Subscriber terminal, base station and processor in one subscriber terminal

Abstract

Subscriber terminal (118) adapted to: Determining a first system information block (500) that was sent in a statically defined transmission period, wherein the first system information block (500) (i) is different from a master information block (MIB) and comprises (i) a public terrestrial mobile network (PLMN) identity or a radio cell identity and (ii) scheduling information (501) indicating how system information of a system information medium access control protocol message of a transport channel is to be sent by a base station in a second system information block to the subscriber terminal (118); and Receiving the second system information block (510) transmitted on dynamically scheduled radio resources based on the scheduling information (501).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a subscriber terminal, a base station and a processor in a subscriber terminal.

[0002] The current UMTS mobile communications standard (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems communications standard), also known as Release 6, enables a maximum net transmission rate of 10 Mbps in the downlink transmission direction and 2 Mbps in the uplink transmission direction. The uplink transmission direction, also known as the upward direction, refers to the signal transmission from the mobile communications terminal to the respective UMTS base station. The downlink transmission direction, also known as the downward direction, refers to the signal transmission from the respective assigned UMTS base station to the mobile communications terminal. Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD) are currently specified as radio transmission technologies. The multiple access method used is based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology.

[0003] Currently, a topic in the 3GPP standardization bodies (3GPP: 3rd The (Generation Partnership Project) is developing UMTS into a mobile communications system optimized for packet data transmission by improving system capacity and spectral efficiency. The goal is to significantly increase the maximum net transmission rate in the future, namely to 100 Mbps in the downlink transmission direction and to 50 Mbps in the uplink transmission direction. To improve transmission over the air interface, new multiple access methods are being investigated, among other things. One possible candidate for a multiple access method that could be used for the downlink transmission direction is OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) in combination with TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access).

[0004] OFDMA in combination with TDMA, also referred to as OFDMA / TDMA below, is a multi-carrier multiple access method in which a subscriber is provided with a defined number of subcarriers in the frequency spectrum and a defined transmission time for data transmission.

[0005] In a cellular mobile radio communication network such as the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) communication system or the UMTS communication system important system information of a mobile radio cell from a base station using broadcast signals to all subscriber devices located in the cell. Examples of such system information are network operator-specific information such as the identity of the network and the cell, as well as the configuration of the shared radio resources. In a UMTS mobile radio communication network, the scheduling of system information is handled by the RRC protocol layer (Radio

[0006] Resource Control) in the UMTS base station (also referred to as NodeB). The current MAC-b protocol unit has in the current UMTS communication network no essential function in the UMTS base station.

[0007] As described above, in a cellular mobile radio communication network based on GSM or UMTS, communication system-relevant and mobile radio cell-relevant Information from a mobile radio cell is transmitted from a base station to all subscriber devices located within the cell via broadcast. In the case of UMTS, this occurs via the logical channel BCCH (Broadcast Control Channel), which is mapped to the transport channel BCH (Broadcast Channel) and physically transmitted over the air interface on the P-CCPCH (Primary Common Control Physical Channel).

[0008] Fig. Figure 7 shows the current data format of a BCCH protocol message 700 for transmitting system information. The BCCH protocol message 700 has a 12-bit System Frame Number (SFN) field 701 and a 234-bit payload field 702 for transmitting the actual system information (also referred to as System Information Block Data, SIB Data). The System Frame Number field 701 represents the timing used in the mobile radio cell and is used to synchronize data transmission.

[0009] Overall, a large amount of system information is transmitted into the cell. Details are described in [1].

[0010] These are grouped into different blocks according to the type of information. A distinction is usually made between MIB blocks (Master Information Block), SB blocks (Scheduling Block), and SIB blocks (System Information Block). The MIB signals, among other things, the PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) identity and, to a limited extent, scheduling information for the SIBs. An SB block The scheduling information of the SIB blocks is signaled. According to UMTS, 18 SIB types are currently defined.

[0011] Examples of such SIB types currently defined according to UMTS are: • SIB1: contains the information about the UMTS core network (CN) as well as the configuration of system-relevant timers and constants; • SIB3: contains the parameters for cell selection and cell change; • SIB5: contains the configuration of the physical shared radio resources for subscriber devices in idle mode; • SIB6: contains the configuration of the physical shared radio resources for subscriber equipment in connected mode; and • SIB 11: contains the information for carrying out measurements.

[0012] According to UMTS, the scheduling of system information is performed using the RRC layer or its protocol unit in the base station. The MAC layer

[0013] (Medium Access Control layer) in the base station does contain a MAC-b protocol unit, but this currently has no essential function, ie in the MAC-b protocol unit, currently only the 35 data from the logical channel BCCH are transparently mapped to the transport channel BCH according to UMTS.

[0014] Important properties for the transmission of system information are as follows: • The P-CCPCH is transmitted with a relatively high power so that all subscribers in the cell can receive this channel with as little interference and error as possible, even if the subscribers or their mobile communication terminals are located near the edge of the cell. • The transmission parameters for BCCH / BCH / P-CCPCH such as the packet data length, the transmission time length, the spreading code, the spreading factor and the channel coding are statically defined and known system-wide so that all subscribers or their mobile communication terminals in a mobile radio cell can quickly find or receive this important system information.

