GB2512301A - Method, apparatus and computer program for selectively signalling different uplink information - Google Patents

Abstract

A user equipment UE determines (402) whether a current radio access node belongs to a serving network entity to which UE capabilities have previously been reported. If no, then the UE includes the UE capabilities in an uplink control channel message it sends to the current radio access node (404). Else if yes, then the UE omits the UE capabilities from the uplink control channel message it sends to the radio access node (406). In specific embodiments, the uplink control channel message is a cell update message (408), and if yes then the UE includes measurement results in the cell update message in space made available by omitting the UE capabilities (410). Two techniques are given as examples for how the UE can make this determination. For UTRAN the serving network entity may be a radio network controller (RNC).

Description

METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR SELECTIVELY SIGNALLING DIFFERENT UPL1NK INFORMATION

Technical Field

S The present invention relates to a method, apparatus and a computer program for selectively signalling different uplink information. The exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of this invention relate generally to wireless communication systems, methods, devices and computer programs and specific examples relate to selectively signalling by the user equipment (UE) either UE capabilities or measurement results in which this information is sent.

Background

When a wireless radio access technology is developed there are multiple tradeoffs in order to arrive at the system that is ultimately deployed. Choices made in one area carry through to others, and so adapting a legacy system to changing requirements must take care not to adversely affect those other areas. For example, in the Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), technology the cell update message has a certain maximum size so that the division between this message and other signalling is unambiguous while ensuring other users can also send their cell update message without undue delay. There are now discussions that this message should also carry measurement results on the random access channel RACH.

The uplink common control channel CCCH message is transmitted over a RACH resource but, unlike some other uplink control channel messages, those on the RACH cannot be segmented into smaller sizes that are aggregated at the receiver to a larger one. The maximum UL CCCH message size is determined by the RACH transport block size which in practice is set to 168 bits. A 2-bit medium access control MAC header is added on top of the RRC UL CCCI-1 message size itself, so the maximum UL CCCH message size is 166 bits in the field.

As sct forth in doeumcnt R2-125951 by Ericsson and ST-Ericsson (25.331 Change Request 5287; 3GPP TSG-WG2 Meeting #80; New Orleans, US; 12-16 November 2012) it was agreed in the 3GPP that the UE should include measurement results in uplmk messages sent on the RACH, and in document R2-130201 by Ericsson and ST-Ericsson entitled CELL UPDATE MESSAGE SIZE (3GPP TSG-WG2 Meeting #81; St. Julian's, Malta; 28 January to 1 February 2013) certain nctwork vcndors prefer that this information bc reportcd in the ccli updatc message.

But the ccli updatc message is already at its maximum sizc and cannot bc segmented, so further information cannot simply bc addcd to it. Documcnt R2-125690 by Renesas Mobile Europe Ltd. entitled RACH SIGNALLING SIZE LIMITATION (3GPP TSG-WG2 Meeting #80; New Orleans, US; 12-16 November 2012) provides some further detail about this issue. Document R2-130481 by Nokia Siemens Networks entitled CELL UPDATE MESSAGE SIZE (3GPP TSG-WG2 Meeting #80; New Orleans, US; 12-16 November 2012) has a proposal to address this but it has not been accepted by the 3GPP.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for operating a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: determining at a user equipment (UE) whether a current radio access node belongs to a serving network entity to which UE capabilities have previously been reported; and if no then include the UE capabilities in an uplink control channel message from the LIE to the current radio access node else if yes then omit the UE capabilities from the uplink control channel message from the UE to the radio access node.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for operating a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising a processing system configured to cause the apparatus at least to: determine whether a current radio access node belongs to a serving network entity to which LIE capabilities have previously been reported; and if no then include the liE capabilities in an uplink control channel message from the UE to the current radio access node, else if yes then omit the UE capabilities from the uplink control channel message from the UE to the radio access node.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a S computer program comprising a set of computer instructions comprising: code for determining at a user equipment (TIE) whether a current radio access node belongs to a serving network entity to which UE capabilities have previously been reported; and code for selecting content to include in an uplink control channel message from the TIE to the current radio access node based on the determining, such that if the determining is no then UE capabilities are included the uplink control channel message and else if the determining is yes then the UE capabilities are omitted from the uplink control channel message.

The processing system described above may comprise at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code.

