WO2012125093A1

WO2012125093A1 - Method and arrangement for managing paging schemes in a cellular network

Info

Publication number: WO2012125093A1
Application number: PCT/SE2011/050294
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pontus Wallentin; Erik Eriksson
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2011-03-17
Filing date: 2011-03-17
Publication date: 2012-09-20

Abstract

Method and arrangements for providing paging related information to at least one terminal is provided. A base station is selecting a paging scheme to be applied to a terminal. The base station determines a paging occasion being monitored by the terminal. The base stations sends a paging message, during the paging occasion, to the terminal, the paging message comprising an indicator of the terminal and an indication of the selected paging scheme, thereby instructing the terminal to apply the selected paging scheme for monitoring paging occasions.

Description

METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR MANAGING PAGING SCHEMES IN A

CELLULAR NETWORK

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates generally to a method and arrangement for managing paging schemes in a cellular network.

Background

[0002]The number of different applications in cellular networks increases. This increase in applications requires novel ways of managing the power and spectrum resource consumption of terminals.

[0003] One way to restrict the resource consumption is to put a mobile/wireless terminal into an idle mode when the terminal is not receiving any data. When the terminal is in the idle mode it applies discontinuous reception (DRX) enabling the receiver to be inactive for preset time periods. In order for the terminal to perform network associated tasks, such as monitoring the Paging Channel (PCH), the receiver is turned on for a preset time period comprising a start timing and an end timing. The interval between two direct sequentially related first timings is in this document referred to as a DRX cycle and the size of the interval is referred to as DRX cycle length.

[0004]To save maximum power resources at the terminal, the DRX cycle length is preferably set to as long as possible. One implication of long DRX cycles is lesser opportunities, during a given time period, for the network to turn the terminal from an idle mode into an active mode. Hence, long DRX cycles may induce longer delays for downlink data traffic or signaling messages.

[0005] At the same time, terminals adapted for different applications, which are present in a cell, have different delay requirements for traffic and also generate different types of traffic. Therefore, in order to efficiently conserve resources, the length of the DRX cycles may need to differ between terminals. Moreover, the DRX cycle may in fact have to vary for a given terminal over time as the traffic transmission pattern changes.

[0006] Recent trends indicate that the future development comprises

communication in cellular networks which may comprise large numbers of terminals which may be autonomous, integrated and/or small. Some types of terminals may not necessarily be associated with a human user but would rather be subject to Machine to Machine (M2M) communication. In this document, terminals adapted mainly for M2M-communication are referred to as Machine Devices (MDs).

[0007] Some applications of MDs may constrain available resources, e.g. access to power and radio resources. For example, for remotely located MDs without access to power, the replacement of the battery may be an important economic factor, and it is therefore desirable to prolong the time between battery replacement and/or human intervention. Thus, regulating DRX cycles may become important in order to save resources, not only at the terminal side but also preferably at the base station side. Thus, efficient and fast solutions for regulating and configuring paging schemes, e.g. a scheme comprising an offset and a cycle length which determines the DRX behavior, is needed.

Summary

[0008]It is an object of the invention to address at least some of the limitations, problems and issues outlined above. It is also an object to improve the process of managing and configuring the monitoring of paging occasions in a terminal. It may be possible to achieve these objects and others by using a method and an arrangement as defined in the attached independent claims. [0009]According to one aspect, a method in a base station for providing paging related information to at least one terminal is provided. The base station selects a paging scheme to be applied to the terminal. The base station may then determine one or more paging occasions) being monitored by the terminal. The base station sends a paging message, in the determined paging occasion, to the terminal, the paging message comprising an indicator of the terminal and an indication of the selected paging scheme, thereby instructing the terminal to apply the selected paging scheme for monitoring paging occasions.

[00010] According to another aspect, a method in a terminal for reconfiguring the process of monitoring paging occasions is provided. The terminal monitors one or more paging occasion(s). The terminal receives a paging message, in the paging occasion, from a base station, where the paging message is received at least in part based on a terminal identity indicator comprised in the paging message. Then, the terminal applies a paging scheme for monitoring paging occasions based on an indication provided by the paging message.

