OA18138A - Management of wireless devices in limited radio coverage - Google Patents

Management of wireless devices in limited radio coverage Download PDF

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Publication number
OA18138A
OA18138A OA1201600496 OA18138A OA 18138 A OA18138 A OA 18138A OA 1201600496 OA1201600496 OA 1201600496 OA 18138 A OA18138 A OA 18138A
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OAPI
Prior art keywords
downlink
wireless device
node
rcc value
message
Prior art date
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OA1201600496
Inventor
Paul Schliwa-Bertling
John Walter Diachina
Nicklas Johansson
Mårten SUNDBERG
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Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
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Publication of OA18138A publication Critical patent/OA18138A/en

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Abstract

A mechanism is described herein for enhancing the radio coverage for a wireless device based on an exchange of uplink and downlink radio condition information, referred to as uplink and downlink Radio Coverage Category (RCC) values, between the wireless device and a network (e.g., a Radio Access Network (RAN) node) for use in data transmission (e.g., control plane related signaling or user plane related payload transmission).

Description

The présent disclosure relates to radio transmission and réception of a network and a wireless device and, more particularly, to techniques for enhancing a radio coverage based on an exchange of radio condition information between a network and a wireless device for repeating data transmissions on a radio interface between the network and the wireless device.
BACKGROUND
The following abbreviations and terms are herewith defined, at least some of which are referred to within the following description of the présent disclosure.
3GPP 3rd-Generation Partnership Project
AGCH Access Grant Channel
ASIC Application Spécifie Integrated Circuit
BCCH Broadcast Control Channel
BSC Base Station Controller
BSS Base Station Subsystem
CC Coverage Class
CN Core Network
DSP Digital Signal Processor
eDRX Extended Discontinuons Receive
EC-GSM Extended Coverage-Global System for Mobile Communications
EDGE Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution
EGPRS Enhanced General Packet Radio Service
eNB evolved Node B
E-UTRA Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access
FCCH Frequency Correction Channel
GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
GERAN GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network
IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Identity
IoT Internet of Things
LLC Logical Link Control
MME Mobile Management Entity
MTC Machine Type Communications
NAS Non-Access Stratum
LTE Long-Term Evolution
PACCH Packet Associated Control Channel
PDN Packet Data Network
PDTCH Packet Data Traffic Channels
PDU Protocol Data Unit
RACH Random Access Channel
RAN Radio Access Node
RAT Radio Access Technology
RAU Routing Area Update
RCC Radio Coverage Category
RLC Radio Link Control
RNC Radio Network Controller
RRC Radio Resource Control
SCH Synchronization Channel
SGSN Serving GPRS Support Node
SI System Information
TLLI Temporary Logical Link Identifier
UE User Equipment
UL Uplink
UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
WCDMA Wideband Code Division Multiple Access
WiMAX Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
The anticipated ubiquitous deployment of wireless devices used for what is known as Machine-Type-Communication (MTC) will resuit in wireless devices being placed outside the typical radio coverage of the existing radio networks, e.g., in basements and similar locations. One way to improve the radio coverage is by expanding the radio access network infrastructure, such as by adding additional Radio Base Station (RBS) equipment. This, however, may very quickly resuit in an unreasonable investment effort and may not be acceptable to operators.
An alternative approach to adding additional equipment is to keep the existing radio access network infrastructure unchanged but instead improve the radio coverage through novel radio transmission and réception techniques as well as new Radio Resource Management algorithms. The latter approach is currently being discussed in the wireless industry and is a subject for a standardization effort, for example, in the 3rd-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) as described in the 3GPP TR 36.824 VI 1.0.0 Technical Report, entitled “Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); LTE coverage enhancements” and the 3GPP TSG-GERAN Meeting #62 Work Item Description GP-140421, entitled “New Study Item on Cellular System Support for Ultra Low Complexity and Low Throughput Internet of Things.”
While there are many techniques that can be used to enhance the radio coverage, one technique is to enhance the radio coverage through the use of repeated transmissions. The repeated transmissions technique is currently being considered in the context of the related standardization work in 3GPP TSG RAN, as described in the above-referenced 3GPP TR 36.824 VI 1.0.0 Technical Report, entitled “Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (EUTRA); LTE coverage enhancements” as well as in 3GPP TSG GERAN as described in the 3GPP TR 45.820 VI.3.0 Technical Report, entitled “Cellular System Support for Ultra Low Complexity and Low Throughput Internet of Things”.
A problem seen with the existing solutions associated with the repeated transmissions technique described in the above-referenced Technical Reports is that neither the wireless device nor the network, in this case, the Radio Access Network (RAN) node responsible for the repeated transmissions (e.g., the evolved Node B (eNB) in Long Term Evolution (LTE), the Radio Network Controller (RNC) in 3G, or the Base Station Controller (BSC) in 2G), is aware of the Radio Coverage Category (RCC) applicable when starting up a new uplink or downlink data transmission for a wireless device. This may, in a large degree, resuit in either too few or too many repeated transmissions during the initial phase of the data transmissions with the wireless device (e.g., a period of time during which wireless device spécifie RCC information is not known by the RAN node). For example, too few repeated transmissions may be initially applied to the transmissions, resulting in a failed data transmission, due to an erroneous initial estimate in the number of repeated transmissions needed. This may then be followed by another set of repeated transmissions based on a better understanding of the needed number of repeated transmissions (e.g., derived from the failed data transmission) but still resulting in inefficient usage of the scarce radio resources. Altematively, too many repeated transmissions may be initially applied to the transmissions, resulting in the inefficient usage of the scarce radio resources, adding interférence to the network, and consuming too much energy, eteetera.
Given that a large portion of the applications associated with MTC (including Internet of Things (IoT)) will be predominantly used for transfer of small amounts of a data (e.g., electricity meter data, température sensor data, etc.), an improved mechanism for accurately determining the number of needed repeated transmissions to and/or from a wireless device would be a very valuable if not a critical requirement to satisfy during the initial phase of downlink or uplink data transmission between the RAN node and the wireless device. This need and other needs are addressed by the présent disclosure.
US 2004/0098761 Al discloses a method and apparatus for enhancing coverage of Machine Type Communication (MTC) devices. In one embodiment, a MTC device (wireless transmit/receive unit) may provide an Evolved Node B (cNB) information regarding coverage limitation, which may include one or more of the Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) preamble transmit power, measured Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP)/Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) used for suitable cell sélection criteria, number of preamble répétition and retransmissions or number of Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) and Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) répétitions needed for Random Access Réception (RAR) réception.
SUMMARY
A wireless device, a RAN node, a CN node, and various methods for addressing at least the aforementioned need are described in the independent daims. Advantageous embodiments of the wireless device, the RAN node, the CN node, and the various methods are further described in the dépendent daims.
In one aspect, the présent disclosure provides a wireless device configured to communicate with a RAN node and a CN node. The wireless device comprises a processor and a memory that stores processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor interfaces with the memory to execute the processor-executable instructions, whereby the wireless device is opérable to perform a first receive operation, an estimate operation, a map operation, a transmit operation, and a second receive operation. In the first receive operation, the wireless device is opérable to receive, from the RAN node, control channels. In the estimate operation, the wireless device is opérable to estimate a downlink radio condition based on a signal quality of the received control channels. In the map operation, the wireless device is opérable to map the estimated downlink radio condition to one of a plurality of downlink Radio Coverage Category (RCC) values. In the transmit operation, the wireless device is opérable to transmit, to the RAN node, a first message including the one downlink RCC value. In the second receive operation, the wireless device is opérable to receive, from the RAN node, a second message having a number of repeated downlink transmissions based on the one downlink RCC value. The wireless device configured to operate in this manner will address the need in the state-of-the-art by effectively using scarce radio resources, reducing interférence to the network, and reducing the consumption of the wireless device’s battery power, etcetera, during the initial phase of data transmission.
In another aspect, the présent disclosure provides a method in a wireless device configured to communicate with a RAN node and a CN node. The method comprises a first receive step, an estimate step, a map step, a transmit step, and a second receive step. In the first receive step, control channels are received from the RAN node. In the estimate step, a downlink radio condition is estimated based on a signal quality of the received control channels. In the map step, the estimated downlink radio condition is mapped to one of a plurality of downlink Radio Coverage Category (RCC) values. In the transmit step, a first message is transmitted to the RAN node, wherein the first message includes the one downlink RCC value. In the second receive step, a second message is received from the RAN node, wherein the second message has a number of repeated downlink transmissions based on the one downlink RCC value. The method will address the need in the state-of-the-art by effectively using scarce radio resources, reducing interférence to the network, and reducing the consumption of the wireless device’s battery power, etcetera, during the initial phase of data transmission.
In yet another aspect, the présent disclosure provides a RAN node configured to communicate with one or more wireless devices and a CN node. The RAN node comprises a processor and at least one memory that stores processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor interfaces with the at least one memory to execute the processor-executable instructions, whereby the RAN node is opérable to perform a first transmit operation, a receive operation, and a second transmit operation. In the first transmit operation, the RAN node is opérable to transmit, to the one or more wireless devices, control channels. In the receive operation, the RAN node is opérable to receive, from one of the wireless devices, a first message including a first downlink Radio Coverage Category (RCC) value. In the second transmit operation, the RAN node is opérable to transmit, to the one wireless device, a second message that is repeated according to the first downlink RCC value included in the first message received from the one wireless device. The RAN node configured to operate in this manner will address the need in the state-of-the-art by effectively using scarce radio resources, reducing interférence to the network, and reducing the consumption of the wireless device’s battery power, etcetera, during the initial phase of data transmission.
