HK1193301B - Methods and devices for enabling reception of a specific service for terminals in idle mode - Google Patents

Description

Method and apparatus for enabling reception of a specific service for a terminal in idle mode

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for enabling reception of a specific service for a terminal in an idle mode. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for enabling mobility for a terminal in an idle mode in order to receive an MBMS service.

Background

The present invention relates to the field of mobile communications, for example to the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard currently under discussion and development, which features, among other features, Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS). For example, the service of the MBMS may include audio, video, still image or any other media type, or a combination of media types (such as mobile tv, etc.), whether for media types or for services, etc., the applicability of the present invention is not limited by the above example.

In earlier releases (e.g., LTE Rel-9), the standard included basic MBMS functionality for broadcast-only mode MBMS transmission. Subsequent releases (e.g., LTE Rel-10) have further developed such MBMS services in various aspects.

That is, in short, in response to a network broadcast request, a terminal (such as a user equipment UE) in a connected state (i.e., in an RRC connected mode) indicates whether it is interested in receiving such services in terms of Radio Resource Control (RRC).

MBMS reception is possible for a terminal UE that happens to be also in another mode or state called RRC Idle. Note that although the MBMS service is used as the singular here, it should be understood that a plurality of services may be covered. Many terminal UEs in RRC _ Idle state are present in each tracking area. The tracking area generally denotes a region and/or one or more cells opposite to the exact cell where the UE in RRC _ Idle would camp on or camp on.

UE mobility in IDLE mode is typically based to some extent on UE decisions rather than network decisions, as in handover procedures. Thus, the network has little control over IDLE mode UE mobility due to the lack of RRC connection.

Since the UE is in IDLE mode, and has not yet been RRC CONNECTED to the network, balancing the network load originating from the IDLE mode UE 'is not as critical as balancing the network load due to the UE' being in CONNECTED mode. However, since IDLE mode UEs will establish a connection to the layer (or frequency) they camp on, IDLE mode UE load balancing is, in a larger sense, related to CONNECTED mode UE load balancing. At least in the event of an IDLE mode UE going into CONNECTED mode, network load balancing may be affected by the layer on which the IDLE mode UE is camped. That is, when paged, an IDLE mode UE will respond on the layer it is paged and establish an RRC connection on this layer.

Therefore, it is important that the network is able to control IDLE mode mobility and predictability of UE camping. (mobility herein refers to inter-frequency/inter-layer mobility, not spatial mobility.) furthermore, operators may desire UEs to remain more within a particular frequency or RAT due to operator policy. And for IDLE mode UE distribution the priority of each frequency and RAT is contained in the system information block SIB. Therefore, it is beneficial for the UE to follow the priority provided by the network as broadcast information in the SIB.

However, MBMS reception for Rel-11 requires the network to allow the UE to violate (or deviate from) the current reselection rules. However, if so, the network will lose load balancing and control of IDLE mode UEs ' and will also lose load balancing control of CONNECTED mode UEs ' at least once IDLE ' transitions to CONNECTED mode. Also, there is no longer predictable behavior of the UE inside the network, as the behavior of the UE may differ from UE to UE, or user to user.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to propose improvements within the context of service reception for terminals in IDLE mode.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides measures for keeping such situations still under network control and predictable.

According to a first aspect, the above object is for example achieved by an apparatus comprising a transmitter module configured to transmit a priority indication of a priority assigned to a plurality of communication layers available within a coverage area of said apparatus and configured to indicate at least one assigned service indication of said communication layers to which a terminal is able to access a specific service, said transmitter module further configured to transmit at least one permission parameter controlling a receiving terminal by initiating an action with respect to accessing said specific service, wherein said at least one permission parameter comprises a first timing parameter, said parameter controlling said receiving terminal by allowing said terminal to initiate an action with respect to accessing said specific service.

