Method for contacting a group of terminals within a communication network, arrangement and terminal within a communication network

• US 8,437,782 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Bergqvist, Jens, Schliwa-Bertling, Paul, Bergstrm, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US13/504,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20120214520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 455/458, 455/515, 455/426.1, 455/422.1, 455/450, 455/509, 455/466, 455517-521, 455/567, 340 71- 729, 370/328, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/458
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/027 providing paging services

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of paging terminals within a communication network. In order to contact a group of terminals, a common group identification is allocated to each of the terminals within said group. Thereafter, a paging message is created comprising said common group identification. The paging message is then transmitted to all terminals within said group by a single paging operation.

Claims

1. A method for contacting a group of terminals within a communication network, said group comprising at least two terminals, the method comprising:

allocating a specific International Mobile Subscriber Identity for the group to each of the terminals within said group;

creating a paging message comprising said specific International Mobile Subscriber Identity for the group; and

further comprising a Tx-integer value, wherein the Tx-integer value is a parameter related to the timing for sending accesses by the terminal in response to the paging message; and

transmitting the paging message to all terminals within said group by a single paging operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the single paging operation comprises sending a single paging message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed in a node of the communication network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a response from at least one of said terminals.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said receiving a response comprises receiving a report from said at least one of said terminals.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting information to at least one of said terminals for the purpose of updating or reconfiguration, or both.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the paging message further comprises one or more of:

an indication of a requested response by the terminals;

one or more parameters related to a requested response by the terminals;

an indication of a type of page;

an indication of how required access by the terminals to the communication network should be performed;

one or more parameters related to a required access by the terminals to the communication network;

an indication of a particular sub-group of terminals to which the paging message is addressed; and

one or more specific commands or instructions intended for the terminals.

8. A Method in a terminal for a communication network, the terminal belonging to a group of terminals comprising at least two terminals, the method comprising:

storing a specific International Mobile Subscriber identity for the group, wherein said specific International Mobile Subscriber identity is identical for all devices within said group;

receiving a paging message comprising said specific International Mobile Subscriber identity for the group, said paging message comprising a Tx-integer value as additional information;

determining a random period of delay time, depending on the received Tx-integer value;

transmitting a response to said paging message, wherein said transmitting comprises delaying the transmission according to the determined period of delay time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting a response to said paging message comprises transmitting a report.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving information for updating said terminal or reconfiguring said terminal, or both.

11. An arrangement for contacting a group of terminals for a communication network, said group comprising at least two terminals, the arrangement comprising:

a processing unit adapted to associate each terminal within the group of terminals with a specific International Mobile Subscriber Identity for the group and to create a paging message including said specific International Mobile Subscriber Identity for the group said paging message further comprising a Tx-integer value, wherein the Tx-integer value is a parameter related to the timing for sending accesses by the terminal in response to the paging message; and

a transmitter adapted to transmit the paging message to each of the terminals within said group.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, whereby the processing unit is part of a network controller or a system server.

13. A terminal for a communication network belonging to a group of terminals comprising at least two terminals, the terminal being allocated a specific International Mobile Subscriber identity for the group identical for all of the at least two terminals within said group, the terminal comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive a paging message, said paging message including a Tx-integer value as additional information;

circuitry for transmitting a response to said paging message;

circuitry adapted to determine a random delay time period, depending on the received Tx-integer value; and

a delay unit adapted to delay the transmission of said response according to the determined random delay time period.