HK1073751A - Low layer paging indicator processing system and method for multi-layer communication equipment used in a wireless communication system - Google Patents

Description

Low layer call indicator processing system and method for multi-layer communication equipment of wireless communication system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to improving paging processing efficiency in a communication device used in a wireless communication system having multi-layer processing, such as a system designed in accordance with current third generation partnership project (3GPP) specifications.

Background

The popularity of wireless communication has led to the recognition of the physical limits of available bandwidth with respect to unity. Thus, the need for standardization has spread throughout the telecommunications industry. In month 1 of 1998, the european telecommunications standards institute, the special mobile group (ETSI SMG), is based on the radio access method of the third generation radio system known as the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). To further implement the UMTS standard, the third generation partnership project (3GPP) was developed 12 months in 1998. The 3GPP is continuously striving for a common third generation mobile radio standard.

A typical UMTS system architecture in accordance with current 3GPP specifications is depicted in fig. 1. The UMTS network architecture includes a Core Network (CN) interconnected with a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) via an interface called IU (defined in detail in the currently publicly available 3GPP specification).

The UTRAN is configured to provide wireless telecommunication services to users through User Equipments (UEs) via a radio interface called UU. The UTRAN has base stations, referred to as node Bs in 3GPP, that collectively provide geographic access to UEs for wireless communications. In UTRAN, a group of one or more node Bs are connected to a Radio Network Controller (RNC) via an interface known as Iub in 3 GPP. The UTRAN may have several groups of node Bs connected to different RNCs, two groups being shown in the example depicted in fig. 1. When more than one RNC is provided in a UTRAN, inter-RNC communication is performed via an Iur interface.

The adoption of a multi-layer architecture, such as the Open Systems International (OSI) seven-layer model developed by the international organization for standardization (ISO), is essential to the architecture of 3GPP and other relatively complex systems.

The OSI model implemented by the 3GPP system has a physical layer at each station where wireless telecommunication signals are actually transmitted and received, such as base stations and user equipments. The physical layer is commonly referred to as tier 1 or L1. Other standard hierarchies include a data link hierarchy, hierarchy 2 (L2); a network layer, layer 3 (L3); a transport layer, layer 4 (L4); a session layer, layer 5 (L5); a presentation layer, layer 6 (L6); and an application layer, layer 7 (L7). Through the layered hierarchy, communication information and data is communicated over various predefined channels, where the information is formatted and distributed through the role of the higher layers, and then passed to the physical layer for actual transmission. The layered structure and associated channel definition and data format structure as defined by the 3GPP technical specification provide a highly complex and relatively efficient data communication system.

One function implemented in 3GPP systems is paging. In current 3GPP specifications, such as TS25.221 and TS25.331 V3.1.2.0, paging functions are implemented using two different data signals, a Paging Indicator (PI) and actual paging data. According to current 3GPP specifications, a PI is sent on a Paging Indicator Channel (PICH) before the actual paging data. The actual paging data is sent on a separate Paging Channel (PCH) carried by a Second Common Control Physical Channel (SCCPCH).

Since the base station communicates information to many UEs, the individual UEs need only process the portion of the information broadcast from the base station that is relevant to that particular UE. To process paging data, a UE monitors a PICH until it receives a corresponding PI assigned to that UE. After the UE receives the appropriate PI signal, that UE thus knows that the actual paging data is being sent to it on an associated PCH via an SCCPCH. Otherwise, the UE does not need to process paging data on the SCCPCH, such as paging data intended for a different UE.

To avoid the problem of useless processing of data intended for other UEs, the UEs higher layer selectively instructs the UEs physical layer, L1, according to the format of those signals, as to which signals to process and the manner in which those signals to process. Many of the direct controls of the physical layer are directed by the data link layer, layer 2 which in turn receives commands and information from the network layer, layer 3 typically comprising a Radio Resource Control (RRC). The RRC provides information to the L1 control processing component in layer 2 to indicate to the physical layer, L1, to process data received on a particular channel (e.g., a predefined SCCPCH).

