Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W24/00—Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
  • H04W24/02—Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W76/00—Connection management
  • H04W76/10—Connection setup
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W8/00—Network data management
  • H04W8/22—Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
  • H04W8/24—Transfer of terminal data
  • H04W8/245—Transfer of terminal data from a network towards a terminal
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W8/00—Network data management
  • H04W8/26—Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
  • H04W88/02—Terminal devices

Definitions

• This invention generally relates to cellular systems and networks and more specifically to managing and controlling different behaviour of a terminal in cellular systems and networks for correcting terminal errors.
• This invention is related to cellular systems and differently behaving terminal implementations.
• a UTRAN universal terrestrial radio access network
• the test cases will be available in some cases much later as terminals are introduced into the market.
• features will not be available in the networks when first networks are launched, thus there is a probability of two cases to occur: 1) Standard errors, where several manufacturers have different/conflicting/not fully functional features due to errors in standards.
• a method for correcting/adapting terminal errors in a cellular system comprises the steps of: sending a control/report signal to a network of the cellular system by a user equipment or terminal of the cellular system for initiating setup procedures, said control/report signal is indicative of a version of a bit map supporting error correcting functionalities of the terminal; determining by the network whether new bit map related information is required for completing the setup procedures by the terminal; performing the setup procedures at the terminal using instructions contained in a command/information signal while waiting for the new bit map related information from the network for completing said procedures; and completing the setup procedures by the terminal using further instructions contained in the command/information signal sent by the network, wherein said instructions are configured by the network based on a new bit map signal generated by the network.
• the command/information signal is a measurement control signal and the step of completing the setup procedures comprises the steps of: configuring by the network and sending said security mode command signal to the UE; and performing a security mode setup by the terminal using said security mode command signal.
• the command/information signal is a radio bearer setup signal
• the step of completing the setup procedures comprises the steps of: configuring by the network and sending said radio bearer setup signal to the UE; and completing a bearer setup by the terminal using said radio bearer setup signal.
• the cellular system may be a universal mobile telecommunications system.
• the network may comprise a universal terrestrial radio access network and a core network.
• the universal terrestrial radio access network may comprise a serving radio network controller.
• the command/information signal may be a security mode command signal, which is sent to the terminal by the serving radio network controller; said security mode command signal is generated by the serving radio network controller after receiving the new bit map signal.
• the command/information signal may be a radio bearer setup signal, which is sent to the terminal by the serving radio network controller, said radio bearer setup signal is generated by the serving radio network controller after receiving the new bit map signal.
• the control/report signal may be a RACH RRC connection request signal, which is sent to the serving radio network controller.
• the step of determining by the network whether the new bit map related information is required for completing the setup procedures by the terminal may be performed by the serving radio network controller upon receiving and based on the RACH RRC connection request signal.
• the method may comprise the steps of: sending a FACH RRC connection setup signal, based on the RACH RRC connection request signal, to the terminal by the serving radio network controller; setting up a connection by the terminal using the FACH RRC connection setup signal based on the FACH RRC connection setup signal; and sending a DCH RRC connection setup complete signal to the serving radio network controller by the terminal.
• the method may comprise the steps of: sending an RRC initial direct transfer signal to the universal serving radio network controller by the terminal, said RRC initial direct transfer signal, if it is determined that the new bit map related information is required, contains an international mobile station equipment and software version (TMEISN) number; sending an RRC initial UE message signal to the core network by the terminal (12), said RRC initial UE message signal contains a request for a new bit map and the IMEISV number; and sending a measurement control signal to the terminal by the serving radio network controller.
• the step of performing the setup procedures at the terminal, while waiting for the bit map related information from the network may be performed by configuring measurement configurations based on the measurement control signal by the terminal.
• the method may further comprise the steps of: delaying further setup procedures of the terminal until generating the new bit map signal by the core network, if it is determined that said new bit map signal is required; sending a common ID (IMSI: international mobile equipment identity) signal and the new bit map signal generated by the core network to the serving radio network controller by the core network; determining by the serving radio network controller if the new bit map signal has to be converted to match the IMEISN number of the terminal; and converting the new bit map signal to match the IMEISN number of the terminal by the serving radio network controller.
