Enhanced cell scanning
First Claim
1. A method implemented in a base station for communicating with mobile radio devices in a cellular radio communication system, the method comprising:
- transmitting in a cell associated with the base station a known symbol sequence over a broadcast channel to permit mobile radios to detect and synchronize to the base station;
transmitting a time indicator indicating when the base station will transmit service information from which a mobile radio may determine whether the base station can provide a desired communications service;
after a time period associated with the time indicator, transmitting the service information, the method further comprising;
receiving from the mobile radio device operating in an active mode a request to align one or more base station scanning interval gaps in transmissions from the base station to the mobile radio device with times when other base stations being scanned by the mobile radio device are broadcasting broadcast service information; and
granting the request.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Cell scanning operations are enhanced making them more time and power efficient. A base station communicates with mobile radios in a cellular communication system. The base station transmits in a cell a known symbol sequence over a broadcast channel to permit mobiles to detect and synchronize to the base station. It transmits a time indicator indicating when the base station will transmit service information from which a mobile may determine whether the base station can provide a desired communications service. After a time period associated with the time indicator, the base station transmits the service information. A mobile radio in or near the cell scans for and detects the broadcast signal. A decoder in the mobile decodes the broadcast signal and detects a time period associated with receiving the broadcast information. Based on the time period, the decoder halts further decoding of the broadcast signal. Later, the decoder resumes decoding of the broadcast signal in accordance with the time period and acquires the broadcast information from the broadcast signal.
19 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method implemented in a base station for communicating with mobile radio devices in a cellular radio communication system, the method comprising:
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transmitting in a cell associated with the base station a known symbol sequence over a broadcast channel to permit mobile radios to detect and synchronize to the base station; transmitting a time indicator indicating when the base station will transmit service information from which a mobile radio may determine whether the base station can provide a desired communications service; after a time period associated with the time indicator, transmitting the service information, the method further comprising; receiving from the mobile radio device operating in an active mode a request to align one or more base station scanning interval gaps in transmissions from the base station to the mobile radio device with times when other base stations being scanned by the mobile radio device are broadcasting broadcast service information; and granting the request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method implemented in a mobile radio device for communicating in a cellular radio communication system that includes multiple base stations, each base station transmitting system information to multiple mobile radio devices, the method comprising:
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scanning for and detecting a broadcast signal from a base station; decoding the broadcast signal and detecting a time period associated with receiving broadcast information from the base station from which the mobile radio devices may determine whether the base station can provide a desired communications service; based on the time period, halting further decoding of the broadcast signal; and resuming decoding of the broadcast signal in accordance with the time period and acquiring the broadcast information from the broadcast signal, the method further comprising; scanning for and detecting one or more other base station signals broadcast by one or more other base stations after halting decoding of the broadcast signal, resuming decoding of the broadcast signal at a time when the broadcast information is expected to be received by the mobile radio, and wherein when the mobile radio device is in an active mode and acquires one or more time indicators, sending a request to a serving base station to align one or more base station scanning interval gaps in transmissions from the serving base station to the mobile radio device with times when scanned other base stations are broadcasting broadcast service information. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. Apparatus in a base station for communicating with mobile radio devices in a cellular radio communication system, comprising:
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a radio transmitter; control circuitry for providing information to be transmitted by the radio transmitter, wherein the radio transmitter is configured to; transmit in a cell associated with the base station a known symbol sequence over a broadcast channel to permit mobile radios to detect and synchronize to the base station; transmit a time indicator indicating when the base station will transmit service information from which a mobile radio may determine whether the base station can provide a desired communications service; and after a time period associated with the time indicator, transmit the service information, a radio receiver for receiving from the mobile radio device a request to align one or more base station scanning interval gaps in transmissions from the base station to the mobile radio device with times when other base stations being scanned by the mobile radio device are broadcasting broadcast service information, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a grant of the request. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. Apparatus in a mobile radio device for communicating in a cellular radio communication system that includes multiple base stations, each base station transmitting system information to multiple mobile radio devices, the apparatus comprising:
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scanning circuitry that scans for and detects a broadcast signal from a base station; decoding circuitry that decodes the broadcast signal and detects a time indicator associated with receiving broadcast service information from the base station from which the mobile radio devices may determine whether the base station can provide a desired communications service; and control circuitry configured to halt the decoding circuitry'"'"'s further decoding of the broadcast signal based on the time indicator and to have the decoding circuitry resume decoding of the broadcast signal in accordance with the time indicator and acquiring the broadcast information from the broadcast signal, wherein the scanning circuitry is configured to scan and detect one or more other base station signals broadcast by one or more other base stations after halting decoding of the broadcast signal, wherein the decoding circuitry is configured to resume decoding of the broadcast signal at a time when the broadcast information is expected to be received by the mobile radio, and wherein when the mobile radio device is in an active mode, the mobile radio device, after acquiring one or more time indicators, sends a request to a serving base station to align one or more base station scanning interval gaps in transmissions from the serving base station to the mobile radio device with times when scanned other base stations are broadcasting broadcast service information. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification