Telecommunications network broadcasting of service capabilities

• US 6,600,917 B1
• Filed: 10/04/1999
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Maupin, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ward, Ronald J.
• Application Number:
  US09/411,383
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/426, 455/437, 455/438, 455/525, 455/552, 455/553, 455/551, 455/558, 455/414, 455/419, 455/466
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0088 Scheduling hand-off measurements
• 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 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A network prepares a capabilities message which is broadcast by a base station to advise mobile user equipment units of services (radio access technology type, generation, and radio frequency band) supported by the base station. The capabilities message includes a bitmap which contains, for each potential service, a bit indicating whether that service is supported. In addition, the capabilities message contains preferred network identifiers. These preferred network identifiers correspond to the preferred network(s) available for each supported service. In addition, a handover requirements message provides the user equipment unit with a bitmap indicating the services for which the base station requires the user equipment unit to make handover measurements and reports.

Claims

1. A mobile telecommunications network having a node which broadcasts a capabilities message over an air interface, the capabilities message being formatted with plural service support fields for each of corresponding plural services so that a mobile user equipment unit can ascertain therefrom which one(s) of plural services are supported by the node;

each of the plural services being defined with reference to at least one of radio access technology type, generation, and radio frequency band,

the capabilities message further being formatted to provide for each of the service support fields a corresponding preferred network identifier field.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message includes entries for plural services, each entry indicating one of support and non support for a respective service.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the entries for the plural services are in a predefined order.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein for at least one of plural radio access technology types the message includes a first generation entry and a second generation entry, the first generation entry indicating whether a first generation of the at least one of the plural radio access technology types is supported by the node, the second generation entry indicating whether a second generation of the at least one of the plural radio access technology types is supported by the node.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein for at least one of the plural radio access technology types the message includes a first frequency entry and a second frequency entry, the first frequency entry indicating whether a first frequency band of the at least one of the plural radio access technology types is supported by the node, the second frequency entry indicating whether a second frequency band of the at least one of the plural radio access technology types is supported by the node.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the preferred network identifier includes one of mobile country code and the mobile network code.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message is transmitted on a common broadcast channel.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the message is a BCCH message.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message includes a bitmap which has an entry for each of the plural services, each entry in the bitmap indicating one of support and non support for a respective service.

10. A mobile user equipment unit which communicates over an air interface with a telecommunications network, the mobile user equipment unit being configured to receive a message from the telecommunications network, the message being formatted with plural service support fields for each of corresponding plural services so that a mobile user equipment unit can ascertain therefrom which one(s) of plural services are supported by the node;

each of the plural services being defined with reference to at least one of radio access technology type, generation, and radio frequency band,

the capabilities message further being formatted to provide for each of the service support fields a corresponding preferred network identifier field.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the message includes entries for plural services, each entry indicating one of support and non support for a respective service.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the entries for the plural radio access technology types are in a predefined order.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein for at least one of the plural radio access technology types the message includes a first generation entry and a second generation entry, the first generation entry indicating whether a first generation of the at least one of the plural radio access technology types is supported by the node, the second generation entry indicating whether a second generation of the at least one of the plural radio access technology types is supported by the node.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein for at least one of the plural radio access technology types the message includes a first frequency entry and a second frequency entry, the first frequency entry indicating whether a first frequency band of the at least one of the plural radio access technology types is supported by the node, the second frequency entry indicating whether a second frequency band of the at least one of the plural radio access technology types is supported by the node.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mobile user equipment unit is configured to utilize the preferred network identifier in establishing a connection with the telecommunications network.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the preferred network identifier includes one of mobile country code and the mobile network code.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the message is transmitted on a common broadcast channel.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the message is a BCCH message.

19. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the message includes a bitmap which has an entry for each of the plural services, each entry in the bitmap indicating one of support and non support for a respective service.

20. A method of operating a mobile telecommunications network comprising broadcasting, over an air interface, a message advising a mobile user equipment unit which one(s) of plural services are supported by the node, the method including:

formatting the message with plural service support fields for each of the corresponding plural services so that a mobile user equipment unit can ascertain therefrom which one(s) of plural services are supported by the node, each of the plural services being defined with reference to at least one of radio access technology type, generation, and radio frequency band,

formatting the message to provide for each of the service support fields a corresponding preferred network identifier field.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising inserting in the service support fields of the message entries for the corresponding plural services, each entry indicating one of support and non support for a respective service.

22. The method of claim 21, the step of formatting the message includes inserting in the message entries for plural radio access technology types in a predefined order.

23. The method of claim 21, comprising formatting the message further to include, for at least one of the plural radio access technology types, a first generation entry and a second generation entry, the first generation entry indicating whether a first generation of the at least one of the plural radio access technology types is supported by the node, the second generation entry indicating whether a second generation of the at least one of the plural radio access technology types is supported by the node.

24. The method of claim 21, comprising formatting the message further to include, for at least one of the plural radio access technology types, a first frequency entry and a second frequency entry, the first frequency entry indicating whether a first frequency band of the at least one of the plural radio access technology types is supported by the node, the second frequency entry indicating whether a second frequency band of the at least one of the plural radio access technology types is supported by the node.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the preferred network identifier includes one of mobile country code and the mobile network code.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting the message is on a common broadcast channel.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising transmitting the message as a BCCH message.

28. The method of claim 20, comprising formatting the message to include a bitmap which has an entry for each of the plural services, each entry in the bitmap indicating one of support and non support for a respective service.