Classifying access points using pilot identifiers

• US 9,603,062 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2008
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Horn, Gavin B., Ulupinar, Fatih, Agashe, Parag A., Prakash, Rajat, Khandekar, Aamod, Gorokhov, Alexei, Bhushan, Naga
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, STEVE R
• Application Number:
  US12/269,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20090135784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,051 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00835 Determination of neighbour cell lists

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate grouping pilot identifies to indicate type and/or classification information regarding one or more access points. The access points can select or be assigned pilot identifiers from the group indicating a type or classification related to the access points. Thus, identifiers can be grouped into macrocell and/or femtocell groups or ranges such that an access point can indicate, and mobile devices can efficiently determine, whether the access point provides macrocell or femtocell coverage based on a range from which its pilot identifier is selected or assigned. In addition, the pilot identifiers can be utilized to indicate restricted association information regarding the access points.

Claims

1. A method for determining cell information for cell reselection in a wireless communication network, comprising:

receiving a pilot signal from an access point;

determining a pilot identifier comprised within the pilot signal, wherein the pilot identifier identifies the access point in the wireless communication network and is associated with an identifier range comprising one of;

access points which implement restricted association to restrict access to certain access terminals, and access points which do not implement restricted association;

determining a type of the access point as implementing restricted association based at least in part on the identifier range in which the pilot identifier falls, wherein the pilot identifier and the type of the access point are determined in an idle mode of operation;

measuring a parameter of the access point and at least one other access point to rank the access point and the at least one other access point for reselection after the access point has been identified as present in a maintained list of accessible access points that a user equipment (UE) is authorized to access;

applying an offset to the parameter of the access point to increase consideration for reselection when the access point implements restricted association and is identified in the maintained list of accessible access points, but is not a highest ranked access point before applying the offset, wherein the highest ranked access point before applying the offset is an access point not implementing restricted association; and

performing a cell reselection based at least in part on selecting the highest ranked access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pilot identifier falls within the identifier range that indicates the type of the access point as a femtocell.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising reading a restricted association identifier from the access point based at least in part on the pilot identifier falling within the identifier range that indicates the type of the access point as a femtocell.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the restricted association identifier indicates the femtocell is restricted with respect to providing signaling, data access, registration, and/or service.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising requesting communication establishment with the access point based at least in part on verifying the restricted association identifier as within a specified range.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising reading a sector identifier from the access point based at least in part on the pilot identifier falling within the identifier range that indicates the type of the access point as a femtocell.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier range in which the pilot identifier falls relates to a smaller coverage access point or a larger coverage access point.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier range in which the pilot identifier falls relates to a location of the access point.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier range in which the pilot identifier falls relates to a transmit power of the access point.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier range in which the pilot identifier falls relates to a frequency band utilized by the access point for communication.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier range in which the pilot identifier falls relates to a transmission periodicity utilized by the access point for communication.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier range in which the pilot identifier falls relates to whether the access point is mobile or stationary.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising requesting communication establishment with the access point based at least in part on the determined type of the access point.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising ranking the access point for reselection based at least in part on the determined type of the access point.

15. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a pilot signal from an access point;

obtain a pilot identifier comprised within the pilot signal, wherein the pilot identifier identifies the access point in a wireless communication network and is associated with an identifier range comprising one of;

access points which implement restricted association to restrict access to certain access terminals, and access points which do not implement restricted association;

detect a type of the access point as implementing restricted association based at least in part on the identifier range in which the pilot identifier falls, wherein the pilot identifier and the type of the access point are determined by the wireless communication apparatus in an idle mode of operation;

measure a parameter of the access point and at least one other access point to rank the access point and the at least one other access point for reselection after the access point has been identified as present in a maintained list of accessible access points that a user equipment (UE) is authorized to access;

apply an offset to the parameter of the access point to increase consideration for reselection when the access point implements restricted association and is identified in the maintained list of accessible access points, but is not a highest ranked access point before applying the offset, wherein the highest ranked access point before applying the offset is an access point not implementing restricted association; and

perform a cell reselection based at least in part on selecting the highest ranked access point; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

16. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

rank the access point for reselection based at least in part on the determined type of the access point.

