Apparatus and methods for hand-in to a femto node

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for causing active hand-in of a device from a macrocell base station to a femto node, which can be an inter-frequency hand-in. The femto node can broadcast a beacon, which can be received and reported by a device to a source base station along with one or more parameters for disambiguating a target femto node. The source base station can communicate a handover message to the femto node or a related femto gateway along with the one or more parameters. The femto node or femto gateway can disambiguate the intended target femto node based in part on the one or more parameters, which can include applying one or more filters. Additionally, the femto node can broadcast multiple beacons to assist in disambiguation of the target femto node. Also, where complete disambiguation is not possible, the femto gateway can prepare multiple femto nodes for hand-in.

1 . A method for wireless communications, comprising:
 receiving a handover message for a device comprising one or more parameters including a primary scrambling code (PSC) related to a target femto node;   applying, to one or more femto nodes that utilize the PSC, one or more filters based in part on the one or more parameters to determine whether at least one femto node of the one or more femto nodes corresponds to the target femto node; and   preparing the at least one femto node to receive hand-in of the device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying the one or more filters comprises applying a source filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a source base station of the device specified in the one or more parameters is within a threshold vicinity of the one or more femto nodes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying the one or more filters comprises applying an observed time difference (OTD) filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a reported OTD between the one or more femto nodes and a source base station in the one or more parameters is at least within a threshold difference of a maintained timing difference between the one or more femto nodes and the source base station. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying the one or more filters comprises applying a primary scrambling code (PSC) filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a reported PSC on a reported frequency of the one or more femto nodes in the one or more parameters is the same as a PSC on a frequency used by the one or more femto nodes to transmit one or more beacons. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising transmitting a plurality of beacons using various PSCs, wherein the applying the PSC filter comprises determining whether a plurality of reported PSCs are the same as at least a portion of the various PSCs used to transmit the plurality of beacons. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising determining a plurality of PSCs used by at least one of the one or more femto nodes to transmit a beacon, wherein the applying the PSC filter comprises determining whether a plurality of reported PSCs are the same as at least a portion of the plurality of PSCs. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising determining the reported frequency based in part on determining a source base station of the device indicated in the one or more parameters. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying the one or more filters comprises applying an access control filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether the device is able to access the one or more femto nodes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying the one or more filters comprises applying an uplink (UL) received signal strength indicator (RSSI) filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether presence of the device causes a rise in UL RSSI measured at the one or more femto nodes. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying the one or more filters comprises applying a hand-in eligibility filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether the one or more femto nodes are eligible to accept hand-in of the device based in part on one or more parameters received from a core network. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying the one or more filters comprises applying a timing filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a measured transmit/receive timing difference of the one or more femto nodes in the one or more parameters is within a threshold difference of a transmit/receive timing difference determined at the one or more femto nodes. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying the one or more filters results in determining at least two femto nodes of the one or more femto nodes correspond to the target femto node, and wherein the preparing comprises preparing the at least two femto nodes for hand-in of the device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the preparing comprises preparing one of the at least two femto nodes for hand-in of the device following failure of hand-in of the device to another one of the at least two femto nodes. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication from at least one of the at least two femto nodes of a selection from a set of common resources for assigning to the device for hand-in; and   indicating the selection from the set of common resources to the device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising causing one of the at least two femto nodes to reconfigure one or more aspects related to transmitting a beacon based on determining the at least two femto nodes correspond to the target femto node. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication of multiple femto node preparation from a femto gateway; and   establishing a selection of a set of common resources for hand-in of the device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising indicating the selection of the set of common resources to the femto gateway. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the preparing the at least one femto node comprises transmitting a relocation request message to the at least one femto node comprising the one or more parameters. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a relocation response message to one or more components of a core network comprising an indication of resources for hand-in of the device, wherein the preparing the at least one femto node comprises establishing the resources for hand-in of the device. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for disambiguating a target femto node, comprising:
 at least one processor configured to:
 receive a handover message for a device comprising one or more parameters including a primary scrambling code (PSC) related to a target femto node; 
 apply, to one or more femto nodes that utilize the PSC, one or more filters based in part on the one or more parameters to determine whether at least one femto node of the one or more femto nodes corresponds to the target femto node; and 
 prepare the at least one femto node to receive hand-in of the device; and 
   a memory coupled to the at least one processor.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one processor applies a source filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a source base station of the device specified in the one or more parameters is within a threshold vicinity of the one or more femto nodes. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one processor applies an observed time difference (OTD) filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a reported OTD between the one or more femto nodes and a source base station in the one or more parameters is at least within a threshold difference of a maintained timing difference between the one or more femto nodes and the source base station. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one processor applies a primary scrambling code (PSC) filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a reported PSC on a reported frequency of the one or more femto nodes in the one or more parameters is the same as a PSC on a frequency used by the one or more femto nodes to transmit one or more beacons. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine at least two femto nodes of the one or more femto nodes correspond to the target femto node when applying the one or more filters, and wherein the at least one processor prepares the at least two femto nodes for hand-in of the device. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause one of the at least two femto nodes to reconfigure one or more aspects related to transmitting a beacon based on the at least one processor determining the at least two femto nodes correspond to the target femto node. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for disambiguating a target femto node, comprising:
 means for receiving a handover message for a device comprising one or more parameters including a primary scrambling code (PSC) related to a target femto node;   means for applying, to one or more femto nodes that utilize the PSC, one or more filters based in part on the one or more parameters to determine whether at least one femto node of the one or more femto nodes corresponds to the target femto node; and   means for preparing the at least one femto node to receive hand-in of the device.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the means for applying applies a source filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a source base station of the device specified in the one or more parameters is within a threshold vicinity of the one or more femto nodes. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the means for applying applies an observed time difference (OTD) filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a reported OTD between the one or more femto nodes and a source base station in the one or more parameters is at least within a threshold difference of a maintained timing difference between the one or more femto nodes and the source base station. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the means for applying applies a primary scrambling code (PSC) filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a reported PSC on a reported frequency of the one or more femto nodes in the one or more parameters is the same as a PSC on a frequency used by the one or more femto nodes to transmit one or more beacons. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the means for applying determines at least two femto nodes of the one or more femto nodes correspond to the target femto node based in part on applying the one or more filters, and wherein the means for preparing prepares the at least two femto nodes for hand-in of the device. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the means for applying causes one of the at least two femto nodes to reconfigure one or more aspects related to transmitting a beacon based on determining the at least two femto nodes correspond to the target femto node. 
     
