METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZING PAGING MECHANISMS USING DEVICE CONTEXT INFORMATION

• US 20110105155A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bienas, Maik, Choi, Hyung-Nam
• Granted Patent: US 8,611,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/458
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus enabling a wireless network to optimize paging channel operation, based on mobile device context information. In one embodiment, the wireless network is a cellular network (e.g., LTE-Advanced), and both base stations and cellular user devices dynamically exchange and maintain a paging agreement. The paging agreement limits the paging channel operation, thereby minimizing unnecessary scanning and usage of irrelevant radio resources. Such paging mechanisms are limited to the air interface between the base station and the mobile device, and are compatible with existing legacy devices and network entities. Networks with appropriately enabled user devices may improve their resource utilization. Base stations may advantageously reclaim freed-up cellular resources to support other services.

Claims

1. A method of paging a mobile device from a base station in a wireless network based on a selected resource used by the mobile device to receive a paging channel, the method comprising:

receiving information regarding a resource used by the mobile device when the mobile device selects that resource; and

sending paging information to the mobile device from the base station using only a paging channel of the used resource;

wherein if no used resource information exists, no paging information is sent to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the base station comprises an LTE-compliant eNodeB, and the mobile device comprises an LTE-compliant UE.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the selected resource comprises at least one component carrier (CC).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the base station comprises an LTE-A (Long Term Evolution-Advanced)-compliant eNodeB which is configured to support a 20-MHz maximum bandwidth for the at least one component carrier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the base station comprises an LTE-A (Long Term Evolution-Advanced)-compliant eNodeB which is backward-compatible with at least one legacy LTE (Long Term Evolution) paging resource.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected resource used by the mobile device to receive the paging channel is used in an idle (non-connected) mode.

7. A base station apparatus, comprising:

a digital processor;

a radio interface in data communication with the processor; and

a storage device in data communication with the processor, the storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the digital processor;

responsive to receiving an update message from a mobile device via the radio interface;

negotiate a paging agreement with the mobile device; and

start a timing function;

responsive to receiving an indication via the radio interface, reset the timing function; and

responsive to the timing function expiring, delete the paging agreement.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a broadband interface in data communication with the processor;

and wherein responsive to receiving a network page addressed to the mobile device via the broadband interface;

the apparatus further;

determines the existence of the paging agreement;

if the paging agreement does not exist, ignores the network page; and

if the paging agreement exists, transmits a paging channel message to the mobile device based on the paging agreement.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the indication comprises a substantially periodic heartbeat message, and the timing function comprises a watchdog timer.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the base station apparatus and the mobile device are each LTE-A (Long Term Evolution-Advanced) compliant.

11. A mobile communication apparatus, comprising:

a digital processor;

a wireless interface in data communication with the processor; and

a storage device in data communication with the processor, the storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the digital processor;

cause transmission of an update message, the update message configured to cause a receiver thereof to generate a paging agreement, and invoke a timing function having a first schedule; and

cause transmission of a second message having a second schedule different than the first schedule, the second message being configured to cause extension of the paging agreement.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second message is further configured to cause the receiver to restart the timing function.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mobile apparatus comprises an LTE-A (Long Term Evolution-Advanced) compliant cellular device having a battery power supply, and implementation of the paging agreement reduces consumption of power from the power supply by reducing the resources that the mobile apparatus much check during idle mode operation in order to receive a page.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first schedule and second schedule comprise first and second periods, respectively, and the second period is shorter than the first period.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the paging agreement comprises a specification of at least:

(i) a component carrier to be used for paging the mobile apparatus; and

(ii) at least one timing parameter to be used for periodic transmission of the second message.

16. A method of efficiently transmitting paging messages to a mobile device from a plurality of base stations of a wireless network, the method comprising:

within a subset of the base stations, generating a paging agreement between at least one base station and the mobile device, the at least one base station being part of the subset;

storing context information at the at least one base station;

receiving data for the mobile device at the subset of the plurality of base stations; and

transmitting a paging message from only the at least one base station having the generated paging agreement.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the context information comprises a description of at least one paging resource available to the mobile device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the mobile device is operating in an idle, unconnected mode.

19. A method of conducting paging operations in a multi-cell network, comprising:

designating a tracking area having a plurality of base stations associated therewith;

associating a mobile device with the tracking area; and

specifying, using at least the mobile device, only a subset of the plurality of base stations to perform paging of the mobile device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the network comprises a core portion in operative communication with the plurality of base stations, the core portion not being appraised of the specification of the subset of base stations.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the mobile device and base stations are Long-Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) compliant, and the core portion is LTE compliant, and not Long-Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) compliant.