There may be provided a computer-readable memory tangibly storing a set of computer instructions as described above. The computer-readable memory may be disposed in a UE.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief DescriDtion of the Drawings Figure I is a schematic logic flow diagram that illustrates the operation of one specific but non-hmiting technique for conditionally induding information in a cell update message according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating examples of different cell change scenarios in which the UE would include different information in its cell update message according to embodiments of these teachings; S Figure 3 shows schematically an example of a new information element which the network can signal the UE for use in the liE's determination of which information the liE should include in its cell update message according to an embodiment of these teachings different from Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic logic flow diagram that illustrates the operation of a method, a result of execution of by apparatus, and execution of computer instructions comprising code embodied on a computer readable memory, in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of this invention; and Figure 5 is a simplified block diagram of a liE in communication with an Access Node and a UTRAN RNC (radio network controller) illustrating exemplary electronic devices suitable for use in practising the exemplary embodiments of this invention.

Detailed Description

The examples detailed herein are in the context of a liE operating in a radio network utilising the Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA radio access technology, but this is only one example in order to provide a practical context for describing the inventive concepts detailed herein. These teachings may be utilised with other types of radio access technologies, such as for example Evolved lJ[RAN (E-UTRAN, sometime referred to as Long Term Evolution or LTE and including LTE-Advaneed), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) and the like. The specific names of messages and of various network entities in the examples below follow the lX[RAN nomenclature and these also are not limiting to the broader teachings presented below but are for clarity of explanation to the reader.

As noted above there is a desire for the user equipment (UE) to report on the uplink common control channel CCH channel the serving cell and neighbour cells' radio conditions that the tiE measured, but the specific uplink message on the random S access channel (RACH) cannot be expanded in size or segmented into multiple "chained" messages. In current practice the cell update message sent uplink on the RACH is already at its maximum capacity so merely adding measured results is not a viable option for adapting the UTRAN system to carry this information in the cell update message.

These teachings detail a way for the UE to inform the network of the measured results in the cell update message within the current size limits of that message. More specifically, these teachings describe how the UE can know prior to sending its cell update message whether or not the network access node to which it is sending its cell update message already knows the tiE's capabilities. If not, then the tiE shall report its tiE capabilities and forego reporting the measured results in the cell update message, but if yes then the UE can take the opposite approach and forego reporting its UE capabilities and instead report the measurement results in the cell update message.

The UE will know if it has previously reported its UE capabilities to a particular network access node. These teachings provide techniques for the UE to determine whether a different access node to which it will next send a cell update message is under a same radio network controller (RNC) as any other access node to which the UE has previously reported its TJE capabilities. The RNC is the network entity that is hierarchically above the network access nodes, and in other systems it may be termed a serving gateway, a mobility management entity or other such name indicating a network node higher than the radio access nodes with which tiEs wirelessly communicate. Once the UE reports its lIE capabilities to one access node, that information can be distributed by that access node's RNC to other access nodes under control of that RNC, leaving more opportunities for the LIE to report its measurement results on the RACH when sending a cell update message to other access nodes under control of that same RNC.

According to these teachings, the tiE omits its tiE capabilities from the cell S update message if the UE sends the cell update message to a cell belonging to the same RNC as noted above. The UE capabilities are handled in TJTRAN by the RNC, not by the individual cell/access node, and therefore this solution provides more opportunities for the tiE to signal the measurement results it has taken. Ideally the liE will provide its capabilities only upon a cell change that is also an RNC changc, which in the above scenario is the only time the UE capabilities are necessary.

Figure 1 is a flow diagram illustrating process steps according to one exemplary but non-limiting embodiment of these teachings. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a UE moving from cell 1 through cell 6, in order. Each cell represents a different Node B, and cells I through 3 are under RNC I while cells 4 through 6 are under RNC2.

At block 102 of Figure 1, during its radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment procedure, the tiE receives from the RNC (via its serving access node/serving Node B) a U-RNTI. RNTI stands for a radio network temporary identifier, and it is assigned to the UE. Thc U-RNTI is one of several RNTIs in the IJIRAN system. Specifically the TJ-RNTI (meaning UTRAN RNTI) is a combination of two other identifiers: the Serving Radio Network Controller (SRNC) RNTI (S-RNTI) which is an identifier allocated to a given liE, and the Serving Radio Network Controller (SRNC) identity which is an identifier of the RNC. Together these form the U-RNTI which operates as a unique identifier of the tiE's RRC connection within the network.