[0015] However, the transmission of system information according to the state of the art has, among other things, the following disadvantages: • The gross transmission rate of 30 kbps (based on a spreading factor of SF = 256 and a transmission time interval of TTI = 20 ms) is low, so it takes a relatively long time to transmit all the system information, i.e., all defined SIBs in a mobile radio cell, or from the subscriber's perspective, to receive it. This read time is in the range of 640 ms to several seconds, depending on the mobile radio cell configuration (also referred to as cell configuration). • The transmission capacity is statically fixed, so that a dynamic adjustment of the capacity to the respective traffic load in the mobile radio cell is not possible.

[0016] Furthermore, with regard to the basics of a mobile radio channel and various multiple access methods, in particular with regard to OFDMA technology, reference is made to the explanations in [2].

[0017] Document [3] describes a prioritization of user data at IP (Internet Protocol) level, which specifies the priority with which user data is to be transmitted via a wireless network.

[0018] In publication [4] it is described that system information blocks are assigned priorities and that the system information blocks are segmented and resegmented so that new system information blocks are generated. The master information blocks (MIB) and the scheduling blocks (SB) are generated according to the generated system information blocks.

[0019] Document [1] describes the Radio Resource Control protocol for the UE-UTRAN radio interface. It also describes the information to be transported in a transparent container between the source RNC and the destination RNC in conjunction with SRNC relocation. It also describes the information to be transported in a transparent container between a destination RNC and another system.

[0020] A mobile radio channel is typically a time-variant and frequency-selective channel. In the case of a stationary transmitter, the time variance is caused by the movement of the mobile receiver. Frequency selectivity is caused by multipath propagation. The properties of the mobile radio channel mean that the transmitter's signal reaches the mobile receiver not only directly, but also via various paths with different propagation delays and attenuation influences. The received signal is therefore composed of a multitude of components, whose amplitudes, propagation delays, and phases behave randomly. The received signal therefore represents a distorted and distorted version of the transmitted signal. A key task of the receiver is to reverse the interference introduced into the transmitted signal by the mobile radio channel and to correctly reconstruct the transmitted signals.

[0021] To transmit data from different subscribers over the mobile radio channel, so-called multiple access methods are often used. The purpose of a multiple access method is to regulate the subscribers' access to the mobile radio channel so that they do not interfere with each other. The characteristics of the mobile radio channel are also taken into account.

[0022] For example, the following basic multiple access methods are known: • Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) method; • Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) method; and • Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) method.

[0023] With TDMA, each participant has access to the entire frequency band, but only for a defined transmission time, also known as the Transmission Time Interval (TTI). During a TTI, only one transmitter is active.

[0024] With FDMA, each participant has the entire time available, but only a defined (narrow) frequency bandwidth of the total bandwidth for transmitting data. Only one participant may be active in each of these frequency bands at a time.

[0025] With CDMA, each subscriber has the entire time and frequency band available for transmission. To prevent mutual interference between the signals from different transmitters, each subscriber is assigned a binary code pattern. These binary code patterns are independent of each other and are used to code or spread the desired signal for each subscriber.

[0026] The future development of mobile communication systems will require high transmission rates, for example, up to 100 Mbps or more. This will require correspondingly large bandwidths. However, with increasing bandwidth, the frequency selectivity of the mobile radio channel increases, causing significant distortion of the received signal. This necessitates the use of complex receivers.

[0027] OFDMA is a suitable method for minimizing negative channel influences caused by frequency selectivity, so that receiver overhead can also be significantly reduced.

[0028] OFDMA is a multi-carrier method in which the signal bandwidth B is divided into M orthogonal sub-bands. In this way, no frequency carrier with a large

[0029] Instead of a single bandwidth, M frequency carriers with a bandwidth of 8f = B / M are provided. With the OFDMA method, the data stream to be transmitted is divided into a plurality of subcarriers and transmitted in parallel at a correspondingly reduced data rate. The individual subcarrier frequency spacing Δf is set to minimize the influence of frequency selectivity. On the other hand, the effects of time variance increase with decreasing bandwidth, so channel estimation is still typically performed.

[0030] With OFDMA, a user can be given all the time and a defined number of subcarriers for transmission. To improve data transmission, OFDMA can be combined with other multiple access methods, such as OFDMA combined with TDMA (OFDMA / TDMA) or OFDMA combined with frequency hopping.

[0031] In the Fig. 8a, Fig. 8b and Fig. 8c is the principle of TDMA (compare Fig. 8a), OFDMA (compare Fig. 8b) and OFDMA / TDMA (compare Fig. 8c) according to the prior art. In the respective diagrams 800, 810, 820, time is plotted along a time axis 801, 811, 821, divided into transmission time intervals TTI 802, 812, 822 of, for example, 10 ms. The frequency range, optionally divided into sub-frequency ranges Δf 814, 824, is shown along a frequency axis F 803, 813, 823.

[0032] In Fig. Figure 8a shows that, within the framework of the TDMA method, the entire frequency range is available for transmission in each time frame 802 for a subscriber (shaded area in Fig. 8a).

[0033] In Fig. 8b shows that for each subscriber the entire time range is available for transmission for a sub-frequency range 8f 814 (in Fig. 8b example shown by the hatched areas).

[0034] According to the OFDMA / TDMA method as described in Fig. 8c, a participant is assigned a discrete time frame 822, paired with a discrete sub-frequency range Δf 824, as exemplified by the hatched areas in Fig. 8c is symbolized.

