Pilot grouping and set management in multi-carrier communication systems

A method for wireless communications, comprising:

• selecting a pilot signal from a plurality of pilot signals having a common group identifier, the pilot signals associated with a neighbor sector,
• wherein the common group identifier is assigned to each pilot signal based on the coverage area of the pilot signal such that pilot signals having comparable coverage areas are assigned the same group identifier, and
• the coverage area of a pilot signal is based on a strength versus distance profile of the pilot signal;
• and
• broadcasting the selected pilot signal.

An apparatus adapted for wireless communications, comprising a processor configured to:

• receive a plurality of pilot signals associated with a sector, each pilot signal having a group identifier,
• wherein the group identifier is assigned to each pilot signal based on the coverage area of the pilot signal such that pilot signals having comparable coverage areas are assigned the same group identifier;
• group the pilot signals into one or more pilot groups in accordance with the group identifiers of the pilot signals;
• and
• select one of the received plurality of pilot signals as a representative pilot signal for each pilot group of pilot signals for pilot strength reporting, wherein the pilot signals in each pilot group are characterized by distinct frequencies in a multi-carrier communication system.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium embodying executable instructions, the instructions comprising:

• code for receiving a plurality of pilot signals associated with a sector, each pilot signal having a group identifier,
• wherein the coverage area of a pilot signal is based on a strength versus distance profile of the pilot signal;
• code for grouping the pilot signals into one or more pilot groups in accordance with the group identifiers of the pilot signals,
• code for selecting a representative pilot signal for each pilot group of pilot signals for pilot strength reporting, wherein the pilot signals in each pilot group are characterized by distinct frequencies in a multi-carrier communication system.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium embodying executable instructions, the instructions comprising:

• code for selecting a pilot signal from a plurality of pilot signals having a common group identifier, the pilot signals associated with a neighbor sector,
• wherein the common group identifier is assigned to each pilot signal based on the coverage area of the pilot signal such that pilot signals having comparable coverage areas are assigned the same group identifier, and
• the coverage area of a pilot signal is based on a strength versus distance profile of the pilot signal;
• and
• code for broadcasting the selected pilot signal.

An apparatus adapted for wireless communications, comprising a processor configured to:

• select a pilot signal from a plurality of pilot signals having a common group identifier, the pilot signals associated with a neighbor sector,
• wherein the common group identifier is assigned to each pilot signal based on the coverage area of the pilot signal such that pilot signals having comparable coverage areas are assigned the same group identifier, and the coverage area of a pilot signal is based on a strength versus distance profile of the pilot signal;
• and
• broadcasting the selected pilot signal.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium embodying executable instructions, the instructions comprising:

• code for receiving a plurality of pilot signals associated with a sector, each pilot signal having a group identifier,
• wherein the coverage area of a pilot signal is based on a strength versus distance profile of the pilot signal;
• code for grouping the pilot signals into one or more pilot groups in accordance with the group identifiers of the pilot signals,
• code for selecting a representative pilot signal for each pilot group of pilot signals for pilot strength reporting, wherein the pilot signals in each pilot group are characterized by distinct frequencies in a multi-carrier communication system.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium embodying executable instructions, the instructions comprising:

• code for selecting a pilot signal from a plurality of pilot signals having a common group identifier, the pilot signals associated with a neighbor sector,
• wherein the common group identifier is assigned to each pilot signal based on the coverage area of the pilot signal such that pilot signals having comparable coverage areas are assigned the same group identifier, and
• the coverage area of a pilot signal is based on a strength versus distance profile of the pilot signal;
• and
• code for broadcasting the selected pilot signal.

An apparatus adapted for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving a plurality of pilot signals associated with a sector, each pilot signal having a group identifier,
• wherein the coverage area of a pilot signal is based on a strength versus distance profile of the pilot signal;
• means for grouping the pilot signals into one or more pilot groups in accordance with the group identifiers of the pilot signals,
• means for selecting a representative pilot signal for each pilot group of pilot signals for pilot strength reporting, wherein the pilot signals in each pilot group are characterized by distinct frequencies in a multi-carrier communication system.

An apparatus adapted for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

• means for selecting a pilot signal from a plurality of pilot signals having a common group identifier, the pilot signals associated with a neighbor sector,
• wherein the common group identifier is assigned to each pilot signal based on the coverage area of the pilot signal such that pilot signals having comparable coverage areas are assigned the same group identifier, and
• the coverage area of a pilot signal is based on a strength versus distance profile of the pilot signal;
• and
• means for broadcasting the selected pilot signal.