Alternatively the UE can get the new U-RNTI from a Serving Radio Network Subsystem (SRNS) relocation procedure as block 102 further notes. The SRNS relocation procedure is conventionally executed on the network side where the serving RNC is shifted (meaning the lu signalling connection is changed) from a current serving RNC to a controlling RNC. After this shift, the controlling RNC (RNC2 in Figure 2) becomes the UE's current serving RNC, such as where the UE's serving cell/Node B change is to a Node B that belongs to a different RNC than the UE's S immediately preceding sewing cell. At Figure 2 this is represented as the UE moving from cell 3 which is under RNCI to cell 4 which is under RNC2. In either of the two options shown at block 102 of Figure 1, the UE storcs the U-RNTI value in its local memory, specifically in thc memory space allocated for the variable U_RNTI.

Continuing with Figure 1, the UE then compares the SRNC identity which is stored in the memory space for the variable Ii RNTI against some predetermined number of the most significant bits (MSBs) of the cell identity that is signalled by the current sewing cell. In these non-limiting examples specific for conventional UTRAN and WCDMA, the cell identity is conventionally signalled in system information block 3 (SIB3) or by a dedicated RRC message (for example, AetiveSctlJpdate, RadioBearerSetup, RadioBearerRecontiguration, RadioBearerRelease, TransportChannelReconfiguration, or PhysicalChannelReeonfiguration message), in which case the maximum for that predetermined number is 12. In this case, then at block 104 of Figure 1 the IJE compares the 12 MSBs of the cell identity signalled by the Node B against the SRNC identity that thc UE has previously stored from block 102. In other embodiments some lesser number of MSBs can be compared to check for a match, though comparing fewer than 12 MSBs would imply a lesser confidence level.

Block 106 of Figure 1 is a decision block which chooses what information the IJE is to include in the cell update message it will send next. If the comparison from block 106 shows an exact match, then Figure 1 proceeds to block I 08A and the UE will omit its UE capabilities from the cell update message and in its place include additional information in that message without exceeding the maximum message size.

When there is an exact match at block 106 then it follows that the new serving cell is under the same RNC as a Node B to which the tJE has previously reported its UE capabilities, and so there is no need for the UE to report again this same information to this new serving cell/Node B. This situation is represented at Figure 2 when the liE moves between any of cell 1 to cell 3 which are all under RNCI, or when the liE moves between any of cell 4 to cell 6 which are all under RNC2.

S

As an example of the additional information within a space of the cell update message made available by omitting the UE capabilities, when block 108A is operative the UE can include results of its measurements so that the ccli update messagc that the UE scnds uplink on the RACH at block 1 08A to initiate the cell update procedure can inform the Node B of those measured radio conditions of the serving cell or the neighbour cells. Alternatively the liE can send its uplink control channel message with the measurement results on a common enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) for example.

If the comparison from block 106 shows there is not an exact match, then Figure 1 proceeds to block I 08B and the liE will include its liE capabilities in the cell update message, still without exceeding the maximum message size. When there is not an exact match at block 106 then it follows that the new serving cell is under a different RNC than any RNC to which the liE has previously reported its liE capabilities and so the RNC will not yet have this liE capability information prior to receiving the cell update message from the liE. This situation is represented at Figure 2 when the UE moves between cell 3 which is under RNCI and cell 4 which is under RNC2. In this case, at block 108B of Figure 1 the liE does include its liE capabilities in the cell update message that it sends uplink at block I 08B to initiate the cell update procedure. In either case, at block 110 the liE completes the cell update procedure conventionally, where the procedure was initiated at blocks 108A or 108B.

In an exemplary but non-limiting embodiment, the cell may also broadcast an indication to enable the liE to omit its UE capabilities for the case the decision at block 106 is that there is an identical match. This embodiment is useful for example when a legacy network uses the liE capability in the cell update message even if there is no change in the UE's serving RNC, so that such a legacy network can continue to always receive the UE capabilities in all cell update messages from liEs operating under that legacy network. In this case the decision at block 106 becomes operative only when the tiE sees the Node B's enabling indication, and so the whole process of Figure 1 is conditional on that enabling indication being present.

To implement the above process in the UTRAN system, in one non-limiting embodiment the technical specification 3GPP TS25.331 can be amended to add the following insubclausc 8.3.1.3: If the value of the IE "SRNC identity" in the variable U RNTI is equal to the 12 MSBs of the received IE "Cell identity" in System Information Block type 3, the liE may omit the IE "MBMS Selected Services", the IE "Support for Two DRX schemes in TiRA PCH and CELL_PCH" (i.e. omit the celllipdate-r3-add-ext), the IE "CS Call Type", the IE "HS-PDSCH in CELL FACH", the IE "UE Mobility State Indicator", the IE "Capability change indicator" (i.e. omit the CellUpdate-v77Oext-IEs), the IE "Support of common E-DCH", the IE "Support of HS-DSCH DRX operation", the IE "Support of Mac-i/is", the IE "Support of SPS operation", and the IE "Support of control channel DRX operation" (i.c. omit the ccllUpdatc-v860cxt-IEs), the IE "Logged Meas Available", the IE "ANR Logging Results Available" and the IE "Security Revert Status Indicator" (i.e. omit the cellUpdate-va40ext-l Es).