According to further developments of the device:

-at least the service indication is broadcast to all terminals within the coverage area of the apparatus;

-said at least one permission parameter is broadcast via a shared channel and is valid for all receiving terminals or is transmitted via a respective dedicated channel and is valid for the respective individual terminal with which the dedicated channel is associated;

-said at least one permission parameter comprises a second timing parameter controlling said receiving terminal by suppressing said terminal from initiating an action with respect to accessing said specific service.

According to another aspect, the above object is for example achieved by an apparatus comprising a receiver module configured to receive a priority indication of a priority assigned to a plurality of communication layers available within a coverage area of a network node, and configured to receive a service indication assigned to at least one of said communication layers on which a terminal is able to access a particular service, and a processor module, configured to manipulate a received priority indication of a priority assigned to the communication layer, the processor module controls by manipulating the received priority indication based on at least one permission parameter, the received priority indication being for initiating an action with respect to accessing the particular service, wherein the at least one permission parameter comprises a first timing parameter that controls the processor module by allowing the terminal to initiate an action with respect to accessing the particular service.

According to further developments of the device:

-the receiver module is configured to receive at least the service indication on a broadcast control channel;

-the processor module is configured to receive the at least one permission parameter on a shared control channel or on a dedicated channel associated with the device, or configured to receive the at least one permission parameter from an internal memory in which configuration parameters are stored;

-said at least one permission parameter comprises a second timing parameter controlling said processor module by suppressing the terminal from initiating an action with respect to accessing said specific service;

-further comprising a timer module that starts using the first timing parameter if the device manipulates the received priority indication and the device has not or no longer received the particular service on the layer for which the priority indication was manipulated;

-the timer is stopped and reset when either of said two conditions is no longer true.

According to a further aspect, the above object is for example achieved by a method comprising transmitting a priority indication of priorities assigned to a plurality of communication layers available within a coverage area of a network node and indicating an indication of a service assigned to at least one of said communication layers on which a terminal is able to access a particular service, transmitting at least one permission parameter controlling a receiving terminal by initiating an action with respect to accessing said particular service, wherein said at least one permission parameter comprises a first timing parameter, said parameter controlling said receiving terminal by allowing said terminal to initiate an action with respect to accessing said particular service.

According to further developments of the method:

-further comprising broadcasting at least the service indication to all terminals within the coverage area of the apparatus;

-further comprising broadcasting said at least one permission parameter via a shared channel and being valid for all receiving terminals, or transmitting said at least one permission parameter via a respective dedicated channel and being valid for a respective individual terminal with which said dedicated channel is associated;

-said at least one permission parameter comprises a second timing parameter controlling said receiving terminal by suppressing said terminal from initiating an action with respect to accessing said specific service.

According to another aspect, the above object is for example achieved by a method comprising receiving a priority indication of priorities assigned to a plurality of communication layers available within a coverage area of a network node and configured to receive at least one assigned service indication to said communication layer on which a terminal is able to access a specific service and manipulating the received priority indication of priorities assigned to said communication layers, controlling a manipulation for initiating an action with respect to accessing said specific service based on at least one permission parameter, wherein said at least one permission parameter comprises a first timing parameter controlling said manipulation by allowing a terminal to initiate an action with respect to accessing said specific service.

According to further developments of the method:

-further comprising receiving at least said service indication on a broadcast control channel;

-further comprising receiving said at least one permission parameter on a shared control channel or on a dedicated channel associated with said device, or from an internal memory in which configuration parameters are stored;

-said at least one permission parameter comprises a second timing parameter controlling said manipulation by suppressing said terminal from initiating an action with respect to accessing said specific service;

-further comprising starting a first timer using the first timing parameter if the apparatus manipulates the received priority indication and the apparatus has not or no longer received the particular service on the layer for which the priority indication was manipulated;

-the timer is stopped and reset when either of the two conditions is no longer true.

For at least one aspect of the apparatus and/or the method described above, starting a second timer using the second timing parameter after the first timer expires without receiving the particular service on the manipulated layer.