In 3GPP systems, each SCCPCH has a specific format for transmitting data, which, as described above, may include data for a Paging Channel (PCH). A base station may broadcast more than one paging channel with the use of multiple PICHs and PCHs. However, current 3GPP specifications specify that only one PCH may be carried by a SCCPCH and that a unique PICH is defined for each PCH. When broadcasting multiple PICHs, the UEs make a determination as to which PICH's PI signal it may monitor using a known algorithm (as set forth in TS25.304 V3.11.0, paragraph 8).

Once the paging channel that the UE should monitor is selected, the RRC command L1 control in layer 3 instructs the physical layer to process the signals received on the appropriate PICH. At that time, since the PICHs and PCHs have a one-to-one correspondence, it is known which PCH and thus which SCCPCH relate to the PICH that the physical layer is instructed to monitor. Once the UE receives an appropriate PI on the PICH it monitors, the UE's physical layer L1 must be instructed to process data on the SCCPCH carrying the associated PCH in order to process the associated paging data.

As shown in fig. 2, the conventional implementation has the PICH processed at the physical layer L1, but the decision to receive the PCH is made by higher layers (typically in RRC). Thus, the processed paging indicator data is sent by L1 processing to L1 controller of L2, then to RRC in L3, which controls signaling L1 processing via L1 of L2, receiving and processing PCH data if the paging indicator is affirmative. The L1 control is a hierarchical 2/3 interface to hierarchy 1.

For purposes of illustration and comparison, figure 2 shows a fairly typical example in which there is a two-frame interval between a PI and the corresponding paging data. The size of the gap in the radio link and transport channel (RL/TR) configuration for PCH reception is known.

As shown in fig. 2, conventionally the physical layer L1 directs the chip processing of the Received (RX) signal as each frame is received, and then processes those received frames in a manner that it has been configured by the L1 controller of tier 2. Thus, the physical layer L1 decodes the PI received on the PICH it is monitoring before the end of the received frame, frame #1 (which contains the PI). Implicit in fig. 2 is that the physical layer L1 has been pre-configured by the L1 controller to monitor a particular PICH according to instructions received from the RRC.

When decoded, the PI is sent by L1 to the physical layer control processing unit of L2, which then requests a new command from the RRC of L3 according to the decoded PI. The RRC then responds to the control processor of L2 instructing it to configure the physical layer L1 to process paging data from a particular PCH. The L2 processor then configures the physical layer of the PCH to process paging data received on the specified PCH. This instruction processing typically takes about one half frame, i.e., over the entire frame #2 following the frame in which the PI is received, and into the next frame, frame # 3. The paging data is sent in the next frame, frame #4, at which time the physical layer L1 has been configured to receive paging data in the selected PCH and to process the paging data during frame #5 (i.e., after reception/chip processing of the paging data in frame #4 is complete) following those configuration instructions.

The present inventors have recognized that the configuration of the physical layer L1 to process paging data indicated by a PI may be performed more efficiently.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention comprises two different embodiments for processing paging indicator information. The first embodiment relates to the physical layer L1 being configured to interpret the paging indicator PI to activate a predetermined decoding configuration to process paging data in a predetermined PCH. The second embodiment relates to the physical layer control of L2 interpreting the paging indicator and configuring the physical layer LI to process paging data in a predefined PCH.

Generally, a wireless communication system implements wireless communications between a base station and a plurality of User Equipments (UEs), including paging of the UEs. Preferably, the UEs are configured with a multi-layer processing system having a configurable lowest physical layer L1, the lowest physical layer L1 receiving wireless communication signals and selectively processing the received signals according to its current configuration at the time. Preferably, the UEs have a first higher level L2 including a physical layer process control for reconfiguring the physical layer L1 and a second higher level L3 including a Radio Resource Control (RRC) for providing paging channel parameters to the L2 physical layer process control.

As in the prior art, a Paging Indicator (PI) is received by a UE before corresponding paging data, and the UE is configured to process the paging data after receiving the PI.

