Autonomous downlink code selection for femto cells

A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

• a downlink receiver for receiving downlink transmissions from at least one of one or more neighboring femto nodes and one or more macrocell base stations;
• a code detector for recognizing a first set of detected downlink codes that each have a pilot energy above a detection threshold by evaluating the downlink transmissions;
• and
• a code selector for selecting an optimal downlink code for a femto node to use in connection with serving user equipment based upon the first set of detected downlink codes wherein the optimal downlink code is from a second set of downlink codes reserved for femto nodes, wherein the code selector is further for selecting a downlink code with a smallest amount of detected energy as the optimal downlink code when all of the second set of downlink codes are included in the first set of detected downlink codes.

A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

• means for receiving downlink transmissions from at least one of one or more neighboring femto nodes and one or more macrocell base stations;
• means for recognizing a first set of detected downlink codes that each have a pilot energy above a detection threshold by evaluating the downlink transmissions;
• and
• means for selecting an optimal downlink code for a femto node to use in connection with serving user equipment based upon the first set of detected downlink codes, the optimal downlink code being from a second set of downlink codes reserved for femto nodes, wherein the means for selecting the optimal downlink code comprises means for selecting a downlink code with a smallest amount of detected energy when all the downlink codes of the second set of downlink codes are included in the first set of detected downlink codes.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising codes for causing a computer to:

• receive downlink transmissions from at least one of one or more neighboring Home femto nodes and one or more macrocell base stations;
• evaluate the downlink transmissions to recognize a first set of detected downlink codes that each have a pilot energy above a detection threshold;
• and
• select an optimal downlink code for a femto node to use in connection with serving user equipment based upon the first set of detected downlink codes, the optimal downlink code being from a second set of downlink codes reserved for femto nodes, wherein selecting the optimal downlink code comprises selecting a downlink code with a smallest amount of detected energy as the optimal downlink code when all of the second set of downlink codes are included in the first set of detected downlink codes.

In a wireless communications system, an apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor operably coupled to the memory and configured for:
• receiving downlink transmissions from at least one of one or more neighboring femto nodes and one or more macrocell base stations;
• evaluating the downlink transmissions to recognize a first set of detected downlink codes that each have a pilot energy above a detection threshold;
• and
• selecting an optimal downlink code for a femto node to use in connection with serving user equipment based upon the first set of detected downlink codes, the optimal downlink code being from a second set of downlink codes reserved for femto nodes, wherein selecting the optimal downlink code comprises selecting a downlink code with a smallest amount of detected energy when all the downlink codes of the second set of downlink codes are included in the first set of detected downlink codes.