Thus, by virtue of the above mentioned aspects of the invention, at least according to one or more exemplary embodiments and/or features of the invention, the following advantageous effects are achieved:

-avoiding non-canonical behavior of the UE,

-network performance and behavior controllability is preserved for the network and/or the operator,

the UE is able to access a specific service (such as MBMS) while remaining in IDLE mode,

the UE has well-defined and at least timely restricted rights for handling its activities within the layer,

the network behavior is still predictable and controllable,

by signaling at least some parameters in a personalized manner via a dedicated channel of interest to the UE, the behavior of the UE can be selectively controlled and the UEs are thus grouped in accordance with the behavior, thereby further supporting, for example, load balancing.

Drawings

The invention may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows a partial overview of a network with entities involved in certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating method steps performed at a terminal equipment UE; and

fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of the method according to a modification performed at the terminal equipment UE.

Detailed Description

Before describing the individual figures, the following section will provide a comprehensive, brief, and general description of at least exemplary aspects of the invention. Is believed to assist in properly obtaining a general understanding of the function contemplated by the present invention.

Briefly:

the eNB broadcast of the adjacent frequency provides the MBMS service. Likewise, to assist the UE in quickly reselecting cells in the MBMS layer, the network (eNB) may include another set of reselection parameters for cell reselection to cells in the MBMS layer.

In case the UE is interested in the MBMS service, a reselection rule different from the conventional reselection rule (i.e., when the UE is not interested in the MBMS service) is applied. For example, if the UE is interested in the MBMS service, the UE considers the MBMS layer as the highest priority.

If the UE handles the priority due to (intentional) MBMS reception, the UE starts the MBMS timer. The timer value may be fixed in the specification (e.g., stored in an internal memory of the apparatus) or signaled in the SIB as well. The timer value may also be reconfigured in a dedicated RRC message, in particular for the terminal.

If the UE completes the reception of the MBMS and decides to stay in the MBMS layer for some reason, the UE restarts the MBMS timer.

When the MBMS timer expires and if the UE has not received the MBMS service, the UE applies the normal priority/reselection mechanism as notified in the SIB for a certain waiting period to avoid the UE manipulating the priority in the SIB in case the UE has not received the MBMS for a long time.

However, although the invention has been described above diagrammatically in the style of only one system/method overview, in the following, a description of some of the individual devices and the methods they perform will be given in more detail. It is noted that all modifications described by means of one exemplary embodiment may also be valid/possible for another exemplary embodiment and, in particular, individual modifications in the respective exemplary embodiments may be incorporated into another exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a partial overview of a network with entities involved in certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a part of a network that is mentioned in certain scenarios like tracking area or routing area (TA/RA). It should be noted that although specific terms of a particular system may be used to describe the present invention, this is merely an example. Thus, when the tracking area represents one or more cells in an LTE (long term evolution) system, the routing area may represent the same or similar meaning under UMTS system specifications.

Fig. 1 illustrates such a tracking area/routing area TA/RA, which contains at least two different radio access technologies, RATs. They are denoted as RAT #1 for the LTE part and RAT #2 for the UMTS or WLAN part. For the first radio access technology RAT #1, the network Node is denoted by evolved Node _ B (enb), while for the UMTS or WLAN part the network Node is denoted e.g. by Node _ B or access point.

At a higher network layer, the evolved Node _ B (enb) is under the control of a mobility management entity MME, although for the UMTS part, e.g. Node _ B is under the control of and/or coordinated by the radio network controller RNC.

Within the tracking area and/or routing area, more generally within the coverage area of the eNB and/or access point AP, it is assumed that there is at least one terminal UE. Of course, in the conventional case, there are a plurality of terminals, but only a single one is shown here for simplicity of illustration.

The terminal is, for example, a user equipment and is denoted as UE # 1. The dashed line representation of UE #1 is intended to indicate that the UE is able to move within the coverage area. The eNB and the access point AP may be in close proximity to each other. Their operation is based on different radio access technologies, and in radio access technologies they may operate on different frequencies. For example, the eNB is illustrated operating on frequency f1 and frequency f2 while the access point operates on frequency f3 and frequency f 4. Frequency is used as an example only. If the system is operating on code rather than frequency, the code may be substituted for frequency without causing other obvious changes to the objects of the invention thereafter.