[0035] Fig. 9 shows the principle of OFDMA in combination with a frequency hopping method in a diagram 900. Diagram 900 again shows a time axis 901, wherein time is divided into equally sized transmission time intervals, also referred to as time frames TTI 902. A second axis of the diagram is the frequency axis F 903, wherein the entire frequency is divided into equally sized sub-frequency ranges Δf 904. According to OFDMA in combination with a frequency hopping method, the data is transmitted in an interleaved manner in the frequency band, i.e., after each time frame 902, the subcarrier is changed according to a defined rule in order to further reduce frequency-selective interference in the mobile radio channel. Thus, in principle, a frequency hopping method represents a type of CDMA method. Fig. 9 shows the allocated time ranges and frequency ranges for transmission by means of numbers in the respective time slots or "frequency slots".

[0036] OFDMA or OFDM is already used in various application areas, for example in a WLAN communication system (Wireless Local Area Network) according to IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11g as well as in DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial) and DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld).

[0037] The invention is based on the problem of transmitting system information in a mobile radio communication network more efficiently than in the prior art.

[0038] The problem is solved by a subscriber terminal having the features according to patent claim 1, a base station having the features according to patent claim 7 and a processor according to patent claim 13.

[0039] An exemplary method for computer-aided formation of system information medium access control protocol messages, a method for computer-aided determination of system information from system information medium access control protocol messages, medium access control units, mobile radio communication devices and by corresponding computer program elements are described.

[0040] In a method for computer-assisted formation of system information medium access control protocol messages, system information data packets are received from at least one logical channel, wherein at least a portion of the system information data packets is assigned prioritization information, which indicates the priority of the respective system information data packet. The system information medium access control protocol messages are formed using at least a portion of the system information data packets of the logical channel, taking the prioritization information into account.

[0041] In a method for computer-assisted determination of system information from system information medium access control protocol messages, a first system information medium access control protocol message of a transport channel is received, wherein the system information medium access control protocol message contains an indication of how a second system information medium access control protocol message is transmitted. The indication is determined from the first system information medium access control protocol message, and the second system information medium access control protocol message is received taking into account the determined indication.

[0042] A medium access control unit for forming system information medium access control protocol messages comprises a receiving unit for receiving system information data packets from at least one logical channel, wherein at least a portion of the system information data packets is assigned prioritization information, which indicates the priority of the respective system information data packet. Furthermore, a coding unit is provided for forming the system information medium access control protocol message using at least a portion of the system information data packets of the logical channel, taking the prioritization information into account.

[0043] Furthermore, a mobile radio communication device is provided with a medium access control unit as described above, which can be configured, for example, as a mobile radio base station.

[0044] Furthermore, a medium access control unit for determining system information from system information medium access control protocol messages is provided, comprising a receiving unit for receiving a first system information medium access control protocol message of a transport channel, which contains an indication about how a second system information medium access control protocol message is transmitted. Furthermore, a determination unit is provided for determining the indication on the first system information medium access control protocol message. The receiving unit is configured such that it can change reception characteristics depending on the determined indication for receiving the second system information medium access control protocol message.Clearly, the receiving unit is set in its receiving parameters such that it can receive the second system information medium access control protocol message.

[0045] Furthermore, a mobile radio communication device with a medium access control unit described above is provided, which is configured, for example, as a mobile radio communication terminal.

[0046] Furthermore, corresponding computer program elements are provided for the implementation of the functionalities or methods described above.

[0047] In this context, it should be noted that the invention can be implemented in software, i.e. by means of a computer program, in hardware, i.e. by means of a special electronic circuit designed for this purpose, or in hybrid form, i.e. in any desired proportions in hardware or in software.

[0048] By prioritizing the system information data packets of the logical channel and appropriately considering the prioritization information at the Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol layer level when mapping these messages to the transport channel—in other words, when forming the MAC protocol messages—it is possible to adapt very quickly to potentially changing transmission conditions. Furthermore, it is possible to send information with appropriate prioritization of static, slowly changing system information to a secure mobile radio channel that is always receivable by all subscriber terminals in a mobile radio cell. It is also possible to distribute rapidly changing information, for example, among temporarily changing radio resources or, if the bandwidth is insufficient, to temporarily not transmit it at all.This clearly shows that the system information data packets of the logical channel are scheduled as part of the mapping to the respective transport channel depending on the type of system information.

[0049] Exemplary embodiments of the inventions are set forth in the dependent claims. The exemplary embodiments described below relate, to the extent appropriate, to the methods, the medium access control units, the mobile radio communication device, and the computer program elements.

[0050] According to one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the system information medium access control protocol messages are mapped to at least one transport channel.

[0051] The system information data packets can be received from at least one logical broadcast channel, for example, according to UMTS, from the logical channel Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH).

[0052] According to another embodiment of the invention, the system information medium access control protocol message is mapped to at least one broadcast transport channel, for example, to the Broadcast Channel (BCH) when used in the context of UMTS.

[0053] However, the System Information Medium Access Control protocol messages can also be mapped to multiple broadcast transport channels.

[0054] The received system information data packets can be grouped according to the prioritization information into at least system information data packets of a first group and system information data packets of a second group. At least one first system information medium access control protocol message is generated for the system information data packets of the first group, and at least one second system information medium access control protocol message is generated for the system information data packets of the second group. In this case, the prioritization information corresponds to the specification of the type of system information to be transmitted via the system information data packets of the logical channel.

[0055] Examples of system information to be transferred are: • Information about the UMTS core network and the configuration of system-relevant timers and constants; • Parameters for cell selection and cell change; • a configuration of the physical shared radio resources for subscriber devices in idle mode; • a configuration of the physical shared radio resources for subscriber devices in connected mode; • Information on how to carry out measurements.

