Method and system for supporting an evolved UTRAN

• US 20070019575A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaheen, Kamel
• Granted Patent: US 8,064,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0094 Definition of hand-off measurement parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks

Abstract

A method and system for supporting an evolved universal mobile telecommunication systems (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) are disclosed. The system includes a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a UTRAN and an E-UTRAN. The UTRAN sends to the WTRU a list of available radio access technologies in a coverage area of the UTRAN. The list includes information related to the E-UTRAN. The WTRU receives the list and may initiate a handoff based on the list. The WTRU then sends its multi-mode/multi-RAT capability information including the E-UTRAN capability to the UTRAN. The UTRAN then sends a measurement capability message to the WTRU. The measurement capability message includes parameters necessary for performing measurements on an E-UTRAN channel. The WTRU performs measurements based on the measurement capability message and reports measurement results to the UTRAN. The UTRAN may initiate a handoff to the E-UTRAN based on the measurement results.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system including a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a universal mobile telecommunication systems (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) and an evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN), a method for supporting the E-UTRAN, the method comprising:

the WTRU listening to a UTRAN channel;

the UTRAN sending a list of available radio access technologies (RATs) in a coverage area of the UTRAN via the UTRAN channel, the list including information related to the E-UTRAN; and

the WTRU receiving the list, whereby the WTRU receives E-UTRAN services based on the list.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the list is sent via a broadcast control channel (BCCH).

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the list is included in a cell information list message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the list is sent via a dedicated channel.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a RAT of the E-UTRAN is orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the E-UTRAN information includes at least one of OFDM selection and reselection information, base transceiver identity code (BSIC), and system specific measurement information.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the system specific measurement information enumerates at least one of supported frequency, bandwidth, and output power.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the WTRU sending a multi-mode/multi-RAT capability of the WTRU to the UTRAN; and

the UTRAN receiving the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability of the WTRU.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability indicates an E-UTRAN capability of the WTRU.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the E-UTRAN capability includes an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) capability.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability includes at least one of an indication of OFDM support, an indication of a support of handoff between the UTRAN and the E-UTRAN, OFDM radio frequency capability, and OFDM measurement capability.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the indication of OFDM support enumerates supported frequencies and bandwidths.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability is sent via at least one of a WTRU multi-mode/multi-RAT capability message, a WTRU radio access capability message, and a WTRU radio access capability extension message.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein a multi-mode/multi-RAT capability is sent during an attach procedure.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability is sent upon request by the UTRAN.

16. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

the UTRAN sending a measurement capability message to the WTRU, the measurement capability message including parameters necessary for performing measurements on an E-UTRAN channel;

the WTRU performing measurements based on the measurement capability message; and

the WTRU reporting measurement results to the UTRAN.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

the UTRAN initiating a handoff of the WTRU to the E-UTRAN based on the measurement results.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the measurement capability message includes parameters for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) measurements.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the WTRU initiating a handoff from the UTRAN to the E-UTRAN based on the list.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the handoff is triggered by a user of the WTRU.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the handoff is triggered automatically.

22. A wireless communication system supporting an evolved universal mobile telecommunication systems (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN), the system comprising:

an E-UTRAN;

a UTRAN configured to send a list of available radio access technologies (RATs) in a coverage area of the UTRAN, the list including information related to the E-UTRAN; and

a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configured to receive the list and receive E-UTRAN services based on the list.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the UTRAN sends the list via a broadcast control channel (BCCH).

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the UTRAN includes the list in a cell information list message.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the UTRAN sends the list via a dedicated channel.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein a RAT of the E-UTRAN is orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the E-UTRAN information includes at least one of OFDM selection and reselection information, base transceiver identity code (BSIC), and system specific measurement information.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the system specific measurement information enumerates at least one of supported frequency, bandwidth, and output power.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein the WTRU is configured to send its multi-mode/multi-RAT capability to the UTRAN.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability includes E-UTRAN capability.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the E-UTRAN capability includes an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) capability.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability includes at least one of an indication of OFDM support, an indication of a support of handoff between the UTRAN and the E-UTRAN, OFDM radio frequency capability, and OFDM measurement capability.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the indication of OFDM support enumerates supported frequencies and bandwidths.

34. The system of claim 29 wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability is sent via at least one of a WTRU multi-mode/multi-RAT capability message, a WTRU radio access capability message, and a WTRU radio access capability extension message.

35. The system of claim 29 wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability is sent during an attach procedure.

36. The system of claim 29 wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability is sent upon request by the UTRAN.

37. The system of claim 29 wherein the UTRAN is configured to send a measurement capability message to the WTRU, the measurement capability message including parameters necessary to perform measurements on an E-UTRAN channel, and the WTRU is configured to perform measurements based on the measurement capability message and report measurement results to the UTRAN.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the UTRAN is configured to initiate a handoff to the E-UTRAN based on the measurement results.

39. The system of claim 37 wherein the measurement capability message includes parameters for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) measurements.

40. The system of claim 22 wherein the WTRU is configured to initiate a handoff of the WTRU from the UTRAN to the E-UTRAN based on the list.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein the handoff is triggered by a user of the WTRU.

42. The system of claim 40 wherein the handoff is triggered automatically.