Coordinated neighbor discovery of radio access point devices and macro base stations

摘要

Techniques are provided for coordinated neighbor discovery in a wireless network served by radio access point devices that provide service in relatively small coverage areas in the wireless network. A controller apparatus sends to radio access point devices, data identifying a group of radio access point devices to which each radio access point device is assigned. The controller apparatus sends coordinating data for a neighbor discovery session during which a particular radio access point device in the group is configured to transmit a signal at maximum power during a time interval while all other radio access point devices in the group are configured to attempt to receive the signal, and to repeat the same during other time intervals during the neighbor discovery session when a different particular radio access point is configured to transmit a signal at maximum power until all of the radio access point devices in a group have transmitted. Each radio access point device generates discovery results data for signals received from one or more other radio access point devices during the neighbor discovery session. A neighbor list is generated for each radio access point device based on the discovery results. The neighbor list comprises a list of identifiers of radio access point devices that are candidates for handover of service.