Paging incommunication systems

• US 20050148348A1
• Filed: 01/13/2003
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Mildh, Gunnar, Cramby, Mathias, Magnusson, Johan
• Granted Patent: US 7,020,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/458
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 Inter-network notification

Abstract

The present invention refers to methods and systems for enabling paging and DRX in a hybrid cellular communication system comprising a core network (CN) and radio access network (RAN) employing different paging techniques. The core network is accociated with a DRX parameter of a CN associated parameter set, which according to the invention, is mapped to a value of a RAN associated parameter set. This resulting value may then be used by the radio access network and/or a mobile station for determining a present paging period of the mobile station. Furthermore, methods of selecting DRX parameters for a mobile station in different operational modes are provided. The invention is particular applicable to a communication system including a GERAN radio access network operating in Iu mode.

Claims

1. A method of determining a paging period between possible paging occasions for a mobile station in a cellular communication system comprising a core network (CN) and a radio access network (RAN), said method comprising the steps of:

providing a paging parameter of a CN associated parameter set;

mapping said paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a paging parameter of a RAN associated parameter set; and

determining said paging period based on said paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a time length of said paging period is similar to a time length of a paging period determined by said paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mapping is performed according to:

paging parameter of said RAN parameter set=3×

2^{(9-paging parameter of said CN parameter set)}.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a paging period determined by a paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set is an integer multiple of a shorter paging period determined by a larger paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said core network comprises a circuit-switched (CS) core network domain and a packet-switched (PS) core network domain, said CS core network domain is associated with a CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set and said PS core network domain is associated with a PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set, said method comprises the further step of:

said radio access network broadcasting said CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said core network comprises a circuit-switched (CS) core network domain and a packet-switched (PS) core network domain, said CS core network domain is associated with a CS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set and said PS core network domain is associated with a PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set, said method comprises the further steps of:

said radio access network mapping said CS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set; and

said radio access network broadcasting said CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said mobile station and said PS core network domain negotiating said PS paging parameter of said CN parameter set.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein method further comprises the steps of:

said radio access network mapping said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set; and

said radio access network broadcasting said PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set is specified in standard.

10. The method according to claim 5, wherein said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set is stored in an identity module associated with said mobile station.

11. The method according to claim 5, wherein said method comprises the further step of:

a mobile station in idle mode attached to said CS core network domain determining said paging period based on said CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

12. The method according to claim 5, wherein said method comprises the further steps of:

a mobile station in idle mode attached to said PS core network domain mapping said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a PS paging parameter of said RAN parameter set; and

said mobile station determining said paging period based on said PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

13. The method according to claim 5, wherein said method comprises the further steps of:

a mobile station in idle mode attached to said CS core network domain and said PS core network domain mapping said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a PS paging parameter of said RAN parameter set;

said mobile station comparing said CS and PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set; and

said mobile station determining said paging period based on the largest of said compared CS and PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

14. The method according to claim 5, wherein said radio access network broadcasting a RAN paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

15. The method according to claim 5, wherein said radio access network including a RAN paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set in a cell update confirm, a GRA (GERAN Registration Area) update confirm, a radio bearer reconfiguration, a radio bearer release, a radio bearer setup and/or a RRC (Radio Resource Control) connection setup message to said mobile station.

16. The method according to claim 5, wherein said mobile station and said radio access network negotiating a RAN paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said method comprises the further steps of:

a mobile station in connected mode attached to said CS core network domain comparing said RAN and CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set; and

said mobile station determining said paging period based on the largest of said compared RAN and CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein said method comprises the further steps of:

a mobile station in connected mode attached to said PS core network domain mapping said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set;

said mobile station comparing said RAN and PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set; and

said mobile station determining said paging period based on the largest of said compared RAN and PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein said method comprises the further steps of:

a mobile station in connected mode attached to said CS core network domain and said PS core network domain mapping said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a PS paging parameter of said RAN parameter set;

said mobile station comparing said RAN, CS and PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set; and

said mobile station determining said paging period based on the largest of said compared CS, RAN and PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set is included by said mobile station in a GPRS attach request message and/or a routing area update message to said core network.

21. A cellular communication system for determining a paging period between possible paging occasions for a mobile station, said system comprising a radio access network (RAN) and a core network (CN), which core network comprises means for providing a paging parameter of a CN associated parameter set, wherein said system comprises:

means for mapping said paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a paging parameter of a RAN associated parameter set; and

means for determining said paging period based on said paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein a time length of said paging period is similar to a time length of a paging period determined by said paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set.

