Systems and Methods for Dynamically Configuring Femtocell Pilot Beacon Based on Macro-Network Loading

1. A method of operating a wireless network system, wherein the wireless network system includes a first base station operating on a first base station frequency to serve mobile devices, and one or more second base stations operating on a plurality of second base station frequencies, the method comprising: the first base station transmitting a frequency-hopping pilot beacon among the plurality of second base station frequencies; determining loading on each of the second base station frequencies; determining, based on the determined loading, that a particular one of the second base station frequencies is more heavily loaded than another one of the second base station frequencies; and responsive to determining that the particular one of the second base station frequencies is more heavily loaded than the other one of the second base station frequencies, prioritizing transmission of the frequency-hopping pilot beacon on the particular one of the second base station frequencies as compared to the other one of the second base station frequencies, wherein the prioritizing transmission includes: selecting a pilot beacon transmission pattern that prioritizes transmission on the second base station frequencies according to the determined loading of the second base station frequencies relative to one another and causing the first base station to transmit the frequency-hopping pilot beacon according to the selected pilot beacon transmission pattern, and wherein the selected pilot beacon transmission pattern defines a sequence of hopping among the second base station frequencies such that, during a transmission cycle in which the frequency-hopping pilot beacon is transmitted on each of the plurality of second base station frequencies, the first base station transmits, on one or more of the second base station frequencies that are more heavily loaded than others of the second base station frequencies, for a greater cumulative duration than a cumulative duration in which the first base station transmits on the others of the plurality of second base station frequencies.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: based on the determined loading, determining that the particular one of the second base station frequencies is loaded beyond a threshold level, and wherein the prioritizing transmission is further responsive to determining that the particular one of the second base station frequencies is loaded beyond the threshold level.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising dynamically adjusting the frequency-hopping pilot beacon according to loading on the second base station frequencies by repeatedly carrying out the following functions: determining updated loading on each of the second base station frequencies; selecting an updated pilot beacon transmission pattern that prioritizes transmission on the second base station frequencies according to the determined updated loading of the second base station frequencies relative to one another; and causing the first base station to transmit the frequency-hopping pilot beacon according to the selected updated pilot beacon transmission pattern.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the frequency-hopping pilot beacon includes repeatedly cycling through transmitting on each of the plurality of second base station frequencies, and wherein the prioritizing transmission includes, during at least one of the repeated cycles of the frequency-hopping pilot beacon, transmitting on the particular one of the second base station frequencies for a greater cumulative duration than a cumulative duration in which the frequency-hopping pilot beacon is transmitted on the other one of the second base station frequencies.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the frequency-hopping pilot beacon includes repeatedly cycling through transmitting on each of the plurality of second base station frequencies, and wherein the prioritizing transmission includes, during at least one of the repeated cycles of the frequency-hopping pilot beacon, transmitting on the particular one of the second base station frequencies with a greater transmission power than a transmission power with which the frequency-hopping pilot beacon is transmitted on the other one of the second base station frequencies.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the frequency-hopping pilot beacon includes repeatedly cycling through transmitting on each of the plurality of second base station frequencies; and wherein the prioritizing transmission includes, during at least one of the repeated cycles of the frequency-hopping pilot beacon, transmitting more often on the particular one of the second base station frequencies than the frequency-hopping pilot beacon is transmitted on the other one of the second base station frequencies.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining loading on each of the second base station frequencies includes, for each of the second base station frequencies: determining a signal strength of the second base station frequency; and determining the loading of the second base station frequency based on the determined signal strength.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining loading on each of the second base station frequencies includes receiving data indicating the loading on each of the second base station frequencies.