In yet another aspect, the présent disclosure provides a method in a RAN node configured to communicate with one or more wireless devices and a CN node. The method comprises a first transmit step, a receive step, and a second transmit step. In the first transmit step, control channels are transmitted to the one or more wireless devices. In the receive step, a first message is received from one of the wireless devices, wherein the first message includes a first downlink Radio Coverage Category (RCC) value. In the second transmit step, a second message is transmitted to the one wireless device, wherein the second message is repeated according to the first downlink RCC value included in the first message received from the one wireless device. The method will address the need in the state-of-the-art by effectively using scarce radio resources, reducing interférence to the network, and reducing the consumption of the wireless device’s battery power, etcetera, during the initial phase of data transmission.
In still yet another aspect, the présent disclosure provides a CN node configured to communicate with a plurality of wireless devices and a RAN node. The CN node comprises a processor and at least one memory that stores processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor interfaces with the at least one memory to execute the processor-executable instructions, whereby the CN node is opérable to perform a receive operation, a store operation, and a transmit operation. In the receive operation, the CN node is opérable to receive, from the RAN node or one of the wireless devices, a message including a downlink Radio Coverage Category (RCC) value and an uplink RCC value associated with the one wireless device. In the store operation, the CN node is opérable to store the downlink RCC value and the uplink RCC value associated with the one wireless device. In the transmit operation, the CN node is opérable to transmit, to the RAN node, a paging message for the one wireless device when a downlink payload becomes available for the one wireless device, wherein the paging message includes the downlink RCC value and the uplink RCC value associated with the one wireless device. The CN node configured to operate in this manner will address the need in the state-of-the-art by effectively using scarce radio resources, reducing interférence to the network, and reducing the consumption of the wireless device’s battery power, etcetera, during the initial phase of data transmission.
In yet another aspect, the présent disclosure provides a method in a CN node configured to communicate with a plurality of wireless devices and a RAN node. The method comprises a receive step, a store step, and a transmit step. In the receive step, a message is received from the RAN node or one of the wireless devices, wherein the message includes a downlink Radio Coverage Category (RCC) value and an uplink RCC value associated with the one wireless device. In the store step, the downlink RCC value and the uplink RCC value associated with the one wireless device are stored. In the transmit step, a paging message for the one wireless device is transmitted to the RAN node when a downlink payload becomes available for the one wireless device, wherein the paging message includes the downlink RCC value and the uplink RCC value associated with the one wireless device. The method will address the need in the state-of-the-art by effectively using scarce radio resources, reducing interférence to the network, and reducing the consumption of the wireless device’s battery power, etcetera, during the initial phase of data transmission.
Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth, in part, in the detailed description, figures and any claims which follow, and in part will be derived from the detailed description, or can be leamed by practice of the invention. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complété understanding of the présent invention may be obtained by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:
FIGURE 1 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless communication network in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure;
FIGURE 2 is a signal flow diagram illustrating a downlink RCC value détermination process that occurs during a wireless device originated transfer in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure;
FIGURE 3 is a diagram illustrating different wireless devices with different downlink RCC values being addressed by the same resource assignment message in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure;
FIGURE 4 is a signal flow diagram illustrating an uplink RCC value détermination process that occurs during a wireless device originated transfer in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure;
FIGURE 5 is a signal flow diagram illustrating a process associated with a wireless device terminated transfer in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure;
FIGURE 6 is a flowchart of a method implemented in a wireless device in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure;
FIGURE 7 is a block diagram illustrating structures of an exemplary wireless device in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure;
FIGURES 8A-8B is a flowchart of a method implemented in a RAN node in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure;
FIGURE 9 is a block diagram illustrating structures of an exemplary RAN node in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure;
FIGURE 10 is a flowchart of a method implemented in a CN node in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure;
FIGURE 11 is a block diagram illustrating structures of an exemplary CN node in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure;
FIGURE 12 is a signal flow diagram illustrating additional steps in the uplink RCC value détermination process that occur during the wireless device originated transfer as shown in FIGURE 4 in accordance with another embodiment of the présent disclosure;
FIGURE 13 is a flowchart illustrating additional steps in the method implemented in the wireless device shown in FIGURE 6 in accordance with another embodiment of the présent disclosure; and
FIGURE 14 is a flowchart illustrating an additional step in the method implemented in the CN node shown in FIGURE 10 in accordance with another embodiment of the présent disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
To describe the technical features of the présent disclosure, a discussion is provided first to describe an exemplary wireless communication network which includes multiple wireless devices, multiple RAN nodes, and a CN node each of which are configured in accordance with the présent disclosure (see FIGURE 1). Then, a discussion is provided to explain the basic techniques and use cases implemented by the wireless device, the RAN node and the CN node in accordance with the présent disclosure (see FIGURES 2-5). Thereafter, a discussion is provided to explain in more detail the various techniques implemented by each of the wireless device, the RAN node and the CN node in accordance with the présent disclosure (see FIGURES 6-11). Finally, a discussion is provided to explain how the network can be updated with coverage class information by the wireless device in accordance with another embodiment of the présent disclosure (see FIGURES 12-14).
Exemplary Wireless Communication Network 100
Referring to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated an exemplary wireless communication network 100 in accordance with the présent disclosure. The wireless communication network 100 includes multiple RAN nodes 1021 and 1022 (only two shown) and a core network 106 (e.g., CN node 107) which interface with multiple wireless devices 104i, 1042, 1043...104n. The wireless communication network 100 also includes many well-known components, but for clarity, only the components needed to describe the features of the présent disclosure are described herein. Further, the wireless communication network 100 is described herein as being a GSM/EGPRS wireless communication network 100 which is also known as an EDGE wireless communication network 100. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the techniques of the présent disclosure which are applied to the GSM/EGPRS wireless communication network 100 are generally applicable to other types of wireless communication Systems, including, for example, WCDMA, LTE, and WiMAX Systems.
The wireless communication network 100 includes the RAN nodes 102j and 1022 (only two shown) which provide network access to the wireless devices 104i, 1042, 1043... 104n. In this example, the RAN node 1021 is providing network access to wireless device 104j while the RAN node 1022 is providing network access to wireless devices 1042, 1043...104n. The RAN nodes 1021 and 1022 are connected to the core network 106 (e.g., EGPRS core network 106) and, in particular, to the CN node 107. The core network 106 is connected to an external packet data network (PDN) 108, such as the Internet, and a server 110 (only one shown). The wireless devices 104i, 1042, 1043...104n may communicate with one or more servers 110 (only one shown) connected to the core network 106 and/or the PDN 108.
The wireless devices 104χ, 1042, 1043...104n may refer generally to an end terminal (user) that attaches to the wireless communication network 100, and may refer to either a MTC device or a non-MTC device. Further, the tenu “wireless device” is generally intended to be synonymous with the term “User Equipment,” or UE, as that term is used by the 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP), and includes standalone wireless devices, such as terminais, cell phones, Smart phones, tablets, and wireless-equipped personal digital assistants, as well as wireless cards or modules that are designed for attachaient to or insertion into another electronic device, such as a personal computer, electrical meter, etc.
Likewise, the RAN nodes 1021 and 1022 may refer in generally to a base station in the wireless communication network 100, and may refer to RAN nodes 102j and 1022 that are controlled by a physically distinct radio network controller as well as to more autonomous access points, such as the so-called evolved Node Bs (eNodeBs) in Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks.
Each wireless device 104j, 1042, 1043... 104n may include a transceiver circuit HOj, 1102, 1103...110n for communicating with the RAN nodes 102i and 1022, and a processing circuit 112i, 1122, 1123...112n for processing signais transmitted from and received by the transceiver circuit llOj, IIO2, 1103...110n and for controlling the operation of the corresponding wireless device 104χ, 1042, 1043...104n. The transceiver circuit 1ΙΟχ, IIO2, ΠΟ3 ... 110n may include a transmitter 114i, 1142, 1143... 114n and a receiver II61, II62, 1163...116n, which may operate according to any standard, e.g., the GSM/EDGE standard. The processing circuit 112i, 1122, 1123... 112n may include a processor 1181, 1182, 1183...118n and a memory 1201, 1202, 1203...120n for storing program code for controlling the operation of the corresponding wireless device 104], 1042, 1043...104n. The program code may include code for performing the procedures as described hereinafter with respect to FIGURES 6 and 13.
Each RAN node 102i and 1022 may include a transceiver circuit 122i and 1222 for communicating with wireless devices 104j, 1042, IO43...104n, a processing circuit 124j and 1242 for processing signais transmitted from and received by the transceiver circuit 122i and 1222 and for controlling the operation of the corresponding wireless access node 1021 and 1022, and a network interface 126j and 1262 for communicating with the core network 106. The transceiver circuit 122i and 1222 may include a transmitter 128j and 1282 and a receiver 130i and 13Û2, which may operate according to any standard, e.g., the GSM/EDGE standard. The processing circuit 124i and 1242 may include a processor 132] and 1322 and a memory 134] and 1342 for storing program code for controlling the operation of the corresponding wireless access node 1021 and 1022. The program code may include code for performing the procedures as described hereinafter with respect to FIGURES 8A-8B.
The CN node 107 (e.g., SGSN 107, MME 107) may include a transceiver circuit 136 for communicating with the RAN nodes 102j and 1022, a processing circuit 138 for processing signais transmitted from and received by the transceiver circuit 136 and for controlling the operation of the RAN nodes 102i and 1022, and a network interface 140 for communicating with the RAN nodes 1021 and 1022. The transceiver circuit 136 may include a transmitter 142 and a receiver 144, which may operate according to any standard, e.g., the GSM/EDGE standard. The processing circuit 138 may include a processor 146 and a memory 148 for storing program code for controlling the operation of the CN node 107. The program code may include code for performing the procedures as described hereinafter with respect to FIGURES 10 and 14.
