Message-based exchange of access point 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of communication, comprising:
 receiving a message from an access point at an access terminal, wherein the message includes at least one pilot signature indicator associated with the access point;   generating a pilot report that includes at least one indication based on the received at least one pilot signature indicator; and   transmitting the pilot report.