17. A wireless communications apparatus that facilitates determining information related to an access point in a wireless communication network, comprising:

means for receiving a pilot signal from an access point;

means for receiving a pilot identifier comprised within the pilot signal, wherein the pilot identifier identifies the access point in the wireless communication network and is associated with an identifier range comprising one of;

access points which implement restricted association to restrict access to certain access terminals, and access points which do not implement restricted association;

means for determining a type of the access point as implementing restricted association based at least in part on the pilot identifier, wherein the pilot identifier and the type of the access point are determined by the wireless communication apparatus in an idle mode of operation;

means for measuring a parameter of the access point and at least one other access point to rank the access point and the at least one other access point for reselection after the access point has been identified as present in a maintained list of accessible access points that a user equipment (UE) is authorized to access;

means for applying an offset to the parameter of the access point to increase consideration for reselection when the access point implements restricted association and is identified in the maintained list of accessible access points, but is not a highest ranked access point before applying the offset, wherein the highest ranked access point before applying the offset is an access point not implementing restricted association; and

means for performing a cell reselection based at least in part on selecting the highest ranked access point.

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

means for ranking the access point for reselection based at least in part on the determined type of the access point.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

code for causing at least one computer to receive a pilot signal from an access point;

code for causing the at least one computer to determine a pilot identifier comprised within the pilot signal, wherein the pilot identifier identifies the access point in a wireless communication network and is associated with an identifier range comprising one of;

access points which implement restricted association to restrict access to certain access terminals, and access points which do not implement restricted association;

code for causing the at least one computer to determine a type of the access point as implementing restricted association based at least in part on the identifier range in which the pilot identifier falls, wherein the pilot identifier and the type of the access point are determined in an idle mode of operation;

code for causing the at least one computer to measure a parameter of the access point and at least one other access point to rank the access point and the at least one other access point for reselection after the access point has been identified as present in a maintained list of accessible access points that a user equipment (UE) is authorized to access;

code for causing the at least one computer to apply an offset to the parameter of the access point to increase consideration for reselection when the access point implements restricted association and is identified in the maintained list of accessible access points, but is not a highest ranked access point before applying the offset, wherein the highest ranked access point before applying the offset is an access point not implementing restricted association; and

code for causing the at least one computer to perform a cell reselection based at least in part on selecting the highest ranked access point.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising:

code for causing the at least one computer to rank the access point for reselection based at least in part on the determined type of the access point.

21. A method for selecting pilot identifiers for access points in a wireless communication network, comprising:

determining a type of an access point for communicating in the wireless communication network;

determining a range of pilot identifiers related to the type of the access point, wherein the range of pilot identifiers comprises one of;

access points which implement restricted association to restrict access to certain access terminals, and access points which do not implement restricted association;

selecting a pilot identifier from the range of pilot identifiers for subsequent transmission in a pilot signal over the wireless communication network for identifying the access point in the wireless communication network as a restricted association access point or a non-restricted association access point according to the range of pilot identifiers in which the pilot identifier falls; and

determining a parameter of the access point, wherein the parameter facilitates ranking the access point among a plurality of access points after the access point has been identified as present in a maintained list of accessible access points that a mobile device is authorized to access, and cell reselection by the mobile device based at least in part on a highest ranked access point being selected, wherein the parameter is applied with an offset to increase consideration for reselection when the access point implements restricted association and is identified in the maintained list of accessible access points, but is not the highest ranked access point before the offset being applied, wherein the highest ranked access point before the offset being applied is an access point not implementing restricted association.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the range of pilot identifiers is determined based at least in part on a geographic location of the access point.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the range of pilot identifiers is determined based at least in part on a service provider associated with the access point.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the range of pilot identifiers is determined based at least in part on an owner and/or type of owner associated with the access point.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the range of pilot identifiers is determined based at least in part on a transmission frequency band of the access point.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the range of pilot identifiers is determined based at least in part on a transmission periodicity of the access point.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the range of pilot identifiers is determined based at least in part on whether the access point utilizes a secure or insecure backhaul to connect to a core wireless network.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the range of pilot identifiers is determined based at least in part on whether the access point is mobile or stationary.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the determined type of the access point is a femtocell.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising indicating a restricted association identifier in the pilot signal based on determining the type of the access point as a femtocell.

31. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

detect a type of an access point for communicating in a wireless communication network;

determine a range of pilot identifiers related to the type of the access point, the range of pilot identifiers comprises one of;

access points which implement restricted association to restrict access to certain access terminals, and access points which do not implement restricted association;

select a pilot identifier from the range of pilot identifiers for subsequent transmission in a pilot signal over the wireless communication network for identifying the access point in the wireless communication network as a restricted association access point or a non-restricted association access point according to the range of pilot identifiers in which the pilot identifier falls; and

determine a parameter of the access point, wherein the parameter facilitates ranking the access point among a plurality of access points after the access point has been identified as present in a maintained list of accessible access points that a mobile device is authorized to access, and cell reselection by the mobile device based at least in part on a highest ranked access point being selected, wherein the parameter is applied with an offset to increase consideration for reselection when the access point implements restricted association and is identified in the maintained list of accessible access points, but is not the highest ranked access point before the offset being applied, wherein the highest ranked access point before the offset being applied is an access point not implementing restricted association; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

32. A wireless communications apparatus that facilitates indicating access point information in wireless communications, comprising:

means for receiving a type of an access point for communicating in a wireless communication network;

means for determining a range of pilot identifiers related to the type of the access point, wherein the range of pilot identifiers comprises one of;

access points which implement restricted association to restrict access to certain access terminals, and access points which do not implement restricted association;

means for selecting a pilot identifier from the range of pilot identifiers for subsequent transmission in a pilot signal over the wireless communication network for identifying the access point in the wireless communication network as a restricted association access point or a non-restricted association access point according to the range of pilot identifiers in which the pilot identifier falls; and

means for determining a parameter of the access point, wherein the parameter facilitates ranking the access point among a plurality of access points after the access point has been identified as present in a maintained list of accessible access points that a mobile device is authorized to access, and cell reselection by the mobile device based at least in part on a highest ranked access point being selected, wherein the parameter is applied with an offset to increase consideration for reselection when the access point implements restricted association and is identified in the maintained list of accessible access points, but is not the highest ranked access point before the offset being applied, wherein the highest ranked access point before the offset being applied is an access point not implementing restricted association.

33. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

code for causing at least one computer to determine a type of an access point for communicating in a wireless communication network;

code for causing the at least one computer to determine a range of pilot identifiers related to the type of the access point, wherein the range of pilot identifiers comprises one of;

access points which implement restricted association to restrict access to certain access terminals, and access points which do not implement restricted association;

code for causing the at least one computer to select a pilot identifier from the range of pilot identifiers for subsequent transmission in a pilot signal over the wireless communication network for identifying the access point in the wireless communication network as a restricted association access point or a non-restricted association access point according to the range of pilot identifiers in which the pilot identifier falls; and

code for causing the at least one computer to determine a parameter of the access point, wherein the parameter facilitates ranking the access point among a plurality of access points after the access point has been identified as present in a maintained list of accessible access points that a mobile device is authorized to access, and cell reselection by the mobile device based at least in part on a highest ranked access point being selected, wherein the parameter is applied with an offset to increase consideration for reselection when the access point implements restricted association and is identified in the maintained list of accessible access points, but is not the highest ranked access point before the offset being applied, wherein the highest ranked access point before the offset being applied is an access point not implementing restricted association.

34. An apparatus, comprising:

an access point type specifier that determines a type of an access point for communicating in a wireless communication network; and

a pilot identifier selector that determines a range of pilot identifiers related to the type of the access point, wherein the range of pilot identifiers comprises one of;

access points which implement restricted association to restrict access to certain access terminals, and access points which do not implement restricted association, selects a pilot identifier from the range of pilot identifiers for subsequent transmission in a pilot signal over the wireless communication network for identifying the access point in the wireless communication network as a restricted association access point or a non-restricted association access point according to the range of pilot identifiers in which the pilot identifier falls, and determines a parameter of the access point, wherein the parameter facilitates ranking the access point among a plurality of access points after the access point has been identified as present in a maintained list of accessible access points that a mobile device is authorized to access, and cell reselection by the mobile device based at least in part on a highest ranked access point being selected, wherein the parameter is applied with an offset to increase consideration for reselection when the access point implements restricted association and is identified in the maintained list of accessible access points, but is not the highest ranked access point before the offset being applied, wherein the highest ranked access point before the offset being applied is an access point not implementing restricted association.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the pilot identifier selector determines the range of pilot identifiers based at least in part on a geographic location of the access point.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the pilot identifier selector determines the range of pilot identifiers based at least in part on a service provider associated with the access point.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the pilot identifier selector determines the range of pilot identifiers based at least in part on an owner and/or type of owner associated with the access point.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the pilot identifier selector determines the range of pilot identifiers based at least in part on a transmission frequency band of the access point.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the pilot identifier selector determines the range of pilot identifiers based at least in part on a transmission periodicity of the access point.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the access point type specifier determines the type of the access point as a femtocell.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising a restricted association specifier that indicates a restricted association identifier in the pilot signal based on determining the type of the access point as femtocell.