The acronyms in the above paragraph are known in the wireless arts, namely: MBMS is multimedia broadcast multicast service; CS is circuit switched; FACH is forward access channel; URA is UTRAN registration area; PCH is paging channel; E-DCH is enhanced dedicated channel; HS-DSCH is high speed downlink shared channel; SPS is semi-persistent scheduling; DRX is discontinuous reception; and A}4R is automated neighbour relations.

In another embodiment and with reference to Figure 3, there is a new information element UE) according to these teachings which for purposes of this description is entitled "SRNC Identity". This new IE is signalled by the Node B in S system information block 3 (SIB3), though it may be included in some other system information broadcast or in dedicated RRC signalling from the Node B in other embodiments. Regardless how it is sent, in this embodiment the comparison at block 104 of Figure 1 is between the SRNC identity which the IJE receives in the IE of Figure 3 and the SRNC identity in the U-RINTI. The example new IE at Figure 3 allows for more than 12 MSBs as can be seen from the fields "SRNC identity extension" and "SRNC identity size". The field "SRNC identity" carries 12 bits of the SRNC identity. If the IE is to carry more than 12 those additional bits will be in the field "SRNC identity extension", and those extension bits will also be considered as a part of the SRNC identity. The UE receiving the IE of Figure 3 will know exactly how many bits in that IF are for the SRNC identity from these trailing bits in the field "SRNC identity size" which gives the total number of bits used for the SRNC identity in the previous two fields combined. In this case the decision at block 106 is whether the SRNC identity given by the first two fields shown at the new IE of Figure 3 is identical (to however many MSBs are included from bit position bi I onward in the comparison) to the SRNC identity within the IJ-RNTI that the IJE previously stored at block 102 of Figure 1.

To implement this Figure 3 alternative in the UTRAN system with the new IE that is to be signalled to the UE, in one non-limiting embodiment the technical specification 3GPP TS25.331 can be amended to add the following in subclausc 8.3.1.3: If the value of the IE SRNC identity' in the variable U_RNTI is equal to the value of the received IE SRNC identity" in System Information Block type 3, the liE may omit the IE MBMS Selected Services', the IF "Support for Two DRX schemes in URA PCH and CELL PCI-I" (i.e. omit the cellUpdate-r3-add-cxt), the if "CS Call Type", the if "HS-PDSCH in CELL FACH", the if UE Mobility State Indicator", the if "Capability change indicator" (i.e. omit the CellUpdate-v77Oext- lEs), the IE "Support of common E-DCH", the IE "Support of 115-DSCH DRX operation", the if "Support of Mac-i/is", the if "Support of SPS operation", and the if "Support of control channel DRX operation" (i.e. omit the cellupclate-v86Oext-IEs), the IE "Logged Meas Available", the IE "ANR Logging Results Available" and the IE "Security Revert Status Indicator" (i.c. omit thc ccllUpdatc-va40cxt-ifs).

The specific language for modif'ing TS36.33 I in either of the techniques above can be adjusted from the examples noted above such that the salient comparison is still retained, without departing from these teachings.

Certain of the above embodiments provide the technical effect of reducing the size of the conventional cell update message by 11 bits (or more) so the UE can signal the additional information, such as fbr example the measured results that in most cases would be sent on RACH. This becomes possible by signalling the UE capabilities only in the cell update messages associated with a RNC change.

For the specific technique detailed at Figure 1, there is an additional technical effect of there being no change to the RRC interface except for the specific implementation where there is an indication in the SIB that is used to enable or disable the UE capability reporting. For this reason these teachings can be easily implemented for legacy UEs that are compatible with earlier releases of UTRAN. For the Figure 1 technique, there is no specific guarantee that the 12 MSBs of the IE "cell identity" will always signal the SRNC identity, but for practical purposes this will always be true and so this is no obstacle to adopting the embodiment that is specifically detailed atFigure 1.

For the specific technique in which the new IE of Figure 3 is utilised, there is some modification required for the conventional SIB3 structure but still this approach can be utilised for the legacy UEs that are compatible with earlier 3GPP releases because the UEs only need to read the non-critical extension in SIB3. But still there S may be legacy networks that will always need the UE capabilities reported in the liE's cell update message even if there is no RNC change, so the indication in the SIB whethcr it is allowed to omit UE capabilities from that message even when there is no RNC change may be required where there is a possibility of such legacy networks.