[00011] According to another aspect, a terminal adapted to reconfigure the process of monitoring paging occasions is provided. The terminal comprises a monitoring unit which may be adapted to monitor at one or more paging occasion(s). The terminal may further comprise a receiving unit which may be adapted to receive a paging message in the paging occasion(s) from a base station, where the receiving unit may be further adapted to receive the paging message based on a terminal identity indicator comprised in the paging message. The terminal may further comprise an applying unit which may be adapted to apply a paging scheme for monitoring paging occasions based on an indication provided by the paging message. [00012] According to another aspect, a base station which may be adapted to provide paging related information to one or more terminal is provided. The base station may comprise a selecting unit which may be adapted to select a paging scheme to be applied to the terminal(s). The base station may comprise a determining unit which may be adapted to determine one or more paging occasions being monitored by the terminal. The base station may further comprise a sending unit which may be adapted to send a paging message, in the

determined paging occasion(s) which are provided by the determining unit, to the terminal(s), where the sending unit may be further adapted to send the paging message comprising an indicator of the at least one terminal and an indication of the selected paging scheme, the sending unit is thereby adapted to instruct the terminal(s) to apply the selected paging scheme for monitoring paging occasions.

[00013] By using the methods and/or arrangement presented above in a base station and terminals camping in cells of the base station, energy in the terminals as well as in the network may be saved. The paging channel resources may also be reconfigured quickly without initiating downlink connections.

[00014] The above methods, system and arrangements may be configured and implemented according to different embodiments. According to one example embodiment, the paging message may be sent using a paging channel. According to another example embodiment, the indication of the selected paging scheme may be an index reference to a predefined paging scheme.

[00015] According to another example embodiment, the paging scheme comprises an at least one of: an offset relating to the monitoring of paging occasions, and a cycle length.

[00016] According to another example embodiment, one or more preconfigured paging scheme is provided to the terminal(s) by any one or a combination of. Over-The-Air transmission, system information broadcast, transmission using a dedicated layer-3 message or manual provisioning onto the Subscriber Identity Module card.

[00017] According to another example embodiment, the indicator may refer to an identity of a terminal. According to yet another example embodiment, an identity may refer to a set of terminals.

[00018] According to another example embodiment, the identity of the plurality of terminals may be based, at least partly, on an International Mobile Subscriber Identity.

Brief description of drawings

[00019] Fig. 1 is a signaling diagram involving a base station and a terminal illustrating an example of providing D X details to the terminal, according to the prior art.

[00020] Fig. 2a is a signaling diagram involving a base station and a terminal, illustrating a signaling scenario where paging is used for providing paging scheme details, according to an exemplifying embodiment.

[00021] Fig. 2b is a table illustrating indexing and corresponding cycle lengths and offsets, according to one exemplifying embodiment of a table and one exemplifying set of configuration values.

[00022] Fig. 3a is a time diagram showing the paging occasions for two terminals distributed in time, according to an exemplifying embodiment.

[00023] Fig. 3b is a time diagram showing the paging occasions for two terminals which are grouped around a central occasion, according to an exemplifying embodiment. [00024] Fig. 4 is a table showing data in paging schemes, according to an exemplifying embodiment.

[00025] Fig 5a is a flow chart illustrating a procedure in a base station for managing paging scheme details in a terminal, according to an exemplifying embodiment.

[00026] Fig 5b is a flow chart illustrating a procedure in a terminal for receiving instructions comprising paging scheme details to be applied, according to an exemplifying embodiment.

[00027] Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an arrangement of a base station, according to an exemplifying embodiment.

[00028] Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an arrangement of a terminal unit, according to an exemplifying embodiment.

[00029] Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an arrangement in a base station, according to an exemplifying embodiment.

Detailed description

[00030] Briefly described, a solution is provided for managing paging schemes in one or more terminals camping, i.e. terminals which are idle, in cells associated with a Base Station (BS), i.e. the terminals are served by the BS. A paging scheme may comprise information related to the monitoring of paging occasions in a terminal. According to one example, a paging scheme comprises information related to an offset and a cycle length. Together the offset and the cycle length may, in this example, configure the monitoring of paging occasions by a terminal.

[00031] During periods with low traffic the amount of paging messages is also normally low. During such periods, resources may be saved at the terminal and/or at the BS. This may be achieved by decreasing the number of monitored paging occasions during a predefined time period. In this description, the term "paging occasion" is used to describe the time instances where the terminal may receive initial paging information. The initial paging information may normally be used to indicate if the terminal needs to continue to read more paging information and receive a paging message.

[00032] As previously mentioned, one possible technique for decreasing resource consumption may be to use DRX for terminals in idle mode. Then, the terminal only needs to monitor one Page Indicator (PI) in one paging occasion per paging cycle. In this description, the term "paging cycle" is used to describe, for a certain terminal, the time interval between reading consecutive initial paging information. The properties of paging cycles will be further discussed below in this description.

