier list.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein configuring the set of N carrier lists for broadcast by the macro access point further comprises:

removing the second carrier frequency from a third carrier list of the set of N carrier lists;

removing the second carrier frequency from the second carrier list; and

replacing the second carrier frequency in the third carrier list and the second carrier list with the shared carrier frequency, so that the shared carrier frequency appears at least two times in the third carrier list and the second carrier list.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the private access point is configured to direct the access terminal to move to the second carrier frequency if the private access point determines that the access terminal is within range of the private access point on the shared carrier frequency in the idle operational state of the access terminal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the private access point is configured to direct the access terminal to move to the second carrier frequency based on the replacement of the shared carrier frequency in the first carrier list with the second carrier frequency.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sending a paging message to the access terminal based on a registration message received from the access terminal;

wherein the access terminal is configured to send the registration message to the macro access point in response to the access terminal being directed by the private access point to move to the second carrier frequency.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sending a paging message to the access terminal on at least the shared carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency of the N carrier frequencies.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

configuring a roaming list for a set of access terminals;

wherein the set of access terminals comprises the access terminal; and

assigning the second carrier frequency a reduced priority in the roaming list so that the set of access terminals is less likely to receive the first carrier list from the macro access point.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

configuring an additional carrier list for broadcast by the macro access point so that a set of N+1 carrier lists is configured for broadcast by the macro access point;

wherein the set of N+1 carrier lists comprises the set of N carrier lists;

wherein all carrier lists of the set of N+1 carrier lists comprise N+1 carrier list elements;

wherein a second shared carrier frequency is an additional frequency used by the macro access point so that N+1 carrier frequencies are used by the macro access point;

wherein the N+1 carrier frequencies comprise the N carrier frequencies;

removing the second shared carrier frequency from the first carrier list;

wherein a second private access point and the macro access point both use the second shared carrier frequency; and

replacing the second shared carrier frequency in the first carrier list with the second carrier frequency on which the first carrier list is broadcast by the macro access point, so that the second carrier frequency appears at least three times in the first carrier list.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

configuring an additional carrier list for broadcast by the macro access point so that a set of N+1 carrier lists is configured for broadcast by the macro access point;

wherein the set of N+1 carrier lists comprises the set of N carrier lists;

wherein all carrier lists of the set of N+1 carrier lists comprise N+1 carrier list elements;

wherein a second shared carrier frequency is an additional frequency used by the macro access point so that N+1 carrier frequencies are used by the macro access point;

wherein the N+1 carrier frequencies comprise the N carrier frequencies;

removing the second shared carrier frequency from a third carrier list of the set of N+1 carrier lists;

wherein a second private access point and the macro access point both use the second shared carrier frequency; and

replacing the second shared carrier frequency in the third carrier list with a third carrier frequency on which the third carrier list is broadcast by the macro access point, so that the second carrier frequency appears at least two times in the third carrier list.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the access terminal is within range of the private access point in the active operational state of the access terminal;

wherein the directing is performed if the access terminal is determined to be within range of the private access point; and

wherein the private access point does not use the first carrier frequency.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more reports from the access terminal;

wherein the access terminal is operating on the shared carrier frequency in the active operational state;

wherein the directing is performed based on at least one report of the one or more reports received from the access terminal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the directing is performed if the at least one report of the one or more reports received from the access terminal indicates that the access terminal is likely to be within range of the private access point.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more reports comprise a first report sent by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency;

and

wherein the first report comprises measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

analyzing the first report;

wherein the directing is performed based on the first report only, without knowledge of signal measurements on carrier frequencies of the N frequencies other than the shared carrier frequency.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first carrier frequency is known to a macro controller to be a dedicated macro carrier frequency;

wherein the private access point does not use the first carrier frequency.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the one or more reports further comprise additional reports sent by the access terminal;

wherein the additional reports comprise measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on one or more carrier frequencies of the N frequencies other than the shared carrier frequency; and

wherein the private access point does not use the one or more carrier frequencies.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the access terminal is configured to send the additional reports independently of being requested to do so.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the access terminal is configured to compare measurements of received signals on the shared carrier frequency to one or more thresholds and to send the additional reports based a result of the comparison.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports comprises:

analyzing the first report; and

requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports responsively to analysis of the first report.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports comprises:

periodically requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports.

29. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

in an idle to active state of the access terminal,

allocating a fourth carrier frequency to the access terminal for use by the access terminal in the active operational state of the access terminal.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the configuring, the directing, and the allocating are performed by a macro controller via the macro access point.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the configuring, the directing, and the allocating are performed by the macro access point.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the fourth carrier frequency comprises one of the shared carrier frequency, the first carrier frequency, or the second carrier frequency.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the allocating comprises:

allocating the fourth carrier frequency to the access terminal based on a carrier frequency allocation algorithm.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the carrier frequency allocation algorithm is based on the carrier frequency utilization of a set of access terminals communicating with the macro access point at corresponding carrier frequencies of the N carrier frequencies.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

if the fourth carrier frequency allocated to the access terminal comprises the shared carrier frequency, then;

analyzing a report sent by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency;

wherein the report comprises measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency; and

directing the access terminal to move to the first carrier frequency other than the shared carrier frequency if the report indicates that the access terminal is likely to be within range of the private access point.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the allocating comprises:

receiving a request for a traffic channel from the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency; and

allocating the fourth carrier frequency to the access terminal based on the request;

wherein the fourth carrier frequency comprises the shared carrier frequency.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the allocating comprises:

allocating the fourth carrier frequency to the access terminal according to an idling carrier frequency used by the access terminal in the idle operational state of the access terminal.

38. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

receiving one or more reports from the access terminal;

wherein the access terminal is operating on a fifth carrier frequency other than the shared carrier frequency in the idle operational state;

wherein the fifth carrier frequency is a dedicated macro frequency and the private access point does not use the fifth carrier frequency; and

determining whether to allocate the shared carrier frequency to the access terminal based on at least one report of the one or more reports received from the access terminal.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the shared carrier frequency is allocated to the access terminal if the at least one report of the one or more reports received from the access terminal indicates that the access terminal is unlikely to be within range of the private access point.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the one or more reports comprise a first report sent by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency;

wherein the first report comprises measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

requesting that the access terminal send the first report.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the one or more reports comprise a second report sent by the access terminal on the fifth carrier frequency;

wherein the second report comprises measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on the fifth carrier frequency.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the one or more reports further comprise additional reports sent by the access terminal;

wherein the additional reports comprise measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on one or more carrier frequencies of the N frequencies other than the shared carrier frequency and the fifth carrier frequency; and

wherein the private access point does not use the one or more carrier frequencies.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports comprises:

analyzing the first report;

requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports responsively to analysis of the first report.

46. A computer program product tangibly embodied in one or more information carriers for mitigating interference between a private access point and an access terminal in a radio access network, the private access point using a shared carrier frequency that is shared with a macro access point, the access terminal having an idle operational state and an active operational state, the computer program product comprising instructions that are executable by one or more processing devices to:

direct the access terminal to move to a first carrier frequency other than the shared carrier frequency if the access terminal operates on the shared carrier frequency in the active operational state;

wherein the access terminal is configured to communicate with the macro access point and the access terminal is not authorized to communicate with the private access point;

wherein N carrier frequencies are used by the macro access point; and

wherein N≧

2.

47. The computer program product of claim 46, further comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to:

configure a first carrier list for broadcast on a second carrier frequency other than the shared carrier frequency by the macro access point to the access terminal in the idle operational state of the access terminal.

48. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the first carrier list does not include the shared carrier frequency.

49. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein configuring the first carrier list for broadcast by the macro access point to the access terminal in the idle operational state of the access terminal comprises:

configuring a set of N carrier lists for broadcast by the macro access point;

wherein each particular carrier list of the set of N carrier lists is broadcast by the macro access point on a corresponding particular different carrier frequency of the N carrier frequencies used by the macro access point;

wherein the N carrier frequencies comprise the shared carrier frequency and the first carrier frequency; and

wherein the set of N carrier lists comprises the first carrier list and a second carrier list that is broadcast by the macro access point on the shared carrier frequency.

50. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein the access terminal is configured to select an idling carrier frequency from a received carrier list of the set of N carrier lists based on an algorithm;

wherein the access terminal receives the received carrier list from the macro access point;

wherein the access terminal is configured to idle on the idling carrier frequency in the idle operational state of the access terminal.

51. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein all carrier lists of the set of N carrier lists comprise no more than N−

1 carrier list elements;

wherein the N−

1 carrier list elements correspond to certain carrier frequencies of the N carrier frequencies; and

wherein all carrier lists of the set of N carrier lists do not include the shared carrier frequency as one of the N−

1 carrier list elements.

52. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein all carrier lists of the set of N carrier lists comprise N carrier list elements;

wherein the N carrier list elements correspond to certain carrier frequencies of the N carrier frequencies;

wherein different carrier lists of the set of N carrier lists are permitted to have different elements from one another; and

wherein the second carrier list comprises the shared carrier frequency as one of the N carrier list elements.

53. The computer program product of claim 52, wherein configuring the set of N carrier lists for broadcast by the macro access point comprises:

removing the shared carrier frequency from the first carrier list; and

replacing the shared carrier frequency in the first carrier list with the second carrier frequency on which the first carrier list is broadcast by the macro access point, so that the second carrier frequency appears at least two times in the first carrier list.

54. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein configuring the set of N carrier lists for broadcast by the macro access point further comprises:

removing the second carrier frequency from a third carrier list of the set of N carrier lists;

removing the second carrier frequency from the second carrier list; and

replacing the second carrier frequency in the third carrier list and the second carrier list with the shared carrier frequency, so that the shared carrier frequency appears at least two times in the third carrier list and the second carrier list.

55. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the private access point is configured to direct the access terminal to move to the second carrier frequency if the private access point determines that the access terminal is within range of the private access point on the shared carrier frequency in the idle operational state of the access terminal.

56. The computer program product of claim 55, wherein the private access point is configured to direct the access terminal to move to the second carrier frequency based on the replacement of the shared carrier frequency in the first carrier list with the second carrier frequency.

57. The computer program product of claim 55, further comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to:

send a paging message to the access terminal based on a registration message received from the access terminal;

wherein the access terminal is configured to send the registration message to the macro access point in response to the access terminal being directed by the private access point to move to the second carrier frequency.

58. The computer program product of claim 55, further comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to:

send a paging message to the access terminal on at least the shared carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency of the N carrier frequencies.

59. The computer program product of claim 53, further comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to:

configure a roaming list for a set of access terminals;

wherein the set of access terminals comprises the access terminal; and

assign the second carrier frequency a reduced priority in the roaming list so that the set of access terminals is less likely to receive the first carrier list from the macro access point.

60. The computer program product of claim 53, further comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to:

configure an additional carrier list for broadcast by the macro access point so that a set of N+1 carrier lists is configured for broadcast by the macro access point;

wherein the set of N+1 carrier lists comprises the set of N carrier lists;

wherein all carrier lists of the set of N+1 carrier lists comprise N+1 carrier list elements;

wherein a second shared carrier frequency is an additional frequency used by the macro access point so that N+1 carrier frequencies are used by the macro access point;

wherein the N+1 carrier frequencies comprise the N carrier frequencies;

remove the second shared carrier frequency from the first carrier list;

wherein a second private access point and the macro access point both use the second shared carrier frequency; and

replace the second shared carrier frequency in the first carrier list with the second carrier frequency on which the first carrier list is broadcast by the macro access point, so that the second carrier frequency appears at least three times in the first carrier list.

61. The computer program product of claim 53, further comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to:

configure an additional carrier list for broadcast by the macro access point so that a set of N+1 carrier lists is configured for broadcast by the macro access point;

wherein the set of N+1 carrier lists comprises the set of N carrier lists;

wherein all carrier lists of the set of N+1 carrier lists comprise N+1 carrier list elements;

wherein a second shared carrier frequency is an additional frequency used by the macro access point so that N+1 carrier frequencies are used by the macro access point;

wherein the N+1 carrier frequencies comprise the N carrier frequencies;

remove the second shared carrier frequency from a third carrier list of the set of N+1 carrier lists;

wherein a second private access point and the macro access point both use the second shared carrier frequency; and

replace the second shared carrier frequency in the third carrier list with a third carrier frequency on which the third carrier list is broadcast by the macro access point, so that the second carrier frequency appears at least two times in the third carrier list.

62. The computer program product of claim 46, further comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to:

determine whether the access terminal is within range of the private access point in the active operational state of the access terminal;

wherein the directing is performed if the access terminal is determined to be within range of the private access point; and

wherein the private access point does not use the first carrier frequency.

63. The computer program product of claim 46, further comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to:

receive one or more reports from the access terminal;

wherein the access terminal is operating on the shared carrier frequency in the active operational state;

wherein the directing is performed based on at least one report of the one or more reports received from the access terminal.

64. The computer program product of claim 63, wherein the directing is performed if the at least one report of the one or more reports received from the access terminal indicates that the access terminal is likely to be within range of the private access point.

65. The computer program product of claim 63, wherein the one or more reports comprise a first report sent by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency;

and

wherein the first report comprises measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency.

66. The computer program product of claim 65, further comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to:

analyze the first report;

wherein the directing is performed based on the first report only, without knowledge of signal measurements on carrier frequencies of the N frequencies other than the shared carrier frequency.

67. The computer program product of claim 66, wherein the first carrier frequency is known to a macro controller to be a dedicated macro carrier frequency;

wherein the private access point does not use the first carrier frequency.

68. The computer program product of claim 65, wherein the one or more reports further comprise additional reports sent by the access terminal;

wherein the additional reports comprise measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on one or more carrier frequencies of the N frequencies other than the shared carrier frequency; and

wherein the private access point does not use the one or more carrier frequencies.

69. The computer program product of claim 68, wherein the access terminal is configured to send the additional reports independently of being requested to do so.

70. The computer program product of claim 69, wherein the access terminal is configured to compare measurements of received signals on the shared carrier frequency to one or more thresholds and to send the additional reports based a result of the comparison.

71. The computer program product of claim 68, further comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to:

request that the access terminal send the additional reports.

72. The computer program product of claim 71, wherein requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports comprises:

analyzing the first report; and

requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports responsively to analysis of the first report.

73. The computer program product of claim 71, wherein requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports comprises:

periodically requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports.

74. The computer program product of claim 47, further comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to:

in an idle to active state of the access terminal,

allocate a fourth carrier frequency to the access terminal for use by the access terminal in the active operational state of the access terminal.

75. The computer program product of claim 74, wherein the configuring, the directing, and the allocating are performed by a macro controller via the macro access point.

76. The computer program product of claim 74, wherein the configuring, the directing, and the allocating are performed by the macro access point.

77. The computer program product of claim 74, wherein the fourth carrier frequency comprises one of the shared carrier frequency, the first carrier frequency, or the second carrier frequency.

78. The computer program product of claim 74, wherein the allocating comprises:

allocating the fourth carrier frequency to the access terminal based on a carrier frequency allocation algorithm.

79. The computer program product of claim 78, wherein the carrier frequency allocation algorithm is based on the carrier frequency utilization of a set of access terminals communicating with the macro access point at corresponding carrier frequencies of the N carrier frequencies.

80. The computer program product of claim 78, further comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to:

if the fourth carrier frequency allocated to the access terminal comprises the shared carrier frequency, then;

analyze a report sent by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency;

wherein the report comprises measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency; and

direct the access terminal to move to the first carrier frequency other than the shared carrier frequency if the report indicates that the access terminal is likely to be within range of the private access point.

81. The computer program product of claim 74, wherein the allocating comprises:

receiving a request for a traffic channel from the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency; and

allocating the fourth carrier frequency to the access terminal based on the request;

wherein the fourth carrier frequency comprises the shared carrier frequency.

82. The computer program product of claim 74, wherein the allocating comprises:

allocating the fourth carrier frequency to the access terminal according to an idling carrier frequency used by the access terminal in the idle operational state of the access terminal.

83. The computer program product of claim 74, further comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to:

receive one or more reports from the access terminal;

wherein the access terminal is operating on a fifth carrier frequency other than the shared carrier frequency in the idle operational state;

wherein the fifth carrier frequency is a dedicated macro frequency and the private access point does not use the fifth carrier frequency; and

determine whether to allocate the shared carrier frequency to the access terminal based on at least one report of the one or more reports received from the access terminal.

