Extended capability transfer between a user equipment and a wireless network

• US 8,848,653 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Edge, Stephen W., Fischer, Sven, Jiang, Yongjin
• Primary Examiner(s): CAI, WAYNE HUU
• Application Number:
  US11/688,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20070224990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,751 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436, 455/437, 455/419, 370/331, 370/329, 370/328
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

Techniques for transferring new capability information in an efficient and backward compatible manner are described. A user equipment (UE) may send a new compatibility indicator to a wireless network to indicate that the UE has new capability information to send. This new capability indicator may be implemented with a spare bit in an information element included in an initial message sent to the network. The network may request for the information or indicate that it can receive the information. The UE may then send the new capability information to the network upon receiving the request or the indication. Alternatively, the network may convey that it supports transfer of new capability information, e.g., via a broadcast message or a unicast message. The UE may then send new capability information at any time to the network, without having to send the new capability indicator.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor at a mobile station to initiate transmission of a first message having a first indicator set to indicate additional information to send and not transferable in the first message, receive a second indicator from a wireless network indicating support of transfer of the additional information, and initiate transmission of the additional information in a second message in response to receiving the second indicator, wherein the additional information initially informs the wireless network about one or more additional capabilities of the mobile station as operable with the wireless network;

and a memory coupled to the processor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first indicator is a spare bit in an information element included in the first message.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first indicator is a spare bit in an information element for Mobile Station Classmark 1, 2 or 3 included in the first message.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the processor to further receive a third message requesting for the additional information and serving as the second indicator.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the processor to further receive a flag indicating support of transfer of the additional information and serving as the second indicator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first message is a CM Service Request message, a CM Re-establishment Request message, a Location Updating Request message, a Paging Response message, a Classmark Change message, an Attach Request message, a Routing Area Update Request message, or a Connection Setup Complete message.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the additional information comprises new capability information for a user equipment (UE).

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the additional information comprises information for location capabilities, positioning capabilities, notification capabilities, or a combination thereof, for a user equipment (UE).

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first message is transmitted to a wireless network and the second indicator is received from the wireless network.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first message is transmitted to a user equipment (UE) and the second indicator is received from the UE.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a processor at a mobile station to set a spare bit in a Mobile Station Classmark information element to indicate new capability information to send and not transferable in the information element, initiate transmission of the Mobile Station Classmark information element in a first message to a wireless network, receive an indication that the wireless network supports transfer of the new capability information, and initiate transmission of the new capability information in a second message to the wireless network in response to receiving the indication, wherein the new capability information initially informs the wireless network about one or more additional capabilities of the mobile station as operable with the wireless network; and

a memory coupled to the processor.

12. A method comprising:

transmitting a first message from a mobile station having a first indicator set to indicate additional information to send and not transferable in the first message;

receiving a second indicator from a wireless network indicating support of transfer of the additional information; and

transmitting the additional information in a second message in response to receiving the second indicator, wherein the additional information initially informs the wireless network about one or more additional capabilities of the mobile station as operable with the wireless network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving the second indicator comprises receiving a third message requesting for the additional information and serving as the second indicator.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first indicator is a spare bit in an information element for Mobile Station Classmark 1, 2 or 3 included in the first message.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the additional information comprises information for location capabilities, positioning capabilities, notification capabilities, or a combination thereof, for a user equipment (UE).

16. An apparatus comprising:

means for sending a first message from a mobile station having a first indicator set to indicate additional information to send and not transferable in the first message;

means for receiving a second indicator from a wireless network indicating support of transfer of the additional information; and

means for sending the additional information in a second message in response to receiving the second indicator, wherein the additional information initially informs the wireless network about one or more additional capabilities of the mobile station as operable with the wireless network.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for receiving the second indicator comprises means for receiving a third message requesting for the additional information and serving as the second indicator.

18. An article comprising:

a processor-readable media having stored thereon processor-implementable instructions executable by at least one processor to;

initiate transmission of a first message from a mobile station having a first indicator set to indicate additional information to send and not transferable in the first message;

receive a second indicator from a wireless network indicating support of transfer of the additional information; and

initiate transmission of the additional information in a second message in response to receiving the second indicator, wherein the additional information initially informs the wireless network about one or more additional capabilities of the mobile station as operable with the wireless network.

19. The article of claim 18, and further wherein the processor-implementable instructions are executable by the at least one processor to:

receive a third message requesting for the additional information and serving as the second indicator.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a processor at a mobile station to obtain from a wireless network an indication of support of transfer of additional information not transferable in a first information element, and initiate transmission of the additional information in a second information element to the wireless network in response to receiving the indication, wherein the additional information initially informs the wireless network about one or more additional capabilities of the mobile station as operable with the wireless network; and

a memory coupled to the processor.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, the processor to further initiate transmission of a first message with the first information element to the wireless network, and initiate transmission of a second message with the second information element to the wireless network.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, the processor to further initiate transmission of a message with the second information element to the wireless network, the second information element including information in the first information element and the additional information.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first information element is for Mobile Station Classmark 1, 2 or 3.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the indication of support of transfer of additional information is received via a broadcast message.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the indication of support of transfer of additional information is received via a unicast message.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the additional information comprises new capability information for a user equipment (UE).

27. A method comprising:

receiving at a mobile station from a wireless network an indication of support of transfer of additional information not transferable in a first information element; and

transmitting the additional information in a second information element to the wireless network in response to receiving the indication, wherein the additional information initially informs the wireless network about one or more additional capabilities of the mobile station as operable with the wireless network.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the transmitting the additional information comprises transmitting a first message with the first information element to the wireless network, and transmitting a second message with the second information element to the wireless network.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the transmitting the additional information comprises transmitting a message with the second information element to the wireless network, the second information element including information in the first information element and the additional information.

30. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving at a mobile station from a wireless network an indication of support of transfer of additional information not transferable in a first information element; and

means for sending the additional information in a second information element to the wireless network in response to receiving the indication, wherein the additional information initially informs the wireless network about one or more additional capabilities of the mobile station as operable with the wireless network.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for sending the additional information comprises means for sending a first message with the first information element to the wireless network, and means for sending a second message with the second information element to the wireless network.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for sending the additional information comprises means for sending a message with the second information element to the wireless network, the second information element including information in the first information element and the additional information.

33. An article comprising:

a processor-readable media having stored thereon processor-implementable instructions executable by at least one processor to;

receive at a mobile station from a wireless network an indication of support of transfer of additional information not transferable in a first information element; and

initiate transmission of the additional information in a second information element to the wireless network in response to receiving the indication, wherein the additional information initially informs the wireless network about one or more additional capabilities of the mobile station as operable with the wireless network.

34. The article of claim 33, and further wherein the processor-implementable instructions are executable by the at least one processor to:

initiate transmission of a first message with the first information element to the wireless network, and initiate transmission of a second message with the second information element to the wireless network.

35. The article of claim 33, and further wherein the processor-implementable instructions are executable by the at least one processor to:

initiate transmission of a message with the second information element to the wireless network, the second information element including information in the first information element and the additional information.