[00033] A signaling scheme, according to the prior art, will now be described with reference to fig. 1. The signaling scheme illustrates one possible way to provision paging scheme details to a terminal 100 from a BS 101. In this description, the term "paging scheme details" is used to describe information relating to the monitoring of paging occasions, e.g. the DRX cycle length and/or a DRX offset. However, also other type of information relating to paging occasions may be included in the paging scheme details. In this description, the term "paging offset" is used to describe, for a certain terminal, timing which is being defined by a time period from reference timing, e.g. the beginning of a system frame number cycle. Hence, if two terminals have a paging offset which is different from each other's, then their paging cycles will also have an internal offset.

[00034] According to the prior art described in fig. 1, the terminal 100 is brought from an idle state into an active state using an established connection to transfer the details between the terminal 100 and the BS 101. [00035] The procedure is normally initiated in that the BS 101 determines a paging occasion, in action 1:1, where the determined paging occasion is monitored by the terminal 100. The BS 101 transmits a paging message, normally by using the Paging Channel (PCH) in action 1:2. The paging message instructs the terminal to establish a connection with the BS 101 in action 1:3. The established connection may now enable the BS 101 to transfer data, such as paging scheme details, which is transmitted in action 1:4. The paging scheme details are applied at the terminal 100 in action 1:5. Thus, from hereon in this example, the terminal 100 will monitor paging occasions according to the transmitted paging scheme details. In order to return into DRX, the connection is released in action 1:6. Once the connection is released, the terminal 100 may return into an idle mode, according to action 1:7. By using the procedure according to fig. 1, the BS 101 may transfer one specific instance of paging scheme details to one specific terminal 100. However, this requires that the signaling according to step 1:2-1:6 is performed for each terminal 100 which is to be updated.

[00036] Another technique which is present in the prior art to change paging schemes in one or more terminals simultaneously, is to broadcast paging details using a broadcast channel and group or individual addressing. However, in order to handle small sub-groups or individual terminals in a cell, repeated broadcasting will be required. In order to reconfigure the paging details in one terminal, a connection, such as the one described with reference to action 1:3, will normally be required.

[00037] A signaling scheme for managing and altering the monitoring of paging occasions in a terminal, according to one example embodiment, will now be described with reference to fig. 2a. According to this solution, the terminal may stay idle when receiving the instructions for reconfiguring its paging monitoring behavior. Hence, the terminal is not required to initiate a, such as the one described with reference to action 1:6, with the BS in order receive new paging details.

[00038] In fig. 2, the BS 201 selects a paging scheme which is to be applied to a terminal in action 2:1. The BS 201 may decide the paging scheme based on traffic parameters, such as e.g. traffic load in the cell. The paging scheme may be selected to be applied to one terminal or a group of terminals. However, in action 2:2 the BS 201 determines one or more paging occasion(s) in which the selected one or more terminals monitor for paging messages. The BS 201 then transmits a paging message, according to action 2:3, using the paging channel, to the terminal(s) 200.

[00039] The paging message may comprise an identity indicator indicating the identity of the terminal and an indication which may refer to a predetermined scheme of paging scheme details. Thus, the terminal 200 is expected to receive the paging message of action 2:3 and interpret the indication which refers to a scheme of paging details. If the indication indicates a paging scheme which may be accessed by the terminal, it will be applied. If the indication is in some way faulty, the terminal may keep the present configuration or apply a default paging scheme. One example of such indication may be an index reference instructing the terminal to apply a paging scheme corresponding to the index reference in a predefined list or record of paging schemes. The provisioning of preconfigured schemes of paging scheme details will be further disclosed below in this description.

[00040] The terminal 200, determines and applies the paging scheme, in action 2:4, according to the indication transmitted in the paging message of action 2:3. Thus, the terminal is reconfigured to monitor the paging occasions according to the indicated paging scheme details.

[00041] The schemes of paging details may be preconfigured in the terminal according to different possible solutions which are discussed briefly below. Paging scheme details, e.g. schemes of paging cycle lengths and paging offsets may be provisioned to the terminal in various ways. The schemes may for instance be provisioned onto the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card by the service provider prior to use. This may be done automatically when configurations are provisioned to the SIM-card when manufactured or manually by operator intervention at a service occasion.

[00042] According to another provisioning solution, the user may be asked to connect the terminal to a computer to change the provision schemes of paging scheme details to the terminal. The connection between the computer and the terminal may be achieved wirelessly, e.g. by using Bluetooth or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), or by non-wireless solutions such as Universal Serial Bus (USB).