Each frequency is also referred to herein as a tier, and in view of the multiple frequencies operating within the same geographic area, they are also referred to as being overlaid on each other. In such a network device, there are a variety of services provided. For example, voice and data transmissions are provided as services. Likewise, multimedia applications/services are also provided. As a specific service, a multimedia broadcast multicast service MBMS is mentioned here. Assume that this service is on frequency f1 and only operates on layer 1 (or within cell 1). A terminal, such as represented by UE #1, is typically a handheld device or mobile device that can access services through one or more access technologies. They may be exemplified as smart phones, portable computers or the like. By way of example only, with particular reference to LTE networks, it is always intended to specify devices that enable the network to provide service continuity, as in other developing or already existing mobile communication networks. This also applies to current and subsequent releases of LTE networks.

In particular, with emerging multimedia services, the continuity of LTE MBMS services is also a considered aspect. Currently, multicast multimedia services are discussed to be implemented as so-called MBMS single frequency networks (MBSFN). This means that MBMS services, as an example of a specific service, are delivered using LTE infrastructure and provide mobile TV services such as operation using multiple time synchronized enbs on the same resource block. That is, the receiving user equipment is given the ability to combine transmissions originating from different enbs. In other words, the same content is radio transmitted from different enbs' to the UE.

Thus, as illustrated in fig. 1, for the purpose of demonstrating the present invention, MBSFN is configured in the deployment scenario involving one or more frequencies illustrated in the figure. As shown, the MBMS service is configured only within a specific single frequency (f 1). For user equipment, this MBMS service frequency may be different from a frequency on which user equipment in an idle state normally resides.

The user equipment UE is usually in one of three states, detached, active or idle. Detached means a state in the course of which the mobile station or user equipment is powered off, active is a state after registration and is connecting to the network, and idle is a power saving state in which the user equipment is not communicating (i.e. it is neither sending nor receiving data packets from the network).

In the idle state, the location of the user equipment is only known by the mobility management entity MME with accuracy of tracking areas spanning one or more cells. In the idle state, when a new communication flow arrives for a user equipment, this user equipment is paged via all available radio access technologies and, depending on the response received, the communication is resumed or initiated within the radio access technology and/or layer (on the frequency) on which the response was received. Thus, when the user equipment is in idle mode, it may camp within a different radio access technology and/or on a different frequency than the technology/frequency on which the MBMS service is available.

Thus, the invention described herein will provide a method of providing one or more MBMS services (or any other specific service that may be different from an MBMS service and that is provided only on a specific frequency) as required, which is applicable to terminals in idle mode following radio resource control, RRC. In order to use such resources efficiently, measurements must be made, as in all radio networks, in terms of adequate radio resource usage. In case that a plurality of frequencies are covered in the same area, the MBMS service being broadcasted is likely to be configured to be subordinate only to a certain cell layer or frequency.

As shown in fig. 1. To control the user equipment in idle mode to camp on a certain frequency and/or radio access network technology layer, the network, such as the mobile management entity MME and/or evolved Node b (enb), may comprise a priority applicable to each frequency layer and radio access technology. Such information is part of the system information and/or system information blocks SIB. The user equipment follows those indications and states which are in the highest priority layer and in order to reselect a cell, the user equipment will take into account the priority of such indications given in the system information block SIB.

Accordingly, an eNB including a transmitter module is configured to transmit a priority indication of priorities assigned to a plurality of communication layers within a coverage area of the eNB. In connection with the present invention, the eNB is also configured to indicate a service indication of a communication layer assigned to at least the above-mentioned communication layer on which the terminal can access a specific service, such as an MBMS service. That is, the eNB may indicate on which layer a particular service, such as MBMS, is available. (to the extent this aspect is not to be understood as relating to cross-carrier indication in this descriptive text.)