     
         32 . A computer program product for disambiguating a target femto node, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising:
 code for causing at least one computer to receive a handover message for a device comprising one or more parameters including a primary scrambling code (PSC) related to a target femto node; 
 code for causing the at least one computer to apply, to one or more femto nodes that utilize the PSC, one or more filters based in part on the one or more parameters to determine whether at least one femto node of the one or more femto nodes corresponds to the target femto node; and 
 code for causing the at least one computer to prepare the at least one femto node to receive hand-in of the device. 
   
     
     
         33 . The computer program product of  claim 32 , wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to apply applies a source filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a source base station of the device specified in the one or more parameters is within a threshold vicinity of the one or more femto nodes. 
     
     
         34 . The computer program product of  claim 32 , wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to apply applies an observed time difference (OTD) filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a reported OTD between the one or more femto nodes and a source base station in the one or more parameters is at least within a threshold difference of a maintained timing difference between the one or more femto nodes and the source base station. 
     
     
         35 . The computer program product of  claim 32 , wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to apply applies a primary scrambling code (PSC) filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a reported PSC on a reported frequency of the one or more femto nodes in the one or more parameters is the same as a PSC on a frequency used by the one or more femto nodes to transmit one or more beacons. 
     
     
         36 . The computer program product of  claim 32 , wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to determine at least two femto nodes of the one or more femto nodes correspond to the target femto node when applying the one or more filters, and wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to prepare prepares the at least two femto nodes for hand-in of the device. 
     
     
         37 . The computer program product of  claim 36 , wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to cause one of the at least two femto nodes to reconfigure one or more aspects related to transmitting a beacon based on the code for causing the at least one computer to determine determining the at least two femto nodes correspond to the target femto node. 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus for disambiguating a target femto node, comprising:
 a communications component for receiving a handover message for a device comprising one or more parameters including a primary scrambling code (PSC) related to a target femto node;   a femto node disambiguating component for applying, to one or more femto nodes that utilize the PSC, one or more filters based in part on the one or more parameters to determine whether at least one femto node of the one or more femto nodes corresponds to the target femto node; and   a component for preparing the at least one femto node to receive hand-in of the device.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the femto node disambiguating component applies a source filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a source base station of the device specified in the one or more parameters is within a threshold vicinity of the one or more femto nodes. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the femto node disambiguating component applies an observed time difference (OTD) filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a reported OTD between the one or more femto nodes and a source base station in the one or more parameters is at least within a threshold difference of a maintained timing difference between the one or more femto nodes and the source base station. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the femto node disambiguating component applies a primary scrambling code (PSC) filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a reported PSC on a reported frequency of the one or more femto nodes in the one or more parameters is the same as a PSC on a frequency used by the one or more femto nodes to transmit one or more beacons. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the communications component transmits a plurality of beacons using various PSCs, and wherein the femto node disambiguating component determines whether a plurality of reported PSCs are the same as at least a portion of the various PSCs used to transmit the plurality of beacons. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising a PSC component for determining a plurality of PSCs used by at least one of the one or more femto nodes to transmit a beacon, wherein the femto node disambiguating component determines whether a plurality of reported PSCs are the same as the plurality of PSCs. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the femto node disambiguating component determines the reported frequency based in part on determining a source base station of the device indicated in the one or more parameters. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the femto node disambiguating component applies an access control filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether the device is able to access the one or more femto nodes. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the femto node disambiguating component applies an uplink (UL) received signal strength indicator (RSSI) filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether presence of the device causes a rise in UL RSSI measured at the one or more femto nodes. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the femto node disambiguating component applies a hand-in eligibility filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether the one or more femto nodes are eligible to accept hand-in of the device based in part on one or more parameters received from a core network. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the femto node disambiguating component applies a timing filter to the one or more femto nodes to determine whether a measured transmit/receive timing difference of the one or more femto nodes in the one or more parameters is within a threshold difference of a transmit/receive timing difference determined at the one or more femto nodes. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the femto node disambiguating component determines at least two femto nodes of the one or more femto nodes correspond to the target femto node based in part on applying the one or more filters, and wherein the component for preparing prepares the at least two femto nodes for hand-in of the device. 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the component for preparing comprises a hand-in component that prepares one of the at least two femto nodes for hand-in of the device following failure of hand-in of the device to another one of the at least two femto nodes. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the component for preparing is a hand-in component that receives an indication from at least one of the at least two femto nodes of a selection from a set of common resources for assigning to the device for hand-in and indicates the selection from the set of common resources to the device. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the femto node disambiguating component causes one of the at least two femto nodes to reconfigure one or more aspects related to transmitting a beacon based on the component for preparing determining the at least two femto nodes correspond to the target femto node. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the component for preparing comprises a handover management component that receives an indication of multiple femto node preparation from a femto gateway and establishes a selection of a set of common resources for hand-in of the device. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the handover management component further indicates the selection of the set of common resources to the femto gateway. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the component for preparing comprises a hand-in component that transmits a relocation request message to the at least one femto node comprising the one or more parameters. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the component for preparing comprises a handover management component that transmits a relocation response message to one or more components of a core network comprising an indication of resources for hand-in of the device, and wherein the handover management component further establishes the resources for hand-in of the device.