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein said mapping means is configured to calculate said paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set according to:

paging parameter of said RAN parameter set=3×

2^{(9-paging parameter of said CN parameter set)}.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein a paging period determined by a paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set is an integer multiple of a shorter paging period determined by a larger paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

25. The system according to claim 21, wherein said core network comprises a circuit-switched (CS) core network domain and a packet-switched (PS) core network domain, said CS core network domain is associated with a CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set and said PS core network domain is associated with a PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set, whereby said radio access network comprises means for broadcasting said CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

26. The system according to claim 21, wherein said core network comprises a circuit-switched (CS) core network domain and a packet-switched (PS) core network domain, said CS core network domain is associated with a CS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set and said PS core network domain is associated with a PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set, whereby said mapping means is configured for mapping said CS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set and said radio access network comprises means for broadcasting said CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein said determining means is implemented in a mobile station in idle mode attached to said CS core network domain for determining said paging period based on said CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

28. The system according to claim 25, wherein said mapping means is provided in a mobile station in idle mode attached to said PS core network domain and is adapted for mapping said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a PS paging parameter of said RAN parameter set and said determining means is implemented in said mobile station for determining said paging period based on said PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

29. The system according to claim 25, wherein said mapping means is provided in a mobile station in idle mode attached to said CS core network domain and said PS core network domain and is adapted for mapping said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a PS paging parameter of said RAN parameter set, and said mobile station comprises means for comparing said CS and PS paging parameter, whereby said determining means is implemented in said mobile station for determining said paging period based on the largest of said compared CS and PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

30. The system according to claim 25, wherein said radio access network is associated with a radio RAN parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

31. The system according to any of the claims 30, wherein a mobile station in connected mode attached to said CS core network domain comprises means for comparing said RAN and CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set, whereby said determining means is implemented in said mobile station for determining said paging parameter based on the largest of said compared RAN and CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

32. The system according to claim 30, wherein said mapping means is provided in a mobile station in connected mode attached to said PS core network domain and is adapted for mapping said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a PS paging parameter of said RAN parameter set, and said mobile station comprises means for comparing said RAN and PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set, whereby said determining means is implemented in said mobile station for determining said paging period based on the largest of said RAN and PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

33. The system according to claim 30, wherein said mapping means is provided in a mobile station in connected mode attached to said CS core network domain and said PS core network domain and is adapted for mapping said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a PS paging parameter of said RAN parameter set, and said mobile station comprises means for comparing said RAN, CS and PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set, whereby said determining means is implemented in said mobile station for determining said paging period based on the largest of said CS, RAN and PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

34. The system according to claim 21, wherein said core network is a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) core network and said radio access network is a GERAN (Global system for mobile communication Enhanced data rates for global evolution Radio Access Network) radio access network operating in Iu mode.

35. A radio access network (RAN) for determining a paging period between possible paging occasions for a mobile station in cellular communication system comprising said radio access network and a core network (CN), which core network comprises means for providing a paging parameter of a CN associated parameter set, wherein said radio access network comprises:

means for mapping said paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a paging parameter of a RAN associated parameter set; and

means for determining said paging period based on said paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

36. The network according to claim 35, wherein a time length of said paging period is similar to a time length of a paging period determined by said paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set.

37. The network according to claim 35, wherein said mapping means is configured to calculate said paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set according to:

paging parameter of said RAN parameter set=3×

2^{(9-paging parameter of said CN parameter set)}.

38. The network according to claim 35, wherein a paging period determined by a paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set is an integer multiple of a shorter paging period determined by a larger paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

39. The network according to claim 35, wherein said core network comprises a circuit-switched (CS) core network domain and a packet-switched switched (PS) core network domain, said CS core network domain is associated with a CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set and said PS core network domain is associated with a PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set, whereby said radio access network comprises means for broadcasting said CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

40. The network according to claim 35, wherein said core network comprises a circuit-switched (CS) core network domain and a packet-switched (PS) core network domain, said CS core network domain is associated with a CS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set and said PS core network domain is associated with a PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set, whereby said mapping means is configured for mapping said CS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set and said radio access network comprises means for broadcasting said CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

41. The network according to claim 39, wherein said mapping means is configured to map said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set and said radio access network comprises means for broadcasting said PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

42. The network according to claim 39, wherein said radio access network comprises means for receiving a paging parameter transmitted in a paging request from a core network domain to which said mobile station is attached, whereby said mapping means is configured to map a received paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a corresponding paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

43. The network according to claim 42, wherein said radio access network comprises means for comparing said paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set associated with a core network domain to which a mobile station in idle mode is attached and said paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set associated with said paging request message, whereby said determining means is implemented for determining said paging period based on the largest of said compared paging parameters of said RAN associated parameter set.