As shown in the upper right table of fig. 1, indicating the priority assigned to the network for a particular radio access technology and frequency used herein. In addition to this, the table includes a so-called MBMS flag as service indication. Thus, as shown in this network allocation table, it includes columns of MBMS flags, priorities, RATs, frequencies, etc., and indicates the allocated priority for each radio access technology and frequency used in the network herein, in addition to whether a particular frequency in a particular radio access technology is provided for a particular service, such as MBMS. As shown in the table, the MBMS flag indicates that the MBMS service is provided on RAT #1 at frequency #1 when the current layer in which it is located is assigned priority P2 (yes).

Although in this example figure the highest priority is assigned the lowest (smallest) number, the number assignment to the priority may be different. For example, the priority assignment adopted in 3GPP may also be used. That is, when 8 priorities from 0 to 7 are assigned, 0 designates the lowest priority, while 7 designates the highest (highest) priority.

The user equipment UE receives such broadcast information and typically follows the indications given here. That is, the user equipment is more inclined to stay within the highest priority tier. However, if all user devices will stay within the highest priority tier, load balancing may become difficult. Furthermore, as shown in the table, the MBMS layer does not have to be highest priority.

In one aspect of the invention, the user equipment therefore comprises a receiver module configured to receive a priority indication of priorities assigned to a plurality of communication layers available within the coverage area of the network node and configured to receive a service indication assigned to at least one of said communication layers on which the terminal is able to access a particular service, as formulated in the examples of the above table. In addition, the user equipment comprises a processor module configured to manipulate the received priority indication of the priority assigned to the communication layer. This handling is shown in the lower table in fig. 1 (classified as UE handling).

The columns and interfaces are substantially identical; however, the priorities in the two uppermost rows are interchanged, i.e., manipulated. In this state, based on the assumption that the user equipment resides on the highest priority layer, then the highest priority layer is the layer in which the MBMS is allocated. Thus, the highest idle mode UE may be given the ability to access a particular service, e.g. MBMS, when assigned a priority. Thus, in case of the presence of multiple user equipments, those not interested in the MBMS-aware service are assigned networks applicable to an idle mode within one following a network allocation rule applicable to reside in the above layer in idle state, while the user equipments interested in the MBMS-aware service handle the above table and follow their own individually handled priority table in the above scenario.

Thus, load balancing has been achieved to some extent by allowing only those user equipments interested in a particular service, such as an MBMS service, to operate the priority in which they reside. According to at least a further aspect, the present invention provides a standardized behaviour of a user equipment which prevents loss of network control while preserving the capability of said user equipment to receive a specific service, such as an MBMS service, by additionally introducing at least one permission parameter.

This will be described in more detail in fig. 2 and 3 below.

Figure 2 shows method steps performed at a user equipment. Fig. 2 shows a procedure performed by a user equipment in an idle state. The process starts at step S20. In a following step S21, the user equipment receives the broadcasted MBMS service layer indication and/or other permission parameters. For example, the service layer indicates information including a "network assignment" relationship as shown in the table of fig. 1.

In the next step S22, the user equipment determines whether it is interested in MBMS service reception. If not, the normal layer reselection rule is applied in step S23, and the flow returns to step S22 to determine (subsequently) whether the interest of the MBMS service is subsequently given to idle user equipments. (in at least a modification (not shown), a loop from S23 back to S21, and then to S22 may occur).

In S22, if yes, the flow advances to step S24. The MBMS timer, like a waiting timer to be described later, is one of at least one full-tasking parameter. I.e. the MBMS timer, as a first timing parameter, controls the processor module of the user equipment in terms of allowing interruption of the activity of initiating access to a specific service. That is, in at least one exemplary embodiment, if MBMS service interest is given and the MBMS timer is started, the user equipment handles the received priority indication (table "allocate network") because it is assigned to the MBMS layer top priority (table "handle UE"). However, in at least another exemplary embodiment, if MBMS service interest is given and the user equipment handles the received priority indication (table "allocate network") because it is assigned to the MBMS layer highest priority (table "handle UE"), the UE can actually participate in MBMS service reception even though the MBMS timer has not expired, after which the UE is forced to follow the reselection rules of the conventional layer.