84. The computer program product of claim 83, wherein the shared carrier frequency is allocated to the access terminal if the at least one report of the one or more reports received from the access terminal indicates that the access terminal is unlikely to be within range of the private access point.

85. The computer program product of claim 83, wherein the one or more reports comprise a first report sent by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency;

wherein the first report comprises measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency.

86. The computer program product of claim 85, further comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to:

request that the access terminal send the first report.

87. The computer program product of claim 83, wherein the one or more reports comprise a second report sent by the access terminal on the fifth carrier frequency;

wherein the second report comprises measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on the fifth carrier frequency.

88. The computer program product of claim 83, wherein the one or more reports further comprise additional reports sent by the access terminal;

wherein the additional reports comprise measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on one or more carrier frequencies of the N frequencies other than the shared carrier frequency and the fifth carrier frequency; and

wherein the private access point does not use the one or more carrier frequencies.

89. The computer program product of claim 88, further comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to:

request that the access terminal send the additional reports.

90. The computer program product of claim 89, wherein requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports comprises:

analyzing the first report;

requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports responsively to analysis of the first report.

91. A system for mitigating interference between a private access point and an access terminal in a radio access network, the private access point using a shared carrier frequency that is shared with a macro access point, the access terminal having an idle operational state and an active operational state, the system comprising:

a macro controller comprising;

memory configured to store instructions for execution; and

one or more processing devices configured to execute the instructions, the instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to;

direct the access terminal to move to a first carrier frequency other than the shared carrier frequency if the access terminal operates on the shared carrier frequency in the active operational state;

wherein the access terminal is configured to communicate with the macro access point and the access terminal is not authorized to communicate with the private access point;

wherein N carrier frequencies are used by the macro access point; and

wherein N≧

2.

92. The system of claim 91, wherein the instructions for execution further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

configure a first carrier list for broadcast on a second carrier frequency other than the shared carrier frequency by the macro access point to the access terminal in the idle operational state of the access terminal.

93. The system of claim 92, wherein the first carrier list does not include the shared carrier frequency.

94. The system of claim 92, wherein configuring the first carrier list for broadcast by the macro access point to the access terminal in the idle operational state of the access terminal comprises:

configuring a set of N carrier lists for broadcast by the macro access point;

wherein each particular carrier list of the set of N carrier lists is broadcast by the macro access point on a corresponding particular different carrier frequency of the N carrier frequencies used by the macro access point;

wherein the N carrier frequencies comprise the shared carrier frequency and the first carrier frequency; and

wherein the set of N carrier lists comprises the first carrier list and a second carrier list that is broadcast by the macro access point on the shared carrier frequency.

95. The system of claim 94, wherein the access terminal is configured to select an idling carrier frequency from a received carrier list of the set of N carrier lists based on an algorithm;

wherein the access terminal receives the received carrier list from the macro access point;

wherein the access terminal is configured to idle on the idling carrier frequency in the idle operational state of the access terminal.

96. The system of claim 94, wherein all carrier lists of the set of N carrier lists comprise no more than N−

1 carrier list elements;

wherein the N−

1 carrier list elements correspond to certain carrier frequencies of the N carrier frequencies; and

wherein all carrier lists of the set of N carrier lists do not include the shared carrier frequency as one of the N−

1 carrier list elements.

97. The system of claim 94, wherein all carrier lists of the set of N carrier lists comprise N carrier list elements;

wherein the N carrier list elements correspond to certain carrier frequencies of the N carrier frequencies;

wherein different carrier lists of the set of N carrier lists are permitted to have different elements from one another; and

wherein the second carrier list comprises the shared carrier frequency as one of the N carrier list elements.

98. The system of claim 97, wherein configuring the set of N carrier lists for broadcast by the macro access point comprises:

removing the shared carrier frequency from the first carrier list; and

replacing the shared carrier frequency in the first carrier list with the second carrier frequency on which the first carrier list is broadcast by the macro access point, so that the second carrier frequency appears at least two times in the first carrier list.