The present invention provides a low-level buffer for a UE for storing predetermined paging data processing configuration data. The first higher level L2 of the UE is related to the RRC of the UE such that when the first higher level L2 of the UE identifies a particular PI as determined by the RRC of the UE, the physical layer L1 of the UE is configured to monitor the particular PI. In connection therewith, corresponding paging data processing configuration data is stored in the buffer. The UE's physical layer L1 is related to the UE's L2 physical layer processing control so that when the UE's physical layer L1 confirms that a particular PI has been received, the UE's physical layer L1 is then configured to process the page data according to the page data processing configuration data stored in the buffer, without communicating with the RRC or other components of the higher layers (i.e., higher than L2).

Preferably, the UE lower layer buffer is a physical layer buffer in the UE's physical layer L1 for storing predetermined paging data processing configuration data. The UE's physical layer L1 is then associated with the UE's L2 physical layer processing control so that when the UE's physical layer L1 is configured to monitor the reception of a particular PI as determined by the UE's RRC, the corresponding paging data processing configuration data is stored in the physical layer buffer. The UE's physical layer L1 is also configured to access the buffer at that time and use the stored data to reconfigure itself when receiving and processing the particular PI. For a 3GPP system, when physical layer L1 is configured to monitor a particular PI, it is configured to monitor a particular Paging Indication Channel (PICH); while the physical layer L1 is configured to process corresponding paging data, it is configured to monitor a specific separate Paging Channel (PCH) transmitted by a Second Common Control Physical Channel (SCCPCH).

Alternatively, the UE lower layer buffer is a physical layer processing control buffer in the UE's first higher level L2 for storing predetermined paging data processing configuration data. The UE's first higher level L2 is then associated with the UE's RRC so that when the UE's first higher level L2 identifies a particular PI determined by the UE's RRC, the corresponding paging data processing configuration data is stored in the physical layer processing control buffer. The UE's physical layer L1 is then related to the UE's L2 physical layer processing control, such that when the UE's physical layer L1 identifies to the UE's first higher level L2 that a particular PI has been received, the UE's physical layer L1 is configured to process, by the UE's L2 processing control, corresponding paging data in accordance with the paging data processing configuration data stored in the physical layer processing control buffer. When the UE is a device of a 3GPP system, the physical layer L1 is configured to monitor a specific Paging Indication Channel (PICH) when it is configured to monitor a specific PI; while the physical layer L1 is configured to process corresponding paging data, it is configured to monitor a specific separate Paging Channel (PCH) transmitted by a Second Common Control Physical Channel (SCCPCH).

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a typical UMTS system according to the current 3GPP specifications.

Figure 2 is a timing diagram of a prior art method of paging indicator processing.

Figure 3a is a timing diagram of a first embodiment of paging indicator processing in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 3b is a representative illustration of a UE configured to implement the first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4a is a timing diagram of a second embodiment of paging indicator processing in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 4b is a representative illustration of a UE configured to implement the second embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

A User Equipment (UE) is intended for use in a wireless communication system such as that illustrated in fig. 1, which implements wireless communications between a base station and a plurality of UEs, including paging of UEs. UEs are built with a multi-layer processing system, preferably a seven-layer system as depicted in fig. 3b and 4 b. A configurable minimum physical layer L1 receives wireless communication signals and selectively processes the received signals according to its then current configuration. Preferably, a first higher level, L2, includes a physical layer processing control for reconfiguring the physical layer, L1, and a second higher layer, L3, includes a Radio Resource Control (RRC) for providing paging channel parameters to the L2 physical layer processing control.

Preferably, the system initiates paging by a base station transmitting a Paging Indicator (PI) on a Paging Indicator Channel (PICH) prior to actual paging data in accordance with current 3GPP specifications. Current 3GPP specifications specify that paging data is sent on a separate Paging Channel (PCH), which is carried by a Second Common Control Physical Channel (SCCPCH) that is 2, 4, or 8 frame apart from the PI transmission. The PI is received by the UE before the corresponding paging data, and the UE is configured to process the paging data after receiving the PI.