The above is the first instruction in step S25 to give the user the ability to access a particular service (while still in the idle state). Thereafter, it is checked in step S26 whether the MBMS service is actually received. If received (yes), the flow advances to step S28 to check whether MBMS reception has been completed. If not, the process loops back to step S28 until the MBMS reception has been completed. If it is, it is decided in the following step S31 whether the user equipment wishes to stay within the MBMS layer (i.e. within the layer of operation). Note that when the MBMS service is being received (S26, S28), the user equipment is in an active mode and has connected RRC, and once completed, the user equipment reverts to an idle state (transition between S28 and S31). If it is decided in step S31 to stay in the MBMS layer, the flow returns to step S24 and the MBMS timer is reset. If staying within the MBMS layer is not desired in step S31, the flow returns forward to step S23 and applies the general layer reselection rule, and then returns to S22, checking whether there is a (new) interest subsequently given to the MBMS service. (As noted above, at least in the modification (not shown), a loop from S23 back to S21 and then to S22 may occur.)

On the other hand, when the MBMS timer is started and the MBMS service is not received (no in step S26), the flow advances to step S27 to check whether the MBMS timer has expired. If the timer has not expired, the flow returns to step S26 to check for reception of the MBMS service. Therefore, if the MBMS service is not received until the timer expires, the flow advances to step S29. In step S29, a wait timer is started as the second permission parameter. The MBMS timer may have a different or the same time value as the waiting timer.

Thereafter, in step S30, it is checked whether the wait timer has expired. If not, the flow returns to step S30, and the next check is made. Once the waiting timer expires (yes in step S30), the flow returns to step S23 and applies the general layer reselection rule, and then (within the modification by step S21) returns to S22, checking whether a (new) interest in the MBMS service is subsequently given.

Thus, the MBMS timer, as the first timing parameter of the at least one permission parameter, allows the network to take back control of the user equipment, so that the user equipment does not switch in an uncontrolled manner to the preferred, highest priority layer on which only MBMS services may be provided. The user equipment is thus allowed to camp on the MBMS layer only when the MBMS timer has not expired and the user equipment is not actually receiving the MBMS service.

In addition to this, by means of an (optional) waiting timer, which is the second timing parameter of the at least one right parameter, it can be ensured that the user equipment does not switch to the MBMS layer too frequently (or almost permanently). That is, if the MBMS service is not received during the MBMS timer defined time after the handover to the MBMS layer in step S25, the wait timer will cause the user equipment to continue waiting until it indicates a new interest in the MBMS service. This gives the network even more control over the layers/frequencies of the user equipment and in which the UE' resides.

Further, in the modification, the wait timer may also be applied to the branch from step S23 back to S22. In such a modification, the UE has followed the normal layer reselection rule while the UE is refrained from manipulating the layer priority until the wait timer expires.

Of course, in another exemplary embodiment, the order of at least steps S24 and S25 may be interchanged. Thus, once the user equipment is interested in the MBMS service, it may have manipulated the priority of the MBMS layer and then start the MBMS timer.

Furthermore, in a further modification (not shown), after step S31, and/or within the branch from step S23 back to step S22, the wait timer may also be applied to the branch labeled "no".

In the above exemplary embodiment, when the UE is actually receiving the MBMS service, the timer is also run in this condition and is not checked due to its expiration. However, in the case where no MBMS service is received, the MBMS timer serves to limit the UE to "running empty" on the load due to MBMS being prioritized, thus potentially overloading such load/layer, although in such cases the MBMS service is not actually received.

In the modification shown in fig. 3, the MBMS timer is started with both of the following conditions in effect (e.g., one becomes true, the other is already true): 1) the UE resides on a layer otherwise indicated by the usual reselection priorities (i.e., on a layer operating according to the assigned priorities); and 2) the UE has not (or is no longer) received the MBMS service on this load. When either of the above conditions is no longer true while running or active, the MBMS timer is stopped and reset.

