User equipment cellular identification

• US 20060128383A1
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Arcens, Suzanne
• Granted Patent: US 8,548,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining user equipment cell identification examines the age of the cell identification known to the user equipment when determining whether to use that cell identification or to obtain the cell identification through alternate means. The age of the cell identification known to the user equipment is examined by the user equipment, the communication system, or both by comparing the age to a predefined value. The age indicator can be transmitted by the user equipment to a network. If the age exceeds a predefined value, then the cell identification is obtained through network procedures. If the age is less than a predefined value then the cell identification known to the user equipment is accepted as current. Position information for the user equipment can be based upon the cell identification known to the user equipment or as obtained through network procedures.

Claims

1. A method of determining user equipment cell identification in a communication system, the method comprising:

receiving cell identification with user equipment;

tracking cell identification age with user equipment after receiving; and

transmitting cell identification and cell identification age from user equipment.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising comparing cell identification age to a predefined value.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising obtaining cell identification through a network procedure according to the outcome of the comparing step.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising accepting cell identification received from user equipment according to the outcome of the comparing step.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising determining position information for user equipment based upon cell identification obtained through a network procedure.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising determining position information for user equipment based upon cell identification received from user equipment.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein comparing cell identification age to a predefined value comprises comparing cell identification age to a predefined value with at least one mechanism selected from the group consisting of user equipment and networks.

8. A method of determining user equipment cell identification in a communication system, the method comprising:

receiving cell identification with user equipment;

tracking cell identification age with user equipment after receiving; and

transmitting cell identification from user equipment.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising comparing cell identification age to a predefined value with user equipment.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising transmitting cell identification age from user equipment according to the outcome of the comparing step.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising comparing cell identification age to a predefined value with a network.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising obtaining cell identification through a network procedure according to the outcome of the step of comparing cell identification age to a predefined value with a network.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising accepting cell identification received from user equipment according to the outcome of the step of comparing cell identification age to a predefined value with a network.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining position information for user equipment based upon cell identification obtained through a network procedure.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining position information for user equipment based upon cell identification received from user equipment.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising accepting cell identification received from user equipment.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising determining position information for user equipment based upon cell identification received from user equipment.

18. An apparatus for determining user equipment cell identification in a communication system, comprising:

user equipment comprising;

means for receiving cell identification;

means for tracking cell identification age after receiving; and

means for transmitting cell identification.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising means for transmitting cell identification age.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising means for comparing cell identification age to a predefined value.

21. A computer readable medium in user equipment, the medium tangibly embodying instructions for performing the steps of:

tracking cell identification age; and

comparing cell identification age to a predefined value.

22. A computer readable medium tangibly embodying instructions for performing the steps of:

comparing a cell identification age to a predefined value; and

according to the outcome of the comparing step, obtaining cell identification through a network procedure or accepting cell identification received from user equipment.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22 tangibly embodying instructions for determining position information for user equipment based upon cell identification obtained through a network procedure.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22 tangibly embodying instructions for determining position information for user equipment based upon cell identification received from user equipment.