FEMTO CELL SYSTEM SELECTION

• US 20090247157A1
• Filed: 03/25/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Balasubramanian, Srinivasan, Yoon, Young C.
• Application Number:
  US12/410,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20090247157A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate identifying and/or selecting femto cells in a wireless communication environment. A mobile device can scan an Auxiliary Pilot Channel to detect auxiliary pilot channel information (e.g., a particular Walsh Code, . . . ) sent from a base station. Moreover, the identified auxiliary pilot channel information can be evaluated to detect a characteristic of the base station. For instance, the identified auxiliary pilot channel information can be compared with stored auxiliary pilot channel information (e.g., Walsh Code(s) included in a whitelist, blacklist, . . . ). Moreover, a Synchronization Channel can be read based upon the detected characteristic. Further, a Common Pilot Channel, for example, can be analyzed to search for pseudo-noise (PN) offset(s) reserved for femto cell base stations, and the scan of the Auxiliary Pilot Channel can be initiated in response to detecting at least one reserved PN offset.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

scanning an Auxiliary Pilot Channel to identify auxiliary pilot channel information sent from a base station;

comparing the identified auxiliary pilot channel information with stored auxiliary pilot channel information to detect a characteristic of the base station; and

reading a broadcast channel that provides general base station identity related information based upon the detected characteristic of the base station.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

evaluating a Common Pilot Channel to search for at least one pseudo-noise (PN) offset reserved for femto cell base stations; and

initiating the scan of the Auxiliary Pilot Channel upon detecting one of the at least one PN offset reserved for femto cell base stations.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising continuously scanning the Auxiliary Pilot Channel.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising commencing the scan of the Auxiliary Pilot Channel based upon at least one of location information retained in a database for mobile-assisted discovery and selection or initiation of an off frequency search (OFS).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the base station is at least one of a base station type, an association type of the base station, or a unique identity corresponding to the base station.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified auxiliary pilot channel information comprises a particular, recognized Walsh Code from a set of possible Walsh Codes and the stored auxiliary pilot channel information comprises one or more predefined Walsh Codes.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predefined Walsh Codes are included in a whitelist, and each of the predefined Walsh Codes corresponds to a respective, accessible femto cell base station.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the predefined Walsh Codes are included in a blacklist, and each of the predefined Walsh Codes corresponds to a respective, non-accessible femto cell base station.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the predefined Walsh Codes comprise at least one of a first reserved Walsh Code that indicates an open association or a second reserved Walsh Code that signifies a signaling association.

10. The method of claim 6, comparing the identified auxiliary pilot channel information with the stored auxiliary pilot channel information further comprises evaluating whether the particular, recognized Walsh Code matches one of the predefined Walsh Codes.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast channel that provides general base station identity related information is a Synchronization (Sync) Channel.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising reading the Sync Channel upon detecting that the base station employs open association.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising reading the Sync Channel upon detecting that the base station utilizes restricted association and is accessible.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising updating the stored auxiliary pilot channel information upon recognizing an invalid identifier corresponding to the base station from the Sync Channel read.

15. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

collect information sent by a base station via a physical layer broadcast channel; and

detect at least one of a type of the base station, an association type supported by the base station, or a unique identity that distinguishes the base station from disparate base stations as a function of the collected information obtained via the physical layer broadcast channel.

16. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein the physical layer broadcast channel is one of an Auxiliary Pilot Channel, a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Secondary Common Pilot Channel, or a femto pilot transmitted via a physical layer broadcast control channel.

17. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

read a Synchronization (Sync) Channel based upon the detection of at least one of the type of the base station, the association type supported by the base station, or the unique identity.

18. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

search a Common Pilot Channel for at least one pseudo-noise (PN) offset reserved for femto cell base stations; and

initiate a scan of the physical layer broadcast channel to collect the information upon detecting one of the at least one PN offset reserved for femto cell base stations.

19. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

constantly scan the physical layer broadcast channel for the information sent by the base station.

20. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

compare the collected information sent by the base station with stored information, wherein the collected information includes a particular Walsh Code assigned to the base station and the stored information includes one or more predefined Walsh Codes retained in memory.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

means for recognizing a received Walsh Code from a scan of an Auxiliary Pilot Channel;

means for evaluating the received Walsh Code to identify a characteristic of a broadcasting base station; and

means for selecting to read a Synchronization (Sync) Channel as a function of the identified characteristic.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising means for monitoring a Common Pilot Channel for a reserved pseudo-noise (PN) offset pertaining to a femto cell base station.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the scan of the Auxiliary Pilot Channel begins upon detection of the reserved PN offset.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the scan of the Auxiliary Pilot Channel is continuous.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the scan of the Auxiliary Pilot Channel is commenced based upon at least one of location information retained in a database for mobile-assisted discovery and selection or initiation of an off frequency search (OFS).