[0056] The first system information medium access control protocol message can contain system information that is not updated over a predeterminable time interval—in other words, only slowly changing system information, also referred to as static system information. The second system information medium access control protocol message can contain system information that is updated, needs to be updated, or generally expires before the expiration of the predeterminable time interval—i.e., typically system information that represents more rapidly changing system information, also referred to as dynamic system information.

[0057] In this way, it is very easy and type-adapted to transfer the system information in an optimized and efficient manner.

[0058] The first system information medium access control protocol message may, for example, contain at least part of the following system information: • PLMN identity; • Cell identity; • Configuration of system-relevant timers and constants; • Configuration of the physical shared radio resources; • Information on how to carry out measurements.

[0059] The second system information medium access control protocol message may, for example, contain at least part of the following system information: • Uplink interference situation; • Transmission parameters for random access channels in the uplink; • Temporal validity of the dynamic system information.

[0060] The system information medium access control protocol messages can be transmitted by means of a multiple access method, for example by means of a frequency division multiple access method and thereby for example by means of a multiple carrier frequency multiple access method, wherein the multiple access method can be a combined multiple access method, for example a multiple carrier frequency multiple access method combined with a frequency hopping multiple access method or combined with a time division multiple access method.

[0061] The Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) method can be used, for example, as a multiple carrier frequency multiple access method.

[0062] According to another embodiment of the invention, the first system information medium access control protocol message is formed such that it contains an indication of how the second system information medium access control protocol message is transmitted, for example, in which frequency band the second system information medium access control protocol message is transmitted and / or in which time slot the second system information medium access control protocol message is transmitted.

[0063] In this way, it is very easy to include, for example, a reference in the first system information medium access control protocol message, for example in a field specially provided for this purpose, and to refer therein to the respective time slot or the respective frequency band which is used to transmit the respective second system information medium access control protocol message.

[0064] The invention can be used, for example, in a cellular mobile radio communication system, for example, in a GSM mobile radio communication system, and further, for example, in a 3GPP mobile radio communication system or in a 3GPP2 mobile radio communication system. In particular, the invention can be used in a UMTS mobile radio communication system or in a CDMA2000 mobile radio communication system or in a FOMA mobile radio communication system (FOMA: Freedom of Multimedia Access communication system).

[0065] Exemplary embodiments are shown in the figures and are explained in more detail below.

[0066] It shows Fig. 1 shows a communication system according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 a representation of a protocol structure of the UMTS air interface; Fig. 3 is a representation of a mapping of BCCH data packets to P-CCPCH data packets according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 a MAC-b unit according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5A and Fig. 5E a representation of a first BCCH data packet ( Fig. 5A) and a second BCCH data packet ( Fig. 5B) according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 a diagram in which an OFDMA / TDMA transmission method according to an embodiment the invention is shown; Fig. 7 shows a representation of a BCCH data packet according to the prior art; Fig. 8A to 8O are diagrams illustrating different transmission methods according to the prior art, namely a TDMA transmission method ( Fig. 8A), an OFDMA transmission method ( Fig. 8B) and a OFDMA / TDMA transmission method ( Fig. 8C); and Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating an OFDMA transmission method combined with a frequency hopping transmission method according to the prior art.

[0067] Fig. 1 shows a UMTS mobile radio communication system 100, for reasons of simplicity of illustration in particular the components of the UMTS mobile radio access network (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network, UTRAN), which has a plurality of mobile radio network subsystems (Radio Network Subsystems, RNS) 101, 102, which are each connected to the UMTS core network by means of a so-called Iu interface 103, 104 (Core Network, CN) 105. A Mobile network subsystems 101, 102 each have a mobile network control unit (Radio Network Controller, RNC) 106, 107 and one or more UMTS base stations 108, 109, 110, 111, which are also referred to as NodeBs according to UMTS.

[0068] Within the mobile access network, the mobile network control units 106, 107 of the individual mobile network subsystems 101, 102 are interconnected via a so-called Iur interface 112. Each mobile network control unit 106, 107 monitors the allocation of mobile resources of all mobile radio cells in a mobile network subsystem 101, 102.

[0069] A UMTS base station 108, 109, 110, 111 is each connected by means of a so-called Iub interface 113, 114, 115, 116 to a mobile radio network control unit 106, 107 assigned to the UMTS base station 108, 109, 110, 111.

[0070] Each UMTS base station 108, 109, 110, 111 clearly spans one or more mobile radio cells (CE) within a mobile radio network subsystem 101, 102. Between a respective UMTS base station 108, 109, 110, 111 and a user equipment (UE), hereinafter also referred to as a mobile radio terminal, in a mobile radio cell, message signals or data signals are transmitted via an air interface, referred to as Uu air interface 117 according to UMTS, preferably according to a multiple access transmission method.

[0071] For example, according to the UMTS FDD mode (Frequency Division Duplex), separate signal transmission in the uplink and downlink directions (uplink: signal transmission from the mobile radio terminal 118 to the respective UMTS base station 108, 109, 110, 111; downlink: signal transmission from the respective assigned UMTS base station 108, 109, 110, 111 to the mobile radio terminal 118) is achieved by a corresponding separate allocation of frequencies or frequency ranges.

[0072] Several subscribers, in other words several activated mobile radio terminals 118 or those registered in the mobile radio access network in the same mobile radio cell are preferably separated from one another in terms of signaling by means of orthogonal codes, in particular according to the so-called CDMA method (Code Division Multiple Access).