Basic Techniques and Exemplary Use Cases of the Présent Disclosure
The présent disclosure provides a new mechanism for enhancing the radio coverage based on the exchange of uplink and downlink radio condition information, referred to as Radio Coverage Category (RCC) values, between the wireless device 1042 (for example) and the network 100 (e.g., the RAN node 1022 and/or the CN node 107) for use in data transmission (e.g., control plane related signaling or user plane related payload transmission). It is to be noted that the other wireless devices 104j, 1043. ..104n and RAN node 102i can also implement the new mechanism of the présent disclosure. The disclosed techniques are based on an exchange of estimated RCC values between the network 100 and the wireless device 1042 that are used to apply a number (e.g., a pre-defined number) of repeated transmissions on the radio interface. The RCC values may be estimated for the downlink (e.g., from the wireless device 1042 perspective) and for the uplink (e.g., from the network 100 perspective). The RCC values may be stored in the relevant network nodes such as the RAN node 1022 and the CN node 107 and in the wireless device 1042 for use in detennining the appropriate number of repeated transmissions for subséquent data transmissions, for example, at paging occasions.
The disclosed techniques can implement one or more of the following principles:
• The uplink and downlink radio conditions between the RAN node 1022 and a given wireless device 1042 may be categorized, organized, or divided into a range of RCC values.
• A given RCC value is mapped into a number of repeated transmissions. The mapping of each RCC value to a spécifie number of repeated transmissions may be standardized and known to the network 100 (e.g., the RAN node 1022 and/or the CN node 107) and the wireless device 1042. Hence, a given RCC value may implicitly or explicitly indicate the number of repeated transmissions and may therefore be known to the involved entities 1022, 107, and 1042 in a deterministic manner. Altematively, the mapping may be adjustable and signaled (e.g., in the system information) to the involved entities 1022, 107, and 1042.
• The wireless device 1042 provides an estimate of its downlink RCC value (with relation to its serving RAN node 1022/cell) to the network 100 in the applicable procedures and/or messages.
• The RAN node 1022 provides an estimate of its uplink RCC value in relation to a spécifie wireless device 1042 to that wireless device 1042 in the applicable procedures and/or messages.
• The network 100 may store the information about the uplink and downlink RCC values in the nodes such as the RAN node 1022 and the CN node 107 that would re-use this information in subséquent radio transmissions.
• The wireless device 1042 may store the information about the uplink and downlink RCC values and re-use this information in subséquent radio transmissions.
• The RAN node 1022 may upload wireless device spécifie RCC values for the uplink and downlink associated with a particular wireless device 1042 to the relevant CN node 107 (e.g., SGSN 107, MME 107). Altematively, wireless device spécifie RCC information may be conveyed by the wireless device 1042 to the CN node 107, for example, during NonAccess Stratum (NAS) signaling.
• The RAN node 1022 applies a number of downlink repeated transmissions over the radio interface based on the available wireless device spécifie downlink RCC value. The RCC value used for determining the number of repeated transmissions on the downlink may be based on the last received RCC value from the wireless device 1042, network 100 (e.g. RAN node 1022) estimâtes of the downlink RCC value (e.g., based on uplink radio quality), or a running average of the received downlink RCC values and/or the network 100 (e.g. RAN node 1022) estimated downlink RCC values.
• The wireless device 1042 applies a number of uplink repeated transmissions based on the available uplink RCC value received from the RAN node 1022. The RCC value used for determining the number of repeated transmissions on the uplink may be based on the latest estimated uplink RCC value received from the network 100 (e.g., the RAN node 1022), the wireless device 1042 estimâtes of the uplink RCC value (e.g., based on downlink radio quality), or a running average of received uplink RCC values and/or the wireless device 1042 estimated uplink RCC values.
• For the case when the wireless device 1042 makes its first contact with the RAN node 1022 after the wireless device’s initial deployment and power on in the field or when the wireless device 1042 wakes up to perform a system access procedure following a period of sleep, the number of repeated retransmissions the wireless device 1042 uses when performing a random access procedure (e.g., sending a first message on the Randorn Access Channel (RACH), such as a Channel Request message on the RACH) may be based on (1) the wireless device’s own independent assessment of an appropriate uplink RCC value, or (2) the wireless device’s preconfigured information of an appropriate uplink RCC value.
• The network 100 (e.g., the RAN node 1022) applies a number of répétitions based on a stored RCC of the wireless device 1042. This can, for example, apply when paging the wireless device 1042 or responding to a first message on the Random Access Channel (RACH), such as a Channel Request message on the RACH.
• The RAN node 1022 and the wireless device 1042 can make use of the knowledge about the wireless device’s type of usage, for example, being a stationary device, that can be preconfigured in the wireless device 1042 and in e.g., subscription data in the network 100 when deciding whether or not to apply a number of répétitions according to the stored RCC.
Referring to FIGURE 2, there is a signal flow (flagrant illustrating a downlink RCC value détermination process that occurs during a wireless device originated transfer in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure. Prior to accessing the RAN node 1022, the wireless device 1042 receives (e.g., monitors) some Radio Access Technology (RAT) spécifie set of control channels in order to, for example, obtain the synchronization with the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 2’s step 1). In the case of Global System for Mobile (GSM), prior to accessing the GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), the wireless device 1042 will monitor the Synchronization Channel (SCH) and Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH). After the decoding of the SCH, the wireless device 1042 may also décodé the System Information (SI) transmitted on the Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH). The SCH, FCCH, and BCCH in GSM are constantly transmitting on full power.
The wireless device 1042 utilizes the received control channels to estimate its experienced downlink radio condition based on, for example, a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), a received estimated quality (e.g., the decoded quality of the SCH and System Information), or any other metric that estimâtes the wireless device’s downlink radio condition (see FIGURE 2’s step 2).
The wireless device 1042 maps the estimated downlink radio condition to one of multiple downlink RCC values (see FIGURE 2’s step 3 and graph “A”). In this example, an RSSI-based mapping is illustrated where the estimated RSSI value is mapped to one of four different downlink RCC values. It is to be noted that the number of downlink RCC values and the number of transmissions for each of the downlink RCC values illustrated in FIGURE 2 (i.e., 1 transmission for RCC 0, 2 transmissions for RCC 1, 4 transmissions for RCC 2, and 16 transmissions for RCC 3) are provided as examples. In other cases, there may be fewer or more downlink RCC values and/or different numbers of transmissions may be associated with the downlink RCC values.
The wireless device 1042 transmits a message 202 which includes the downlink RCC value to the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 2’s step 4). More specifically, when accessing the RAN node 1022 for some wireless device originated data transmission, the wireless device 1042 provides the downlink spécifie RCC value in an appropriate RRC message 202 (e.g., the Channel Request message 202 in GERAN, the RRCConnectionRequest 202 in LTE or UMTS) or some message during a radio capability acquisition procedure. A means by which the wireless device 1042 can communicate a downlink spécifie RCC value to the RAN node 1022 (e.g., BSS 1022) is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 61/968,621, fîled on March 21, 2014, entitled “Accelerated System Access Procedure (ASAP)”.
The RAN node 1022 détermines a downlink RCC value to be used for the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 2’s step 5). The RAN node 1022 can detennine the downlink RCC value to be used for the wireless device 1042 based on: (1) the received first downlink RCC value (e.g., the downlink RCC value of FIGURE 2’s step 4); (2) an estimated downlink RCC value (e.g., based on uplink radio conditions); or (3) a running average of previously received first downlink RCC values and/or previously estimated downlink RCC values. For instance, the RAN node 1022 may estimate the downlink spécifie RCC value based on the uplink radio condition for the wireless device 1042 and may combine this with the RCC value estimated by the wireless device 1042 itself when determining the downlink RCC value to be used for the wireless device 1042. Further, the particular algorithm used by the RAN node 1022 for detennining the used downlink RCC value may be implémentation dépendent.
The RAN node 1022 maps the detennined downlink RCC value to a number of repeated downlink transmissions to be used for downlink message(s) 205 to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 2’s step 6 and graph “A”; note: the RAN node 1022 also maps the downlink RCC value received in FIGURE 2’s step 4 to a number of repeated downlink transmissions to be used for the downlink message 204 transmitted to the wireless device 1042). Then, the RAN node 1022 transmits to the wireless device 1042 a message 204 (e.g., Immédiate Assigmnent message) that is repeated according to the downlink RCC value received from the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 2’s step 6a). The message 204 would include the RAN node’s detennined downlink RCC value from FIG. 2’s step 5 if it is different than the wireless device’s downlink RCC value in message 202. Thereafter, the RAN node 1022 transmits to the wireless device 1042 the subséquent downlink message(s) 205 having a number of repeated downlink transmissions based on the RAN node’s detennined downlink RCC value (see FIGURE 2’s step 7). Basically, if the
RAN node 1022 décidés to use a downlink RCC value that is different than the downlink RCC value sent by the wireless device 1042 in FIGURE 2’s step 4, then the RAN node 1022 will indicate this to the wireless device 1042 by including the determined downlink RCC value in the first downlink message 204 which is always sent with repeated transmissions according to the downlink RCC value sent by the wireless device 1042 in FIGURE 2’s step 4.
