Apparatus and method for determining cell suitability for a wireless device in a communication system

• US 9,480,003 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sawhney, Salil, Pica, Francesco, Tenny, Nathan, Grilli, Francesco
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US12/696,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20100197304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,462 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/310.2, 370/328, 370/329, 370/330, 370/331, 370/332, 370/333, 370/334, 455/422.1, 455/432.1, 455/433, 455/434, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/436, 455/437, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal

Abstract

An apparatus and method for access stratum management comprising reading system information from at least one broadcast channel from a current serving cell; and determining if an available cell is suitable for a user equipment (UE) based on information included in the broadcasted system information, wherein the determining step comprises at least one of the following: comparing system release information of the user equipment (UE) from the broadcasted system information; determining if the available cell supports a specific feature which makes the available cell suitable for optimum performance of the UE; or determining if the available cell and a frequency combination are suitable for a UE type.

Claims

1. A method for determining cell suitability for a user equipment (UE) in a cellular wireless communication system comprising:

receiving at a UE broadcast system information, the system information identifying;

a UE structural feature supported by an available cell, or a UE functional feature supported by the available cell; and

UEs that a system operator excludes from camping on the available cell; and

determining at the UE whether the available cell is suitable for the UE to camp on based on the received broadcast system information;

wherein said UE structural feature is a handset UE or a data-card UE, and said UE functional feature is UE access stratum type or UE wireless protocol type.

2. A UE comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the memory containing program code executable by the processor for performing the following:

receiving broadcast system information, the system information identifying;

a UE structural feature supported by an available cell, or a UE functional feature supported by the available cell; and

UEs that a system operator excludes from camping on the available cell; and

determining whether the available cell is suitable for the UE to camp on based on the received broadcast system information;

wherein said UE structural feature is a handset UE or a data-card UE, and said UE functional feature is UE access stratum type or UE wireless protocol type.

3. A UE that determines cell suitability in a cellular wireless communication system comprising

means for receiving at a UE broadcast system information, the system information identifying:

a UE structural feature supported by an available cell, or a UE functional feature supported by the available cell; and

UEs that a system operator excludes from camping on the available cell; and

determining whether the available cell is suitable for the UE to camp on based on the received broadcast system information;

wherein said UE structural feature is a handset UE or a data-card UE, and said UE functional feature is UE access stratum type or UE wireless protocol type.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for use with a UE and for storing a computer program, wherein execution of the computer program is for:

receiving broadcast system information, the system information identifying;

a UE structural feature supported by an available cell, or a UE functional feature supported by the available cell; and

UEs that a system operator excludes from camping on the available cell; and

determining whether the available cell is suitable for the UE to camp on based on the received broadcast system information;

wherein said UE structural feature is a handset UE or a data-card UE, and said UE functional feature is UE access stratum type or UE wireless protocol type.

5. A method for cell access management, comprising:

providing broadcast system information, the system information identifying;

a UE structural feature supported by an available cell, or a UE functional feature supported by the available cell; and

UEs that a system operator exclude from camping on the available cell; and

providing an indication of whether the available cell is suitable for the UE to camp on based on the received broadcast system information;

wherein said UE structural feature is a handset UE or a data-card UE, and said UE functional feature is UE access stratum type or UE wireless protocol type.

6. An apparatus for cell access management comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the memory containing program code executable by the processor to cause operations comprising:

providing broadcast system information, the system information identifying;

a UE structural feature supported by an available cell, or a UE functional feature supported by the available cell; and

UEs that a system operator exclude from camping on the available cell; and

providing an indication of whether the available cell is suitable for the UE to camp on based on the received broadcast system information;

wherein said UE structural feature is a handset UE or a data-card UE, and said UE functional feature is UE access stratum type or UE wireless protocol type.

7. An apparatus for cell access management, comprising:

means for providing broadcast system information, the system information identifying;

a UE structural feature supported by an available cell, or a UE functional feature supported by the available cell; and

UEs that a system operator exclude from camping on the available cell; and

means for providing an indication of whether the available cell is suitable for the UE to camp on based on the received broadcast system information;

wherein said UE structural feature is a handset UE or a data-card UE, and said UE functional feature is UE access stratum type or UE wireless protocol type.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for use with a cell access management apparatus and for storing a computer program, wherein execution of the computer program is for:

providing broadcast system information, the system information identifying;

a UE structural feature supported by an available cell, or a UE functional feature supported by the available cell; and

UEs that a system operator exclude from camping on the available cell; and

providing an indication of whether the available cell is suitable for the UE to camp on based on the received broadcast system information;

wherein said UE structural feature is a handset UE or a data-card UE, and said UE functional feature is UE access stratum type or UE wireless protocol type.