Methods and apparatuses for improved paging area identifier selection in wireless networks containing low power base stations

An apparatus for selecting a paging area identifier at a low power base station, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• determine whether a neighboring high power base station or a neighboring low power base station is detected, wherein determining whether the neighboring high power base station or the neighboring low power base station is detected comprises observing one or more parameters of a detected neighboring base station and determining whether the detected neighboring base station comprises the neighboring high power base station or the neighboring low power base station based at least on one of the one or more parameters, wherein the neighboring high power base station provides a larger radio coverage than the neighboring low power base station;
• wherein if the neighboring high power base station is detected:
• observe a broadcasted paging area identifier of the neighboring high power base station;
• select the broadcasted paging area identifier of the neighboring low power base station for broadcasting;
• and
• transmit the paging area identifier;
• wherein if the neighboring low power base station is detected and the neighboring low power base station is in the same cell as the low power base station:
• observe a broadcasted paging area identifier of the neighboring low power base station;
• select the broadcasted paging area identifier of the neighboring low power base station for broadcasting;
• and
• transmit the paging area identifier;
• and
• wherein if the neighboring low power base station is detected and the neighboring low power base station is not in the same cell as the low power base station:
• observe a broadcasted paging area identifier of the neighboring low power base station;
• select a broadcasted paging area identifier that is different from the broadcasting paging area identifier of the neighboring low power base station for broadcasting;
• and
• transmit the paging area identifier.

An apparatus for selecting a paging area identifier at a low power base station, comprising:

• means for determining whether a neighboring high power base station or a neighboring low power base station is detected, wherein the means for determining whether the neighboring high power base station or the neighboring low power base station is detected comprises means for observing one or more parameters of a detected neighboring base station and determining whether the detected neighboring base station comprises the neighboring high power base station or the neighboring low power base station based at least on one of the one or more parameters, wherein the neighboring high power base station provides a larger radio coverage than the neighboring low power base station;
• means for observing a broadcasted paging area identifier of the neighboring high power base station when the neighboring high power base station is detected;
• means for selecting the paging area identifier of the neighboring low power base station for broadcasting when the neighboring high power base station is detected;
• means for transmitting the paging area identifier when the neighboring high power base station is detected;
• wherein the means for observing is further for observing a broadcasted paging area identifier of the neighboring low power base station when the neighboring low power base station is detected and the neighboring low power base station is in the same cell as the low power base station;
• wherein the means for selecting is further for selecting the broadcasted paging area identifier of the neighboring low power base station for broadcasting when the neighboring low power base station is detected and the neighboring low power base station is in the same cell as the low power base station;
• wherein the means for transmitting is further for transmitting the paging area identifier when the neighboring low power base station is detected and the neighboring low power base station is in the same cell as the low power base station;
• wherein the means for observing is further for observing a broadcasted paging area identifier of the neighboring low power base station when the neighboring low power base station is detected and the neighboring low power base station is not in the same cell as the low power base station;
• wherein the means for selecting is further for selecting the broadcasted paging area identifier that is different from the broadcasting paging area identifier of the neighboring low power base station for broadcasting when the neighboring low power base station is detected and the neighboring low power base station is not in the same cell as the low power base station;
• and
• wherein the means for transmitting is further for transmitting the paging area identifier when the neighboring low power base station is detected and the neighboring low power base station is not in the same cell as the low power base station.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code for selecting a paging area identifier at a low power base station, comprising code for:

• determining whether a neighboring high power base station or a neighboring low power base station is detected, wherein the code for determining whether the neighboring high power base station or the neighboring low power base station is detected comprises code for observing one or more parameters of a detected neighboring base station and determining whether the detected neighboring base station comprises the neighboring high power base station or the neighboring low power base station based at least on one of the one or more parameters, wherein the neighboring high power base station provides a larger radio coverage than the neighboring low power base station;
• wherein if the neighboring high power base station is detected:
• observing a broadcasted paging area identifier of the neighboring high power base station;
• selecting the broadcasted paging area identifier of the neighboring low power base station for broadcasting;
• and
• transmitting the paging area identifier;
• wherein if the neighboring low power base station is detected and the neighboring low power base station is in the same cell as the low power base station:
• observing a broadcasted paging area identifier of the neighboring low power base station;
• selecting the broadcasted paging area identifier of the neighboring low power base station for broadcasting;
• and
• transmitting the paging area identifier;
• and
• wherein if the neighboring low power base station is detected and the neighboring low power base station is not in the same cell as the low power base station:
• observing a broadcasted paging area identifier of the neighboring low power base station;
• selecting a broadcasted paging area identifier that is different from the broadcasting paging area identifier of the neighboring low power base station for broadcasting;
• and
• transmitting the paging area identifier.

A method for selecting a paging area identifier at a low power base station, comprising:

• determining whether a neighboring high power base station is detected;
• obtaining one or more coverage area parameters of the neighboring high power base station related to a neighboring high power base station coverage area, wherein the one or more coverage area parameters comprise at least one of a cell identifier and a primary scrambling code of the neighboring high power base station;
• selecting the paging area identifier of the low power base station based on the one or more coverage area parameters, wherein a low power base station coverage area is less than the neighboring high power base station coverage area, and wherein the paging area identifier of the low power base station is different from a paging area identifier of a neighboring low power base station if the neighboring low power base station is not in the same cell as the low power base station;
• and
• transmitting the selected paging area identifier.