A first embodiment of the present invention is directed to a system for providing Paging Indicators (PI) and associated paging data processing to a User Equipment (UE), wherein the UE's physical layer L1 processing interprets the paging indicators as illustrated in fig. 3a and b. To implement this system, the UE's physical layer L1 includes a buffer in which the radio link and transport channel (RL/TR) configuration for PCH reception is stored when the physical layer L1 is configured to monitor reception of a specified PI for a corresponding PICH. Physical layer L1 monitors the pre-configuration of the receipt of a specified PI for a particular PICH, including instructing the physical layer to automatically reconfigure itself in accordance with the data stored in the buffer upon receipt and decoding of the specified PI. This embodiment reduces unnecessary inter-layer signaling because the required configuration information is available from system information previously processed by higher layers when L1 processing is configured to monitor a specified PI. Thus, the present invention reduces unnecessary power consumption because the higher layer processor can remain in a low power state while L1 processes the PI to determine whether the UE needs to receive the PCH during a particular DRX cycle. Power conservation is important for a UE because many UEs are battery powered, and powering higher layer processing components from time to time can significantly reduce battery life.

As with the conventional system shown in fig. 2, the embodiment of the present invention shown in fig. 3a and b directs the chip processing of the Received (RX) signal as each frame is received, and then processes the received frame in a manner that physical layer L1 is configured by layer 2L 1 controller. Thus, the physical layer L1 decodes the PI received on the PICH it monitors before the end of the received frame, frame #1 (which contains the PI). Implicit in fig. 2 is that the physical layer L1 has been pre-configured by the L1 controller to monitor a specific PICH according to an instruction received from the RRC. However, unlike conventional systems, the UE is configured such that the PCH processing configuration is stored in a physical layer L1 buffer for use when the specified PI is decoded by the physical layer. Thus, upon decoding, the PI triggers the physical layer L1 to automatically assume the configuration necessary to process the corresponding paging data that will be received on the corresponding PCH, instead of the PI being sent by L1 to the physical layer control processing unit of L2, which will then request a new command from the RRC of L3.

In addition to eliminating excessive signaling between layers, the present invention makes it possible to transmit and receive paging data in advance. As is known in the art, a UE embodying the present invention may receive a PI in frame #1 and prepare for reception of corresponding paging data in PCH in frame #4 for processing in frame # 5. However, the present invention also enables the UE to receive a PI in frame #1, while preparing for reception of corresponding paging data in the PCH in frame #3 for processing in frame # 4. Thus, if the current 3GPP specifications are modified to allow a one frame gap between the PI and the paging data, such a faster paging process can be accommodated without modifying the UE, and merely providing the appropriate data to the buffer to process the PCH and paging data in an earlier frame time period.

A second embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a system of Paging Indicators (PI) and associated paging data processing to a User Equipment (UE) wherein the physical layer L1 controller of the L2 of the UE interprets the paging indicators as illustrated in fig. 4a and b. To implement this embodiment, the UE's physical layer L1 controller has an associated L2 buffer in which the radio link and transport channel (RL/TR) configuration for PCH reception is stored when the L1 controller is instructed to configure the physical layer L1 to monitor reception of a specified PI for a corresponding PICH. Preferably, the UE is configured with a Radio Resource Controller (RRC) in level 3, which provides parameters and other information to the controller of L2.

When the RRC instructs the L1 controller of L2 to configure the physical layer L1 to monitor the reception of a specified PI for a particular PICH, the L2 buffer receives the parameters necessary to instruct how to configure the physical layer L1 to receive the corresponding paging data that will be received on the corresponding PCH after receipt of the specified PI. Thus, when physical layer L1 decodes the PI, the PI is fed to the L1 controller of L2, and the L1 controller of L2 then directly instructs, using the data stored in the L2 buffer, how to configure physical layer L1 to process the corresponding paging data to be received on the corresponding PCH without requesting further instructions from the RRC of L3.

