Ue beaconing using rach transmissions for small cells

A method of beacon transmission performed by a user equipment, comprising:

• exchanging beacon parameters with a small cell device;
• detecting presence of the small cell device;
• transmitting, in response to the detecting, a beacon in a random access channel (RACH) preamble containing the beacon parameters to the small cell device;
• and
• associating with the small cell device.

A method of beacon detection performed by a small cell device, comprising:

• exchanging beacon parameters with a user equipment (UE);
• transmitting the beacon parameters to a neighboring cell device;
• entering a low power mode after exchanging the beacon parameters with the UE;
• receiving a notification from the neighboring cell device in response to the neighboring cell receiving, from the UE, a beacon in a random access channel (RACH) preamble containing the beacon parameters while in the low power mode;
• entering a high power mode in response to receiving the notification;
• and
• associating with the UE while in the high power mode.

A method of beacon detection transmission by a user equipment, comprising:

• exchanging beacon parameters with a small cell device;
• detecting presence of the neighboring cell device associated with the small cell device;
• transmitting, in response to the detecting, a beacon in a random access channel (RACH) preamble containing the beacon parameters to the neighboring cell device;
• and
• associating with the small cell device.

A method of beacon detection performed by a small cell device, comprising:

• exchanging beacon parameters with a user equipment (UE);
• transmitting the beacon parameters to a first neighboring cell device;
• entering a low power mode after exchanging the beacon parameters with the UE;
• receiving, while in the low power mode, at least one of (i) a beacon in a random access channel (RACH) message containing an identifier of the small cell, and (ii) a notification from the first neighboring cell device in response to the neighboring cell device detecting a beacon in a RACH message from the UE containing an identifier of the small cell device;
• entering a high power mode in response to receiving the second notification;
• and
• associating with the UE while in the high power mode.

A method of beacon transmission performed by a user equipment, comprising:

• exchanging beacon parameters with a small cell device;
• detecting presence of a neighboring cell device;
• transmitting, in response to detecting the neighboring cell device, a beacon in a random access channel (RACH) message containing the beacon parameters;
• and
• associating with the small cell device.

An apparatus for beacon detection, the apparatus comprising:

• means for exchanging beacon parameters with a user equipment (UE);
• means for entering a low power mode after exchanging the beacon parameters with the UE;
• means for receiving, from the UE, a beacon in a random access channel (RACH) preamble containing the beacon parameters while in the low power mode;
• means for entering a high power mode in response to receiving the beacon;
• and
• means for associating with the UE while in the high power mode.

An apparatus for beacon detection, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured for:
• exchanging beacon parameters with a user equipment (UE);
• entering a low power mode after exchanging the beacon parameters with the UE;
• receiving, from the UE, a beacon in a random access channel (RACH) preamble containing the beacon parameters while in the low power mode;
• entering a high power mode in response to receiving the beacon;
• and
• associating with the UE while in the high power mode.

A computer program product for beacon detection, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer-readable storage medium comprising code for:
• exchanging beacon parameters with a user equipment (UE);
• entering a low power mode after exchanging the beacon parameters with the UE;
• receiving, from the UE, a beacon in a random access channel (RACH) preamble containing the beacon parameters while in the low power mode;
• entering a high power mode in response to receiving the beacon;
• and
• associating with the UE while in the high power mode.