CELL IDENTIFIER ASSIGNMENT AND SELECTION

• US 20100020710A1
• Filed: 07/17/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Agashe, Parag A., Catovic, Amer, Tinnakornsrisuphap, Peerapol, Gupta, Rajarshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,391,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/0093 Neighbour cell search
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate providing physical cell identifier (PCI) assignment. Neighboring access point parameters can be collected and transmitted to a PCI assigning component, which can generate a PCI based on the parameters as well as other local parameters. The neighboring access point parameters can be received by evaluating signals transmitted by the neighboring access points, from a UE communicating with the neighboring access points, over a backhaul link, etc. The parameters can include signal strength, identification, and/or the like. In addition, prioritized lists of PCIs can be provided to an access point, which can utilize the neighborhood parameters to select an optimal PCI from the list.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

measuring one or more radio frequency (RF) parameters related to one or more neighboring access points; and

transmitting the one or more RF parameters to a network component to receive a physical cell identifier (PCI) assignment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the PCI assignment from the network component comprising one or more PCIs.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising utilizing at least one of the one or more PCIs for communicating in a wireless network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting one or more local parameters to the network component to receive the PCI assignment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring the one or more RF parameters includes measuring a signal strength of the one or more neighboring access points.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring the one or more RF parameters includes evaluating signals received from the one or more neighboring access points.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring the one or more RF parameters includes receiving the RF parameters from a device communicating with the one or more neighboring access points.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring the one or more RF parameters includes receiving the RF parameters from the one or more neighboring access points over a backhaul link.

9. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive one or more radio frequency (RF) parameters related to one or more surrounding access points; and

transmit a request for a physical cell identifier (PCI) to a network component including the one or more RF parameters; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

10. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a PCI from the network component based on the one or more RF parameters.

11. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor transmits one or more local parameters with the request for the PCI.

12. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more RF parameters include a measured signal strength of at least one of the one or more surrounding access points.

13. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor receives the one or more RF parameters at least in part over a backhaul link with the one or more surrounding access points.

14. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor receives the one or more RF parameters from one or more mobile devices that have communicated with the one or more surrounding access points.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

means for obtaining one or more radio frequency (RF) parameters from one or more neighboring access points; and

means for transmitting the one or more RF parameters with a request for a physical cell identifier (PCI).

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for receiving one or more PCIs from a network component wherein the means for transmitting transmits the request to the network component.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus utilizes the one or more PCIs in subsequent communication over a wireless network.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for transmitting one or more local parameters with the request for the PCI.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for obtaining the one or more RF parameters measures a strength of a received signal from the one or more neighboring access points and the strength is an RF parameter transmitted with the request for the PCI.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for obtaining the one or more RF parameters receives the one or more RF parameters over a backhaul link with the one or more neighboring access points.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for obtaining the one or more RF parameters receives the one or more RF parameters from a UE communicating with the one or more neighboring access points.

22. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to measure one or more radio frequency (RF) parameters related to one or more neighboring access points; and

code for causing the at least one computer to transmit the one or more RF parameters to a network component to receive a physical cell identifier (PCI) assignment.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to receive the PCI assignment from the network component comprising one or more PCIs.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to transmit one or more local parameters to the network component to receive the PCI assignment.

25. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the code for causing at least one computer to measure the one or more RF parameters measures a signal strength of the one or more neighboring access points.

26. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the code for causing at least one computer to measure the one or more RF parameters evaluates signals received from the one or more neighboring access points.

27. An apparatus, comprising:

a neighborhood measuring component that receives one or more radio frequency (RF) parameters from one or more neighboring access points; and

a physical cell identifier (PCI) requesting component that transmits the one or more RF parameters with a request for a PCI.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a PCI receiving component that obtains one or more PCIs from a network component to which the PCI requesting component transmits the request.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the apparatus utilizes the one or more PCIs in subsequent communication over a wireless network.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a local parameter component that includes one or more local parameters with the request for the PCI.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the neighborhood measuring component measures a strength of a received signal from the one or more neighboring access points and the strength is an RF parameter transmitted with the request for the PCI.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the neighborhood measuring component receives the one or more RF parameters over a backhaul link with the one or more neighboring access points.

33. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the neighborhood measuring component receives the one or more RF parameters from a UE communicating with the one or more neighboring access points.