Thc new IE can be used as the indication, so that if the UE sees in system information or RRC signalling the new "SRNC Identity" IE detailed above with respect to Figure 3, the liE will consider that as an indication that it may omit its liE capabilities except when sending a cell update message to a cell in a new RNC. And consequently the cell can turn off this feature by simply not transmitting the new "SRNC Identity" IE which the liEs will interpret as mandating that UE capabilities are to be included in all their cell update messages regardless of RNC relocation.

Figure 4 presents a summary of the above teachings for operating a user equipment (liE) such as for example a liE operating in a UTRAN, a WCDMA network, and in other embodiments in a LTE and/or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network. At block 402 the liE determines whether a current radio access node belongs to a serving network entity to which liE capabilities have previously been reported. Blocks 414 and 416 provide different example implementations for doing so. The decision at block 402 leads to either block 404 or block 406. If the decision at block 402 is no, then block 404 provides that the liE will then include the liE capabilities in an uplink control channel messagc from the IJE to the current radio access node. If instead the decision at block 402 is yes, then block 406 tells the liE to omit the liE capabilities from the uplink control channel message from the UE to the radio access node.

Some of the non-limiting implementations detailed above are also summarised at Figure 4 following block 406. Block 408 specifies as in the above examples that the uplink control channel message of blocks 404 and 406 is a cell update message, and thrther that the serving network entity mentioned in block 402 is a radio network controller. Block 410 provides further detail supplemental to block 408 in that if the decision from block 402 is yes then block 406 is implemented by including S measurement results in the cell update message, within a space (field) of the cell update message that is made available by omitting the TIE capabilities from it. It is preferable that these measurement results be inserted into the cell update message without increasing the size of that message as compared to the case where the IJE capabilities are included in that mcssagc. However thcrc may be instances where the size of the measured results are too large for the available space and so while some embodiments restrict the size of the cell update message (for example, to 166 bits in the field as noted above), other embodiment allow for a larger cell update message when the measured results are too voluminous. In view of legacy WCDMAJUTRAN systems, this latter implementation can be most easily realised when the cell update message is sent on the common E-DCFI. Further detail at block 412 tells that the cell update message having the measurement results mentioned in block 410 is sent on a random access channel RACH, or on a common E-DCH.

The two examples above for how the determining of block 402 is implemented are recounted separately at blocks 414 and 416. For the specific technique detailed at Figure 1, block 414 summarises that the determining comprises comparing a predetermined number of MSBs from an identity of the current radio access node to an identity within a IJTRAN radio network temporary identifier (IJ-RNTI). In the above example for this implementation, the predetermined number is twelve and the identity of the current radio access node is a cell identity, which is received by the UE in system information block 3 (SIB3). For the technique of Figure 1 modified to utilisc the new IE presented at Figure 3, block 416 provides that the determining comprises comparing a serving radio network controller identity (SRNC identity) to an identity within a UTRAN radio network temporary identifier (U-RNTI). In this embodiment the UB receives the SRNC identity in SIB3 as is shown for example in the new lE at Figure 3, or in some other system information block or even in RRC signalling, sent by the current radio access node to which substantive information shown at Figure 3 is added according to these teachings.

Further details for block 416 were presented above in which the SRNC S identity is within a SRNC identity information element IE in the system information, where the IE comprises an indication of a number of bits for the comparing. Such an IE is shown at Figure 3, which labels the field for carrying such an indication as the "SRNC identity size". It is clear from presence in this IF of the SRNC identity extension field and/or the SRNC identity size field that the number of bits for the UE's comparing is adjustable, by the network, which puts that IE in its broadcast system information. For embodiments in which the network needs to provide some indication to enable the tiE to omit its tiE capabilities in certain circumstances (which in these teachings results in the UE checking whether its current access node is under a same RNC to whom the liE has previously reported its capabilities), presence of this "SRNC identity" IE in the system information can serve as such an enabling indication. That is, the determining at block 402 of Figure 4 (and hence the comparing at block 416 in this embodiment) is conditional on the SRNC identity IE being present in system information.