This embodiment also reduces unnecessary inter-layer signaling because the required configuration information is obtained from system information previously processed by higher layers when the L1 controller of L2 receives the parameters needed to configure the physical layer L1 to monitor a specified PI. Particularly reducing signaling to and from the RRC.

While both embodiments are possible, the first embodiment is faster than the second embodiment. However, in the first embodiment some logic and buffering is required, which will typically be done above the L1 processing level when time is allowed. If the L1 processing performed in the first embodiment interprets paging indicators and decides the reception of PCH channel data, benefits are obtained in terms of processing time, reduced signaling, and reduced power consumption. The second embodiment will achieve the same benefits, except that there is no reduction in power consumption.

It should also be understood that the present invention may be implemented entirely as a software module. In such a case, the module can easily be adapted to changes desired by the system administrator. For example, certain easy functions described above as implemented in the L1 process may be controlled by L1 for implementation, and vice versa.

Claims (11)

1. In a wireless communication system for performing wireless communications between a base station and a plurality of paging User Equipments (UEs) including UEs, wherein the UEs are configured with a multi-layer processing system having a configurable lowest physical layer L1 that receives wireless communication signals and selectively processes the received signals in accordance with its then current configuration, a first higher layer L2 including a physical layer processing control for reconfiguring the physical layer L1, and a second higher layer L3 including a Radio Resource Control (RRC) for providing paging channel parameters to the L2 physical layer processing control, and wherein a Paging Indicator (PI) is received by a UE prior to corresponding paging data, and the UE is configured to process the paging data after receiving the PI, the UE comprising:

a physical layer buffer in the UE's physical layer L1 for storing predetermined paging data processing configuration data, wherein the UE's physical layer L1 is associated with the UE's L2 physical layer processing control such that when UE's physical layer L1 is configured to monitor the reception of a particular PI determined by the UE's RRC, the corresponding paging data processing configuration data is stored in the physical layer buffer, and the UE's physical layer L1 is configured to access the buffer and use the stored data to reconfigure itself when receiving and processing the particular PI.

2. In a wireless communication system for performing wireless communications between a base station and a plurality of User Equipments (UEs) for paging including UEs, wherein the UEs are configured with a multi-layer processing system having a configurable lowest physical layer L1 that receives wireless communication signals and selectively processes the received signals in accordance with its then current configuration, a first higher layer L2 including a physical layer processing control for reconfiguring the physical layer L1, and a second higher layer L3 including a Radio Resource Control (RRC) for providing paging channel parameters to the L2 physical layer processing control, and wherein a Paging Indicator (PI) is received by a UE prior to corresponding paging data and the UE is configured to process the paging data after receiving the PI, the UE comprising:

a buffer for storing predetermined paging data processing configuration data, wherein the first higher level L2 of the UE is associated with the RRC of the UE such that when a particular PI determined by the RRC of the UE is identified to the first higher level L2 of the UE and the physical layer L1 of the UE is configured to monitor the particular PI, the corresponding paging data processing configuration data is stored in the buffer, and wherein the physical layer L1 of the UE is associated with the L2 physical layer processing control of the UE such that when the physical layer L1 of the UE identifies that the particular PI has been received and processed, the physical layer L1 of the UE is configured to process the paging data according to the paging data processing configuration data stored in the buffer without communicating with the RRC.

3. The UE of claim 2, wherein:

the buffer is a physical layer buffer in the UE's physical layer L1 for storing predetermined paging data processing configuration data; and

the UE's physical layer L1 is associated with the UE's L2 physical layer processing control such that when the UE's physical layer L1 is configured to monitor the reception of a particular PI as determined by the UE's RRC, the corresponding paging data processing configuration data is stored in the physical layer buffer, and the UE's physical layer L1 is configured to access the buffer and to use the stored data to reconfigure itself when receiving and processing the particular PI.

4. The UE of claim 3, wherein when the physical layer L1 is configured to monitor the particular PI, it is configured to monitor a particular Paging Indication Channel (PICH); and when the physical layer L1 is configured to process corresponding paging data, it is configured to monitor a specific separate Paging Channel (PCH) transmitted by a Second Common Control Physical Channel (SCCPCH).