34. A method, comprising:

receiving a physical cell identifier (PCI) request from an access point comprising one or more radio frequency (RF) parameters related to one or more neighboring access points;

selecting a PCI for the access point based at least in part on the one or more RF parameters; and

transmitting the PCI to the access point.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising receiving one or more local parameters related to the access point in the PCI request.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the receiving the PCI request from the access point includes receiving the PCI request from the access point comprising the one or more RF parameters that include a strength at the access point of a signal received from at least one of the one or more neighboring access points.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the selecting the PCI includes evaluating whether the strength of the signal is below or above a threshold strength.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the selecting the PCI is further based at least in part on evaluating one or more local parameters received from at least one of the one or more neighboring access points.

39. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a physical cell identifier (PCI) request from an access point comprising one or more radio frequency (RF) parameters related to surrounding access points;

determine a PCI for the access point based at least in part on comparing the one or more RF parameters and available PCIs; and

transmit the PCI to the access point; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

40. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 39, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive one or more local parameters from the access point and the at least one processor determines the PCI further based on the one or more local parameters.

41. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 39, wherein the one or more RF parameters includes a signal strength of at least one of the surrounding access points as received by the access point.

42. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 41, wherein the at least one processor determines the PCI by comparing the signal strength with other signal strengths in the RF parameters and selecting a PCI of a disparate access point having signal strength below a threshold level.

43. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 41, wherein the at least one processor determines the PCI further based at least in part on one or more local parameters received from at least one of the surrounding access points in a PCI request therefrom.

44. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving one or more radio frequency (RF) parameters from an access point related to at least one neighboring access point;

means for selecting a physical cell identifier (PCI) for the access point based at least in part on the one or more RF parameters; and

means for transmitting the PCI to the access point.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the means for receiving the one or more RF parameters further receives one or more local parameters related to the access point and the means for selecting the PCI selects the PCI further based on the one or more local parameters.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the one or more RF parameters is a signal strength related to the at least one neighboring access point.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the means for selecting the PCI selects the PCI of the at least one neighboring access point where the signal strength is below a threshold level.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the means for selecting the PCI selects the PCI of the at least one neighboring access point where the signal strength is lower than substantially all signal strengths received in the one or more RF parameters.

49. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the means for selecting the PCI selects the PCI further based at least in part on one or more local parameters received from the at least one neighboring access point in a previous PCI request.

50. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive a physical cell identifier (PCI) request from an access point comprising one or more radio frequency (RF) parameters related to one or more neighboring access points;

code for causing the at least one computer to select a PCI for the access point based at least in part on the one or more RF parameters; and

code for causing the at least one computer to transmit the PCI to the access point.

51. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to receive one or more local parameters related to the access point in the PCI request.

52. The computer program product of claim 51, wherein code for causing the at least one computer to select the PCI further evaluates one or more disparate local parameters received from at least one of the one or more neighboring access points.

53. An apparatus, comprising:

a physical cell identifier (PCI) parameter receiving component that obtains one or more radio frequency (RF) parameters from an access point related to at least one neighboring access point;

a PCI selecting component that chooses a physical cell identifier (PCI) for the access point based at least in part on the one or more RF parameters; and

a PCI transmitting component that provides the PCI to the access point.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the PCI parameter receiving component further obtains one or more local parameters related to the access point and the PCI selecting component chooses the PCI further based on the one or more local parameters.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the one or more RF parameters is a signal strength related to the at least one neighboring access point.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the PCI selecting component chooses the PCI of the at least one neighboring access point where the signal strength is below a threshold level.

57. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the PCI selecting component chooses the PCI further based at least in part on one or more local parameters received from the at least one neighboring access point in a previous PCI request.

58. A method, comprising:

receiving a list of physical cell identifiers (PCI) from a network component; and

selecting a PCI from the list of PCIs based at least in part on a parameter related to the PCI indicated in the list of PCIs.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the selecting the PCI includes selecting the PCI from the list of PCIs based at least in part on a priority of the PCI in the list of PCIs.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the selecting the PCI includes selecting the PCI from the list of PCIs based at least in part on a probability of disparate access points selecting the PCI.

61. The method of claim 58, further comprising receiving one or more radio frequency (RF) parameters related to one or more neighboring access points, wherein selecting the PCI further includes evaluating the one or more RF parameters where respective access points use the PCI.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the receiving the one or more RF parameters includes receiving the one or more RF parameters at least in part by measuring signals transmitted by the one or more neighboring access points.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the receiving the one or more RF parameters includes receiving the one or more RF parameters from one or more UEs communicating with the one or more neighboring access points.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein receiving the one or more RF parameters includes receiving the one or more RF parameters over a backhaul link with the one or more neighboring access points.

