Radio network communication

1. A method performed by a radio network controller of a radio access network when an access terminal is in communication with a macro cell radio node of the radio access network and the access terminal is within a service area of the macro cell radio node and a service area of a private access point of the radio access network, the service area of the macro cell radio node and the service area of the private access point overlapping one another, the method comprising:

receiving first information from the access terminal;

comparing at least part of the first information with private access point location information to determine whether one or more private access points are within the coverage area of the macro cell radio node;

causing a request to be sent to the access terminal upon a determination that one or more private access points are within the coverage area of the macro cell radio node, wherein the request is configured to obtain second information from the access terminal;

determining whether to initiate a handoff of the access terminal from the macro cell radio node to the private access point by using at least part of the second information provided by the access terminal in response to the request; and

sending a signal to the access terminal that initiates the handoff if the radio network controller determines to handoff the access terminal from the macro cell radio node to the private access point.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the macro cell radio node and the private access point operate on different carrier frequencies.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the macro cell radio node and the private access point operate on a common carrier frequency.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information was sent by the access terminal in response to a RUTrigger message.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information comprises signal strengths.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information comprises a signal strength of the macro cell radio node.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is sent via a radio node.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the radio node comprises the macro cell radio node.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

initiating the handoff.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information comprises location information from the access terminal; and

wherein the second information comprises additional location information from the access terminal about at least one private access point having a service area that overlaps the service area of the macro cell radio node.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one private access point comprises any private access points operating on a same carrier frequency as the macro cell radio node.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one private access point further comprises any private access points operating on a different carrier frequency as the macro cell radio node.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the location information comprises a signal strength of a sector of the private access point.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second information comprises a signal strength of a sector of at least one private access point having a service area that overlaps the service area of the macro cell radio node.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one private access point comprises the private access point.

16. A radio network controller, comprising:

a processor; and

memory for storing instructions that are executable by the processor when an access terminal is in communication with a macro cell radio node of the radio access network and the access terminal is within a service area of the macro cell radio node and a service area of a private access point of the radio access network, the service area of the macro cell radio node and the service area of the private access point overlapping one another, the instructions to:

receive first information from the access terminal;

compare at least part of the first information with private access point location information to determine whether one or more private access points are within the coverage area of the macro cell radio node;

cause a request to be sent to the access terminal upon a determination that one or more private access points are within the coverage area of the macro cell radio node, wherein the request is configured to obtain second information from the access terminal;

determine whether to initiate a handoff of the access terminal from the macro cell radio node to the private access point by using at least part of the second information provided by the access terminal in response to the request; and

send a signal to the access terminal that initiates the handoff if the radio network controller determines to handoff the access terminal from the macro cell radio node to the private access point.

17. A machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, the machine-readable storage medium being a tangible medium, the instructions being executable by a processor on a radio network controller when an access terminal is in communication with a macro cell radio node of the radio access network and the access terminal is within a service area of the macro cell radio node and a service area of a private access point of the radio access network, the service area of the macro cell radio node and the service area of the private access point overlapping one another, the instructions to:

receive first information from the access terminal;

compare at least part of the first information with private access point location information to determine whether one or more private access points are within the coverage area of the macro cell radio node;

cause a request to be sent to the access terminal upon a determination that one or more private access points are within the coverage area of the macro cell radio node, wherein the request is configured to obtain second information from the access terminal;

determine whether to initiate a handoff of the access terminal from the macro cell radio node to the private access point by using at least part of the second information provided by the access terminal in response to the request; and

send a signal to the access terminal that initiates the handoff if the radio network controller determines to handoff the access terminal from the macro cell radio node to the private access point.

18. A method performed by a radio network controller of a radio access network when an access terminal is in communication with a private access point of the radio access network and the access terminal is within a service area of the private access point and a service area of a macro cell radio node of the radio access network, the service area of the private access point and the service area of the macro cell radio node overlapping one another, the method comprising:

receiving first information from the access terminal;

comparing at least part of the first information with private access point location information to determine whether one or more private access points are within the coverage area of the macro cell radio node;

causing a trigger message to be sent to the access terminal upon a determination that one or more private access points are within the coverage area of the macro cell radio node;

receiving second information from the access terminal in response to the trigger message, the second information comprising a signal strength of the private access point and a signal strength of the macro cell radio node; and

determining whether to initiate a handoff of the access terminal from the private access point to the macro cell radio node by:

comparing the signal strength of the private access point to the signal strength of the macro cell radio node; and

if the signal strength of the private access point is below a first threshold or the signal strength of the macro cell radio node is above a second threshold, then:

initiating the handoff by sending a signal to the access terminal.

19. A radio network controller, comprising:

a processor; and

memory for storing instructions that are executable by the processor when an access terminal is in communication with a private access point of the radio access network and the access terminal is within a service area of the private access point and a service area of a macro cell radio node of the radio access network, the service area of the private access point and the service area of the macro cell radio node overlapping one another, the instructions to:

receive first information from the access terminal;

compare at least part of the first information with private access point location information to determine whether one or more private access points are within the coverage area of the macro cell radio node;

cause a trigger message to be sent to the access terminal upon a determination that one or more private access points are within the coverage area of the macro cell radio node;

receive second information from the access terminal in response to the trigger message, the second information comprising a signal strength of the private access point and a signal strength of the macro cell radio node; and

determine whether to initiate a handoff of the access terminal from the private access point to the macro cell radio node by:

comparing the signal strength of the private access point to the signal strength of the macro cell radio node; and,

if the signal strength of the private access point is below a first threshold or the signal strength of the macro cell radio node is above a second threshold, then:

initiating the handoff by sending a signal to the access terminal.

20. A machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, the machine-readable storage medium being a tangible medium, the instructions being executable by a processor on a radio network controller when an access terminal is in communication with a private access point of the radio access network and the access terminal is within a service area of the private access point and a service area of a macro cell radio node of the radio access network, the service area of the private access point and the service area of the macro cell radio node overlapping one another, the instructions to:

receive first information from the access terminal;

compare at least part of the first information with private access point location information to determine whether one or more private access points are within the coverage area of the macro cell radio node;

cause a trigger message to be sent to the access terminal upon a determination that one or more private access points are within the coverage area of the macro cell radio node;

receive second information from the access terminal in response to the trigger message, the second information comprising a signal strength of the private access point and a signal strength of the macro cell radio node; and

determine whether to initiate a handoff of the access terminal from the private access point to the macro cell radio node by:

comparing the signal strength of the private access point to the signal strength of the macro cell radio node; and,

if the signal strength of the private access point is below a first threshold or the signal strength of the macro cell radio node is above a second threshold, then:

initiating the handoff by sending a signal to the access terminal.