• IMSI international mobile equipment identity
• the method may further comprise the steps of: delaying further setup procedures of the terminal until generating the new bit map signal by the core network, if it is determined that said new bit map signal is required; and sending a common ID (LMSI) signal and the new bit map signal generated by the core network to the serving radio network controller by the core network.
• LMSI common ID
• the new bit map signal may be generated using a core network protocol block of the core network and an error database block of the core network.
• a cellular system utilizing a special procedure for correcting/adapting terminal errors comprises: a terminal or user equipment, for providing a control/report signal which is indicative of a version of a bit map supporting error correcting functionalities of the terminal, responsive to a command/information signal for performing setup procedures of the terminal; and a network, responsive to said control/report signal, for determining if new bit map related mformation is required for completing the setup procedures by the terminal using said control/report signal, for providing said command/information signal to the terminal before said determination using information contained in said control/report signal and after said determination using a new bit map signal generated by the network.
• the network may further comprises: a universal terrestrial radio access network, responsive to a common ID (IMSI) signal, to the new bit map signal and to the control/report signal, for determining if new bit map related information is required for completing the setup procedures by the terminal using said control/report signal, for providing said command/information signal to the terminal before said determination using information contained in said control/report signal and after said determination using the new bit map signal generated by the network; and a core network, responsive to the control/report signal, for generating the new bit map signal, for providing the common ID (IMSI) signal and for providing the new bit map signal to the universal terrestrial radio access network.
• IMSI common ID
• control/report signal can also contain the international mobile station equipment and software version number (IMEISN).
• IMEISN international mobile station equipment and software version number
• Figure la is a block diagram representing an example of a cellular system (e.g., UMTS) for correcting terminal errors, according to the present invention.
• UMTS cellular system
• Figure lb is an example illustrating various types of control/report and command/information signal of Figure la, according to the present invention.
• Figure 2a is an example of a flow chart illustrating a performance of a cellular system (e.g., UMTS) for correcting terminal errors, according to the present invention.
• a cellular system e.g., UMTS
• Figure 2b is an example illustrating a performance of a cellular system (e.g., UMTS) for correcting terminal errors for the flow chart of Figure 2a, according to the present invention.
• a cellular system e.g., UMTS
• the present invention provides a methodology managing and controlling different behaviour of a terminal (user equipment, UE) in cellular systems and networks, and how to combine different solutions to get a more novel way of dealing with this aspect and correcting terminal errors.
• UE user equipment
• the idea is to define several meanings to the early signalling bits in a manner, which is useful to the system in the early phase of the connection setup prior the UE specific errors are available from the error databases. In considering these different solutions apart this idea, it has become apparent that one single solution is not sufficient to cater all possible error scenarios in the future.
• Interim marker aiming to indicate testing coverage of a terminal.
• An RRC extension container which allows changing the signalling message, but not affecting already working terminal implementation.
• IMEISV information for error handling. This information is available from all terminals creating the possibility to affect/ create a fix to terminals already deployed into the market before the error has been detected. This information is provided to a core network via signalling when the first attachment is concurred. This information will require a longer period to be processed and forwarded back to a radio access network.
• the solution for cellular system (e.g. universal mobile telecommunication system, UMTS) from above mentioned options cases are at least a) spare bit string length of, for example,. 8 bits (item 2 in the above list), which is provided in the early RRC messages, b) an RRC extension container, which allows to change the RRC message later on without affecting an already working terminal in the field and c) utilization of the IMEISN information for error handling, which is a manufacturer and model specific allowing dedicated procedure per the UE.
• UMTS universal mobile telecommunication system
• the information can be provided unchanged from a core network (C ⁇ ) to radio access networks, which performs a conversion on different terminal behaviour based on the IMEISV.
• C ⁇ core network
• the invention addresses the point and problem on how to solve possible problems during of an initial phase of a connection set-up of a terminal, and at the same time keeping the necessary signalling changes in the terminal minimal or zero.
• the early RRC level message information containing e.g. 8 bits can include the following considerations:
• early RRC message information is used to find out what version of bitmap correction terminal capabilities refers to and what procedures can be utilized while waiting for new bit map information from the core network (CN).
• CN core network
• This invention addresses the problem of latency of response of the information related to the IMEISV fetch from the core network. This is accomplished, according to the present invention, by defining the early RRC connection bits' indication to determine the supported signalling schemes regarding to a radio network, and hence providing the IMEISV information from the terminal to said network. After that the core network is able to provide the new or more detailed mapping information to the radio access network.
