Layer 2 protocol in a cellular communication system

• US 5,655,215 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 08/05/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Hoff, Anders, Diachina, John, Sammarco, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US08/474,902
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 370/95.1, 370/95.3, 370/85.7, 370/110.1, 370/95.2, 455/33.1, 455/33.2, 455/54.1, 455/54.2, 455/56.1, 379/59, 379/58, 379/60, 379/63, 379/56, 379/57, 340/895.44, 340/895.47, 340/895.49
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2656 for structure of frame, burst
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0061 Error detection codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0083 Formatting with frames or packets; Protocol or part of protocol for error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1614 using bitmaps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1809 Selective-repeat protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1867 Arrangements specially adapted for the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1896 ARQ related signaling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

A method for transmitting messages using an efficient communications link protocol over an air interface of a cellular communications system is disclosed. A frame in the protocol is divided into a plurality of sections including a header section and a data section. The header section contains a field which indicates what type of information is contained in the frame.

Claims

1. A method for sending a message to a mobile station in a cellular communication system, comprising the steps of:

broadcasting a page for said mobile station in a plurality of cells, wherein said page asks the mobile station if the mobile station can receive a message, said page also indicating to the mobile station what type of message is going to be transmitted to the mobile station after the page;

transmitting an acknowledgement from said mobile station to a base station when said mobile station can receive said message;

determining in which cell the mobile station is located in by examining said acknowledgement; and

sending said message to said mobile station in the cell the mobile station is located in.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said page is a short-message-service/paging/access channel notification message.

3. A cellular communication system with a plurality of mobile stations and at least one base station, comprising:

means for broadcasting a page for a mobile station in a plurality of cells, wherein said page asks the mobile station if the mobile station can receive a message, said page also indicates to the mobile station what type of message is going to be transmitted to the mobile station after the page;

means for transmitting an acknowledgement from said mobile station to a base station when said mobile station can receive said message;

means for determining in which cell the mobile station is located in by examining said acknowledgement; and

means for sending said message to said mobile station in the cell the mobile station is located in.

4. A cellular communication system according to claim 3, wherein said page is a short-message-service/paging/access channel notification message.

5. A cellular communication system according to claim 3, wherein the broadcasting means dynamically assigns temporary mobile station identifies (TMSIs) to the mobile stations and sends the TMSIs to the respective mobile stations, wherein the TMSIs each have a predetermined length.

6. A cellular communication system according to claim 5, wherein the broadcasting means broadcasts pages that are organized in paging frames, and each paging frame carries four TMSIs.

7. A cellular communication system according to claim 5, wherein the broadcasting means broadcasts pages that are organized in paging frames, and each paging frame carries five TMSIs.