The process represented at Figure 4 may be executed by the liE or by one or more components thereof, upon a cell resciection by the liE. As non-limiting examples, such components may include a processor and a memory storing executable software code, or a universal system identity module (USIM), or a modem, or an antenna module, or a radiofrequency RF module (RF front end), or any combination of these. Also above was detailed that the network can signal in broadcast system information, and the UE can receive, an indication whether omitting the liE capabilities from the uplink control channel message is allowed. In this case the whole process of Figure 4 is conditional on the UE receiving that indication, such that the UE interprets absence of the indication as instructing the liE to include the liE capabilities in all such uplink control channel messages (and thus never omit them in favour of the channel measurement results). In one embodiment detailed above, the new "SRNC identity" IE shown by example at Figure 3 serves as the network's indication that UE's are allowed to omit its liE capabilities from the uplink cell update messages regardless of RNC relocation.

S The logic diagram of Figure 4 may be considered to illustrate the operation of a method, and a result of execution of a computer program stored in a computer readable memory, and a specific manner in which components of an electronic device are configured to cause that electronic device to operate, whether such an electronic device is the UE or some other portable electronic device, or one or more components thereof such as a modem, ehipset, or the like. The various blocks shown in Figure 4 may also be considered as a plurality of coupled logic circuit elements constructed to carry out the associated function(s), or specific result of strings of computer program code or instructions stored in a memory.

Such blocks and the functions they represent are non-limiting examples, and may be practised in various components such as integrated circuit chips and modules, and the exemplary embodiments of this invention may be realised in an apparatus that is embodied as an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit, or circuits, may comprise circuitry (as well as possibly firmware) for embodying at least one or more of a data processor or data processors, a digital signal processor or processors, baseband circuitry and radio frequency circuitry that are configurable so as to operate in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of this invention.

Such circuit/circuitry embodiments include any of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) and (b) combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as: (i) a combination of processor(s) or (ii) portions of processor(s)/software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a user equipment/UE, to perform the various functions summarised at Figure 4 and (c) circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present.

This definition of "circuitry" applies to all uses of this term in this specification, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this specification, the term "circuitry" would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term "circuitry" also covers, for example, a baseband integrated circuit or application specific integrated circuit for a user equipment UE or a similar integrated circuit in another device that communicates wirelessly with a communications nctwork having access nodes and higher network entities controlling them.

Reference is now made to Figure 5 fix illustrating a simplified block diagram of various electronic devices and apparatus that are suitable for use in practising the exemplary embodiments of this invention. In FigureS an Access Node 22 is adapted for communication over a wireless link 21 with an apparaws, such as a mobile terminal or UE 20. The Access Node 22 may be any access node such as a node B or an eNode B (including frequency selective repeaters) of any wireless network, such as UTRAN, WCDMA, GSM, CIERAN, E-UTRAN/LTE, and the like. The operator network of which the Access Node 22 is a part may also include a network contml element such as a radio network controller RNC in the case of a UTRAN and WCDMk For the case of LTE/LTE-Advanccd nctworks, thc UTRAN RNC equivalent functionality generally lies within the access nodes/eNBs, and so the next hierarchical network entity over the eNBs is the mobility management entity MME which may also serve as the serving gateway SOW, so for LTE the MME is in the hierarchical position of the RNC for implementing these teachings. For whatever network, the RNC and the MME are the entities, which generally provide connectivity with the core cellular network and with further networks (e.g. a publicly switched telephone network PSTN and/or a data communications network/Internet).

The UE 20 includes processing means such as at least one data processor (DP) 20A, storing means such as at least one computer-readable memory (MEM) 20B storing at least one computer program (FROG) 20C, and communication means such as a transmitter TX 20D and a receiver RX 20E for bidirectional wireless communications with the Access Node 22 over the UTRA or other operative radio access technology. All of the relevant wireless communications are via one or more S antennas 20F. Also stored in the MEM 20B at reference number 20G are the computer code or algorithms for deciding what is to be the content of the cell update (or other uplink) message based on whether there is a match between identifiers, according to exemplary cmbodiments above.

The Access Node 22 also includes processing means such as at least one data processor (DP) 22A, storing means such as at least one computer-readable memory (MEM) 22B storing at least one computer program (PROG) 22C, and communication means such as a transmitter TX 22D and a receiver RX 22E for bidirectional wireless communications with the UE 20 via one or more antennas 22F. The Access Node 22 stores at block 22G in certain embodiments its own computer software code or algorithms to rcad the uplink (IJL) cell update message it receives on the RACH or common E-DCH and process any measurement results that may be contained in that message.

