Method, subscriber device and radio communication system for transmitting group messages

• US 20040176112A1
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Beckmann, Mark, Otte, Andreas, Eckert, Michael, Hans, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 6,999,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/458
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/025 Indirect paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/10 using simulcast notification

Abstract

The invention is characterized in that for the purpose of sending an information to at least one group (MC1) of one or more subscriber devices of a radio communication system (FCS) regarding the presence of at least one group message (GN1) at least one common group paging indicator signal (GPI1) is additionally transmitted by one network element (BS1) to the subscriber devices of the respective group (MC1) and displayed.

Claims

1. Method for notifying at least one group (MC1) of one or more subscriber devices (UE11, UE21, UE31, UE42) of a radio communication system (FCS) of the presence of at least one group message (GN1), which is to be sent to this group (MC1) by at least one network element (BS1, BS2) of the radio communication system (FCS) via at least one radio channel (PCS), whereby the presence of this group message (GN1) is indicated and supplied for evaluation to the subscriber devices (UE11, UE21, UE31, UE42) of the respective group (MC1) using a common, additional group paging indicator signal (GPI1).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that

the common group paging indicator signal (PI) is transmitted via a first separate, physical radio channel (PICH) by at least one network element (BS1) to the subscriber devices (UE11, UE21, UE31, UE42) of the respective group (MC1).

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

at least one information signal (GI) is also transmitted via at least one second, separate radio channel (PCH) about the nature of the group message (GN1) to be transmitted, the paging cause for this group message (GN1) and/or which specific recipient group (MC1) of subscriber devices, to which the respective group message (GN1) is addressed.

4. Method according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that

the first separate radio channel (PICH) for the group paging indicator signal (GPI1) is assigned in a unique manner to the second separate radio channel (PCH) with information about the respective group message (GN1).

5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that

the second separate radio channel (PCH) is transmitted as a component of a further radio channel, in particular a Secondary Common Control Physical Channel (S-CCPCH).

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

at least one indicator signal (GS1) is included in the system information signals of the radio communication system (FCS) emitted by at least one of the latter'"'"'s network elements (BS1) showing on which of the radio channels, in particular the Secondary Common Control Physical Channels, at least one transport channel (PCH) is transmitted with information about the group message (GN1) to be transmitted in each instance.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

a base station (BS1) is used as a network element to transmit the group paging indicator signal (GPI1) and/or the group message (GN1).

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the radio communication system (FCS) is operated according to the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) standard.

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the respective network element (BS1) notifies the subscriber devices of the respective group (MC1) beforehand by means of at least one information signal of the radio channel (PICH) on which the group paging indicator signal (GPI1) is sent and/or the radio channel (PCH) on which further information (GI, Paging Cause) about the group message to be transmitted is sent.

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

one radio channel (PICH, S-CCPCH/PCH) is specifically pre-allocated in each instance for the transmission of the group paging indicator signal (GPI1) and/or further information (GI, Paging Cause) about the group message (GN1) to be transmitted.

11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

one specific radio channel (PICH, S-CCPCH/PCH) is calculated uniquely in each instance in the respective subscriber device (UE11) itself and/or by at least one network element (BS1) for the transmission of the group paging indicator signal (GPI1) and/or further information (GI, Paging Cause) about the group message (GN1) to be transmitted.

12. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

a mobile radio device, in particular a mobile radio telephone, is used as the subscriber device.

14. Radio communication system (FCS) for implementing the method according to one of the preceding claims.

13. Subscriber device (UE11) of a radio communication system (FCS) that is configured so that it can be operated according to one of the preceding methods.