Extended Capability Transfer Between A User Equipment And A Wireless Network

• US 20070224990A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Fischer, Sven, Edge, Stephen, Jiang, Yongjin
• Granted Patent: US 8,848,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

Techniques for transferring new capability information in an efficient and backward compatible manner are described. A user equipment (UE) may send a new compatibility indicator to a wireless network to indicate that the UE has new capability information to send. This new capability indicator may be implemented with a spare bit in an information element included in an initial message sent to the network. The network may request for the information or indicate that it can receive the information. The UE may then send the new capability information to the network upon receiving the request or the indication. Alternatively, the network may convey that it supports transfer of new capability information, e.g., via a broadcast message or a unicast message. The UE may then send new capability information at any time to the network, without having to send the new capability indicator.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to send a first message having a first indicator set to indicate additional information to send and not transferable in the first message, to receive a second indicator indicating support of transfer of the additional information, and to send the additional information in a second message in response to receiving the second indicator; and

a memory coupled to the processor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first indicator is a spare bit in an information element included in the first message.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first indicator is a spare bit in an information element for Mobile Station Classmark 1, 2 or 3 included in the first message.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive a third message requesting for the additional information and serving as the second indicator.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive a flag indicating support of transfer of the additional information and serving as the second indicator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first message is a CM Service Request message, a CM Re-establishment Request message, a Location Updating Request message, a Paging Response message, a Classmark Change message, an Attach Request message, a Routing Area Update Request message, or a Connection Setup Complete message.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the additional information comprises new capability information for a user equipment (UE).

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the additional information comprises information for location capabilities, positioning capabilities, notification capabilities, or a combination thereof, for a user equipment (UE).

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first message is sent to a wireless network and the second indicator is received from the wireless network.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first message is sent to a user equipment (UE) and the second indicator is received from the UE.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to set a spare bit in a Mobile Station Classmark information element to indicate new capability information to send and not transferable in the information element, to send the Mobile Station Classmark information element in a first message to a wireless network, to receive an indication that the wireless network supports transfer of the new capability information, and to send the new capability information in a second message to the wireless network in response to receiving the indication; and

a memory coupled to the processor.

12. A method comprising:

sending a first message having a first indicator set to indicate additional information to send and not transferable in the first message;

receiving a second indicator indicating support of transfer of the additional information; and

sending the additional information in a second message in response to receiving the second indicator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving the second indicator comprises receiving a third message requesting for the additional information and serving as the second indicator.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first indicator is a spare bit in an information element for Mobile Station Classmark 1, 2 or 3 included in the first message.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the additional information comprises information for location capabilities, positioning capabilities, notification capabilities, or a combination thereof, for a user equipment (UE).

16. An apparatus comprising:

means for sending a first message having a first indicator set to indicate additional information to send and not transferable in the first message;

means for receiving a second indicator indicating support of transfer of the additional information; and

means for sending the additional information in a second message in response to receiving the second indicator.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for receiving the second indicator comprises means for receiving a third message requesting for the additional information and serving as the second indicator.

18. A processor-readable media for storing instructions to:

send a first message having a first indicator set to indicate additional information to send and not transferable in the first message;

receive a second indicator indicating support of transfer of the additional information; and

send the additional information in a second message in response to receiving the second indicator.

19. The processor-readable media of claim 18, and further for storing instructions to:

receive a third message requesting for the additional information and serving as the second indicator.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to receive from a wireless network an indication of support of transfer of additional information not transferable in a first information element, and to send the additional information in a second information element to the wireless network in response to receiving the indication; and

a memory coupled to the processor.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to send a first message with the first information element to the wireless network, and to send a second message with the second information element to the wireless network.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to send a message with the second information element to the wireless network, the second information element including information in the first information element and the additional information.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first information element is for Mobile Station Classmark 1, 2 or 3.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the indication of support of transfer of additional information is received via a broadcast message.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the indication of support of transfer of additional information is received via a unicast message.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the additional information comprises new capability information for a user equipment (UE).

27. A method comprising:

receiving from a wireless network an indication of support of transfer of additional information not transferable in a first information element; and

sending the additional information in a second information element to the wireless network in response to receiving the indication.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the sending the additional information comprises

sending a first message with the first information element to the wireless network, and

sending a second message with the second information element to the wireless network.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the sending the additional information comprises sending a message with the second information element to the wireless network, the second information element including information in the first information element and the additional information.

30. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving from a wireless network an indication of support of transfer of additional information not transferable in a first information element; and

means for sending the additional information in a second information element to the wireless network in response to receiving the indication.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for sending the additional information comprises

means for sending a first message with the first information element to the wireless network, and

means for sending a second message with the second information element to the wireless network.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for sending the additional information comprises means for sending a message with the second information element to the wireless network, the second information element including information in the first information element and the additional information.

33. A processor-readable media for storing instructions to:

receive from a wireless network an indication of support of transfer of additional information not transferable in a first information element; and

send the additional information in a second information element to the wireless network in response to receiving the indication; and

34. The processor-readable media of claim 33, and further for storing instructions to:

send a first message with the first information element to the wireless network, and

send a second message with the second information element to the wireless network.

35. The processor-readable media of claim 33, and further for storing instructions to:

send a message with the second information element to the wireless network, the second information element including information in the first information element and the additional information.