[00043] However, although the schemes of paging details may be provisioned by physical access to the terminal, they may also be changed once the terminal is deployed in the access network. The schemes of paging details may for instance be transmitted and provisioned to the terminals by using Over-The-Air (OTA) programming. OTA may be performed via different transmission means. The mechanism is used to update settings, software or even firmware of the terminal. According to one example, OTA may be performed using Short Message Service (SMS) to provision or update the schemes of paging scheme details to the SIM- card. Using OTA as provisioning technique may enable provisioning of schemes paging details to one, a set of, or all terminals camping on a cell by broadcast or addressing.

[00044] According to another solution for provisioning paging scheme details, broadcasting of system information may be used to transmit schemes of paging details to terminals present in the access network. According to one example, a downlink control channel, such as the Common Control Channel (CCCH) or the Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH), may be used to perform broadcasting, multicasting or single terminal provisioning. However, other solutions for broadcasting, multicasting or single terminal provisioning is also possible.

According to another possible solution, the layer 3 interface may be used to provision schemes of paging details using dedicated layer-3 messages.

[00045] According to one possible solution, the paging details may comprise information related to DRX cycle length and/or DRX offset. A record or a list comprising an exemplifying embodiment of DRX details will now be described with reference to fig. 2b. The table in fig. 2b, could also be described with reference to other paging scheme related information.

[00046] Schemes comprising DRX details may be structured in different ways. One possible solution is disclosed in fig. 2b, where the paging message comprises a reference to an index. A terminal may, in response to receiving the paging message with instructions to apply a new paging occasion scheme, look-up the cycle length and offset in the table which is stored in the terminal. The table may be provisioned to the terminals by any of the procedures or means discussed above.

[00047] Different types of devices require different DRX cycle lengths based on response latencies and/or other data transmission requirements. Thus, many different tables comprising different values may be present in a terminal population located in cells of a base station. It may be an administrative burden to keep track of each pre-configured table in each device in order to manipulate all the terminals to apply longer DRX cycles for instance. One proposed solution may be to have smart indexing such that each terminal has an application specific configuration for each index, but wherein each index may correspond to a certain network characteristic, for instance index 1 may correspond to schemes for D X details adapted for low traffic conditions.

[00048] By using the procedure described with reference to fig. 2a and the table structure discussed above with reference to fig. 2b, the base station may change the monitoring of paging occasions of a terminal population of a whole cell dynamically with a single broadcast message. However, a single terminal, or a set of terminals, may be addressed to apply new DRX details. This may be done by indicators of the identity of the terminal(s), i.e. terminal identity indicators.

[00049] Terminal identity indicators may comprise any of the conventional identities used for addressing in signaling, e.g. International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) or International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). Terminal identity indicators may also specify a set of terminals which may be camping in the cell of a BS. Thus, the BS may in one procedure, according to the procedure described above with reference to fig. 2a, alter the paging occasion monitoring scheme for one or several sets of terminals.

[00050] Paging occasions will now be described with reference to fig. 3a and fig 3b. By discussing the distribution of paging occasions on a time line in a cell of a BS, one possible effect and advantage with the procedure described above may be disclosed.

[00051] Fig. 3a illustrates paging occasions for terminals which apply DRX. The paging occasions are distributed on a time axis 305. For the purpose of simplicity, only the paging occasions of a first terminal and a second terminal are shown. However, any number of terminals camping in a cell of a BS may apply DRX, and thus their corresponding paging occasions could be plotted onto the time axis 305. [00052] The first terminal has a cycle length 303 between two paging occasions, e.g. the time period 303 between 301 and 301' or between 301' and 301". In this particular example, which purpose is purely illustrative, the second terminal has significantly longer cycle length 304 between two paging occasions, e.g. the time period 304 between 302 and 302'. By using the dynamic managing of the paging occasions of terminals in the cells of a base station, as described above, resources may be saved. In fig. 3b, the base station manages the cycle length of the first terminal to be substantially similar in length as the second terminal. Thus, the two terminals are now monitoring the paging channel at almost the same time which forms a time period 315 of inactivity, where no terminal is monitoring the paging channel. The base station may, by grouping the paging occasions more closely together, turn of its transmitter between the paging occasions and thereby save energy and emit less radio power. According to this solution, the base station may instruct all the terminals which are present in the cells, by broadcasting, to apply the same DRX offset and cycle length and thereby make all terminals monitor one certain paging occasion.

