METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING DETECTION OF A COMPATIBLE NETWORK

• US 20110013530A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Hugl, Klaus, Roman, Timo Eric, Rinne, Mika Petri Olavi
• Granted Patent: US 8,724,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/0069 Cell search, i.e. determining cell identity [cell-ID] design of multiplexing codes H04J13/00; processing access restriction or access information H04W48/16; discovery of network devices for network data management H04W8/005; sounding signals for channel estimation H04L25/0226; structure of reference signals in multicarrier modulation systems H04L27/2613; frame, time or carrier synchronisation in multicarrier modulation systems H04L27/2655
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

An approach is provided for searching and detecting cells. System synchronization sequences are detected. An information block on a control channel of one of a plurality of networks is decoded, in response to the detected synchronization sequences. The synchronization sequences are independent of the networks. The information block includes a system indicator specifying release version of the network.

Claims

1-27. -27. (canceled)

28. A method comprising:

detecting system synchronization sequences; and

decoding, in response to the detected synchronization sequences, an information block on a control channel of one of a plurality of networks, wherein the synchronization sequences are independent of the networks, and the information block includes a system indicator specifying release version of the network.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the system indicator is set to provide backward compatibility with another one of the networks.

30. A method according to claim 28, wherein the system indicator includes at least one of a standard, a standard release version, a system revision number, or other information corresponding to one or more system parameters in use on a carrier of the network.

31. A method according to claim 28, further comprising:

decoding another control channel of another of the networks based on the release version.

32. A method according to claim 28, further comprising:

determining a carrier center frequency associated with a cell associated with the one network; and

tuning to the determined carrier center frequency.

33. A method according to claim 32, further comprising synchronizing to symbol sequences specific to the cell.

34. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising detecting system synchronization sequences;

and decoding, in response to the detected synchronization sequences, an information block on a control channel of one of a plurality of networks, wherein the synchronization sequences are independent of the networks, and the information block includes a system indicator specifying release version of the network.

35. An apparatus comprising:

a detection logic configured to detect system synchronization sequences, and to decode, in response to the detected synchronization sequences, an information block on a control channel of one of a plurality of networks, wherein the synchronization sequences are independent of the networks, and the information block includes a system indicator specifying release version of the one network.

36. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the system indicator is set to provide backward compatibility with another one of the networks.

37. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the system indicator includes at least one of a standard, a standard release version, a system revision number, or other information corresponding to one or more system parameters in use on a carrier of the network.

38. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the detection logic is further configured to decode another control channel of another of the networks based on the release version.

39. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein a carrier center frequency associated with a cell associated with the one network is determined.

40. A method comprising:

determining a compatibility class that is supported within a cell; and

setting a release tag based on the determined class for detection of a cell among a plurality of cells corresponding to heterogeneous systems.

41. A method according to claim 40, further comprising:

generating a control message including a system indicator for transmission to a user equipment

42. A method according to claim 41, further comprising:

transmitting the control message to the user equipment over a control channel within the cell.

43. A method according to claim 42, wherein detection of the cell is performed in a single search-round using the release tag.

44. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising determining a compatibility class that is supported within a cell;

and setting a release tag based on the determined class for detection of a cell among a plurality of cells corresponding to heterogeneous systems.

45. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to determine a compatibility class that is supported within a cell, and to set a release tag based on the determined class for detection of a cell among a plurality of cells corresponding to heterogeneous systems.

46. An apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the logic is further configured to generate a control message including the system indicator for transmission to the user equipment over a synchronization channel.

47. An apparatus according to claim 46, further comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit the control message to the user equipment over a control channel within the cell.