65. The method of claim 58, further comprising transmitting a PCI request to the network component comprising one or more local parameters, wherein the list of PCIs is received in response to the PCI request.

66. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a list of physical cell identifiers (PCI) from a network component; and

select a PCI from the list of PCIs based on an associated parameter in the list to facilitate communicating in a wireless network; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

67. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 66, wherein the associated parameter is a priority of the PCI in the list.

68. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 66, wherein the associated parameter is a probability that one or more access points will select the PCI.

69. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 66, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive one or more radio frequency (RF) parameters from surrounding access points and the at least one processor selects the PCI further based on the one or more RF parameters.

70. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 69, wherein the at least one processor receives the one or more RF parameters from a UE communicating with the surrounding access points.

71. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 66, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit a PCI request to the network component comprising one or more local parameters and the at least one processor receives the list of PCIs in response to the PCI request.

72. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a list of physical cell identifiers (PCI) from a network component; and

means for selecting a PCI in the list of PCIs for communicating in a wireless network according to a parameter of the PCI specified in the list of PCIs.

73. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the parameter is a priority of the PCI in the list of PCIs.

74. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the parameter is a probability that one or more disparate access points with select the PCI.

75. The apparatus of claim 72, further comprising means for receiving one or more radio frequency (RF) parameters related to one or more neighboring access points, wherein the means for selecting the PCI in the list of PCIs evaluates the one or more RF parameters where respective access points use the PCI in selecting the PCI.

76. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the means for receiving the one or more RF parameters measures signals transmitted by the one or more neighboring access points to obtain the RF parameters.

77. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the means for receiving the one or more RF parameters receives the one or more RF parameters from one or more UEs communicating with the one or more neighboring access points.

78. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the means for receiving the one or more RF parameters receives the one or more RF parameters over a backhaul link with the one or more neighboring access points.

79. The apparatus of claim 72, further comprising means for transmitting a PCI request to the network component comprising one or more local parameters, wherein the means for receiving the list of PCIs receives the list in response to the PCI request.

80. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the apparatus utilizes the selected PCI in subsequent communication over the wireless network.

81. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive a list of physical cell identifiers (PCI) from a network component; and

code for causing the at least one computer to select a PCI from the list of PCIs based at least in part on a parameter of the PCI indicated in the list of PCIs.

82. The computer program product of claim 81, wherein the parameter is a priority of the PCI in the list of PCIs.

83. The computer program product of claim 81, wherein the parameter is a probability of disparate access points selecting the PCI.

84. The computer program product of claim 81, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to receive one or more radio frequency (RF) parameters related to one or more neighboring access points, wherein selecting the PCI further includes evaluating the one or more RF parameters where respective access points use the PCI.

85. The computer program product of claim 84, wherein the code for causing the computer to receive the one or more RF parameters receives the one or more RF parameters at least in part by measuring signals transmitted by the one or more neighboring access points.

86. The computer program product of claim 81, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to transmit a PCI request to the network component comprising one or more local parameters, wherein the list of PCIs is received in response to the PCI request.

87. An apparatus, comprising:

a physical cell identifier (PCI) receiving component that obtains a list of PCIs from a network component; and

a PCI selecting component that chooses a PCI in the list of PCIs for communicating in a wireless network according to a parameter of the PCI specified in the list of PCIs.

88. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the parameter is a priority of the PCI in the list of PCIs.

89. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the parameter is a probability that one or more disparate access points with select the PCI.

90. The apparatus of claim 87, further comprising a neighborhood measuring component that receives one or more radio frequency (RF) parameters related to one or more neighboring access points, wherein the PCI selecting component evaluates the one or more RF parameters where respective access points use the PCI in selecting the PCI.

91. The apparatus of claim 90, wherein the neighborhood measuring component analyzes signals transmitted by the one or more neighboring access points to obtain the RF parameters.

92. The apparatus of claim 87, further comprising a PCI requesting component that transmits a PCI request to the network component comprising one or more local parameters, wherein the PCI receiving component obtains the list of PCIs receives the list in response to the PCI request.

93. A method, comprising:

receiving a physical cell identifier (PCI) request from an access point comprising one or more parameters related to the access point;

evaluating one or more disparate parameters received from a plurality of disparate access points; and

generating a list of PCIs for the access point indicating at least one list parameter for each PCI based at least in part on the one or more parameters as compared to the one or more disparate parameters.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein the indicating the at least one list parameter includes specifying a priority of the PCI in the list of PCIs.

95. The method of claim 93, wherein the indicating the at least one list parameter includes specifying a probability that one or more disparate access points will select the PCI.