[00053] With reference to fig. 4, an alternative solution of managing the monitoring of paging occasions in terminals will now be described. Generally, the solution described in fig. 4 is based on grouping all terminals to monitor a common paging occasion where new and temporary paging occasions are provided. An extension mechanism may be provided to the paging message.

[00054] For example, in fig. 4 the first terminal and the second terminal monitor an initial paging occasion, e.g. the slot having paging occasion index 0. The terminals detect that the message comprises an indicator which indicates that the terminal shall listen to another paging occasion. Thus, the base station may then provide the first terminal with instructions to temporarily monitor an additional paging occasion during the same cycle. In fig. 4, the base station instructs the first terminal to, in addition to paging occasion index 0, also monitor paging occasion with index 2. The indicator could also instruct the first terminal to continue monitor, e.g. a directly subsequent paging occasion. In this example, the second terminal is instructed, by the base station, to monitor the paging occasions indexed to 4 and 5. Hence, according to this particular example, the first terminal may receive two paging messages in one cycle. Similarly, the second terminal may receive three paging messages in one cycle. In this solution, the indicator may be an extension flag comprised in the paging message of the first paging occasion slot with index 0.

[00055] By applying the monitoring scheme as described with reference to fig. 4, the base station may be enabled to transfer additional messages to one or a group of terminals when needed without establishing any particular downlink session. The messages may also comprise other type of information than just paging messages, as long as it fits into the paging occasion.

[00056] With reference to fig 5a a flow chart describing actions in a procedure performed by a BS will now be described. The procedure in fig. 5a is performed by the BS to provide paging related information to a terminal, e.g. according to the signaling scheme disclosed with reference of fig. 2a. In a first action 501, the BS selects a paging scheme which the BS will apply to one, a set of, or all terminals present in the cell of the BS. The BS may, e.g. select a specific terminal which is addressed using a conventional addressing technique, e.g. I SI or IMEI. The BS may also address a set of terminals which may be defined by group addressing using a conventional addressing technique. Yet another option may be to broadcast or multicast the paging scheme to several or all terminals.

[00057] Then, in order to transfer instructions to the terminal(s), the BS determines a paging occasion which is being monitored by the terminal(s) in action 502. The BS is now ready to send a paging message in the selected paging occasion to the selected terminal. The paging message is thus sent to the terminal which is indicated by action 503. The paging message may comprise an indicator which may indicate the identity of the terminal, such as e.g. IMSI or IMEI. The paging message may also comprise the selected paging scheme or an indication of the selected paging scheme, e.g. an index reference associated with a predefined pre-agreed list, table or/record. Hence, the BS instructs the terminal to apply the selected paging scheme based on the indication which is transferred in the paging message.

[00058] With reference to fig 5b a flow chart describing actions in a procedure performed by a terminal will now be described. The procedure in fig. 5b may be implemented according to the signaling scheme which is disclosed with reference to fig. 2a. The terminal monitors one or more paging occasions in a first action 511. The terminal then receives a paging message in one or more of the monitored paging occasions in action 512. The paging message is received and determined to be applied at least in part based on a terminal identity indicator comprised in said paging message, e.g. although the terminal receives the paging message, it may not be relevant for the terminal if the paging message is not indicated to be addressed to the terminal. The paging message further comprises an indication scheme or an indication to a paging scheme. The terminal is then, in action 512, applying the indicated paging scheme such that future paging occasions will be monitored accordingly.

[00059] The procedures disclosed with reference to fig. 5a-b may be performed by implementing the actions of the signaling diagrams of fig. 2a or the paging occasion monitoring process of fig. 4. The above two procedures of fig's 5a-b can be modified in different ways without departing from the invention. For example, one or several actions may be performed in a different order, or in a combined action, but still achieve the same effect

[00060] With reference to fig. 6, a BS 600 adapted to perform the related actions of fig. 2a, 4 or 5a-b, will now be described. The BS 600 is adapted to manage and alter the paging schemes in one or more terminals 620a-c. The BS 600 comprises a selecting unit 601, which is adapted to select a paging scheme to be applied one, a set or all terminals 620a-n which are present in cells of the BS. The BS 600 further comprises a determining unit 602, which is adapted to determine at one or more paging occasions which are being monitored by the terminal(s) 620a-c to be used for altering the paging scheme(s) of the terminals.

[00061] The BS 600 further comprising sending unit 603 which is adapted to send a paging message. The paging message is sent to the terminal(s) 620a-c in one or more of the paging occasions provided to the sending unit by the determining unit 602. The sending unit 603 may further be adapted to send and compose the paging message to comprise an indicator of the identity of a terminal, i.e. a terminal identity. Thus, the BS 600 is adapted to instruct the terminal to apply the selected paging scheme for monitoring paging occasions. According to one example, the sending unit is adapted to send the paging message using a paging channel of the telecommunication network.