44. The network according to claim 42, wherein said radio access network comprises means for comparing said paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set associated with a core network domain to which a mobile station in idle mode is attached and said paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set associated with said paging request message, whereby said determining means is implemented for determining said paging period based on the smallest of said compared paging parameters of said RAN associated parameter set.

45. The network according to claim 42, wherein said radio access network comprises means for broadcasting a radio RAN parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

46. The network according to claim 42, wherein said radio access network comprises means for including a RAN paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set in a cell update confirm, a GRA (GERAN Registration Area) update confirm, a radio bearer reconfiguration, a radio bearer release, a radio bearer setup and/or a RRC connection setup message to said mobile station.

47. The network according to claim 42, wherein said radio access network comprises means for negotiating a RAN paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set with said mobile station.

48. The network according to claim 45, wherein said radio access network comprises means for comparing said paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set associated with a core network domain to which a mobile station in idle mode is attached, said paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set associated with said paging request message and said RAN paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set, whereby said determining means is implemented for determining said paging period based on the largest of said compared paging parameters of said RAN associated parameter set.

49. The network according to claim 45, wherein said radio access network comprises means for comparing said paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set associated with a core network domain to which a mobile station in idle mode is attached, said paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set associated with said paging request message and said RAN paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set, whereby said determining means is implemented for determining said paging period based on the smallest of said compared paging parameters of said RAN associated parameter set.

50. A mobile station for determining a paging period between possible paging occasions in a cellular communication system comprising a radio access network (RAN) and a core network (CN), which core network comprises means for providing a paging parameter of a CN associated parameter set, wherein said mobile station comprises:

means for mapping said paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a paging parameter of a RAN associated parameter set; and

means for determining said paging period based on said paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

51. The mobile station according to claim 50, wherein a time length of said paging period is similar to a time length of a paging period determined by said paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set.

52. The mobile station according to claim 50, wherein said mapping means is configured to calculate said paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set according to:

paging parameter of said RAN parameter set=3×

2^{(9-paging parameter of said CN parameter set)}.

53. The mobile station according to claim 50, wherein a paging period determined by a paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set is an integer multiple of a shorter paging period determined by a larger paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

54. The mobile station according to claim 50, wherein said core network comprises a circuit-switched (CS) core network domain and a packet-switched (PS) core network domain, said CS core network domain is associated with a CS paging parameter and said PS core network domain is associated with a PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set, whereby said mobile station comprises means for receiving a CS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set broadcast from said radio access network.

55. The mobile station according to claim 54, wherein said mobile station comprises means for negotiating said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set with said PS core network domain and said mapping means is configured to map said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

56. The mobile station according to claim 54, wherein said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set is stored in an identity module associated with said mobile station and said mapping means is configured to map said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

57. The mobile station according to claim 54, wherein said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set is specified in standard and said mapping means is configured to map said PS paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set to a PS paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

58. The mobile station according to claim 55, wherein said mobile station is in idle mode and comprises means for selecting the largest of said paging parameters of said RAN associated parameter set associated with a core network domain to which said mobile station is attached, whereby said determining means is implemented for determining said paging period based on said largest paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

59. The mobile station according to claims 55, wherein said mobile station comprises means for negotiating a RAN paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set with said radio access network.

60. The mobile station according to claim 59, wherein said mobile station is in connected mode and comprises means for selecting the largest of said paging parameters of said RAN associated parameter set associated with a core network domain to which said mobile station is attached and said RAN paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set, whereby said determining means is implemented for determining said paging period based on said selected largest paging parameter of said RAN associated parameter set.

61. The mobile station according to claim 50, wherein said mobile station comprises means for including said paging parameter of said CN associated parameter set in a GPRS Attach Request message and/or a Routing Area Update message to said core network.