Communications methods and apparatus for allocation of resources and handover related measurements

A first base station corresponding to a cell having a coverage area in which a small base station is located, the first base station comprising:

• means for allocating communications resources for pilot signal transmissions by any of a plurality of small base stations or UE devices, said allocated communications resources being dedicated for pilot signal transmissions, said small base station being one of said plurality of small base stations;
• means for determining whether the small base stations or the UE devices should use said allocated communications resources for pilot signal transmissions;
• and
• means for communicating information to at least one of said small base stations or said UE devices indicating the communications resources allocated for pilot signal transmissions.

A first base station corresponding to a cell having a coverage area in which a small base station is located, the first base station comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• allocate communications resources for pilot signal transmissions by any of a plurality of small base stations or UE devices, said allocated communications resources being dedicated for pilot signal transmissions, said small base station being one of said plurality of small base stations;
• determine whether the small base stations or the UE devices should use said allocated communications resources for pilot signal transmissions;
• and
• communicate information to at least one of said small base stations or said UE devices indicating the communications resources allocated for pilot signal transmissions;
• and
• a memory coupled to said at least one processor.

A computer program product for use in a first base station corresponding to a cell having a coverage area in which a small base station is located, the computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
• code for causing at least one computer to allocate communications resources for pilot signal transmissions by any of a plurality of small base stations or UE devices, said allocated communications resources being dedicated for pilot signal transmissions, said small base station being one of said plurality of small base stations;
• code for causing said at least one computer to determine whether the small base stations or the UE devices should use said allocated communications resources for pilot signal transmissions;
• and
• code for causing said at least one computer to communicate information to at least one of said small base stations or said UE devices indicating the communications resources allocated for pilot signal transmissions.

A base station, said base station being one of a femtocell or a picocell, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• receive information indicating communications resources dedicated for use in transmitting pilot signals to UE devices or receiving pilot signals from UE devices;
• and
• determine whether base stations are to transmit pilot signals on said dedicated communications resources or the UE devices are to transmit pilot signals using said dedicated communications resources;
• and
• a memory coupled to said at least one processor.

A computer program product for use in a base station, said base station being one of a femtocell or a picocell, the computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
• code for causing at least one computer to receive information indicating communications resources dedicated for use in transmitting pilot signals to UE devices or receiving pilot signals from UE devices;
• and
• code for causing said at least one computer to determine whether base stations are to transmit pilot signals on said dedicated communications resources or the UE devices are to transmit pilot signals using said dedicated communications resources.

A User Equipment (UE) device, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• receive information indicating communications resources dedicated for use in transmitting pilot signals to base stations or receiving pilot signals from base stations;
• and
• determine whether the base stations are to transmit pilot signals on said dedicated communications resources or UE devices are to transmit pilot signals using said dedicated communications resources;
• and
• a memory coupled to said at least one processor.

A computer program product for use in a User Equipment (UE) device, the computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
• code for causing at least one computer to receive information indicating communications resources dedicated for use in transmitting pilot signals to base stations or receiving pilot signals from base stations;
• and
• code for causing said at least one computer to determine whether the base stations are to transmit pilot signals on said dedicated communications resources or UE devices are to transmit pilot signals using said dedicated communications resources.