[0073] In this context, it should be noted that in Fig. 1, for reasons of simplicity, only one mobile radio terminal 118 is shown. However, in general, any number of mobile radio terminals 118 are provided in the mobile radio system 100.

[0074] The communication of a mobile radio terminal 118 with another communication device can be established by means of a complete mobile radio communication connection to another mobile radio terminal, alternatively to a fixed network communication device.

[0075] As in Fig. 2, the UMTS air interface 117 is logically divided into three protocol layers (in Fig. 2 symbolized by a protocol layer arrangement 200). The units (entities) ensuring and implementing the functionality of the respective protocol layers described below are implemented both in the mobile radio terminal 118 and in the UMTS base station 108, 109, 110, 111 or in the respective mobile radio network control unit 106, 107.

[0076] The Fig. The lowest layer shown in Figure 2 is the physical layer PHY 201, which according to the OSI reference model (Open System Interconnection) according to ISO (International Standardisation Organisation) represents protocol layer 1.

[0077] The protocol layer arranged above the physical layer 201 is the data link layer 202, according to the OSI reference model protocol layer 2, which in turn has several sub-protocol layers, namely the Medium Access Control protocol layer (MAC protocol layer) 203, the Radio Link Control protocol layer 204 (RLC protocol layer), the Packet Data Convergence Protocol protocol layer 205 (PDCP protocol layer), and the Broadcast / Multicast Control protocol layer 206 (BMC protocol layer).

[0078] The top layer of the UMTS air interface Uu is the mobile network layer (according to the OSI reference model protocol layer 3), comprising the mobile resource control unit 207 (Radio Resource Control protocol layer, RRC protocol layer).

[0079] Each protocol layer 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207 offers its services to the protocol layer above it via predefined service access points.

[0080] The service access points are given commonly used and unique names for a better understanding of the protocol layer architecture, such as logical channels 208 between the MAC protocol layer 203 and the RLC protocol layer 204, transport channels 209 between the physical layer 201 and the MAC protocol layer 203, radio bearer (RB) 210 between the RLC protocol layer 204 and the PDCP protocol layer 205 or the BMC protocol layer 206, and Signalling Radio Bearer (SRB) 213 between the RLC protocol layer 204 and the RRC protocol layer 207.

[0081] The Fig. The protocol structure 200 shown in Figure 2 is, according to UMTS, not only divided horizontally into the 15 protocol layers and units of the respective protocol layers described above, but also vertically into a so-called control protocol plane 211 (Control Plane, CPlane), which contains parts of the physical layer 201, parts of the MAC protocol layer 203, parts of the RLC protocol layer 204 and the RRC protocol layer 207 and the user protocol layer 212 (User-Plane, U-Plane), which contains parts of the physical layer 201, parts of the MAC protocol layer 203, parts of the RLC protocol layer 204, the PDCP protocol layer 205 and BMC protocol layer 206.

[0082] The units of the control protocol level 211 are used exclusively to transmit control data that is required to establish, terminate and maintain a communication connection, whereas the actual user data is transported by the units of the user level 212.

[0083] Each protocol layer or each unit (entity) of a respective protocol layer has certain predefined functions within the framework of mobile communication.

[0084] On the transmitter side, the task of the physical layer 201 or the units of the physical layer 201 is to ensure the secure transmission of data coming from the MAC protocol layer 203 via the air interface 117. In this context, the data is routed to physical channels (not shown in Fig. 2). The physical layer 201 offers its services to the MAC protocol layer 203 via transport channels 209, which determine how and with which characteristics the data are to be transported over the air interface 117. The essential functions provided by the units of the physical layer 201 include channel coding, modulation, and CDMA code spreading. Similarly, the 15 physical layer 201 or the entities of the physical layer 201 on the receiver side perform the CDMA code despreading, demodulation and decoding of the received data and then forward it to the MAC protocol layer 203 for further processing.

[0085] The MAC protocol layer 203 or the units of the MAC protocol layer 203 offer or provide their services to the RLC protocol layer 204 by means of logical channels 208 as service access points, which are used to characterize the file type of the transported data. The task of the MAC protocol layer 203 in the transmitter, i.e. during data transmission in the uplink direction in the mobile radio terminal 118, is in particular to map the data present on a logical channel 208 above the MAC protocol layer 203 to the transport channels 209 of the physical layer 201. The physical layer 201 offers the transport channels 209 discrete transmission rates for this purpose. Therefore, an important function of the MAC protocol layer 203 orthe entities of the MAC protocol layer 203 in the mobile radio terminal 118 in the transmission case, the selection of a suitable transport format (TF) for each configured transport channel depending on the respective current data transmission rate and the respective data priority of the logical channels 208, which are mapped to the respective transport channel 209, as well as the available transmission power of the mobile radio terminal 118 (UE).

[0086] A transport format specifies, among other things, how many MAC data packet units, referred to as transport blocks, are sent—in other words, transferred—over the transport channel 209 to the physical layer 201 per transmission time interval (TTI). The permissible transport formats and the permissible combinations of transport formats of the various transport channels 209 are signaled to the mobile radio terminal 118 by the mobile radio network control unit 106, 107 when establishing a communication connection in the form of the so-called uplink TFCS (Transport Format Combination Set). In the receiver, the units of the MAC protocol layer 203 distribute the transport blocks received on the transport channels 209 back to the logical channels 208.