In particular, fig. 3 also shows method steps performed in a user equipment in idle mode. Steps corresponding to those of fig. 2 are assigned the same reference numerals. Those steps which perform the same function are described with reference to fig. 2. Therefore, a repetitive description is omitted here. Rather, the order of the steps is at least partially modified. The same steps are steps S20, S21, S22, S23, S25, S26, S28, S31, S27, S29, S30, and S31.

The sequence is therefore as follows and as shown in figure 3. The process starts at S20, proceeds to S21, and to S22. If NO in S22, the flow advances to S23. If YES in S22, the flow advances to S25, and from there to S26.

If No in S26, it is checked in step S26a whether the MBMS timer is in an active state. If not the activated state (no in S26 a), the flow advances to S27. Likewise, if the MBMS timer is found to be in the activated state in step S26a, the flow advances to S27. The activity of the MBMS timer may be based on, for example, an MBMS timer flag configured according to the activity of this timer, or according to other measurements.

In S27, if the MBMS timer has not expired (no in S27), the flow returns to S26. If it is expired, the flow proceeds to S29 and a wait timer is started. From S29, the flow advances to S23.

If YES in S26, the flow advances to S26 b. In step S26b, if the MBMS timer is found to be active, the MBMS timer is stopped and reset, and subsequently, the flow advances to S28. If the MBMS timer is in S26b, no event occurs and the flow advances to S28. After the check for the MBMS reception that has ended in S28 is completed (yes in S28), the flow proceeds to S31. If NO in S31, the flow advances to S23. If YES in S31, the flow loops back to step S26 via step S24b (in which the MBMS timer is turned on).

When, after and/or during the application of the normal layer reselection rule in S23, it is checked in step S23a whether the wait timer is active. Such a decision is similar to the MBMS timer activity decision. If NO in S23a, the flow advances (reverses) to S22. If YES in S23a, the flow advances to step S30. This step is repeated until the wait timer expires (no in S30). If it expires, yes in S30, the flow advances to S22.

It will thus be appreciated that further modifications may be made without altering the inventive concepts of the present invention.

In a terminal aspect, the invention proposes an apparatus comprising a receiver module configured to receive a priority indication of a priority assigned to a plurality of communication layers available within a coverage area of a network node, and configured to receive a service indication assigned to at least one of said communication layers on which the terminal is able to access a particular service, and a processor module, configured to manipulate a received priority indication of a priority assigned to the communication layer, the processor module being controlled to manipulate the received priority indication based on at least one permission parameter for initiating an action with respect to accessing the particular service, wherein the at least one permission parameter comprises a first timing parameter that controls the processor module by allowing the terminal to initiate an action with respect to accessing the particular service. Accordingly, in a network node aspect, the present invention proposes an apparatus comprising a transmitter module configured to transmit a priority indication of a priority assigned to a plurality of communication layers available within a coverage area of the apparatus, and a service indication assigned to at least one of the communication layers on which a terminal can access a particular service, the transmitter module being further configured to transmit at least one permission parameter controlling a receiving terminal by initiating an action with respect to accessing the particular service, wherein the at least one permission parameter comprises a first timing parameter controlling the receiving terminal by allowing the terminal to initiate the action with respect to accessing the particular service. Corresponding methods are also presented for both aspects.

Claims (21)

1. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

a transmitter module for transmitting a signal to a receiver,

configured to transmit a priority indication of a priority assigned to a plurality of communication layers available within a coverage area of the apparatus, an

Configured to indicate a service indication assigned to at least one of said communication layers on which the receiving terminal is able to access a particular service,

the transmitter module is further configured to transmit at least one permission parameter controlling the receiving terminal by initiating an action with respect to accessing the specific service, wherein

The at least one permission parameter comprises a first timing parameter for setting a time limit at the receiving terminal for manipulating the priority indication for allowing the receiving terminal to initiate an action with respect to accessing the particular service.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least the service indication is broadcast to all receiving terminals within the coverage area of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one permission parameter

Broadcast via a shared channel and valid for all receiving terminals, or

Are transmitted via respective dedicated channels and are valid for respective individual receiving terminals with which the dedicated channels are associated.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein

The at least one permission parameter comprises

A second timing parameter that controls the receiving terminal by suppressing the receiving terminal from initiating an action with respect to accessing the particular service.

5. A method for communication, comprising:

transmitting, by a radio network node, a priority indication of priorities assigned to a plurality of communication layers available within a coverage area of the radio network node, an

Indicating a service indication allocated to at least one of the communication layers on which the receiving terminal can access a specific service,

transmitting at least one permission parameter controlling the receiving terminal by initiating an action with respect to accessing the specific service, wherein

The at least one permission parameter comprises a first timing parameter for setting a time limit at the receiving terminal for manipulating the priority indication for allowing the receiving terminal to initiate an action with respect to accessing the particular service.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising broadcasting at least the service indication to all receiving terminals within the coverage area of the radio network node.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising

Broadcasting the at least one permission parameter via a shared channel, and the at least one permission parameter being valid for all receiving terminals, or

The at least one permission parameter is transmitted via a respective dedicated channel and is valid for a respective individual receiving terminal with which the dedicated channel is associated.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one permission parameter comprises a second timing parameter that controls the receiving terminal by suppressing the receiving terminal from initiating an action with respect to accessing the particular service.

9. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

a receiver module configured to receive a priority indication of priorities assigned to a plurality of communication layers available within a coverage area of a radio network node and configured to receive a service indication assigned to at least one of said communication layers on which a user equipment can access a specific service, and

a processor module configured to manipulate the received priority indication of the priority assigned to the communication layer,

the processor module being controlled to manipulate the received priority indication based on at least one permission parameter for initiating an action with respect to accessing the particular service,

wherein the at least one permission parameter comprises

A first timing parameter for setting a time limit at the user equipment for manipulating the priority indication for allowing the user equipment to initiate an action with respect to accessing the particular service.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the receiver module is configured to receive at least the service indication on a broadcast control channel.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor module is configured to receive the at least one permission parameter on a shared control channel or on a dedicated channel associated with the apparatus, or is configured to receive the at least one permission parameter from an internal memory having configuration parameters stored therein.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein

The at least one permission parameter comprises

A second timing parameter that controls the processor module by refraining the user equipment from initiating an action with respect to accessing the particular service.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a timer module to start the timer module using the first timing parameter if the apparatus manipulates the received priority indication and the apparatus has not or is no longer receiving the particular service on the layer for which the priority indication was manipulated.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the timer is stopped and reset when either of the two conditions is no longer true.

15. A method for communication, comprising:

receiving at a user equipment a priority indication of priorities assigned to a plurality of communication layers available within a coverage area of a radio network node and a service indication assigned to at least one of said communication layers on which said user equipment has access to a specific service, and

manipulating the received priority indication of the priority assigned to the communication layer,

controlling manipulation of the received priority indication based on at least one permission parameter for initiating an action with respect to accessing the particular service, wherein

The at least one permission parameter comprises a first timing parameter for setting a time limit at the user equipment for manipulating the priority indication for allowing the user equipment to initiate an action with respect to accessing the particular service.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving at least the service indication on a broadcast control channel.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving the at least one permission parameter on a shared control channel or on a dedicated channel associated with the user equipment, or from an internal memory having stored therein configuration parameters.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein

The at least one permission parameter comprises

A second timing parameter that controls the manipulation by inhibiting the user equipment from initiating an action with respect to accessing the particular service.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising starting a first timer using the first timing parameter if the user equipment manipulates the received priority indication and the user equipment has not or is no longer receiving the particular service on the layer for which the priority indication was manipulated.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the timer is stopped and reset when either of the two conditions is no longer true.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 or the method of claim 18, wherein a second timer is started using the second timing parameter after the first timer expires without receiving the particular service on the manipulated layer.