It should be noted that the number of répétitions can be different, for example, depending on the logical channel that is associated with the downlink message 204 or 205 to be transmitted to the wireless device 1042. For example, in GERAN, the RAN node 1022 can apply a first number of repeated transmissions according to the determined downlink RCC value when transmitting the Immédiate Assignment message 204 on the Access Grant Channel (AGCH), but apply a second number of répétitions, for example, when transmitting a Packet Power Control/Timing Advance message 205 on the Packet Associated Control Channel (PACCH). Similarly, in the RAN node 1022, the number of répétitions used for Signaling Radio Bearers might be different from the number used for Data Radio Bearers.
It should be noted that when a repetition-only based scheme is used, and when multiple wireless devices 1042, 1043 and 1044 (for example) are addressed by the same message 204 or 205, there is no need for ail the wireless devices 1042, 1043 and 1044 to hâve the same downlink RCC value. The number of répétitions used may instead be determined by the wireless device 1044 (for example) which has the highest downlink RCC value (i.e., the worst coverage). An example of this message format is illustrated in FIGURE 3, where wireless devices 1042, 1043 and 1044 are addressed by the same resource assignment message 204. In this example, the resource assignment message 204 on the same AGCH is repeated 16 times due to the coverage class of wireless device 1044 (mapped to 16 répétitions), while wireless devices 1042 and 1043 which hâve lower coverage classes (i.e., fewer répétitions needed) will be able to read the same resource assignment message 204 after decoding the respective number of répétitions according to their RCC coverage class (i.e., 4 répétitions for wireless device 1042 and 8 répétitions for wireless device 1043).
In some embodiments, the same number of repeated transmissions according to the wireless device’s downlink RCC value (which can be different depending on the logical channel considered) may be applied to any subséquent downlink messages 204, control or user plane messages 204, until the RAN node 1022 détermines e.g., through the assistance of ACK/NACK or Measurement Report information supplied by the wireless device 1042 that a different downlink RCC value should be used for the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 2’s step 8). Any change in the downlink RCC value (number of repeated transmissions) may be signaled by the RAN node 1022 in the control plane either explicitly by means of dedicated signaling or implicitly e.g., through in-band signaling to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 2’s step 9). When explicitly signaling a change in the downlink RCC value, the number of repeated transmissions used by the RAN node 1022 is determined using the downlink RCC value it has stored for the wireless device 1042 prior to deciding to make the change to the downlink RCC value. Similar to the downlink, the RAN node 1022 can estimate the RCC value applicable in the uplink for a given wireless device 1042. This process is described next with respect to FIGURE 4.
Referring to FIGURE 4, there is a signal flow diagram illustrating an uplink RCC value détermination process that occurs during a wireless device originated transfer in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure. The RAN node 1022 receives the message 202 (e.g., Channel Request message 202, RRC Connection Request message 202) on the RACH from the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 4’s step 1). For the case when the wireless device 1042 makes its first contact with the RAN node 1022 after the wireless device’s initial deployment and powei- on in the field or when it wakes up to perform a System access procedure following a period of sleep, the number of repeated retransmissions the wireless device 1042 uses when sending RACH bursts for the Channel Request message 202 (RRC Connection Request message 202) on the RACH may be based, for example, on the wireless device’s own independent assessment of an appropriate uplink RCC value (e.g., based on the estimated downlink radio condition of FIGURE 2’s step 2) or pre-confîgured information (see FIGURE 4’s note 1).
The RAN node 1022 estimâtes an uplink RCC value based on a quality (e.g., RSSI) of the received message 202 (see FIGURE 4’s step 2 and graph “A”). In this example, an RSSIbased mapping measurement is illustrated where an estimated RSSI value of uplink radio conditions associated with the received message 202 is mapped to one of fow different uplink RCC values. It is to be noted that the number of uplink RCC values and the number of transmissions for uplink RCC values illustrated in FIGURE 4 (i.e., 1 transmission for RCC 0, 2 transmissions for RCC 1, 4 transmissions for RCC 2, and 16 transmissions for RCC 3) are provided as examples. In other cases, there may be fewer or more uplink RCC values and/or different numbers of transmissions may be associated with the uplink RCC values.
The RAN node 1022 adds (inserts, includes) the uplink RCC value to the message 204 (e.g., Immédiate Assignment message 204 or any other RRC message 204 following the Channel Request message 202) transmitted to the one wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 4’s step 3). The uplink RCC value communicated to the wireless device 1042 may be, for example, the last uplink RCC value estimated by the RAN node 1022, a running average of the previously estimated uplink RCC values, and/or estimated or used downlink RCC values for that particular wireless device 1042.
The wireless device 1042 maps the uplink RCC value into a number of uplink répétitions (see FIGURE 4’s step 4 and graph “A’). Then, prior to the termination of the connection, the wireless device 1042 applies the number of uplink répétitions on ail subséquent uplink messages 206 transmitted on the RACH and on the uplink of any subsequently assigned Packet Data Traffic Channels (PDTCHs) or Packet Associated Control Channels (PACCHs) to the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 4’s step 5). Following the termination of the connection the wireless device 1042 could optionally continue to use its stored uplink RCC value (see FIGURE 4’s step 9) for subséquent uplink messages 202 transmitted on the RACH (see FIGURE 4’s step 1) if they are transmitted within a limited time period following its most recent réception of the uplink RCC value in the message 204 (see FIGURE 4’s step 3).
The wireless device 1042 continues to use the uplink RCC value for the uplink messages 206 until a new uplink RCC value is received from the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 4’s step 6). The wireless device 1042 can receive the new uplink RCC value from the RAN node 1022, for example, either in a control message or in an implicit manner (e.g., Packet Uplink ACK/NACK message indicating a failed uplink réception).
The RAN node 1022 may store the RCC values applicable to both the uplink and downlink along with a Temporary Logical Link Identifier (TLLI) or other local relevant identifier of the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 4’s step 7; note: step 7 is also typically perfonned immediately after or as part of step 2). Then, upon termination of the connection (e.g., RRC connection) between the RAN node 1022 and the wireless device 1042, the RAN node 1022 may transmit the RCC values applicable to both the uplink and downlink along with a TLLI or other local relevant identifier of the wireless device 1042 to the CN node 107 (see FIGURE 4’s step 8). For instance, the RAN node 1022 can include the uplink and downlink RCC values as supplémentai information when sending the received messages 206 of step 5 to the CN 107. Additionally or alternatively, the wireless device 1042 may store the RCC values applicable to both the uplink and downlink (see FIGURE 4’s step 9; note: step 9 can also occur immediately after step 1 and step 4). Furthermore, the wireless device 1042 may transmit the RCC values for both the uplink and downlink to the CN node 107, for example, via NAS signaling (e.g., within a periodic Routing Area Update (RAU) message) (see FIGURE 4’s step 10). In this case, if wireless device 1042 perforais step 10 then the RAN node 1022 would not need to include the uplink and downlink RCC values as supplémentai information when sending the received messages 206 of step 5 to the CN 107.
Referring to FIGURE 5, there is a signal flow diagram illustrating a process associated with a wireless device terminated transfer in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure. The CN node 107 supplies the RAN node 1022 with stored RCC values for the uplink and the downlink for the wireless device 1042 during a subséquent wireless device terminated transfer. More specifîcally, the CN node 107 transmits a paging message 208 with the stored RCC values for uplink and downlink when a downlink payload becomes available for the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 5’s step 1). Recall: the RAN node 1022 and/or the wireless device 1042 at the end of the previous connection uploaded the RCC values for the uplink and downlink to the CN node 107 (see FIGURE 4’s steps 8 and 10).
The RCC values for both uplink and downlink may be sent together in the paging message 208 with a time stamp indicating the time that the RCC values had been uploaded to the CN node 107 and including cell identifier information about the cell where the wireless device 1042 was connected when these RCC values were obtained. This information and if desired additional information may also be provided in the paging message 208 to enable the RAN node 1022 to assess the reliability of the downlink and uplink RCC values. The RCC values for uplink and downlink may be sent with the paging message 208 using the relevant interface, e.g., Gb, lu, SI AP.
The RAN node 1022 (e.g., the BSC 1022 in 2G, the RNC 1022 in 3G, or the eNB 1022 in LTE) may use the received downlink RCC value to détermine the paging répétition number for the paging message 208’ which is to be transmitted to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 5’s step 2). The RAN node 1022 then transmits the paging message 208’ using the determined paging répétition number to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 5’s step 3). Furthermore, the RAN node 1022 may add the uplink RCC value to the paging message 208’ itself and thus enable the wireless device 1042 to map and use a spécifie number of uplink répétitions during the random access procedure triggered to transmit a corresponding page response 210 to the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 5’s steps 4 and 5). Altematively, the RAN no de 1022 can détermine that the RCC values for the uplink and downlink received from the CN node 107 are outdated, then in this case the paging message 208’ sent to the wireless device 1042 may be repeated a maximum number of times, and the uplink RCC value communicated in the paging message 208’ to the wireless device 1042 may be set to the highest value (i.e., a maximum number of répétitions) (see FIGURE 5’s note 1). The subséquent behavior by the wireless device 1042 and the RAN node 1022 may be the same as described above in reference to wireless device originated transfer in FIGURES 2-4.