[00062] The sending unit 603 may further be adapted to compose the paging messages to comprise an indicator, e.g. an index reference. The indicator indicates a paging scheme which may be stored and applied within the terminal. The paging scheme may be arranged according to the table which is described with reference to fig. 2b above, or according to paging occasion information which is described with reference to fig. 4. [00063] The BS 600, or any other suitable node in the telecommunication network, may be adapted to provision the predetermined paging schemes which are described with reference to fig. 2b and fig. 4. Thus, the BS 600 may comprise a provisioning unit 605, which is adapted to provide a preconfigured paging scheme to one or more terminals by any one of, or a combination of: OTA, system information broadcast or transmission using a dedicated layer-3 message.

[00064] The sending unit 603 may further be adapted to address a paging message to one or more terminals 620a-c. Thus, the identity indicator may in fact be an identity indicator of a set of terminal which receives and collectively apply the paging scheme according to the paging message. According to a possible example, such group addressing may be performed by using IMSI.

[00065] The BS 600 may also comprise a processing unit 604, e.g. a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The processing unit 806 can be a single unit or a plurality of units to perform different actions of procedures described herein. The BS 600 may also comprise a non-volatile memory 606, e.g. an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), a flash memory and a disk drive. The memory 606 may comprise code means for which may be executed by the processing unit 605.

[00066] With reference to fig. 7 an arrangement in a terminal 720 will now be described. The terminal 720 is adapted to receive instructions from a base station in order to reconfigure the process of monitoring paging occasions. The terminal 720 comprises a monitoring unit 721 which is adapted to monitor one or more paging occasions. The monitoring may be based on the current paging scheme. A receiving unit 722, which may be comprised in the terminal 720, may be adopted to receive the paging message based on instructions from the monitoring unit 721. [00067] According to one example, may the receiving unit 722 be adapted to compare the address of the paging message to the identity of the terminal 720 in order to determine whether or not the paging message is relevant.

[00068] If a relevant paging message is received by the receiving unit 722, then an indication of a paging scheme may be extracted and provided to an applying unit 723, which may be comprised in the terminal. The applying unit 723 may be adapted to apply a paging scheme for monitoring paging occasions according to the preconfigured scheme which is referred with the indication. The receiving unit 722 may be adapted to receive paging messages using a paging channel of the telecommunication system. The paging scheme indicator may be e.g. an index of an entry in a record or list of paging schemes. The applying unit 723 may be adapted to retrieve the preconfigured paging scheme, according to the table which is described above with reference to fig. 2b, based on the index.

[00069] Fig. 8 schematically shows an embodiment of an arrangement 800 in a base station or in a terminal, which also can be an alternative way of disclosing an embodiment of the arrangements for providing paging related information, which are illustrated in fig 2a and fig 4. Comprised in the arrangement 800 is here a processing unit 806, e.g. a DSP. The processing unit 806 can be a single unit or a plurality of units to perform different actions of procedures described herein. The arrangement 800 may also comprise an input unit 802 for receiving signals and information from other entities, and an output unit 804 for providing signals and information to other entities. The input unit 802 and the output unit 804 may be arranged as an integrated entity.

[00070] Furthermore, the arrangement 800 comprises at least one computer program product 808 in the form of a non-volatile memory, e.g. an EEPROM, a flash memory and a disk drive. The computer program product 808 comprises a computer program 810, which comprises code means, which when run in the processing unit 806 in the arrangement 800 causes the arrangement and/or the base station and/or the terminal to perform the actions of the procedures described earlier in conjunction with Fig 2a, 4 and 5a-b.

[00071] The computer program 810 may be configured as a computer program code structured in computer program modules. Hence in the example

embodiments described, the code means in the computer program 810 of the arrangement 800 comprises a selecting module 810a for selecting paging scheme which is to be applied to the terminal. The computer program further comprises a determining module 810b for determining a paging occasion which is monitored by the terminal. The computer program 810 further comprises a sending module 810c for sending a paging message from the data base to the terminal. The paging message may comprise an indicator of a terminal and an indication of which paging scheme the terminal is instructed to apply. The message may be sent to the terminal via the output unit 804.

[00072] The modules 810a-c could essentially perform the actions of the flow illustrated in Fig 5a, to emulate the arrangement in the terminal illustrated in fig. 6. In other words, when the different modules 810a-c are run on the processing unit 806, they correspond to the units 601-603 of fig. 6.