96. The method of claim 93, wherein generating the list includes prioritizing the list based on one or more access point parameters of the access point as compared to one or more disparate access point parameters of at least one of the plurality of disparate access points.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the one or more access point parameters and the one or more disparate access point parameters include a transmit power, location, configuration, number of associated users, or type of cell, related respectively to the access point and the at least one of the plurality of disparate access points.

98. The method of claim 93, further comprising transmitting the list of PCIs to the access point.

99. The method of claim 93, further comprising:

receiving a second PCI request from a second access point comprising a second set of parameters;

generating a permutation of the list of PCIs for the second access point based at least in part on analyzing the second set of parameters; and

transmitting the permutation of the list of PCIs to the second access point.

100. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

obtain a physical cell identifier (PCI) request from an access point comprising one or more parameters related to the access point;

analyze one or more disparate parameters received from a plurality of disparate access points; and

create a list of PCIs for the access point with a list parameter for each of the PCIs based at least in part on the one or more parameters as compared to the one or more disparate parameters; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

101. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 100, wherein the list parameter relates to a priority of each PCI in the list of PCIs.

102. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 100, wherein the list parameter relates to a probability that one or more access points will select the each PCI in the list of PCIs.

103. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 100, wherein the at least one processor prioritizes the list of PCIs based on a received access point parameter of the access point as compared to a disparate received access point of at least one of the plurality of disparate access points.

104. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 100, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit the list of PCIs to the access point.

105. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a physical cell identifier (PCI) request from an access point comprising one or more parameters related to the access point; and

means for generating a list of PCIs for the access point with a list parameter for each PCI based at least in part on the one or more parameters as compared to one or more disparate parameters received from one or more disparate access points.

106. The apparatus of claim 105, wherein the list parameter is a priority of the PCI in the list of PCIs.

107. The apparatus of claim 105, wherein the list parameter is a probability that one or more disparate access points will select the PCI.

108. The apparatus of claim 105, wherein the means for generating the list prioritizes the list based on an access parameter of the access point as compared to a disparate access point parameter of at least one of the one or more disparate access points.

109. The apparatus of claim 108, wherein the one or more access point parameters and the one or more disparate access point parameters include a transmit power, location, configuration, number of associated users, or type of cell, related respectively to the access point and the at least one of the one or more disparate access points.

110. The apparatus of claim 105, further comprising means for transmitting the list of PCIs to the access point.

111. The apparatus of claim 105, wherein the means for receiving the PCI request receives a second PCI request from a second access point and the means for generating the list of PCIs generates a permutation of the list of PCIs for the second access point based at least in part on evaluating a second set of parameters in the second PCI request.

112. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive a physical cell identifier (PCI) request from an access point comprising one or more parameters related to the access point;

code for causing the at least one computer to evaluate one or more disparate parameters received from a plurality of disparate access points; and

code for causing the at least one computer to generate a list of PCIs for the access point with list parameters based at least in part on the one or more parameters as compared to the one or more disparate parameters.

113. The computer program product of claim 112, wherein the list parameters relate to priority of the PCIs in the list.

114. The computer program product, of claim 112, wherein the list parameters relate to probabilities that one or more disparate access points will select the PCIs.

115. The computer program product of claim 112, wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to generate the list prioritizes the list based on an access point parameter of the access point as compared to one or more disparate parameters of at least one of the plurality of disparate access points.

116. The computer program product of claim 112, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to transmit the list of PCIs to the access point.

117. An apparatus, comprising:

a physical cell identifier (PCI) parameter receiving component that obtains a PCI request from an access point comprising one or more parameters related to the access point; and

a PCI listing component that creates a list of PCIs for the access point with a list parameter for each PCI based at least in part on the one or more parameters as compared to one or more disparate parameters received from one or more disparate access points.

118. The apparatus of claim 117, wherein the list parameter relates to a priority of a PCI in the list of PCIs.

119. The apparatus of claim 117, wherein the list parameter relates to a probability that one or more disparate access points will select a PCI in the list of PCIs.

120. The apparatus of claim 117, wherein the PCI listing component prioritizes the list based on an access point parameter of the access point as compared to a disparate access point parameter of at least one of the one or more disparate access points.

121. The apparatus of claim 117, further comprising a PCI transmitting component that provides the list of PCIs to the access point.

122. The apparatus of claim 117, wherein the PCI parameter receiving component receives a second PCI request from a second access point and the PCI listing component generates a permutation of the list of PCIs for the second access point based at least in part on evaluating a second set of parameters in the second PCI request.