Detailed Techniques Implemented by Devices
Referring to FIGURE 6, there is a flowchart of a method 600 implemented in a wireless device 1042 (for example) in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure. At step 602, the wireless device 1042 receives (e.g., monitors) some RAT spécifie set of control channels in order to, for example, obtain the synchronization with the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 2’s step 1). At step 604, the wireless device 1042 estimâtes a downlink radio condition based on a signal quality (e.g., RSSI) of the received control channels (see FIGURE 2’s step 2). At step 606, the wireless device 1042maps the estimated downlink radio condition to one of multiple downlink RCC values (see FIGURE 2’s step 3 and graph “A”). At step 608, the wireless device 1042 transmits a message 202 (e.g. Channel Request message 202) which includes the downlink RCC value to the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 2’s step 4). If the message 202 (e.g., Channel Request message 202) is the wireless device’s first contact with the RAN node 1022, then the wireless device 1042 may hâve previously determined at step 608’ an estimated number of repeated uplink transmissions (e.g., based on the estimated downlink radio condition or preconfigured information) to use when transmitting the message 202 to the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 4’s note 1).
At step 610, the wireless device 1042 receives a downlink message 204 (e.g., Immédiate Assignment message 204) having a number of repeated downlink transmissions and including an uplink RCC value (see FIGURE 2’s step 7 and FIGURE 4’s step 3). Recall: the number of repeated downlink transmissions in the downlink message 204 is based on the downlink RCC value sent by the wireless device 1042 in message 202 (see FIGURE 2’s step 4 and FIGURE 4’s step 1). Plus, the message 204 may include the RAN node’s determined downlink RCC value which is to be used for the subséquent downlink messages 205 (see FIGURE 2’s step 6a). At step 612, the wireless device 1042 maps the uplink RCC value (included in message
204) to détermine a number of uplink répétitions (see FIGURE 4’s step 4 and graph “A’). At step 614, the wireless device 1042 transmits an uplink message 206 that is repeated according to the number of repeated uplink transmissions to the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 4’s step 5). The wireless device 1042 would continue to use the uplink RCC value for the subséquent uplink messages 206 until a new uplink RCC value is received from the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 4’s step 6). At step 616, the wireless device 1042 stores the RCC values applicable to both the uplink and downlink (see FIGURE 4’s step 9). At step 618, the wireless device 1042 may transmit the RCC values for both the uplink and downlink to the CN node 107 (see FIGURE 4’s step 10).
At step 620, the wireless device 1042 receives from the RAN node 1022 the paging message 208’ having a number of downlink répétitions and an uplink RCC value (see FIGURE 5’s step 3; recall: the paging message 208’ would be sent when the CN node 107 has new downlink payload for the wireless device 1042). The number of repeated downlink répétitions used in the paging message 208’ may be based on the downlink RCC value previously sent by the wireless device 1042 or the RAN node 1022 to the CN node 107 (see FIGURE 5’s steps 1-2) or a maximum number of downlink répétitions (see FIGURE 5’s note
1). The uplink RCC value in the paging message 208’ may be the uplink RCC value previously sent by the wireless device 1042 or the RAN node 1022 to the CN node 107 (see FIGURE 5’s steps 1-2) or a maximum number of uplink répétitions (see FIGURE 5’s note 1). At step 622, the wireless device 1042 maps the uplink RCC value to détermine a spécifie number of uplink répétitions to use when transmitting the corresponding page response 210 to the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 5’s step 4). At step 624, the wireless device 1042 transmits the page response 210 using the determined number of uplink répétitions to the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 5’s step 5). For a more detailed discussion about steps 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616, 618, 620, 622 and 624 reference is made to FIGURES 2, 4 and 5.
Referring to FIGURE 7, there is a block diagram illusfrating structures of an exemplary wireless device 1042 configured to interact with the RAN node 1022 and the CN node 107 in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure. In an embodiment, the wireless device 1042 may comprise a first receive module 702, an estimate module 704, a first map module 706, a first transmit module 708, a second receive module 710, a second map module 712, a second transmit module 714, a store module 716, a third transmit module 718, a third receive module 720, a third map module 722, and a fourth transmit module 724.
The first receive module 702 is configured to receive (e.g., monitor) some RAT spécifie set of control channels in order to, for example, obtain the synchronization with the RAN node 1022 radio interface (see FIGURE 2’s step 1). The estimate module 704 is configured to estimate a downlink radio condition based on a signal quality (e.g., RSSI) of the received control channels (see FIGURE 2’s step 2). The first map module 706 is configured to map the estimated downlink radio condition to one of multiple downlink RCC values (see FIGURE 2’s step 3 and graph “A”). The first transmit module 708 is configured to transmit a message 202 (e.g. Channel Request message 202) which includes the downlink RCC value to the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 2’s step 4). The first transmit module 708 may include a détermine module 708’ configured to détermine an estimated number of repeated uplink transmissions (e.g., based on the estimated downlink radio condition or preconfigured information) to use when transmitting the message 202 to the RAN node 1022 if the message 202 (e.g., Channel Request message 202) is the wireless device’s first contact with the RAN node 1022, (see FIGURE 4’s note 1).
The second receive module 710 is configured to receive a downlink message 204 (e.g., Immédiate Assignment message 204) having a number of repeated downlink transmissions and including an uplink RCC value (see FIGURE 2’s step 7 and FIGURE 4’s step 3). Recall: the number of repeated downlink transmissions in the downlink message 204 is based on the downlink RCC value sent by the wireless device 1042 in message 202 (see FIGURE 2’s step 4 and FIGURE 4’s step 1). Plus, the message 204 may include the RAN node’s determined downlink RCC value which is to be used for the subséquent downlink messages 205 (see FIGURE 2’s step 6a). The second map module 712 is configured to map the uplink RCC value (included in message 204) to détermine a number of uplink répétitions (see FIGURE 4’s step 4 and graph “A’). The second transmit module 714 is configured to transmit an uplink message 206 that has the estimated number of repeated uplink transmissions to the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 4’s step 5). The second transmit module 714 would continue to use the uplink RCC value for the subséquent uplink messages 206 until a new uplink RCC value is received from the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 4’s step 6). The store module 716 is configured to store the RCC values applicable to both the uplink and downlink (see FIGURE 4’s step 9). The third transmit module 718 is configured to transmit the RCC values for both the uplink and downlink to the CN node 107 (see FIGURE 4’s step 10).
The third receive module 720 is configured to receive from the RAN node 1022 the paging message 208’ having a number of downlink répétitions and an uplink RCC value (see FIGURE 5’s step 3; recall: the paging message 208’ would be sent when the CN node 107 has new downlink payload for the wireless device 1042). The number of repeated downlink répétitions used in the paging message 208’ may be based on the downlink RCC value previously sent by the wireless device 1042 or the RAN node 1022 to the CN node 107 (see FIGURE 5’s steps 1-2) or a maximum number of downlink répétitions (see FIGURE 5’s note
1). The uplink RCC value in the paging message 208’ may be the uplink RCC value previously sent by the wireless device 1042 or the RAN node 1022 to the CN node 107 (see FIGURE 5’s steps 1-2) or a maximum number of uplink répétitions (see FIGURE 5’s note 1). The third map module 722 is configured to map the uplink RCC value to détermine a spécifie number of uplink répétitions to use when transmitting the corresponding page response 210 to the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 5’s step 4). The fourth transmit module 724 is configured to transmit the page response 210 using the determined number of uplink répétitions to the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 5’s step 5).
As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the above-described modules 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, 712, 714, 716, 718, 720, 722 and 724 of the wireless device 1042 may be implemented separately as suitable dedicated circuits. Further, the modules 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, 712, 714, 716, 718, 720, 722 and 724 can also be implemented using any number of dedicated circuits through functional combination or séparation. In some embodiments, the modules 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, 712, 714, 716, 718, 720, 722 and 724 may be even combined in a single application spécifie integrated circuit (ASIC). As an alternative software-based implémentation, the wireless device 1042 may comprise a memory 120?, a processor 1182 (including but not limited to a microprocessor, a microcontroller or a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), etc.) and a transceiver 1102. The memory 1202 stores machine-readable program code exécutable by the processor 1182 to cause the wireless device 1042 to perform the steps of the above-described method 600.
Referring to FIGURES 8A-8B, there is a flowehart of a method 800 implemented in a RAN node 1022 (for example) in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure. At step 802, the RAN node 1022 transmits control channels (e.g., BCCH, SCH, FCCH) to enable the wireless device 1042 (for example) to obtain synchronization with the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 2’s step 1). At step 804, the RAN node 1022 receives from the wireless device 1042 a message 202 (e.g., Channel Request message 202) which includes the wireless device’s downlink RCC value (see FIGURE 2’s step 4). At step 806, the RAN node 1022 détermines a downlink RCC value to be used for the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 2’s step 5). At step 808, the RAN node 1022 maps the determined downlink RCC value to a number of repeated downlink transmissions to be used for downlink message(s) 205 transmitted to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 2’s step 6 and graph “A”; note: the RAN node 1022 also maps the downlink RCC value received in FIGURE 8’s step 804 to a number of repeated downlink transmissions to be used for the downlink message 204 transmitted to the wireless device 1042). At step 809, the RAN node 1022 transmits a first downlink message 204 (e.g., Immédiate Assignment message 204) to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 2’s step 7) where the number of repeated downlink transmissions used for the downlink message 204 is based on the downlink RCC value sent by the wireless device 1042 in message 202 (see FIGURE 2’s step 4). If the RAN node 1022 décidés to use a downlink RCC value that is different than the downlink RCC value received from the wireless device 1042 in step 804, then the RAN node 1022 will indicate this to the wireless device 1042 by including the determined downlink RCC value from step 806 in the first downlink message 204. Subséquent downlink messages 205 are then transmitted at step 810 by the RAN node 1022 to the wireless device 1042 based on the determined downlink RCC value from step 806. At step 812, the RAN node 1022 détermines e.g., through the assistance of ACK/NACK or Measurement Report information supplied by the wireless device 1042 that a new downlink RCC value should be used for the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 2’s step 8). At step 814, the RAN node 1022 transmits the new downlink RCC value (number of repeated transmissions) to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 2’s step 9). The number of repeated transmissions used by the RAN node 1022 to transmit the message which contains the new downlink RCC value is determined using the downlink RCC value it has stored for the wireless device 1042 prior to deciding to use a new downlink RCC value.
