METHODS AND APPARATUS TO INDICATE SPACE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMUNICATING CAPABILITIES OF A DEVICE

• US 20110217980A1
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hoel, David Philip, Faurie, Rene, Kreuzer, Werner Karl
• Granted Patent: US 9,173,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• 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 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

Example methods and apparatus to indicate space requirements for communicating capabilities of a device are disclosed. In accordance with a disclosed example method, a request is sent to a network to request a quantity of blocks to be allocated for use by a mobile station. The quantity of blocks is determined based on a data size to identify radio access capabilities of the mobile station. An allocation of the quantity of blocks is received from the network. Radio access capability information of the mobile station is sent via the allocated blocks.

Claims

1. A method to communicate capabilities of a device, comprising:

sending a request to a network, the request requesting a quantity of blocks to be allocated for use by a mobile station, wherein the quantity of blocks is determined based on a data size to identify radio access capabilities of the mobile station;

receiving an allocation of the quantity of blocks from the network; and

sending radio access capability information of the mobile station via the allocated blocks.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the request is a channel request message sent by the mobile station to the network, wherein the allocation of the quantity of blocks is received at the mobile station in an assignment message, and wherein the radio access capability information of the mobile station is sent to the network via an associated control channel.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the quantity of blocks is requested by the mobile station by sending a quantity value in a channel request message.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein sending the radio access capability information of the mobile station to the network comprises sending the radio access capability information during a temporary block flow setup process.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the radio access capabilities pertain at least to a specific type of use by the mobile station for the data transfer session.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the quantity of blocks is determined based on radio access capabilities that are supported by the network and the mobile station.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein sending the radio access capability information of the mobile station to the network occurs after the mobile station registers with a core network of the network during a registration process, and wherein while registering with the core network during the registration process, the mobile station sends one of an exhaustive listing of radio access capabilities or a listing of radio access capabilities relevant only to downlink communications to the core network.

15. A tangible computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to implement the method as defined in claim 1.

8. An apparatus to communicate capabilities of a device, comprising:

a processor configured to;

send a request to a network, the request requesting a quantity of blocks to be allocated for use by a mobile station, wherein the quantity of blocks is determined based on a data size to identify radio access capabilities of the mobile station;

receive an allocation of the quantity of blocks from the network; and

send radio access capability information of the mobile station via the allocated blocks.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the request is a channel request message sent by the mobile station to the network, wherein the allocation of the quantity of blocks is received at the mobile station in an assignment message, and wherein the radio access capability information of the mobile station is sent to the network via an associated control channel.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the quantity of blocks is requested by the mobile station by sending a quantity value in a channel request message.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to send the radio access capability information of the mobile station to the network during a temporary block flow setup process.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the radio access capabilities pertain at least to a specific type of use by the mobile station for the data transfer session.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to determine the quantity of blocks based on radio access capabilities that are supported by the network and the mobile station.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to send the radio access capability information of the mobile station to the network after the mobile station registers with a core network of the network during a registration process, and wherein during the registration process, the processor is configured to send one of an exhaustive listing of radio access capabilities or a listing of radio access capabilities relevant only to downlink communications to the core network.