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the characteristic of the base station is at least one of a base station type, an association type of the base station, or a unique identity corresponding to the base station.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the received Walsh Code is recognized over multiple consecutive Auxiliary Pilot periods.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein a given Walsh Code used by a particular femto cell base station is automatically learned, and the given Walsh Code is compared with the received Walsh Code to identify whether the broadcasting base station is the particular femto cell base station.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the received Walsh Code is compared with at least one of a first reserved Walsh Code that indicates an open association or a second reserved Walsh Code that signifies a signaling association.

30. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to analyze an Auxiliary Pilot Channel to identify auxiliary pilot channel information sent from a base station;

code for causing at least one computer to compare the identified auxiliary pilot channel information with stored auxiliary pilot channel information to detect a characteristic of the base station; and

code for causing at least one computer to read a broadcast channel that provides general base station identity related information based upon the detected characteristic of the base station.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

code for causing at least one computer to search for at least one pseudo-noise (PN) offset reserved for femto cell base stations upon a Common Pilot Channel; and

code for causing at least one computer to commence analyzing the Auxiliary Pilot Channel upon identifying one of the at least one PN offset reserved for femto cell base stations.

32. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the characteristic of the base station is at least one of a base station type, an association type of the base station, or a unique identity corresponding to the base station.

33. An apparatus, comprising:

an auxiliary pilot detection component that scans a physical layer broadcast channel to identify physical layer broadcast channel information sent by a base station;

a comparison component that evaluates the received physical layer broadcast channel information to recognize at least one characteristic of the base station by comparing the received physical layer broadcast channel information to stored physical layer broadcast channel information; and

a registration component that initiates registration with the base station as a function of the at least one characteristic.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a common pilot evaluation component that identifies a pseudo-noise (PN) offset from a received pilot sequence and recognizes whether the identified PN offset is a reserved PN offset used for femto cell indication.

35. A method, comprising:

selecting a Walsh Code from a set of Walsh Codes as a function of a characteristic of a base station;

generating a unique Auxiliary Pilot based upon the selected Walsh Code; and

broadcasting the unique Auxiliary Pilot to at least one mobile device to indicate the characteristic.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the characteristic of the base station is at least one of a base station type, an association type of the base station, or a unique identity corresponding to the base station.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

selecting a first reserved Walsh Code from the set of Walsh Codes to indicate that open association is leveraged by the base station; and

selecting a second reserved Walsh Code from the set of Walsh Codes to indicate that signaling association is utilized by the base station.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the selected Walsh Code is assigned to the base station.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising transmitting a Common Pilot that incorporates a reserved pseudo-noise (PN) offset when the base station is a femto cell base station.

40. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

generate an Auxiliary Pilot based upon a Walsh Code from a Walsh Code space assigned to a base station; and

transmit the Auxiliary Pilot to one or more mobile devices to designate a characteristic of the base station as a function of the assigned Walsh Code.

41. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 40, wherein the Walsh Code space is partitioned to include a first subset of Walsh Codes for femto related use and a second subset of Walsh Codes for non-femto related use.

42. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 40, wherein the characteristic of the base station is at least one of a base station type, an association type of the base station, or a unique identity corresponding to the base station.

43. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 40, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

broadcast a Common Pilot that incorporates a reserved pseudo-noise (PN) offset when the base station is a femto cell base station.

44. An apparatus, comprising:

means for obtaining an assigned Walsh Code at a base station;

means for yielding a unique Auxiliary Pilot as a function of the assigned Walsh Code; and

means for transmitting the unique Auxiliary Pilot to one or more mobile devices to identify a characteristic of the base station.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising means for transferring a Common Pilot with a reserved pseudo-noise (PN) offset to indicate that the base station is a femto cell base station.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the characteristic of the base station is at least one of a base station type, an association type of the base station, or a unique identity corresponding to the base station.

47. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to generate a unique Auxiliary Pilot based upon an assigned Walsh Code, the Walsh Code being assigned as a function of a characteristic of a base station; and

code for causing at least one computer to broadcast the unique Auxiliary Pilot to at least one mobile device to indicate the characteristic.

48. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the characteristic of the base station is at least one of a base station type, an association type of the base station, or a unique identity corresponding to the base station.

49. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing at least one computer to transfer a Common Pilot with a reserved pseudo-noise (PN) offset to indicate that the base station is a femto cell base station.

50. An apparatus, comprising:

a common pilot generation component that yields a pilot sequence with a particular pseudo-noise (PN) offset reserved for femto cell base stations for transmission from a base station to at least one mobile device; and

an auxiliary pilot generation component that yields information related to the base station for transmission via a physical layer broadcast channel, the information specifies at least one of the base station is a femto cell base station, an association type of the base station, or a unique identifier of the base station.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising a code assignment component that dynamically selects a particular Walsh Code from a set of possible Walsh Codes, the particular Walsh Code being the information related to the base station.