Access point identification based on multiple pilot signature indicators

Abstract

An access point is identified based on a plurality of pilot signatures. Here, in addition to transmitting a pilot signal that is encoded (e.g., spread/scrambled) using a particular pilot signature, an access point transmits a message that includes at least one indication of at least one other pilot signature. For example, an access point may use one PN offset to generate a pilot signal and transmit a message that identifies at least one other PN offset. An access terminal that receives the pilot signal and the message may then generate a pilot report that identifies all of these pilot signatures. Upon receiving a handover message including this pilot-related information, a target network entity with knowledge of the pilot signatures assigned to that access point may then accurately identify the access point as a target for handover of the access terminal.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of communication, comprising:
 allocating a plurality of pilot signature indicators for an access point, wherein at least one of the pilot signature indicators is indicative of at least one pilot signature that is not currently allocated for pilot scrambling use by any access points associated with an area of a wireless network that includes at least one access point identified by a pilot signature indicated by the pilot signature indicators; and   sending a message to the access point, wherein the message includes the allocated pilot signature indicators.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pilot signature indicators comprise pseudorandom noise (PN) offset values. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pilot signature indicators comprise at least one pseudorandom noise (PN) phase value. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pilot signature indicators comprise primary scrambling code values or physical cell identifier values. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the message further includes at least one pilot signal strength indication associated with at least one of the pilot signature indicators. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising defining the at least one pilot signal strength indication. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the pilot signature indicators is allocated for the access point to send a pilot signal. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pilot signature indicators are allocated to identify the access point for handover. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining that more than one pilot signature indicator is to be allocated for the access point, wherein the determination is based on a type of the access point. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the type comprises a femto cell type. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying a set of unallocated pilot signatures from a set of available pilot signatures, wherein:
 the set of unallocated pilot signatures comprises pilot signatures that are not currently allocated for pilot scrambling use by any access points associated with the area of the wireless network; and   the allocation of the plurality of pilot signature indicators comprises selecting at least one pilot signature from the set of unallocated pilot signatures.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the access point comprises a femto cell. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message is further sent to at least one of the group consisting of: an access network, a femto convergence server, and a femto gateway. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for communication, comprising:
 a pilot processor configured to allocate a plurality of pilot signature indicators for an access point, wherein at least one of the pilot signature indicators is indicative of at least one pilot signature that is not currently allocated for pilot scrambling use by any access points associated with an area of a wireless network that includes at least one access point identified by a pilot signature indicated by the pilot signature indicators; and   a transmitter configured to send a message to the access point, wherein the message includes the allocated pilot signature indicators.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the message further includes at least one pilot signal strength indication associated with at least one of the pilot signature indicators. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein: the pilot processor is further configured to determine that more than one pilot signature indicator is to be allocated for the access point; and the determination is based on a type of the access point. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for communication, comprising:
 means for allocating a plurality of pilot signature indicators for an access point, wherein at least one of the pilot signature indicators is indicative of at least one pilot signature that is not currently allocated for pilot scrambling use by any access points associated with an area of a wireless network that includes at least one access point identified by a pilot signature indicated by the pilot signature indicators; and   means for sending a message to the access point, wherein the message includes the allocated pilot signature indicators.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the message further includes at least one pilot signal strength indication associated with at least one of the pilot signature indicators. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising means for determining that more than one pilot signature indicator is to be allocated for the access point, wherein the determination is based on a type of the access point. 
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer-program product comprising code for causing a computer to:
 allocate a plurality of pilot signature indicators for an access point, wherein at least one of the pilot signature indicators is indicative of at least one pilot signature that is not currently allocated for pilot scrambling use by any access points associated with an area of a wireless network that includes at least one access point identified by a pilot signature indicated by the pilot signature indicators; and   send a message to the access point, wherein the message includes the allocated pilot signature indicators.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-program product of  claim 21 , wherein the message further includes at least one pilot signal strength indication associated with at least one of the pilot signature indicators. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-program product of  claim 21 , further comprising code for causing the computer to determine that more than one pilot signature indicator is to be allocated for the access point; and
 the determination is based on a type of the access point.