At step 816, the RAN node 1022 upon receiving the message 202 (e.g., Channel Request message 202) at step 804 will also estimate an uplink RCC value for the wireless device 1042 based on a quality (e.g., RSSI) of the received message 202 (see FIGURE 4’s step 2 and graph “A”). At step 818, the RAN node 1022 adds (inserts, includes) the estimated uplink RCC value to the message 204 (e.g., Immédiate Assignment message 204) that is transmitted during step 810 to the one wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 4’s step 3). At step 820, the RAN node 1022 receives from the wireless device 1042 at least one uplink message 206 that has the number of repeated uplink transmissions which corresponds to the uplink RCC value sent in message 204 (see FIGURE 4’s step 5). At step 822, the RAN node 1022 transmits a new uplink RCC value if needed to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 4’s step 6). At step 824, the RAN node 1022 stores the RCC values applicable to both the uplink and downlink along with a TLLI or other local relevant identifier of the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 4’s step 7). At step 826, the RAN node 1022 may transmit the RCC values applicable to both the uplink and downlink to the CN node 107 along with a TLLI or other local relevant identifier of the wireless device 1042 upon the termination of the connection between the wireless device 1042 and the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 4’s step 8).
At step 828, the RAN node 1022 receives from the CN node 107 the paging message 208 with the RCC values for uplink and downlink for the wireless device 1042 when a downlink payload becomes available for the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 5’s step 1). At step 830a, the RAN node 1022 may use the received downlink RCC value to détermine the paging répétition number for the paging message 208’ which is to be transmitted to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 5’s step 2). At step 832a, the RAN node 1022 transmits the paging message 208’ (which includes the uplink RCC value) using the determined paging répétition number to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 5’s step 3). At step 834a, the RAN node 1022 receives from the wireless device 1042 the page response 210 having a number of repeated uplink transmissions based on the uplink RCC value in the paging message 208’ (see FIGURE 5’s step 5). Alternatively, after step 828 the RAN node 1022 at step 830b détermines that the RCC values for the uplink and downlink received from the CN node 107 are outdated, then in this case the paging message 208’ transmitted at step 834b to the wireless device 1042 may be repeated a maximum number of times and the uplink RCC value communicated in the paging message 208’ to the wireless device 1042 may be set to the highest RCC value (i.e., a maximum number of répétitions) (see FIGURE 5’s note 1). It should be noted that in practice the wireless device 1042 would typically be listening according to the last downlink RCC value it conveyed to the network 100 and so it may not be very helpful for the RAN node 1022 to autonomously décidé to use the maximum number of répétitions. At step 834b, the RAN node 1022 receives from the wireless device 1042 the page response 210 having a highest number of repeated uplink transmissions based on the highest uplink RCC value.
Referring to FIGURE 9, there is a block diagram illustrating structures of an exemplary RAN node 1022 configured to interact with a wireless device 1042 and a CN node 107 in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure. In an embodiment, the RAN node 1022 may comprise a first transmit module 902, a first receive module 904, a first détermine module 906, a map module 908, a second transmit module 909, a third transmit module 910, a second détermine module 912, a fourth transmit module 914, an estimate module 916, an add module 918, a second receive module 920, a fifth transmit module 922, a store module 924, a sixth transmit module 926, a third receive module 928, a use module 930a, a seventh transmit module 932a, a fourth receive module 934a, a third détermine module 930b, an eighth transmit module 932b, and a fifth receive module 934b.
The first transmit module 902 is configured to transmit control channels (e.g., BCCH, SCH, FCCH) to enable the wireless device 1042 (for example) to obtain synchronization with the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 2’s step 1). The first receive module 904 is configured to receive from the wireless device 1042 a message 202 (e.g., Channel Request message 202) which includes the wireless device’s downlink RCC value (see FIGURE 2’s step 4). The first détermine module 906 is configured to détermine a downlink RCC value to be used for the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 2’s step 5). The map module 908 is configured to map the detennined downlink RCC value to one of a multiple of downlink RCC values to détermine a number of repeated downlink transmissions to be used for downlink message(s) 204 transmitted to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 2’s step 6 and graph “A” ; note: the map module 908 also maps the downlink RCC value received in FIGURE 2’s step 4 to a number of repeated downlink transmissions to be used for the downlink message 204 transmitted to the wireless device 1042). The second transmit module 909 is configured to transmit a first downlink message 204 (e.g., Immédiate Assignment message 204) to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 2’s step 7) where the number of repeated downlink transmissions used for the downlink message 204 is based on the downlink RCC value sent by the wireless device 1042 in message 202 (see FIGURE 2’s step 4) (see FIGURE 2’s step 6a). If the first détermine module 906 décidés to use a downlink RCC value that is different than the downlink RCC value sent by the wireless device 1042, then the second transmit module 909 will indicate this to the wireless device 1042 by including the detennined downlink RCC value in the first downlink message 204. The third transmit module 910 is configured to transmit subséquent downlink messages 205 to the wireless device 1042 based on the detennined downlink RCC value (see
FIGURE 2’s step 7). The second détermine module 912 is configured to détermine e.g., through the assistance of ACK/NACK or Measurement Report information supplied by the wireless device 1042 that a new downlink RCC value should be used for the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 2’s step 8). The fourth transmit module 914 is configured to transmit the new downlink RCC value (number of repeated transmissions) to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 2’s step 9). The number of repeated transmissions used by the RAN node 1022 to transmit the message which contains the new downlink RCC value is determined using the downlink RCC value it has stored for the wireless device 1042 prior to deciding to use a new downlink RCC value.
The estimate module 916 is configured upon receipt of the message 202 (e.g., Channel Request message 202) to estimate an uplink RCC value for the wireless device 1042 based on a quality (e.g., RSSI) of the received message 202 (see FIGURE 4’s step 2 and graph “A”). The add module 918 is configured to add (insert, include) the estimated uplink RCC value to the message 204 (e.g., Immédiate Assignaient message 204) that is transmitted to the one wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 4’s step 3). The second receive module 920 is configured to receive from the wireless device 1042 at least one uplink message 206 that has the number of repeated uplink transmissions which corresponds to the uplink RCC value sent in message 204 (see FIGURE 4’s step 5). The fîfth transmit module 922 is configured to transmit a new uplink RCC value if needed to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 4’s step 6). The store module 924 is configured to store the RCC values applicable to both the uplink and downlink along with a TLLI or other local relevant identifier of the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 4’s step 7). The sixth transmit module 926 is configured to transmit the RCC values applicable to both the uplink and downlink to the CN node 107 along with a TLLI or other local relevant identifier of the wireless device 1042 upon the termination of the connection between the wireless device 1042 and Aie RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 4’s step 8).
The third receive module 928 is configured to receive from the CN node 107 the paging message 208 with the RCC values for uplink and downlink for the wireless device 1042 when a downlink payload becomes available for the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 5’s step 1). The use module 930a is configured to use the received downlink RCC value to détermine the paging répétition number for the paging message 208’ which is to be transmitted to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 5’s step 2). The seventh transmit module 932a is configured to transmit the paging message 208’ (which includes the uplink RCC value) using the determined paging répétition number to the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 5’s step 3). The fourth receive module 934a is configured to receive from the wireless device 1042 the page response 210 having a number of repeated uplink transmissions based on the uplink RCC value in the paging message 208’ (see FIGURE 5’s step 5). As an alternative to modules 930a, 932a and 934a, the RAN node 1022 includes the third détermine module 930b which is configured to détermine that the RCC values for the uplink and downlink received from the CN node 107 are outdated, then the eighth transmit module 932b is configured to transmit the paging message 208’ a repeated a maximum number of times to the wireless device 1042, where the paging message 208’ may include an uplink RCC value set to the highest RCC value (i.e., a maximum number of répétitions) (see FIGURE 5’s note 1). The fifth receive module 934b is configured to receive from the wireless device 1042 the page response 210 having a highest number of repeated uplink transmissions based on the highest uplink RCC value.
As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the above-described modules 902, 904, 906, 908, 909, 910, 912, 914, 916, 918, 920, 922, 924, 926, 928, 930a, 930b, 932a, 932b, 934a, and 934b of the RAN node 1022 may be implemented separately as suitable dedicated circuits. Further, the modules 902, 904, 906, 908, 909, 910, 912, 914, 916, 918, 920, 922, 924, 926, 928, 930a, 930b, 932a, 932b, 934a, and 934b can also be implemented using any number of dedicated circuits through functional combination or séparation. In some embodiments, the modules 902, 904, 906, 908, 909, 910, 912, 914, 916, 918, 920, 922, 924, 926, 928, 930a, 930b, 932a, 932b, 934a, and 934b may be even combined in a single application spécifie integrated circuit (ASIC). As an alternative software-based implémentation, the RAN node 1022 may comprise a memory 1342, a processor 1322 (including but not limited to a microprocessor, a microcontroller or a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), etc.) and a transceiver 1222. The memory 1342 stores machinereadable program code exécutable by the processor 1322 to cause the RAN node 1022 to perforai the steps of above-described method 800.
