Methods and apparatus for resolving identifier conflicts in a communication system

Abstract

Apparatus and methods of allocating identifiers in a communication system include receiving, at a first access point, a set of physical layer identifiers used by a plurality of access points, with assistance from an access terminal. The apparatus and methods further include detecting, relative to one of the plurality of access points, a conflicting physical layer identifier. Additionally, the apparatus and methods include selecting, at the first access point, a first physical layer identifier distinct from the conflicting physical layer identifier.

1 . A method for allocating identifiers in a communication system, comprising:
 receiving, at a first access point, a set of physical layer identifiers used by a plurality of access points, with assistance from an access terminal;   detecting, relative to one of the plurality of access points, a conflicting physical layer identifier; and   selecting, at the first access point, a first physical layer identifier distinct from the conflicting physical layer identifier.   
     
     
         2 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the conflicting physical layer identifier indicates one of two or more access points utilizing an identical physical layer identifier or two or more access points having physical layer identifier offsets insufficient to enable distinguishing between the respective physical layer identifiers of the two or more access points. 
     
     
         3 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first physical layer identifier is a same physical layer identifier as an original physical layer identifier allocated to the one of the at least two access points having the conflicting physical layer identifier. 
     
     
         4 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting at least one second physical layer identifier for use by at least one remaining access point having the conflicting physical layer identifier, wherein the at least one second physical layer identifier is selected to be distinct from all physical layer identifiers used by the one or more of the plurality of access points.   
     
     
         5 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of access points includes at least a first tier network of the first access point and a second tier network in a vicinity of the first access point. 
     
     
         6 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first physical layer identifier is a new randomly selected physical layer identifier. 
     
     
         7 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the assistance from the access terminal comprises:
 a message from the access terminal reporting the conflicting physical layer identifier when detected by the access terminal.   
     
     
         8 . The method as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 transmitting at least one message to the at least one remaining access point having the conflicting physical layer identifier including instructions to change to the second physical layer identifier.   
     
     
         9 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 deriving from an active set of access points identified in a response from the access terminal at least one of the one or more of a plurality of access points.   
     
     
         10 . The method as defined in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 sending a message from the first access point to a second access point requesting neighboring second tier access points known to the second access point, wherein the first access point and the second access point are included in the plurality of access points.   
     
     
         11 . The method as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the message is sent over a backhaul network. 
     
     
         12 . The method as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of access points comprise a union of access points known to the first access point, first tier neighbors of the first access point, and second tier neighbors of the first access point. 
     
     
         13 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the selecting of the first physical layer identifier further comprises selecting based on a characteristic of the one or more of the plurality of access points. 
     
     
         14 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein selecting based on the characteristic further comprises selecting based on a number of users being served or based on a coverage area. 
     
     
         15 . The method as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 obtaining a set of second tier physical layer identifiers used by a second tier set of access points neighboring the first access point; and   wherein the selecting of the at least one second physical layer identifier is further distinct from the set of second tier physical layer identifiers.   
     
     
         16 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the detecting of the conflicting physical layer identifier further comprises detecting that two or more of the plurality of access points have physical layer identifier offsets insufficient to enable distinguishing between the respective physical layer identifiers of the two or more of a plurality of access points. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for use in a communication system comprising:
 means for receiving, at a first access point, a set of physical layer identifiers used by a plurality of access points, with assistance from an access terminal;   means for detecting, relative to one of the plurality of access points, a conflicting physical layer identifier; and   means for selecting, at the first access point, a first physical layer identifier distinct from the conflicting physical layer identifier.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the conflicting physical layer identifier indicates one of two or more access points utilizing an identical physical layer identifier or two or more access points having physical layer identifier offsets insufficient to enable distinguishing between the respective physical layer identifiers of the two or more access points. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the first physical layer identifier is a same physical layer identifier as an original physical layer identifier allocated to the one of the at least two access points having the conflicting physical layer identifier. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 means for selecting at least one second physical layer identifier for use by at least one remaining access point having the conflicting physical layer identifier, wherein the at least one second physical layer identifier is selected to be distinct from all physical layer identifiers used by the one or more of the plurality of access points.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of access points includes at least a first tier network of the first access point and a second tier network in a vicinity of the first access point. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the first physical layer identifier is a new randomly selected physical layer identifier. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the assistance from the access terminal comprises:
 means for receiving a message from the access terminal reporting the conflicting physical layer identifier when detected by the access terminal.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 20 , further comprising:
 means for transmitting at least one message to the at least one remaining access point having the conflicting physical layer identifier including instructions to change to the second physical layer identifier.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 means for deriving from an active set of access points identified in a response from the access terminal at least one of the one or more of a plurality of access points.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 means for sending a message from the first access point to a second access point requesting neighboring second tier access points known to the second access point, wherein the first access point and the second access point are included in the plurality of access points.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the message is sent over a backhaul network. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of access points comprise a union of access points known to the first access point, first tier neighbors of the first access point, and second tier neighbors of the first access point. 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus for use in allocating identifiers in a communication network, comprising:
 a processor for:
 receiving, at a first access point, a set of physical layer identifiers used by a plurality of access points, with assistance from an access terminal; 
 detecting, relative to one of the plurality of access points, a conflicting physical layer identifier; and 
 selecting, at the first access point, a first physical layer identifier distinct from the conflicting physical layer identifier; and 
   a memory coupled to the processor.   
     
     
         30 . A program recorded on a non-transitory computer recordable medium and executable on a computer, comprising:
 code for causing the computer to receive, at a first access point, a set of physical layer identifiers used by a plurality of access points, with assistance from an access terminal;   code for causing the computer to detect, relative to one of the plurality of access points, a conflicting physical layer identifier; and   code for causing the computer to select, at the first access point, a first physical layer identifier distinct from the conflicting physical layer identifier.