Restricting access point transmissions

摘要

Transmissions by a first access point (e.g., a femto cell) are restricted upon detecting an access terminal in the vicinity of the first access point in the event the access terminal is communicating with a second access point (e.g., a macro cell). Upon detection of such an access terminal, the access terminal restricts transmission (e.g., beacon transmission) on a downlink carrier frequency on which the access terminal is actively receiving information from the second access point. This restriction of transmission by the access point may involve, for example, temporarily reducing transmit power, reducing the periodicity of transmission, or ceasing transmission.

主权项

1. A method of communication, comprising:
detecting, by a first access point, an access terminal located near the first access point, wherein the access terminal is communicating with a second access point, and wherein the first access point comprises a small coverage access point; identifying, by the first access point, a downlink carrier frequency associated with at least the second access point on which the access terminal is communicating with the second access point, wherein the second access point comprises a macro coverage access point and measurements on the downlink carrier frequency are utilized to identify a corresponding uplink carrier frequency; and restricting, by the first access point, transmission of first access point information on the identified downlink carrier frequency associated with at least the second access point as a result of the detection of the access terminal for reducing potential interference at the access terminal, wherein restricting the transmission comprises temporarily reducing transmit power used by the first access point on the identified downlink carrier frequency, and wherein a maximum transmit power value for the reduced transmit power is specified based on a measurement of received signal strength on an uplink carrier frequency.