• the simplest form of the invention can be such that the RRC message (for example in an RRC connection request message as discussed below) informs the network whether there is a need to wait for the new bit map at all or whether all functionalities can be progressed as expected. Then if the message indicates that terminal needs the new bit map (e.g. none of the bits are set during an early terminal implementation), then e.g. a non tested radio access bearer (RAB) configuration (or any other affected configuration) is completed only after the new bit map is received indicating the needed special behaviors for the terminal (or features that can not be activated).
• RRC radio access bearer
• the flow can be, for example, that the RRC connection is set up and measurements are configured in the UE, but a radio bearer set up will not be finalized until getting the new bit map from the core network (e.g., a serving GPRS support mode (SGSN) or a mobile switchingt center), which communicates with the error database.
• the core network e.g., a serving GPRS support mode (SGSN) or a mobile switchingt center
• the network can also use, before receiving the bit map related information from core network, (RAB configurations (or configurations for other functionalities currently known to be working for all UEs) and not use any specific performance enhancement methods until the new bit map is received.
• RAB configurations or configurations for other functionalities currently known to be working for all UEs
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing only one example among many others of a cellular system (e.g., UMTS) for correcting terminal errors, according to the present invention.
• a user equipment (UE) or terminal 12 of a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) 10 is communicating with a network 11 of the UMTS 10 for correcting terminal errors.
• the network 11 comprises a universal terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) 14 and a core network (CN) 16.
• UTRAN universal terrestrial radio access network
• CN core network
• a serving radio network controller (SRNC) 15 is an important component of the UTRAN 14.
• the CN 16 contains a core network (CN) protocol block 16a and an error database block 16b.
• the UE sends a control/report signal 18 to the SRNC 15 and receives a command/information signal 20 from the SRNC 15.
• the SRNC 15 exchanges messages with the CN 16 (or the CN protocol block 16a): sending an initial UE message signal 22 to the CN 16 (or the CN protocol block 16a) and receiving common ID (IMSI: international mobile equipment identity) signal 24a and a new bit map signal 24b from the CN 16 (or the CN protocol block 16a).
• IMSI international mobile equipment identity
• the CN protocol block 16a exchanges message signals 17a and 17b with the error data block 16b for generating a new bit map as discussed below. It is noted that in the alternatives covered by the present invention, the messages 22 and 18 can be sent from the UE 12 to the core network 16 directly and shown as a signal 21, and in this scenario the signal 21 (22 and/or 18) is passed by the SRNC 15 without involving any interactions.
• Figure lb is an illustration of various types among many others of the control/report signal 18 and command/information signal 20 of Figure la, according to the present invention.
• control/report signal 22 examples include but are not limited to: an RACH (random access channel) RRC connection request signal 18-1, a DCH (dedicated channel) RRC connection setup complete signal 18-2, an RRC initial direct transfer signal 18-3, a security mode complete signal 18-4, a radio bearer setup complete signal 18-5 and inter RAT (radio access technology) handover message signal 18-6 to different radio systems.
• RACH random access channel
• DCH dedicated channel
• security mode complete signal 18-4 examples of the command/information 20
• the command/information 20 include but are not limited to: a FACH (forward access channel) RRC connection setup signal 20-1, a measurement control signal 20-2, a security mode command signal 20-3 and a radio bearer setup signal 20-4.
• Figure 2a is a flow chart illustrating a performance of a cellular system (e.g., UMTS) for correcting terminal errors, according to the present invention.
• a cellular system e.g., UMTS
• the flow chart of Figure 2a only represents one possible scenario among many others.
• the UE 12 sends the RACH RRC connection request signal 18-1 to the SRNC 15.
• the SRNC In addition to usual information carried by a RACH RRC connection request, e.g., "initial UE identity" e.g.
• the signal 18-1 can also contain an additional information such as: signalling bearers and other basic procedures the UE 12 can support before the IMEISV based more detailed error information is available; an error correction level of the UE 12, e.g. detailed indication of corrected behaviour or what version of bit map indicative of error corrective functionalities supported by the UE 12, etc.