Referring to FIGURE 10, there is a flowehart of a method 1000 implemented in a CN node 107 in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure. At step 1002, the CN node 107 receives the RCC values for both the uplink and downlink from either or both of the wireless device 1042 and the RAN node 1022 after the termination of the connection between the wireless device 1042 and the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 4’s steps 8 and 10). At step 1004, the CN node 107 stores the downlink RCC value and the uplink RCC value associated with the one wireless device. At step 1006, the CN node 107 transmits to the RAN node 1022 the paging message 208 with the RCC values for uplink and downlink for the wireless device 1042 when a downlink payload becomes available for the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 5’s step 1). The RCC values for both uplink and downlink may be sent together in the paging message 208 with a time stamp indicating the time that the RCC values had been uploaded to the CN node 1022 and cell identifier information about the cell where the wireless device 1042 was connected when these RCC values were obtained. This information and if desired additional information may also be provided in the paging message 208 to enable the RAN node 1022 to assess the reliability of the downlink and uplink RCC values.
Referring to FIGURE 11, there is a block diagram illustrating structures of an exemplary CN node 107 configured to interact with the wireless device 1042 and the RAN node 1022 in accordance with an embodiment of the présent disclosure. In an embodiment, the CN node 107 may comprise a receive module 1102, a store module 1104, and a transmit module 1106. The receive module 1102 is configured to receive the RCC values for both the uplink and downlink from either or both of the wireless device 1042 and the RAN node 1022 after the tennination of the connection between the wireless device 1042 and the RAN node 1022 (see FIGURE 4’s steps 8 and 10). The store module 1104 is configured to store the downlink RCC value and the uplink RCC value associated with the one wireless device. The transmit module 1104 is configured to transmit to the RAN node 1022 the paging message 208 with the RCC values for uplink and downlink for the wireless device 1042 when a downlink payload becomes available for the wireless device 1042 (see FIGURE 5’s step 1). The RCC values for both uplink and downlink may be sent together in the paging message 208 with a time stamp indicating the time that the RCC values had been uploaded to the CN node 1022 and cell identifier information about the cell where the wireless device 1042 was connected when these RCC values were obtained. This information and if desired additional information may also be provided in the paging message 208 to enable the RAN node 1022 to assess the reliability of the downlink and uplink RCC values.
As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the above-described modules 1102, 1104 and 1106 of the CN node 107 may be implemented separately as suitable dedicated circuits. Further, the modules 1102, 1104 and 1106 can also be implemented using any number of dedicated circuits through functional combination or séparation. In some embodiments, the modules 1102, 1104 and 1106 may be even combined in a single application spécifie integrated circuit (ASIC).
As an alternative software-based implémentation, the CN node may comprise a memory 148, a processor 146 (including but not limited to a microprocessor, a microcontroller or a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), etc.) and a transceiver 136. The memory 148 stores machine-readable program code exécutable by the processor 146 to cause the CN node 107 to perfonn the steps of the above-described method 1000.
EC-GSM Dynamic Coverage Class Update
At the aforementioned 3GPP TSG-GERAN Meeting #62, the Work Item Description GP140421, entitled “New Study Item on Cellular System Support for Ultra Low Complexity and Low Throughput Internet of Things” was approved. One of the main objectives of this work item was to increase the coverage when compared to existing GPRS services. The following description outlines a procedure that ensures that the CN node 107 (e.g., SGSN 107) always sends a paging message 208 to the RAN node 1022 (e.g., BS S 1022) indicating a downlink coverage class suffi oient (equal to or higher than estimated by the wireless device 1042) for the RAN node 1022 to be able to successfully page the wireless device 1042. In particular, FIGURES 12-14 illustrate the steps performed by the wireless device 1042, the RAN node 1022 and the CN node 107 to implement this new procedure (note: FIGURES 12, 13 and 14 are the same as FIGURES 4, 6 and 10 but for the additional steps (see bold text) associated with this new procedure). Even though the discussion below is conducted in the scope of an EC-GSM (GSM operation of packet data channels supporting extended coverage when compared to legacy GSM network operation), the solutions described herein are applicable to other types of wireless communication Systems, including, for example, WCDMA, LTE, and WiMAX Systems.
1. Détermination of paging group
When paging an EC-GSM wireless device 1042, in order to détermine the spécifie set of ECPCH blocks to use to send the page message 208’, the RAN node 1022 (e.g., BSS 1022) first needs to know:
• the eDRX cycle • the downlink coverage class (DL CC), and, « the IMSI of the wireless device 1042.
The downlink CC (downlink RCC value) is estimated by the wireless device 1042 and communicated to the network 100 (CN node 107). Thereafter, the RAN node 1022 receives the downlink CC (downlink RCC value) from the CN node 107 and uses it to détermine the number of paging resources (EC-PCH blocks) that are required to be sent when sending the paging message 208’ to the wireless device 1042 in order for the network 100 to identify the location of the wireless device 1042.
Even though the EC-GSM device 1042 is expected to provide the CN node 107 (e.g., SGSN 107) with their estimated DL CC (downlink RCC value) within, for example, the context of the RAU procedure, there remains the possibility that the wireless device 1042 will change their estimated DL CC (downlink RCC value) at any time between any two such successive procedures (see FIGURE 12’s step 11 and FIGURE 13’s step 1302). This change in DL CC is discussed in more detail below.
2. Methods for Updating DL coverage class
2.1 Pre-Paging Group Update of DL CC
Whenever the coverage class of the wireless device 1042 has deteriorated such that it will not be able to décodé the paging message 208’ using the DL coverage class (downlink RCC value) last provided to the CN node 107 (e.g., SGSN 107) it is proposed to use a Cell update procedure which requires the transmission of only a single RLC data block with the new downlink RCC value and is therefore a power efficient way of triggering a DL CC update in the CN node 107 (e.g., SGSN 107) (see FIGURE 12’s step 12, FIGURE 13’s step 1304 and FIGURE 14’s step 1402).
Furthermore, to reduce the possibility of excessive signaling between the wireless device 1042 and the CN node 107 (e.g., SGSN 107). the wireless device 1042 can wait until shortly before (e.g. 5 seconds) the next occurrence of its nominal paging group (i.e., based on its current DL CC) before performing a cell update to convey its new DL CC (downlink RCC value) to the CN node 107 (e.g., SGSN 107) (see FIGURE 12’s step 12, FIGURE 13’s step 1304 and FIGURE 14’s step 1402).
In addition, having the wireless device 1042 wait until just before the next occurrence of its nominal paging group to finally décidé that its DL CC needs to be changed ensures that the cell update will be used as sparingly as possible. This solution is used whenever the wireless device 1042 changes to a higher coverage class (requiring more blind répétitions) in order for the wireless device 1042 to be able to (to a high degree of probability) read a paging message 208’ that may be sent using its nominal paging group. This does not guarantee that the wireless device 1042 will always be able to read a paging message 208’ sent using the nominal paging group indicated by its recently transmitted cell update but will reduce the probability of missing a paging message 208' to the point where secondary paging mechanisms are not seen as being necessary.
2.2 Transaction Time Update of PL CC
Whenever the DL coverage class (downlink RCC value) has improved such that the ECGSM device 1042 will be able to décodé the paging message 208’ using a smaller number of répétitions there is in principal no need to update the DL coverage class with the CN node 107 (e.g., SGSN 107) just prioi· to the paging unless there is a need to saving paging bandwidth. In this case, the wireless device 1042 can wait until the next uplink transaction to inform the CN node 107 (e.g., SGSN 107) of the new DL CC instead of perfonning a cell update shortly before its next nominal paging group as described earlier. This is possible because the wireless device 1042 can safely continue to use its current DL CC (downlink RCC value) to read paging messages 208’ since the wireless device 1042 is currently in a better coverage class than what the CN node 107 (e.g., SGSN 107) currently assumes.
The most straight forward way for the wireless device 1042 to provide the CN node 107 (e.g., SGSN 107) with the new DL coverage class (downlink RCC value) is to modify the ULUNITDATA PDU which transfers a wireless device’s LLC-PDU and its associated radio interface information across the Gb-interface. This realization is possible since whenever an ECGSM device 1042 accesses the network 100 it sends a RACH request 202 (e.g., Channel Request message 202) to the RAN node 1022 (e.g., BSS 1022) including an indication of its estimated DL CC (downlink RCC value) in order for the RAN node 1022 (e.g., BSS IO22) to be able to properly assign resources as well as send the Immédiate Assignment message 204 with the appropriate number of répétitions (see FIGURE 2’s steps 4 and 7). This means that whenever an EC-GSM wireless device 1042 sends uplink data the RAN node 1022 (e.g., BSS IO22) it may add the latest coverage class information to the UL-UNITDATA PDU it sends to the CN node 107 (e.g., SGSN 107) (see FIGURE 12’s step 12, FIGURE 13’s step 1304 and FIGURE 14’s step 1402).
3. Conclusions
To ensure that the CN node 107 (e.g., SGSN 107) always sends a paging message 208 to the RAN node 1022 (e.g., BSS IO22) indicating a downlink coverage class (downlink RCC value) sufficient (equal to or higher) for the RAN node 1022 (e.g., BSS 1022) to be able to successfully page the wireless device 104? in extended coverage adaptations can be made as discussed above to both the Pre-Paging Group Update of the downlink coverage class and the transaction time update downlink solutions.