9. A wireless network system comprising: a first base station including (i) an internet interface, and (ii) one or more antenna structures; and a controller, wherein the internet interface is configured to communicate with a network, wherein the one or more antenna structures are configured to (i) transmit a frequency-hopping pilot beacon among a plurality of second base station frequencies, and (ii) wirelessly communicate, on a first base station frequency, with mobile devices served by the first base station to thereby link the mobile devices served by the first base station to the network via the internet interface, and wherein the controller is configured to (i) determine loading on each of the second base station frequencies, (ii) determine, based on the determined loading, that a particular one of the second base station frequencies is more heavily loaded than another one of the second base station frequencies, (iii) responsive to determining that the particular one of the second base station frequencies is more heavily loaded than the other one of the second base station frequencies, prioritize transmission of the frequency-hopping pilot beacon on the particular one of the second base station frequencies as compared to the other one of the second base station frequencies, wherein the controller is configured to prioritize transmission by selecting a pilot beacon transmission pattern that prioritizes transmission on the second base station frequencies according to the determined loading of the second base station frequencies relative to one another and causing the first base station to transmit the frequency-hopping pilot beacon according to the selected pilot beacon transmission pattern, and wherein the selected pilot beacon transmission pattern defines a sequence of hopping among the second base station frequencies such that, during a transmission cycle in which the frequency-hopping pilot beacon is transmitted on each of the plurality of second base station frequencies, the first base station transmits, on one or more of the second base station frequencies that are more heavily loaded than others of the second base station frequencies, for a greater cumulative duration than a cumulative duration in which the first base station transmits on the others of the second base station frequencies.

10. The wireless network system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine, based on the determined loading, that the particular one of the second base station frequencies is loaded beyond a threshold level, and wherein the controller is further configured such that the transmission of the frequency-hopping pilot beacon on the particular one of the second base station frequencies is further responsive to determining that the particular one of the second base station frequencies is loaded beyond the threshold level.

11. The wireless network system of claim 9 , wherein the first base station is configured to transmit the frequency-hopping pilot beacon via the one or more antenna structures by repeatedly cycling through transmitting on each of the plurality of second base station frequencies, and wherein the controller is configured to prioritize transmission by, during at least one of the repeated cycles of the frequency-hopping pilot beacon, causing the first base station to transmit on the particular one of the second base station frequencies for a greater cumulative duration than a cumulative duration in which the frequency-hopping pilot beacon is transmitted on the other one of the second base station frequencies.

12. The wireless network system of claim 9 , wherein the first base station is configured to transmit the frequency-hopping pilot beacon via the one or more antenna structures by repeatedly cycling through transmitting on each of the plurality of second base station frequencies, and wherein the controller is configured to prioritize transmission by, during at least one of the repeated cycles of the frequency-hopping pilot beacon, causing the first base station to transmit on the particular one of the second base station frequencies with a greater transmission power than a transmission power with which the frequency-hopping pilot beacon is transmitted on the other one of the second base station frequencies.

13. The wireless network system of claim 9 , wherein the first base station is configured to transmit the frequency-hopping pilot beacon via the one or more antenna structures by repeatedly cycling through transmitting on each of the plurality of second base station frequencies, and wherein the controller is configured to prioritize transmission by, during at least one of the repeated cycles of the frequency-hopping pilot beacon, causing the first base station to transmit more often on the particular one of the second base station frequencies than the frequency-hopping pilot beacon is transmitted on the other one of the second base station frequencies.

14. The wireless network system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the loading on each of the second base station frequencies by, for each of the second base station frequencies: (i) determining a signal strength of the second base station frequency, and (ii) determining the loading of the second base station frequency based on the determined signal strength.

15. A method of operating a wireless network system, wherein the wireless network system includes a first base station operating on a first base station frequency to serve mobile devices, and one or more second base stations operating on a plurality of second base station frequencies, the method comprising: the first base station transmitting a frequency-hopping pilot beacon among the plurality of second base station frequencies; determining loading on each of the second base station frequencies; selecting a pilot beacon transmission pattern that prioritizes transmission on the second base station frequencies according to the determined loading of the second base station frequencies relative to one another, wherein the selected pilot beacon transmission pattern defines a sequence of hopping among the second base station frequencies such that, during a transmission cycle in which the frequency-hopping pilot beacon is transmitted on each of the plurality of second base station frequencies, the first base station transmits, on one or more of the second base station frequencies that are more heavily loaded than others of the second base station frequencies, for a greater cumulative duration than a cumulative duration in which the first base station transmits on the others of the plurality of second base station frequencies; and causing the first base station to transmit the frequency-hopping pilot beacon according to the selected pilot beacon transmission pattern.