99. The system of claim 98, wherein configuring the set of N carrier lists for broadcast by the macro access point further comprises:

removing the second carrier frequency from a third carrier list of the set of N carrier lists;

removing the second carrier frequency from the second carrier list; and

replacing the second carrier frequency in the third carrier list and the second carrier list with the shared carrier frequency, so that the shared carrier frequency appears at least two times in the third carrier list and the second carrier list.

100. The system of claim 98, wherein the private access point is configured to direct the access terminal to move to the second carrier frequency if the private access point determines that the access terminal is within range of the private access point on the shared carrier frequency in the idle operational state of the access terminal.

101. The system of claim 100, wherein the private access point is configured to direct the access terminal to move to the second carrier frequency based on the replacement of the shared carrier frequency in the first carrier list with the second carrier frequency.

102. The system of claim 101, further comprising:

the private access point.

103. The system of claim 100, wherein the instructions for execution further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

send a paging message to the access terminal based on a registration message received from the access terminal;

wherein the access terminal is configured to send the registration message to the macro access point in response to the access terminal being directed by the private access point to move to the second carrier frequency.

104. The system of claim 100, wherein the instructions for execution further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

send a paging message to the access terminal on at least the shared carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency of the N carrier frequencies.

105. The system of claim 98, wherein the instructions for execution further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

configure a roaming list for a set of access terminals;

wherein the set of access terminals comprises the access terminal; and

assign the second carrier frequency a reduced priority in the roaming list so that the set of access terminals is less likely to receive the first carrier list from the macro access point.

106. The system of claim 98, wherein the instructions for execution further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

configure an additional carrier list for broadcast by the macro access point so that a set of N+1 carrier lists is configured for broadcast by the macro access point;

wherein the set of N+1 carrier lists comprises the set of N carrier lists;

wherein all carrier lists of the set of N+1 carrier lists comprise N+1 carrier list elements;

wherein a second shared carrier frequency is an additional frequency used by the macro access point so that N+1 carrier frequencies are used by the macro access point;

wherein the N+1 carrier frequencies comprise the N carrier frequencies;

remove the second shared carrier frequency from the first carrier list;

wherein a second private access point and the macro access point both use the second shared carrier frequency; and

replace the second shared carrier frequency in the first carrier list with the second carrier frequency on which the first carrier list is broadcast by the macro access point, so that the second carrier frequency appears at least three times in the first carrier list.

107. The system of claim 98, wherein the instructions for execution further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

configure an additional carrier list for broadcast by the macro access point so that a set of N+1 carrier lists is configured for broadcast by the macro access point;

wherein the set of N+1 carrier lists comprises the set of N carrier lists;

wherein all carrier lists of the set of N+1 carrier lists comprise N+1 carrier list elements;

wherein a second shared carrier frequency is an additional frequency used by the macro access point so that N+1 carrier frequencies are used by the macro access point;

wherein the N+1 carrier frequencies comprise the N carrier frequencies;

remove the second shared carrier frequency from a third carrier list of the set of N+1 carrier lists;

wherein a second private access point and the macro access point both use the second shared carrier frequency; and

replace the second shared carrier frequency in the third carrier list with a third carrier frequency on which the third carrier list is broadcast by the macro access point, so that the second carrier frequency appears at least two times in the third carrier list.

108. The system of claim 91, wherein the instructions for execution further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

determine whether the access terminal is within range of the private access point in the active operational state of the access terminal;

wherein the directing is performed if the access terminal is determined to be within range of the private access point; and

wherein the private access point does not use the first carrier frequency.

109. The system of claim 91, wherein the instructions for execution further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

receive one or more reports from the access terminal;

wherein the access terminal is operating on the shared carrier frequency in the active operational state;

wherein the directing is performed based on at least one report of the one or more reports received from the access terminal.

110. The system of claim 109, wherein the directing is performed if the at least one report of the one or more reports received from the access terminal indicates that the access terminal is likely to be within range of the private access point.

111. The system of claim 109, wherein the one or more reports comprise a first report sent by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency;

and

wherein the first report comprises measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency.

112. The system of claim 111, wherein the instructions for execution further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

analyze the first report;

wherein the directing is performed based on the first report only, without knowledge of signal measurements on carrier frequencies of the N frequencies other than the shared carrier frequency.

