Method and apparatus for unplanned deployment of base stations

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided that include deploying a femto node in a wireless network. The femto node can measure received signal quality upon initialization in a wireless network and/or according to a timing. The femto node can determine whether to communicate in the wireless network based on comparing the received signal quality to a threshold signal quality. The timing can be determined based on various factors to ensure fairness among femto nodes initializing in the wireless network. A centralized entity can be used to determine the timing and/or whether a femto node should communicate.

1 . A method for deploying a low power base station in a wireless network, comprising:
 determining a timing for a low power base station to measure received signal quality in the wireless network to determine whether to communicate; and   commanding the low power base station to measure received signal quality based on the timing.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the timing is based in part on comparing a number of transmission opportunities of the low power base station over a period of time to other transmission opportunities of other low power base stations over the period of time. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the timing is based in part on a random function. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the timing is based in part on a pseudorandom function of an identifier of the low power base station. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising commanding the low power base station to initialize a calibration period before measuring the received signal quality, wherein the commanding the low power base station to measure received signal quality comprises providing the low power base station with a timing offset from the calibration period for measuring received signal quality. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the timing is based in part on determining that the low power base station reports received signal quality over a threshold signal quality for at least a number of reporting periods. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for deploying a low power base station in a wireless network, comprising:
 means for determining a timing for a low power base station to measure received signal quality in the wireless network to determine whether to communicate; and   means for commanding the low power base station to measure received signal quality based on the timing.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the means for determining determines the timing based in part on comparing a number of transmission opportunities of the low power base station over a period of time to other transmission opportunities of other low power base stations over the period of time. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the means for determining determines the timing based in part on a random function or a pseudorandom function of an identifier of the low power base station. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the means for commanding commands the low power base station to initialize a calibration period before measuring the received signal quality, and commands the low power base station to measure received signal quality by providing the low power base station with a timing offset from the calibration period for measuring received signal quality. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for deploying a low power base station in a wireless network, comprising:
 a transmit parameter determining component for determining a timing for a low power base station to measure received signal quality in the wireless network to determine whether to communicate; and   a transmit parameter indicating component for commanding the low power base station to measure received signal quality based on the timing.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the transmit parameter determining component determines the timing based in part on comparing a number of transmission opportunities of the low power base station over a period of time to other transmission opportunities of other low power base stations over the period of time. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the transmit parameter determining component determines the timing based in part on a random function. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the transmit parameter determining component determines the timing based in part on a pseudorandom function of an identifier of the low power base station. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the transmit parameter indicating component commands the low power base station to initialize a calibration period before measuring the received signal quality, and commands the low power base station to measure received signal quality by providing the low power base station with a timing offset from the calibration period for measuring received signal quality. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the transmit parameter determining component determines the timing based in part on determining that the low power base station reports received signal quality over a threshold signal quality for at least a number of reporting periods. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions, comprising:
 code for determining a timing for a femto node to measure received signal quality in the wireless network to determine whether to communicate; and   code for commanding the femto node to measure received signal quality based on the timing.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the code for determining comprises code for determining the timing based in part on comparing a number of transmission opportunities of the femto node over a period of time to other transmission opportunities of other femto nodes over the period of time. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the code for determining comprises code for determining the timing based in part on a random function or a pseudorandom function of an identifier of the femto node. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , further comprising code for commanding the femto node to initialize a calibration period before measuring the received signal quality, wherein the code for commanding the femto node to measure the received signal quality comprises code for commanding the femto node to measure received signal quality by providing the femto node with a timing offset from the calibration period for measuring received signal quality.