[00073] Similarly, a corresponding alternative to perform the actions of the flow illustrated in Fig. 5b is possible. Thus, the arrangement of fig. 8 may

correspondingly be adapted to perform the actions of the flow illustrated in action 5b, and to emulate the arrangement in a terminal which is described with reference to fig. 7.

[00074] Although the code means in the embodiment disclosed above in conjunction with fig. 8 are implemented as computer program modules which when run on the processing unit causes the arrangement and/or BS and/or the terminal to perform the actions described above in the conjunction with figures mentioned above, at least one of the code means may in alternative embodiments be implemented at least partly as hardware circuits.

[00075] The processor may be a single Central processing unit (CPU), but could also comprise two or more processing units. For example, the processor may include general purpose microprocessors; instruction set processors and/or related chips sets and/or special purpose microprocessors such as Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). The processor may also comprise board memory for caching purposes. The computer program may be carried by a computer program product connected to the processor. The computer program product comprises a computer readable medium on which the computer program is stored. For example, the computer program product may be a flash memory, a Random- access memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM) or an EEPROM, and the computer program modules described above could in alternative embodiments be distributed on different computer program products in the form of memories within the data receiving unit.

[00076] By using the procedure and arrangements described in this document several advantages may be achieved. For example, one possible advantage may be that the BS may set the longest practical DRX cycle period which may be applied by a certain terminal at a given time, for instance based on the requirements of the terminal and the traffic intensity in the cell. Another possible advantage may be that the BS concentrates the terminals paging occasions such that periods of inactivity may be achieved. The BS may be able to temporary shut down the radio interface during the time periods of inactivity and thereby save power and radio emitting resources. [00077] Yet another possible advantage may be that the paging channel resources may be quickly reconfigured without setting up any session between the BS and the terminal. The reconfiguration may be done based on paging traffic and/or delay requirements for downlink data.

[00078] In Machine Type Communication (MTC) systems, as to save the most power in the MTC devices, the DRX cycle length should preferably be configured to be as long as possible. On the other hand, a long DRX cycle length equals longer time between the opportunities for the network to activate the terminal, i.e. wake up from idle state, and therefore typically longer delays for downlink data traffic. In other words, the DRX cycle length should be short enough to be able to reach the terminal within the time frame as required by the delay requirements for the traffic. Some of the MTC specific terminals generate only uplink traffic or has very moderate delay requirements for downlink traffic and for these terminal types the DRX cycle can be configured to be very long. For other types of MTC terminal types a shorter DRX cycle is required. For a third type of MTC terminal type there may be a mix of traffic which may need different DRX cycle lengths depending on the traffic scenario. For MTC terminals, it is therefore foreseen that the DRX cycle length is different for different terminals and may also vary for a given terminal. The DRX cycle length may vary between fractions of a second up to several hours.

[00079] While the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, the description is generally only intended to illustrate the inventive concept and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. For example, the terms "terminal", "base station", "paging occasion", "paging scheme", "paging message", "paging channel", "DRX", "offset" and "cycle length", have been used throughout this description, although any other corresponding functions, parameters, nodes and/or units could also be used having the functionalities and characteristics described here. The invention is defined by the appended claims.

Abbreviations

• BS- Base Station

• DRX - Discontinuous Reception

• DTX - Discontinuous Transmission

• IMEI - International Mobile Equipment Identity

• IMSI - International Mobile Subscriber Identity

• M2M - Machine to Machine

• MD - Machine Device

• MTC - Machine Type Communication

• OTA - Over The Air

• PCH - Paging Chanel

• PI - Page Indicator

• PICH - Paging Indication Channel

• SMS - Short Message Service

Claims

1. A method in a base station for providing paging related information to at least one terminal, said method comprising:

- selecting (2:1; 501) a paging scheme to be applied to said at least one terminal;

- determining (2:2; 502) at least one paging occasion being monitored by said at least one terminal; and

- sending (2:3; 503) a paging message, in said at least one paging occasion, to said at least one terminal, said paging message comprising an indicator of said at least one terminal and an indication of said selected paging scheme, thereby instructing said at least one terminal to apply said selected paging scheme for monitoring paging occasions.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said paging message is sent using a paging channel.

3. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said indication of said selected paging scheme is an index reference to a predefined paging scheme.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said paging scheme comprises at least one of: an offset relating to the monitoring of paging occasions, and a paging cycle length.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one preconfigured paging scheme is provided to said at least one terminal by any one or a combination of: Over-The-Air transmission, system information broadcast, transmission using a dedicated layer-3 message or manual provisioning onto the Subscriber Identity Module card.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said indicator refers to an identity of the terminal.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said identity refers to a set of terminals.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said identity of a plurality of terminals is based, at least partly, on an International Mobile Subscriber Identity.

9. A method in a terminal for reconfiguring the process of monitoring paging occasions, said method comprising:

- monitoring (511) at least one paging occasion;

- receiving (512;2:3) a paging message, in said at least one paging occasion, from a base station, wherein said paging message is received at least in part based on a terminal identity indicator comprised in said paging message; and

- applying (513;2:4) a paging scheme for monitoring paging occasions based on an indication provided by said paging message.

10. A method according claim 9, wherein the applied paging scheme is preconfigured.

11. A method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said paging message is received over a paging channel.

12. A method according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein said indication of said selected paging scheme is an index reference to a predefined paging scheme.

13. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein said paging scheme comprises at least one of: an offset relating to the monitoring of paging occasions, and a cycle length determining the time period between monitoring two paging occasions.

14. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein at least one preconfigured paging scheme is provided to said at least one terminal by any one or a combination of: Over-The-Air transmission, system information broadcast, transmission using a dedicated layer-3 message or manual provisioning onto the Subscriber Identity Module card.

15. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein said terminal identity indicator comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identity.

16. A base station (600) adapted to provide paging related information to at least one terminal (620a-c), said base station comprising:

-a selecting unit (601), adapted to select a paging scheme to be applied to said at least one terminal;

- a determining unit (602), adapted to determine at least one paging occasion being monitored by said at least one terminal; and

- a sending unit (603), adapted to send a paging message, in said at least one paging occasion determined by said determining unit, to said at least one terminal, wherein said sending unit is further adapted to send said paging message comprising an indicator of said at least one terminal and an indication of said selected paging scheme, thereby instructing said at least one terminal to apply said selected paging scheme for monitoring paging occasions.

17. A base station according to claim 16, wherein said sending unit is further adapted to send said paging message over a paging channel.

18. A base station according to claim 16 or 17, wherein said sending unit is further adapted to select said indication of said selected paging scheme to be an index reference to a predefined paging scheme.

19. A base station according to any one of the claims 16 to 18, wherein said sending unit is further adapted to select a paging scheme which comprises at least one of: an offset relating to the monitoring of paging occasions, and a paging cycle length.

20. A base station according to any one of the claims 16 to 19, further comprising a provisioning unit (605) which is adapted to provide at least one preconfigured paging scheme to said at least one terminal by any one or a combination of: Over-The-Air transmission, system information broadcast, transmission using a dedicated layer-3 message or manual provisioning onto the Subscriber Identity Module card.

21. A base station according to any one of the claims 16 to 20, wherein said indicator refers to a terminal identity.

22. A base station according to any one of the claims 16 to 21, wherein said sending unit is further adapted to use an indicator which refers to a set of terminals.

23. A base station according to claim 22, wherein said identity of said set of terminals is based, at least partly, on an International Mobile Subscriber Identity.

24. A terminal (720) adapted to reconfigure the process of monitoring paging occasions, said terminal comprising:

- a monitoring unit (721), adapted to monitor at least one paging occasion;

-a receiving unit (722), adapted to receive a paging message in said at least one paging occasion from a base station (700), wherein said receiving unit is further adapted to receive said paging message based on a terminal identity indicator comprised in said paging message; and

- an applying unit (723), adapted to apply a paging scheme for monitoring paging occasions based on an indication provided by said paging message.

25. A terminal according to claim 24, wherein said applying unit is further adapted to apply a preconfigured paging scheme.

26. A terminal according to any one of the claims 24 or 25, wherein said receiving unit is further adapted to receive said paging message over paging channel.

27. A terminal according to any one of the claims 24 or 26, wherein said receiving unit is further adapted to receive an indication of said selected paging scheme which is an index reference to a predefined paging scheme.

28. A terminal according to claim 24 or 27, wherein said applying unit is further adapted to apply said paging scheme comprising at least one of: an offset relating to the monitoring of paging occasions, and a cycle length determining the time period between monitoring two paging occasions.

29. A terminal according to claim 24 or 28, wherein said receiving unit is further adapted to receive preconfigured paging schemes by any one or a combination of: Over-The-Air transmission, system information broadcast, transmission using a dedicated layer-3 message or manual provisioning onto the Subscriber Identity Module.