5. The UE of claim 2, wherein:

the buffer is a physical layer processing control buffer in the first higher level L2 of the UE for storing predetermined paging data processing configuration data;

the UE's first higher level L2 is associated with the UE's RRC such that when a particular PI determined by the UE's RRC identifies the UE's first higher level L2, the corresponding paging data processing configuration data is stored in the physical layer processing control buffer; and

the UE's physical layer L1 is associated with the UE's L2 physical layer processing control such that when the UE's physical layer L1 identifies to the UE's first higher level L2 that the particular PI has been received and processed, the UE's physical layer L1 is configured to process corresponding page data by the UE's L2 processing control in accordance with the page data processing configuration data stored in the physical layer processing control buffer.

6. The UE of claim 5, wherein when the physical layer L1 is configured to monitor the particular PI, it is configured to monitor a particular Paging Indication Channel (PICH); and when the physical layer L1 is configured to process corresponding paging data, it is configured to monitor a specific separate Paging Channel (PCH) transmitted by a Second Common Control Physical Channel (SCCPCH).

7. In a wireless communication system for performing wireless communications between a base station and a plurality of User Equipments (UEs) for a call including UEs, wherein the UEs are configured with a multi-layer processing system having a configurable lowest physical layer L1 that receives wireless communication signals and selectively processes the received signals in accordance with its current configuration at the time, a first higher layer L2 including a physical layer processing control for reconfiguring the physical layer L1, and a second higher layer L3 including a Radio Resource Control (RRC) for providing paging channel parameters to the L2 physical layer processing control, and wherein a call indicator (PI) is received by a UE prior to corresponding paging data and the UE is configured to process the paging data after receiving the PI, a method of page processing comprising:

providing a UE buffer for storing predetermined paging data processing configuration data;

determining a specific PI for monitoring the UE using the RRC of the UE;

identifying the particular PI to a first higher level L2 of the UE and configuring the physical layer L1 of the UE using L2 physical layer processing control, monitoring the particular PI in the buffer in conjunction with storing corresponding paging data processing configuration data; and

when the UE's physical layer L1 recognizes that the particular PI has been received by the UE, the UE's physical layer L1 is configured to process paging data according to the paging data processing configuration data stored in the buffer without communicating with RRC.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the buffer provided is a physical layer buffer in the UE's physical layer L1 for storing predetermined paging data processing configuration data;

when the UE's physical layer L1 is configured to monitor the reception of a particular PI as determined by the UE's RRC, the corresponding paging data processing configuration data is stored in the physical layer buffer, and the UE's physical layer L1 is configured to access the buffer and use the stored data to reconfigure itself to process the corresponding paging data when receiving and processing the particular PI.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein when the physical layer L1 is configured to monitor the particular PI, it is configured to monitor a particular Paging Indication Channel (PICH); and when the physical layer L1 is configured to process corresponding paging data, it is configured to monitor a specific separate Paging Channel (PCH) transmitted by a Second Common Control Physical Channel (SCCPCH).

10. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the buffer provided is a physical layer processing control buffer in the first higher level L2 of the UE for storing predetermined paging data processing configuration data;

when the particular PI identifies the first higher level L2 of the UE, the corresponding paging data processing configuration data is stored in the physical layer processing control buffer; and

when the UE's physical layer L1 recognizes that the particular PI has been received by the UE, the UE's physical layer L1 recognizes to the UE's first higher level L2 that the particular PI has been received, and the UE's physical layer L1 is configured to process corresponding page data by the UE's L2 process control according to the page data processing configuration data stored in the physical layer process control buffer.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein when the physical layer L1 is configured to monitor the particular PI, it is configured to monitor a particular Paging Indication Channel (PICH); and when the physical layer L1 is configured to process corresponding paging data, it is configured to monitor a specific separate Paging Channel (PCH) transmitted by a Second Common Control Physical Channel (SCCPCH).