Cumulative neighboring cell list

• US 8,204,501 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2008
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Fischer, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEPHEN, EMEM O
• Application Number:
  US12/026,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20090197598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/432.1, 455/434, 455436-443, 455/450
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/0093 Neighbour cell search
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reducing the number of cells that must be broadcast and the number of cells that a mobile terminal must measure when different frequencies and technologies must be listed as neighboring cells.

Claims

1. A method for providing communication services to a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

receiving first system information from a first network node in a first communication cell currently selected by the mobile terminal, the first system information comprising a first list of network nodes that the mobile terminal is allowed to select from the currently selected communication cell;

receiving second system information from at least a second network node that the mobile terminal approaches, the second system information comprising at least a second list of candidate neighbor network nodes available for selection by the mobile terminal in at least the second network node,

wherein the second system information also comprises a list of network nodes that the mobile terminal is not allowed to select in at least the second network node, wherein the list of network nodes the mobile terminal is not allowed to select comprises network nodes reserved for operator use, network nodes reserved for future extension or network nodes not considered neighboring network nodes; and

adjusting the first list by combining the first list with at least the second list,

wherein the first system information and the second system information are received on the same frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein combining the first list with at least the second list comprises adding to the first list, only those candidate neighbor network nodes indicated in at least the second list that are not already indicated in the first list.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein combining the first list with at least the second list comprises adding to the first list, candidate neighbor network nodes indicated in at least the second list only if at least the second network node is indicated in the first list.

4. A method for providing communication services to a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

receiving first system information from a first network node in a first communication cell currently selected by the mobile terminal, the first system information received on a first frequency and comprising a first list of network nodes that the mobile terminal is allowed to select from the currently selected communication cell;

receiving second system information from at least a second network node that the mobile terminal approaches, the second system information received on at least a second frequency and comprising at least a second list of candidate neighbor network nodes available for selection by the mobile terminal in at least the second network node,

wherein the second system information also comprises a list of network nodes that the mobile terminal is not allowed to select in at least the second network node, wherein the list of network nodes the mobile terminal is not allowed to select comprises network nodes reserved for operator use, network nodes reserved for future extension or network nodes not considered neighboring network nodes; and

adjusting the first list by combining the first list with at least the second list,

wherein the first frequency is different from at least the second frequency.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein combining the first list with at least the second list comprises adding to the first list, only those candidate neighbor network nodes indicated in at least the second list that are not already indicated in the first list.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein combining the first list with at the least second list comprises adding to the first list, candidate neighbor network nodes indicated in at least the second list only if at least the second network node is indicated in the first list.

7. A mobile terminal for communication services, the mobile terminal comprising:

a receiving unit receiving first system information from a first network node in a first communication cell currently selected by the mobile terminal and receiving second system information from at least a second network node that the mobile terminal approaches, the first system information received on a first frequency and comprising a first list of network nodes that the mobile terminal is allowed to select from the currently selected communication cell and the second system information received on at least a second frequency and comprising at least a second list of candidate neighbor network nodes available for selection by the mobile terminal in at least the second network node,

wherein the second system information also comprises a list of network nodes that the mobile terminal is not allowed to select in at least the second network node, wherein the list of network nodes the mobile terminal is not allowed to select comprises network nodes reserved for operator use, network nodes reserved for future extension or network nodes not considered neighboring network nodes;

a display unit displaying information;

an input unit receiving inputs from a user; and

a processing unit adjusting the first list by combining the first list with at least the second list.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the first frequency and at least the second frequency are the same frequency.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the first frequency and at least the second frequency are different frequencies.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein combining the first list with at least the second list comprises adding to the first list only those candidate neighbor network nodes indicated in at least the second list that are not already indicated in the first list.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein combining the first list with at least the second list comprises adding to the first list candidate neighbor network nodes indicated in at least the second list only if at least the second network node is indicated in the first list.

12. A network providing communication services to a mobile terminal, the network comprising:

a receiver receiving first system information from a first network node in a first communication cell currently selected by the mobile terminal and receiving second system information from at least a second network node that the mobile terminal approaches, the first system information received on a first frequency and comprising a first list of network nodes that the mobile terminal is allowed to select from the currently selected communication cell and the second system information received on at least a second frequency and comprising at least a second list of candidate neighbor network nodes available for selection by the mobile terminal in at the least second network node,

wherein the second system information also comprises a list of network nodes that the mobile terminal is not allowed to select in at least the second network node, wherein the list of network nodes the mobile terminal is not allowed to select comprises network nodes reserved for operator use, network nodes reserved for future extension or network nodes not considered neighboring network nodes; and

a controller adjusting the first list by combining the first list with at least the second list.

13. The network of claim 12, wherein the first frequency and at least the second frequency are the same frequency.

14. The network of claim 12, wherein the first frequency and at least the second frequency are different frequencies.

15. The network of claim 12, wherein combining the first list with at least the second list comprises adding to the first list only those candidate neighbor network nodes indicated in at least the second list that are not already indicated in the first list.

16. The network of claim 12, wherein combining the first list with at least the second list comprises adding to the first list candidate neighbor network nodes indicated in at least the second list only if at least the second network node is indicated in the first list.