Also at Figure 5 is shown a IJTRAN RNC 26 representing a network entity highcr than thc radio access node 22. In LTE/LTE-Advanced this may be a mobility management entity or a serving gateway as noted above. However implemented, the higher network entity 26 includes processing means such as at least one data processor (DP) 26A, storing means such as at least one computer-readable memory (MEM) 26B storing at least one computer program (PROG) 26C, and communication means such as a modem 26F for bidirectional wireless communications with the access node 22 and with other access nodes under its control or coordination over the data and control link 27.

While not particularly illustrated for the UE 20 or the Access Node 22, those devices arc also assumed to include as part of their wireless communicating means a modcm and/or a chipset which may or may not be inbuilt onto a radiofrcquency (RF) front end chip within those devices 20, 22.

At least one of the PROGs 20C in the tiE 20 is assumed to include a set of S program instructions that, when executed by the associated DP 20A, enable the device to operate in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of this invention, as detailed above and particularly summarised at Figure 4. The Access Node 22 also has software stored in its MEM 22B to implement certain aspects of these teachings, such as signalling thc indication whether omitting UE capabilities is allowed. In these regards the exemplary embodiments of this invention may be implemented at least in part by computer software stored on the MEM 20B, 22B which is executable by the DP 20A of the tiE 20 and/or by the DP 22A of the Access Node 22, or by hardware, or by a combination of tangibly stored software and hardware (and tangibly stored firmware) in any one or more of these devices 20, 22. In this manner the respective DP with the MEM and stored PROG may be considered a data processing system.

Electronic devices implementing these aspects of the invention need not be the entire devices as depicted at Figure 5 or may be one or more components of same such as the above described tangibly stored software, hardware, firmware and DP, or a system on a chip SOC or an application specific integrated circuit ASIC or a digital signal processor DSP or a modem or an antenna module or a RE front end module as noted above.

In general, the various embodiments of the tiE 20 can include, but are not limited to, personal portable digital devices having wireless communication capabilities, including but not limited to cellular and other mobile phones, navigation devices, laptop/palmtop/tablet computers, digital cameras and music devices, Internet appliances, USB dongcs and data cards.

Various embodiments of the computer readable MEMs 20B, 22B, 26B include any data storage teclmology type which is suitable to the local technical environment, including but not limited to semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory dcvices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, removable memory, disc memory, flash memory, DRAM, SRAM, EEPROM and the like.

Various embodiments of the DPs 20A, 22A, 26A include but are not limited to general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal S processors (DSPs) and multi-core processors.

Various modifications and adaptations to the foregoing exemplary embodiments of this invention may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description. While the exemplary embodiments have been described above in the context of the UTRAN and WCDMA systems, as noted above the exemplary embodiments of this invention are not limited for use with only these particular types of wireless radio access technology networks.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention are envisaged. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims (35)

