Communications methods and apparatus using physical attachment point identifiers which support dual communications links
View Patent ↗Methods and apparatus for routing messages between an end node and an access node via another access node are described. Physical layer identification information is used when identifying a remote, e.g., adjacent, access node as a message destination. Thus, when a connection identifier based on one or more physical layer identifiers is available to a wireless terminal, e.g., from one or more downlink signals received from a destination access node, the wireless terminal can use the connection identifier corresponding to the destination node to route a message via an access node with which it has an established uplink connection. Such connection identifier information can be used even when other addressing information, e.g., network layer address information, associated with the destination access node, may not be available to the wireless terminal.
1. A wireless terminal configured to select one of multiple available communications links for transmitting messages, comprising:
circuitry configured to simultaneously maintain a first communications link with a first access node and a second communications link with a second access node, determine a first physical layer attachment point identifier from multiple broadcast signals transmitted by the first access node, determine a second physical layer attachment point identifier from multiple broadcast signals transmitted by the second access node, generate a message including the first physical layer attachment point identifier, select only the second communications link to communicate the message, and transmit the message with the first physical layer attachment point identifier that identifies the first access node to the second access node via the second communications link, wherein the first communications link terminates at the first access node at a first physical attachment point identified by the first physical layer attachment point identifier, wherein the second communications link terminates at the second access node at a second physical attachment point identified by the second physical layer attachment point identifier, and wherein selecting only the second communications link occurs while the first communications link and the second communications link are simultaneously maintained.
2. The wireless terminal of claim 1 , wherein selecting only the second communications link is based on at least one of link latency, link channel conditions, link error rate, and link transmission power requirements.
3. The wireless terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first physical layer attachment point identifier comprises a cell identifier.
4. The wireless terminal of claim 3 , wherein the first physical layer attachment point identifier further comprises a carrier identifier.
5. The wireless terminal of claim 4 , wherein the first physical layer attachment point identifier further comprises a sector identifier.
6. The wireless terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first and second access nodes are base stations, and wherein transmitting the message comprises transmitting orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signals.
7. A method for selecting one of multiple available communications links for transmitting messages, comprising:
simultaneously maintaining, by a wireless terminal, a first communications link with a first access node and a second communications link with a second access node, wherein the first communications link terminates at the first access node at a first physical attachment point identified by a first physical layer attachment point identifier, and wherein the second communications link terminates at the second access node at a second physical attachment point identified by a second physical layer attachment point identifier;
determining the first physical layer attachment point identifier from multiple broadcast signals transmitted by the first access node;
determining the second physical layer attachment point identifier from multiple broadcast signals transmitted by the second access node;
generating a message including the first physical layer attachment point identifier;
selecting only the second communications link to communicate the message while the first communications link and the second communications link are simultaneously maintained; and
transmitting the message with the first physical layer attachment point identifier that identifies the first access node to the second access node via the second communications link.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein selecting only the second communications link is based on at least one of link latency, link channel conditions, link error rate, and link transmission power requirements.
9. A non-transitory machine-readable medium for a wireless terminal, the machine-readable medium comprising instructions that are executable by a processor to:
simultaneously maintain a first communications link with a first access node and a second communications link with a second access node, wherein the first communications link terminates at the first access node at a first physical attachment point identified by a first physical layer attachment point identifier, and wherein the second communications link terminates at the second access node at a second physical attachment point identified by a second physical layer attachment point identifier;
determine the first physical layer attachment point identifier from multiple broadcast signals transmitted by the first access node;
determine the second physical layer attachment point identifier from multiple broadcast signals transmitted by the second access node;
generate a message including the first physical layer attachment point identifier; select only the second communications link to communicate the message while the first communications link and the second communications link are simultaneously maintained; and
transmit the message with the first physical layer attachment point identifier that identifies the first access node to the second access node via the second communications link.
10. The machine-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein selecting only the second communications link is based on at least one of link latency, link channel conditions, link error rate, and link transmission power requirements.