[0087] The MAC protocol layer or the units of the MAC protocol layer 203 typically have three logical units. The so-called MAC-d unit (MAC Dedicated Unit) handles the payload and control data, which are mapped to the dedicated transport channels DCH (Dedicated Channel) via the corresponding dedicated logical channels DTCH (Dedicated Traffic Channel) and DCCH (Dedicated Control Channel). 30 The MAC-c / sh unit (MAC Control / Shared Unit) handles the payload data and control data from logical channels 208, which are mapped to the common transport channels 209, such as the common transport channel RACH (Random Access Channel) in the uplink direction or the common transport channel FACH (Forward Access Channel) in the downlink direction. The MAC-b unit (MAC broadcast unit) handles only the system information relevant to mobile radio cells, which is mapped to the transport channel BCH (Broadcast Channel) via the logical channel BCCH (Broadcast Control Channel) and transmitted via broadcast to all mobile radio terminals 118 in the respective mobile radio cell.

[0088] By means of the RLC protocol layer 204 or by means of the units of the RLC protocol layer 204, the RRC protocol layer 207 is offered its services by means of Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB) 213 as service access points and the PDCP protocol layer 205 and the BMC protocol layer 206 are offered their services by means of Radio Bearer (RB) 210 as service access points.

[0089] The Signaling Radio Bearer and the Radio Bearer characterize how the RLC protocol layer 204 is to handle the data packets. For this purpose, the RRC protocol layer 207, for example, defines the transmission mode for each configured Signaling Radio Bearer or Radio Bearer. The following transmission modes are provided according to UMTS: • Transparent Mode (TM), • Unacknowledged Mode (UM), or • Acknowledged Mode (AM).

[0090] The RLC protocol layer 204 is modeled such that there is a separate RLC entity per radio bearer or signaling radio bearer. Furthermore, the task of the RLC protocol layer is or their entities 204 in the The transmitting device splits or combines the payload data and the signaling data from radio bearers or signaling radio bearers into data packets. The RLC protocol layer 204 transfers the data packets resulting from the splitting or combining to the MAC protocol layer 203 for further transport or processing.

[0091] The PDCP protocol layer 205, or the units of the PDCP protocol layer 205, is configured for the transmission and reception of data from the so-called packet-switched domain (PS domain). The main function of the PDCP protocol layer 205 is the compression and decompression of IP header information (Internet Protocol header information).

[0092] The BMC protocol layer 206 or its entities is / are used to transmit or receive so-called cell broadcast messages via the air interface.

[0093] The RRC protocol layer 207 or the entities of the RRC protocol layer 207 is or are responsible for the construction and Responsible for the dismantling and reconfiguration of physical channels, transport channels 209, logical channels 208, signaling radio bearers 213 and radio bearers 210 as well as for negotiating all parameters of protocol layer 1, i.e., physical layer 201 and protocol layer 2. For this purpose, the RRC units, i.e., the units of RRC protocol layer 207 in the mobile network control unit 106, 107 and the respective mobile terminal 118, exchange corresponding RRC messages via the signaling radio bearers 213.

[0094] According to the following embodiments, the MAC unit described above and therefore in particular the MAC-b unit (MAC broadcast unit) is configured, in addition to the functions described in [1], in such a way that the additional functionalities described below are implemented for transmitting system information to the mobile radio terminals 118 located in each mobile radio cell. This applies both to the respective MAC-b unit in the mobile radio communication terminal 118 and in the UMTS base station 108, 109, 110, 111.

[0095] To better clarify the following embodiments, a general description of the embodiments is first explained.

[0096] In general, a solution for the efficient transmission of system information into a mobile radio cell by means of the UMTS base station 108, 109, 110, 111 is set out below with regard to an additional UMTS communication system based on an OFDMA / TDMA multiple access method and it should be noted that other multiple access methods and also other transmission methods can be provided within the scope of the invention instead of the OFDMA / TDMA multiple access method. For example, the following aspects should be noted:

[0097] The MAC-b unit in the UMTS base station 108, 109, 110, 111 typically performs the scheduling. Scheduling is performed depending on the type of information to be transmitted: The static, i.e., slowly changing, system information is transmitted on predefined and system-wide known subcarriers. An alternative embodiment of the invention also provides for a combination with a frequency hopping method to ensure additional frequency diversity.

[0098] Examples of static system information include: • PLMN identity; • Cell identity; • Configuration of system-relevant timers and constants; • Configuration of the physical shared radio resources; • Information on how to carry out measurements.

[0099] The dynamic, i.e. the more rapidly changing system information is sent flexibly on available subcarriers and transmission time intervals.

[0100] Examples of dynamic system information include: • Uplink interference situation; • Transmission parameters for random access channels in the uplink; • Temporal validity of the dynamic system information. Furthermore, scheduling is dependent on the channel properties and the traffic load in the mobile radio cell, e.g. • in case of poor transmission conditions in the mobile radio cell, the transmission of the static system information on the predefined subcarriers (individual subcarriers or all subcarriers) is temporarily stopped; • When the traffic load is low, the transmission capacity for dynamic system information to be transmitted is temporarily increased.

[0101] According to the following embodiments, it is assumed that in cellular mobile radio communication networks based on GSM or UMTS system-relevant and Cellular cell relevant Information in a cell from a Base station 108, 109, 110, 111 can be transmitted by means of broadcasts to all subscriber devices located in the mobile radio cell, ie for example the mobile radio terminal 118.