113. The system of claim 112, wherein the first carrier frequency is known to the macro controller to be a dedicated macro carrier frequency;

wherein the private access point does not use the first carrier frequency.

114. The system of claim 111, wherein the one or more reports further comprise additional reports sent by the access terminal;

wherein the additional reports comprise measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on one or more carrier frequencies of the N frequencies other than the shared carrier frequency; and

wherein the private access point does not use the one or more carrier frequencies.

115. The system of claim 114, wherein the access terminal is configured to send the additional reports independently of being requested to do so.

116. The system of claim 115, wherein the access terminal is configured to compare measurements of received signals on the shared carrier frequency to one or more thresholds and to send the additional reports based a result of the comparison.

117. The system of claim 114, wherein the instructions for execution further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

request that the access terminal send the additional reports.

118. The system of claim 117, wherein requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports comprises:

analyzing the first report; and

requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports responsively to analysis of the first report.

119. The system of claim 117, wherein requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports comprises:

periodically requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports.

120. The system of claim 92, wherein the instructions for execution further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

in an idle to active state of the access terminal,

allocate a fourth carrier frequency to the access terminal for use by the access terminal in the active operational state of the access terminal.

121. The system of claim 91, wherein the macro access point comprises the macro controller.

122. The system of claim 91, wherein the macro access point is configured to communicate with the macro controller over a backhaul connection.

123. The system of claim 120, wherein the fourth carrier frequency comprises one of the shared carrier frequency, the first carrier frequency, or the second carrier frequency.

124. The system of claim 120, wherein the allocating comprises:

allocating the fourth carrier frequency to the access terminal based on a carrier frequency allocation algorithm.

125. The system of claim 124, wherein the carrier frequency allocation algorithm is based on the carrier frequency utilization of a set of access terminals communicating with the macro access point at corresponding carrier frequencies of the N carrier frequencies.

126. The system of claim 124, wherein the instructions for execution further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

if the fourth carrier frequency allocated to the access terminal comprises the shared carrier frequency, then;

analyze a report sent by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency;

wherein the report comprises measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency; and

direct the access terminal to move to the first carrier frequency other than the shared carrier frequency if the report indicates that the access terminal is likely to be within range of the private access point.

127. The system of claim 120, wherein the allocating comprises:

receiving a request for a traffic channel from the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency; and

allocating the fourth carrier frequency to the access terminal based on the request;

wherein the fourth carrier frequency comprises the shared carrier frequency.

128. The system of claim 120, wherein the allocating comprises:

allocating the fourth carrier frequency to the access terminal according to an idling carrier frequency used by the access terminal in the idle operational state of the access terminal.

129. The system of claim 120, wherein the instructions for execution further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

receive one or more reports from the access terminal;

wherein the access terminal is operating on a fifth carrier frequency other than the shared carrier frequency in the idle operational state;

wherein the fifth carrier frequency is a dedicated macro frequency and the private access point does not use the fifth carrier frequency; and

determine whether to allocate the shared carrier frequency to the access terminal based on at least one report of the one or more reports received from the access terminal.

130. The system of claim 129, wherein the shared carrier frequency is allocated to the access terminal if the at least one report of the one or more reports received from the access terminal indicates that the access terminal is unlikely to be within range of the private access point.

131. The system of claim 129, wherein the one or more reports comprise a first report sent by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency;

wherein the first report comprises measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on the shared carrier frequency.

132. The system of claim 131, wherein the instructions for execution further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

request that the access terminal send the first report.

133. The system of claim 129, wherein the one or more reports comprise a second report sent by the access terminal on the fifth carrier frequency;

wherein the second report comprises measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on the fifth carrier frequency.

134. The system of claim 129, wherein the one or more reports further comprise additional reports sent by the access terminal;

wherein the additional reports comprise measurements of one or more signals received by the access terminal on one or more carrier frequencies of the N frequencies other than the shared carrier frequency and the fifth carrier frequency; and

wherein the private access point does not use the one or more carrier frequencies.

135. The system of claim 134, wherein the instructions for execution further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

request that the access terminal send the additional reports.

136. The system of claim 135, wherein requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports comprises:

analyzing the first report;

requesting that the access terminal send the additional reports responsively to analysis of the first report.