In view of the foregoing, this disclosure provides a new mechanism for enhancing the radio coverage based on the exchange of uplink and downlink radio condition information, referred to as Radio Coverage Category (RCC), between the wireless device 1042 (for example) and the network 100 for use in data transmission (e.g., control plane related signaling or user plane related payload transmission). The disclosed techniques are based on an exchange of estimated RCC values between the network 100 and the wireless device 1042 that are used to apply a number (e.g., a pre-defined number) of repeated transmissions on the radio interface. The RCC value may be estimated for the downlink (e.g., from the wireless device 1042 perspective) and for the uplink (e.g., from the network 100 perspective). The RCC values may be stored in the relevant network nodes 1022 and 107 (for example) and in the wireless device 104? for use in determining the appropriate number of repeated transmissions for subséquent data transmissions, for example, at paging occasions. Some of the aspects of this disclosure that hâve been described herein include:
• An initial deployment and power on scénario wherein a wireless device 1042 (for example) uses its évaluation of downlink radio conditions or pre-configured information to détermine the number of repeated transmissions the wireless device 1042 should use when sending its very first Channel Request message 202 on the RACH.
• The use of a Channel Request message 202 (RRC Connection Request or any control plane or user plane message transmission on the uplink) to indicate an RCC value that the wireless device 1042 has determined to be applicable for subséquent message transmissions to that wireless device 1042 (e.g., AGCH or PDTCH). The RCC value used by the RAN node 1022 (for example) for downlink transmissions may be the RCC value last received from the wireless device 1042, an estimated RCC value (e.g., based on uplink radio conditions), or a running average of received and/or estimated RCC values. The particular algorithm used for determining the used downlink RCC value may be implémentation dépendent. The downlink RCC value may represent different numbers of répétitions depending on the logical channel or Radio Bearer used.
• The use of an Assignment message 204 or any control plane or user plane message transmission on the downlink sent to a given wireless device 1042 (for example) to indicate an RCC value that the RAN node 1022 (for example) has determined to be applicable for subséquent uplink message transmissions (e.g., RACH or PDTCH) made by that wireless device 1042. This RCC value may represent different numbers of répétitions depending on the logical channel used. The RCC value used for determining the number of repeated transmissions on the uplink may be based on the latest estimated uplink RCC value received from the network 100, the wireless device’s estimâtes of the uplink RCC value (e.g., based on downlink radio quality), or a running average of received and/or wireless device’s estimated uplink RCC values.
The techniques disclosed herein hâve many advantages some of which are as follows:
• Allows for a réduction in the amount of data transmission between the RAN node and the wireless device.
• Reduces the wireless device’s energy consumption and therefore improves the battery lifetime.
• Improves the reliability of the data delivery.
Reduces the interférence level in the network.
• Increases system capacity.
• Since many of the wireless devices used for MTC are expected to be stationary, the disclosed techniques of RCC value estimation and communication between wireless devices and the network may be effective in ensuring efficient utilization of radio resources while still allowing for the possibility of modifying the applicable RCC values, if this ever becomes needed.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the use of the term “exemplary” is used herein to mean “illustrative,” or “serving as an example,” and is not intended to imply that a particular embodiment is preferred over another or that a particular feature is essential. Likewise, the tenus “first” and “second,” and similar terms, are used simply to distinguish one particular instance of an item or feature from another, and do not indicate a particular order or arrangement, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Further, the tenu “step,” as used herein, is meant to be synonymous with “operation” or “action.” Any description herein of a sequence of steps does not imply that these operations must be carried out in a particular order, or even that these operations are carried out in any order at ail, unless the context or the details of the described operation clearly indicates otherwise.
Of course, the présent disclosure may be carried out in other spécifie ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and essential characteristics of the invention. One or more of the spécifie processes discussed above may be carried out in a cellular phone or other communications transceiver comprising one or more appropriately configured processing circuits, which may in some embodiments be embodied in one or more applicationspecific integrated circuits (ASICs). In some embodiments, these processing circuits may comprise one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, and/or digital signal processors programmed with appropriate software and/or firmware to carry out one or more of the operations described above, or variants thereof. In some embodiments, these processing circuits may comprise customized hardware to carry out one or more of the fonctions described above. The présent embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in ail respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
Although multiple embodiments of the présent disclosure hâve been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but instead is also capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the présent disclosure that as has been set forth and defined within the following claims.

Claims (12)

  1. CLAIMS:
    1. A wireless deviceconfigured to communicate with a Radio Access Network, RAN, node and a Core Network, CN, node, the wireless device comprising:
    5 a processor; and, a memory that stores processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor interfaces with the memory to execute the processor-executable instructions, whereby the wireless device is opérable to receive, from the RAN node, control channels prior to accessing the RAN node; to estimate a downlink radio condition experienced by the wireless device based on a signal quality 10 of the received control channels; to map the estimated downlink radio condition to one of a plurality of downlink Radio Coverage Category, RCC, values; to map the one downlink RCC value to a number of repeated downlink transmissions; to transmit, to the RAN node, a first message including the one downlink RCC value; and to receive, from the RAN node, a second message having the number of repeated downlink transmissions based on the one downlink RCC 15 value, wherein the wireless device is characterized to transmit, toward the CN node, an updated downlink RCC value in a cell update, wherein the updated downlink RCC value is estimated at a predetermined time prior to a next occurrence of a paging group.
    20
  2. 2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is further opérable to détermine an estimated number of repeated uplink transmissions to use when transmitting the first message to the RAN node, wherein the first message is a first contact with the RAN node, and wherein the estimated number of repeated uplink transmissions in the first message is based on the estimated downlink radio condition or preconfigured information.
  3. 3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein:
    the second message includes an uplink RCC value, and the wireless device is further opérable to map the uplink RCC value to a number of repeated uplink transmissions; and to transmit, to the RAN node, a third message that is repeated 30 according to the number of repeated uplink transmissions.
  4. 4.
    The wireless device of claim 3, wherein the second message further includes a new downlink RCC value when the RAN node détermines to use the new downlink RCC value rather than the one downlink RCC value included in the first message transmitted to the RAN node.
  5. 5. A method in a wireless device configured to communicate with a Radio Access Network, RAN, node and a Core Network, CN, node, the method comprising:
    receiving, from the RAN node, control channels prior to accessing the RAN node; estimating a downlink radio condition experienced by the wireless device based on a signal quality of the received control channels;
    mapping the estimated downlink radio condition to one of a plurality of downlink Radio Coverage Category, RCC, values;
    mapping the one downlink RCC value to a number of repeated downlink transmissions;
    transmitting, to the RAN node, a first message including the one downlink RCC value; and, receiving, from the RAN node, a second message having the number of repeated downlink transmissions based on the one downlink RCC value, wherein the method is characterized by transmitting, toward the CN node, an updated downlink RCC value in a cell update, wherein the updated downlink RCC value is estimated at a predetermined time prior to a next occurrence of a paging group.
  6. 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
    determining an estimated number of repeated uplink transmissions to use when transmitting the first message to the RAN node, wherein the first message is a first contact with the RAN node, and wherein the estimated number of repeated uplink transmissions in the first message is based on the estimated downlink radio condition or preconfigured information.
  7. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein:
    the second message includes an uplink RCC value, and the method further comprises:
    mapping the uplink RCC value to a number of repeated uplink transmissions; and, transmitting, to the RAN node, a third message that is repeated according to the number of repeated uplink transmissions.
  8. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second message further includes a new downlink RCC value when the RAN node détermines to use the new downlink RCC value rather than the one downlink RCC value included in the first message transmitted to the RAN node.
  9. 9. A Core Network, CN, node configured to communicate with a plurality of wireless devicesand a Radio Access Network, RAN, node, the CN node comprising:
    a processor; and, a memory that stores processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor interfaces with the memory to execute the processor-executable instructions, whereby the CN node is opérable to receive, from the RAN node or one of the wireless devices, a message including a downlink Radio Coverage Category, RCC, value and an uplink RCC value associated with the one wireless device; to store the downlink RCC value and the uplink RCC value associated with the one wireless device; and to transmit, to the RAN node, a paging message for the one wireless device when a downlink payload becomes available for the one wireless device, wherein the paging message includes the downlink RCC value and the uplink RCC value associated with the one wireless device, wherein the CN node is characterized to receive, from the one wireless device, an updated downlink RCC value in a cell update, wherein the updated downlink RCC value rather than the stored downlink RCC value is transmitted to the RAN node when transmitting a paging message for the one wireless device.
  10. 10. The CN node of claim 9, wherein the paging message further comprises a time stamp indicating when the message including the downlink RCC value and the uplink RCC value was received by the CN node and a cell identifier indicating where the one wireless device was connected when the message including the downlink RCC value and the uplink RCC value was received by the CN node.
  11. 11. A method in a Core Network, CN, node configured to communicate with a plurality of wireless devices and a Radio Access Network, RAN, node, the method comprising:
    Η-ΐ receiving, from the RAN node or one of the wireless devices, a message including a downlink Radio Coverage Category, RCC, value and an uplink RCC value associated with the one wireless device;
    storing the downlink RCC value and the uplink RCC value associated with the one wireless device; and transmitting, to the RAN node, a paging message for the one wireless device when a downlink payload becomes available for the one wireless device, wherein the paging message includes the downlink RCC value and the uplink RCC value associated with the one wireless device, wherein the method is characterized by receiving, from the one wireless device, an updated downlink RCC value in a cell update, wherein the updated downlink RCC value rather than the stored downlink RCC value is transmitted to the RAN node when transmitting a paging message for the one wireless device.
  12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the paging message further comprises a time stamp indicating when the message including the downlink RCC value and the uplink RCC value was received by the CN node and a cell identifier indicating where the one wireless device was connected when the message including the downlink RCC value and the uplink RCC value was received by the CN node.
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US62/107,847 2015-01-26
US14/748,026 2015-06-23

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