[0102] In the case of UMTS, this is done via the logical channel Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) 301 (compare block diagram 300 in Fig. 3), which is mapped to the Broadcast Channel (BCH) 302 and is physically transmitted to the Primary Common Control Physical Channel (P-CCPCH) 303 via the air interface 117 (see Fig. 1). 246 information bits are sent via BCCH 301 or BCH 302 to physical layer 303, where they are then channel-coded, modulated, and spread using a system-wide known spreading code with spreading factor SF = 256. Since a fixed transmission time length of TTI = 20 ms is defined for the BCH, the channel-coded data is transmitted over two P-CCPCH frames of length 10 ms distributed over the air interface 117 in the mobile radio cell.

[0103] Fig. 3 shows a BCCH frame 304 with 246 bits, which is mapped to a BCH frame 305 also with 246 bits of transmission time TTI = 20 ms, which BCH frame 305 in turn is mapped to the physical channel 10 according to Fig. 3 is mapped to two P-CCPCH frames, namely a first PCCPCH frame 306 and a second P-CCPCH frame 307.

[0104] In a block diagram 400 in Fig. Figure 4 illustrates a MAC-b unit 401 according to an embodiment of the invention. According to these embodiments of the invention, at least two logical channels, namely a first logical channel BCCH1 402 and a second logical channel BCCH2 403, are provided, as well as at least two transport channels, namely a first transport channel BCH1 404 and a second transport channel BCH2 405.

[0105] On the first logical channel BCCH1 402, the static system information is sent, i.e. the system information grouped as static system information, and on the second logical channel BCCH2 403, the dynamic system information is sent to the MAC-b unit 401, in other words the system information grouped as faster changing system information.

[0106] For each transport channel BCH1 404 and BCH2 405, a set of transport formats is defined which specify the permissible discrete transmission rates of the transport channel.

[0107] The data on the first transport channel BCH1 404 is physically transmitted on predefined and system-wide known subcarriers, if necessary in combination with a frequency hopping procedure.

[0108] The data to be transmitted on the second transport channel BCH2 405, on the other hand, is sent flexibly on available subcarriers and transmission time intervals.

[0109] The transmission capacity configured by the mobile radio communication network for the first transport channel BCH1 404 represents the “guaranteed” transmission capacity, while the transmission capacity configured for the second transport channel BCH2 405 together with the first transport channel BCH1 404 represents the maximum permitted total capacity.

[0110] The MAC-b unit 401 according to these embodiments of the invention has a function and thus a corresponding unit implementing this function, for example by means of a microprocessor, for scheduling or for Priority handling.

[0111] The following principles are applied: • The logical channels BCCH1 402 and BCCH2 403 can each be multiplexed to any of the two transport channels BCH1 404 and BCH2 405. • When multiplexing data onto the first transport channel BCH1 404, the data of the first logical channel BCCH1 402 has higher priority than the data of the second 30 logical channel BCCH2 403. • If the transmission capacity of the first transport channel BCH1 404 permits, data from the first logical channel BCCH1 402 as well as from the second logical channel BCCH2 403 can be multiplexed onto the first transport channel BCH1 404. • If the transmission capacity of the first transport channel BCH1 404 is insufficient, only data from the first logical channel BCCH1 402 is multiplexed on the first transport channel BCH1 404.

[0112] As an alternative to the solution described above with (at least) two logical broadcast channels 402, 403, a solution with only one logical broadcast channel is possible, ie in this case static system information and dynamic system information are sent, ie fed, to the MAC-b unit 401 via the same logical channel.

[0113] In this case, it is provided that on the logical channel BCCH, in addition to the data to be transmitted, i.e. in addition to the data to be transmitted, priority information is sent or supplied to the MAC-b unit 401, so that the MAC-b unit 401 can correctly carry out the scheduling and priority handling according to the type of system information to be transmitted, taking into account the received priority information which is assigned to the data which was supplied to the MAC-b unit 401 via the logical channel BCCH.

[0114] Furthermore, in Fig. 4 also shows a MAC control unit 406 for controlling the MAC-b unit 401.

[0115] For the transmission of system information on the first transport channel BCH1 404 and the second transport channel BCH2 405, new data formats are defined according to these embodiments of the invention, as are exemplified in the Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b are shown.

[0116] For better clarification, Fig. 5a above shows the data format of the previous BCH message 700, as described above in connection with Fig. 7 was explained.

[0117] The data format for a first system information message 500 now has three message fields compared to the two message fields according to the prior art, namely a first system information indicator field 501 of length M bits (M is basically any natural number), • a system frame number field 502 of length 12 bits, which is designed according to the prior art, and • a payload field 503 of length N bits (also referred to as SIB Data).

[0118] The system information indicator (Sys-IND) field 501 signals to the subscribers where the system information is being sent over the second transport channel BCH2 405 (for example, the subcarrier used and the transmission time interval (TTI) are specified). The system information indicator field 501 is inserted in the physical protocol layer. The first system information message 500 is transmitted over the first transport channel BCH1 404.

[0119] The data format of a second system information message 510 to be transmitted via the second transport channel BCH2 405 is Fig. 5b.

[0120] The second system information message 510 has only one payload field, in other words, a system information data field 511 with a length of L bits (L is, in principle, any natural number). This field contains exclusively system information ("SIB Data").