• the SRNC 15 determines if new bit map related information is required for a complete UE setup. This is a very important step determining the following signalling strategy, according to the present invention.
• the SRNC 15 sends the FACH RRC connection setup signal 20-1 back to the UE 12 in response to and based on the RACH RRC connection request signal 18-1 (containing bit map information indicative of the error corrective functionalities supported by the UE 12).
• the signal 20-1 contains normal transport format sets and transport channel information configured based on the bit map information indicative of the error corrective functionalities supported by the UE 12.
• the UE 12 sets up a connection based on the information contained in the signal 20-1 and
• the UE 12 sends the DCH RRC connection setup complete signal 18-3 to the SRNC 15.
• the UE 12 sends the RRC initial direct transfer signal 18- 3 containing the IMEISV information to the SRNC 15 and hereafter in a step 40, the SRNC 15 sends the initial UE message signal 22 to the CN 16 (or the CN protocol block 16a) containing, if necessary as determined by the SRNC 15 in the step 31, a new bit map request and the IMEISV information of the UE 12 supplied by the UE 12 in the step 38.
• the communication between the UE 12 and the CN 16 (or the CN protocol block 16a) can be established directly using signal 21 of Figure 1 a by passing the SRNC 15, thus providing to the CN 16 (or the CN protocol block 16a) the above information (the new bit map request and the IMEISV information of the UE 12) by the UE 12 directly.
• the bit map request can be optionally contained in signals 18-2 or 18-3.
• the SRNC 15 sends the measurement control signal 20-2 to the UE 12.
• the UE 12 performs configuring of a measurement configuration in- response to the measurement control signal from SRNC (15) using the bit map information on supported functionality by the UE 12.
• RAB radio bearer
• the CN 16 or the CN protocol block 16a
• a next step 50a the further setup procedure of the UE 12 is on hold until the new bit map is generated by the CN 16.
• the common ID (IMSI) signal 24a and a new bit map signal 24b are sent to the SRNC 15 by the CN 16 (or the CN protocol block 16a).
• the CN protocol block 16a exchange appropriate message signals 17a and 17b with the the error database blockl ⁇ b while generating the new bit map.
• the CN 16 optionally can convert the new bit map signal 24b to match the IMEISV of the UE 12.
• a next step 52 it is ascertained by the SRNC 15 whether the new bit map signal 24b is converted by the CN 16 to match the IMEISV of the UE 12.
• step 56 the process goes to step 56, which is described below.
• the SRNC 54 converts the new bit map signal 24b to match the IMEISV of the UE 12.
• the SRNC 54 configures the security mode command signal 20-3 using the IMEISV information of the UE 12 and optionally the 8 "spare bits" ("initial UE identity" ) contained in the RACH RRC connection request signal 18-1, and sends the security mode command signal 20-3 to the UE 12.
• a next step 58 the UE 12 performs the security mode setup and sends the security mode complete signal 18-4 to the SRNC 15.
• the SRNC 15 configures the radio bearer setup signal 20-4 using the new bit map signal 24b and sends the radio bearer setup signal 20-4 to the UE 12.
• the UE 12 completed the bearer setup using the bearer setup signal 20-4 and sends the radio bearer setup complete signal 18-5 to the SRNC 15.
• the UE 12 UE sends inter RAT handover message signal 18-6 to the different radio systems by sending it first to the SRNC 15.
• Figure 2b is a simplified illustration of a performance of a cellular system(e.g., UMTS) for correcting terminal errors for the flow chart of Figure 2a, according to the present invention. All identified steps, network components are already described in Figures la, lb and 2a.
• Figure 2b demonstrates a typical network connection procedure with imbedded features of a 3GPP Technical Specification (e.g., see 3GPP TS 23.195 v5.1.0), according to the present invention, and depicts a protocol-like exchange of signals between the UE 12, the SRNC 15 and the CN 16, which is described in Figure lb using selected steps from the flow chart example of Figure 2a.
• 3GPP Technical Specification e.g., see 3GPP TS 23.195 v5.1.0

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• 2003
  • 2003-11-04 AU AU2003278432A patent/AU2003278432A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-11-04 WO PCT/IB2003/004927 patent/WO2004043091A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2003-11-04 EP EP03769736A patent/EP1559282A4/de not_active Withdrawn

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