1. CLAIMS1. A method for operating a user equipment, the method comprising: determining at a user equipment (UE) whether a current radio access node S belongs to a serving network entity to which UE capabilities have previously been reported; and if no then include the UE capabilities in an uplink control channel message from the liE to the current radio access node; cisc if yes thcn omit thc UE capabilities from the uplink control channel message from the UE to the radio access node.
2. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message is a cell update message and the serving network entity is a radio network controller.
3. 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein if yes then the cell update message comprises measurement results within a space of the cell update message made available by omitting the UE capabilities.
4. 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the cell update message is sent on a random access channel (RACI-l) or a common Enhanced Dedicated Channel (E-DCH).
5. 5. A method according to any of claims I to 4, wherein determining comprises: comparing a predetermined number of most significant bits from an identity of the current radio access node with an identity within a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network radio network temporary identifier (IJ-RNTI).
6. 6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined number is twelve and the identity of the current radio access node is a cell identity, which is received by the TIE in system information block type 3 (SIB3).
7. 7. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein determining comprises: comparing a serving radio network controller identity (SRNC identity), received by the UE in system information, with an identity within a Univenal Terresirial Radio Access Network radio network temporary identifier (U-RN TI).
8. 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the SRNC identity is within a SRNC identity information element in the system information, the information element comprising an indication of an adjustable number of bits for the comparing.
9. 9. A method according to claim 7 or claimS, wherein the method is conditional on the SRNC identity being present in the system information.
10. 10. A method according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the method is executed by the UE or by one or more components thereof upon a cell reselection by the UE.
11. 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the method is conditional on the UE receiving in broadcast system information an indication that omitting the UE capabilities from the uplink control channel message is allowed, such that the UE interprets absence of the indication as instructing the UE to include the UE capabilities in all such uplink control channel messages.
12. 12. Apparatus for operating a user equipment CUE), the apparatus comprising a processing system configured to cause the apparatus at least to: determine whether a current radio access node belongs to a serving network entity to which UE capabilities have previously been reported; and if no then include the UE capabilities in an uplink control channel message from the Ut to the current radio access node; else if yes then omit the UE capabilities from the uplink control channel message from the Ut to the radio access node.
13. 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the message is a cell update message and the serving network entity is a radio network controller.
14. 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein if yes then the cell update message S comprises measurement results within a space of the cell update message made available by omitting the UE capabilities.
15. 15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the cell update message is sent on a random access channel (RACH) or a common Enhanccd Dedicated Channel (E-DCH).
16. 16. Apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the processing system is configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether a current radio access node belongs to a serving network entity to which liE capabilities have previously been reported by comparing a predetermined number of most significant bits from an identity of the current radio access node with an identity within a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network radio network temporary identifier (U-RNTI).
17. 17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined number is twelve and the identity of the current radio access node is a cell identity, which is received by the UE in system information block type 3 (SIB3).
18. 18. Apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 15, 3jherein the processing system is configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether a current radio access node belongs to a serving network entity to which DIE capabilities have previously been reported by comparing a serving radio network controller identity (SRNC identity), received by the TIE in system information, with an identity within a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network radio network temporary identifier (U-RNTI).
19. 19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the SRNC identity is within a SRNC identity information element in the system information, the information element comprising an indication of an adjustable number of bits for the comparing.
20. 20. Apparatus according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the processing system is configured to cause the UE to determine as said conditional on the SRNC identity being present in thc system information.
21. 21. Apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 20, whcrcin thc apparatus comprises the UE and the processing system is configured to cause the UE to perform as required by claim 12 to 20 respectively upon a cell reselection by the UE.
22. 22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the processing system is configured to cause the UE to determine whether a current radio access node belongs to a serving network entity to which UB capabilities have previously been reported conditional on the UE receiving in broadcast system information an indication that omitting the UE capabilities from the uplink control channel message is allowed, such that the processing system is configured to cause the TiE to interpret absence of the indication as instructing the UE to include the UE capabilities in all such uplink control channel messages.
23. 23. A computer program comprising a set of computer instructions comprising code, comprising: code for determining at a user equipment (UE) whether a current radio access node belongs to a serving network entity to which TiE capabilities have previously been reported and code for selecting content to include in an uplink control channel message from the UE to the current radio access node based on the determining, such that if the determining is no then UE capabilities are included the uplink control channel message and else if the determining is yes then the TiE capabilities are omitted flx,m the uplink control channel message.
24. 24. A computer program according to claim 23, wherein the message is a cell update message and the sewing network entity is a radio network controller.
25. 25. A computer program according to claim 24, wherein if the determining is yes then the cell update message comprises measurement results within a space of the cell update message made available by omitting the UE capabilities.
26. 26. A computer program according to claim 25, wherein the cell update message is sent on a random access channel (RACH) or a common Enhanced Dedicated Channel (E-DCI-1).
27. 27. A computer program according to any of claims 23 to 26, wherein the code for determining comprises: code for comparing a predetermined number of most significant bits from an identity of the current radio access node with an identity within a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network radio network temporary identifier (U-RNTI).
28. 28. A computer program according to claim 27, wherein the predetermined number is twelve and the identity of the current radio access node is a cell identity, which is received by the UE in system information block type 3 (SIB3).
29. 29. A computer program according to any of claims 23 to 26, wherein the code for determining comprises: code for comparing a serving radio network controller identity (SRNC identity), received by the liE in system information, with an identity within a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network radio network temporary identifier (U-RNTI).
30. 30. A computer program according to claim 29, wherein the SRNC identity is within a SRNC identity information element in the system information, the information clement comprising an indication of an adjustable number of bits for the comparing.
31. 31. A computer program according to claim 29 or claim 30, wherein the set of S computer instructions is executed conditional on the SRNC identity being present in the system information.
32. 32. A computer program according to any of claims 23 to 31, wherein the computer program s disposed within the UE and the set of computer instructions is executed upon a cell reselection by the UE.
33. 33. A computer program according to claim 32, wherein the set of computer instructions is executed conditional on the tilE receiving in broadcast system information an indication that omitting the UE capabilities from the uplink control channel message is allowed, such that the UE interprets absence of the indication as instructing the liE to include the liE capabilities in all such uplink control channel messages.
34. 34. A method of operating a user equipment, substantially in accordance with any of the examples as described herein with reference to and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
35. 35. A user equipment, substantially in accordance with any of the examples as described herein with reference to and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.