Paging scheme for mobile communication system using increased paging channel data transmission rate

• US 6,208,624 B1
• Filed: 11/13/1997
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NTT Mobile Communications Network Inc. (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Mobile Communications Network Inc. (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Takehiro, Tanno, Motohiro, Onoe, Seizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, CHI HO A
• Application Number:
  US08/969,282
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 370/320, 370/324, 370/335, 370/336, 370/342, 370/349, 370/350, 370/337, 370/347, 370/477, 370/521, 370/468, 370/280, 370/294, 375/200
• US Class Current: 370/280
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel

Abstract

A paging scheme for a mobile communication system which is capable of suppressing the power consumption of the mobile station by reducing the intermittent ratio while keeping an average time required for the paging shorter than a case of merely increasing a number of time-slots. Each base station transmits a paging channel on which a paging signal for each mobile station is transmitted at intermittent timings, where the paging channel has a data transmission rate higher than a required paging channel rate of the mobile communication system, so as to shorten a transmission time of the paging signal for each mobile station. Then, each mobile station judges a presence or absence of the paging signal for that mobile station by receiving the paging channel at these intermittent timings. The paging channel may have a data transmission rate which is variable. A number of time-slots provided in each frame of the paging channel can be increased so that an intermittent ratio at each mobile station becomes lower, without causing an increase of the average time required for the paging.

Claims

1. A method of paging in a mobile communication system having a plurality of base stations provided in respective cells and mobile stations, comprising the steps of:

transmitting from each base station radio channels in a plurality of different data transmission rates, the radio channels including a paging channel on which a paging signal for each mobile station is transmitted at intermittent timings, the paging channel having a data transmission rate which is variably changed according to at least one of a frequency of paging operations and a utilization state of communication channels at each base station; and

determining at each mobile station a presence or absence of the paging signal for said each mobile station by receiving the paging channel at said intermittent timings.

2. A base station device for use in a mobile communication system having a plurality of base stations provided in respective cells and mobile stations, comprising:

a communication channel transmission unit configured to transmit communication channels; and

a control channel transmission unit for transmitting control channels in a plurality of different data transmission rates, the control channels including a paging channel on which a paging signal for each mobile station is transmitted at intermittent timings, the paging channel having a data transmission rate which is variably changed according to at least one of a frequency of paging operations and a utilization state of communication channels.