[0121] Regarding the signaling of the position of the system information, according to these embodiments of the invention: • The position of the static system information on the first transport channel BCH1 404 is determined by the mobile radio communication network, ie it is assumed to be known system-wide for quick retrieval. • The position of the dynamic system information transmitted on the second transport channel BCH2 405 is signaled to the subscribers, ie the mobile radio terminals 118 in the mobile radio cell by means of the system information indicator field 501, which is transmitted by means of the first transport channel BCH 404.

[0122] The advantages of the signaling described above in particular are as follows: • The transmission of system information is adapted for an OFDMA / TDMA multiple access method. • The transmission capacity for system information can be dynamically adjusted depending on the channel characteristics and the traffic load in the mobile radio cell. • The reading time of the system information for the subscribers in a cell is reduced.

[0123] Without limiting its generality, the following configuration will be considered as an example: • an OFDMA / TDMA multiple access method is used; • FDD radio transmission technology is used; • there will be a Fig. 4, the MAC-b unit 401 is used at the MAC-b protocol layer level; • the data formats of the system information messages 500, 510 are used as in the Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b, for the messages transmitted on the first transport channel BCH1 404 or on the second transport channel BCH2 405; • the following transport formats are provided for the first transport channel BCH1 404: (1x246, 2x246) in bits; • The following transport formats are provided for the second transport channel BCH2 405: (0x336, 1 x336, 2x336) in bits.

[0124] Fig. 6 shows, in a diagram 600, a structure for transmitting the system information, in other words the system information messages 500, 510. The diagram 600 shows nine time frames t1, t2, t9 along a time axis 601. Along a frequency axis 602, it is shown that the frequency space under consideration is divided into eight frequency ranges F1, F2, F8, i.e., eight subcarriers are used to transmit system information via the transport channels 404, 405.

[0125] The system information on the first transport channel BCH1, in other words the first system information messages 501, are permanently transmitted on two subcarriers (F3, F6), whereas the system information on the second transport channel BCH2 405, in other words the second system information messages 510, are flexibly transmitted on available subcarriers and transmission time intervals as needed.

[0126] The position of the dynamic system information on the second transport channel BCH2 405 is signaled to the subscribers in the mobile radio cell via the system information indicator field 501 on the first transport channel BCH1, i.e., in a first system information message 500. It is assumed here that the signaling occurs one time transmission interval (TTI) (or several time transmission intervals) beforehand. The signaling occurs in the form of a tuple (subcarrier, TTI), i.e., the positions of a first second system information message 603 (F5, t4) for the second transport channel BCH2 405 are signaled in a first system information message 604 that precedes this, for example, transmitted in the third time slot t3.The position of a second second system information message 605 (F7, t6) is signaled in a temporally preceding time transmission interval t5 in a second first system information message 606, in this case transmitted by means of the third subcarrier F3.

[0127] Furthermore, it is assumed that the signaling for a third second system information message 607 (F1, t8) occurs in a third first system information message 608, which also precedes this one in time and is transmitted via the sixth subcarrier F6. The position of a fourth second system information message 609 (F1, t9) is signaled by means of a fourth first system information message 610, which is also transmitted precedes this one in time and is transmitted via the third subcarrier F3 in the eighth time slot t8.

[0128] In summary, aspects of the invention can be seen in the fact that the scheduling of system information is performed in the MAC-b unit in the UMTS base station. Scheduling is performed depending on the respective type of information to be transmitted (static / dynamic) and depending on the channel characteristics and traffic load in the mobile radio cell.

[0129] The new MAC-b architecture includes a function for scheduling or priority handling, for example at least two logical channels and two transport channels.

[0130] New data formats are defined for transmitting system information on (at least) two transport channels. The data format for transmitting static system information also includes a field for signaling the transmission of dynamic system information, the system information indicator field according to these embodiments of the invention.

[0131] The following publications are cited in this document: [1] Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Radio Resource Control (RCC) protocol specification – 3GPP TS 25.331 V6.6.0, 2005-06 [2] KD Kammeyer, News Transmission, BG Teubner, ISBN 3-519-16142-7, Stuttgart, pages 593 to 638, 1996. [3] EP 1317110 B1 [4] CN 01567769 A [5]: 3rd Generation Partnership Project, Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; MAC protocol specification (Release 5)

Claims

[1] Subscriber terminal (118) adapted to: Determining a first system information block (500) that was sent in a statically defined transmission period, wherein the first system information block (500) (i) is different from a master information block (MIB) and comprises (i) a public terrestrial mobile network (PLMN) identity or a radio cell identity and (ii) scheduling information (501) indicating how system information of a system information medium access control protocol message of a transport channel is to be sent by a base station in a second system information block to the subscriber terminal (118); and Receiving the second system information block (510) transmitted on dynamically scheduled radio resources based on the scheduling information (501). [2] The subscriber terminal (118) of claim 1, wherein the first system information block (500) and the second system information block (510) were transmitted according to an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing method, OFDMA. [3] The subscriber terminal (118) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second system information block comprises cell selection information. [4] Subscriber terminal (118) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first system information block (500) or the second system information block (510) is a system information block of a logical broadcast channel (402, 403). [5] The subscriber terminal (118) of claim 4, wherein the logical broadcast channel is a broadcast control channel, BCCH. [6] The subscriber terminal (118) of claim 1, wherein the scheduling information (501) indicates the frequency band in which the second system information block (510) is transmitted. [7] Base station adapted to: Generating a first system information block (500) different from a master information block (MIB) and comprising (i) a public terrestrial mobile network, PLMS, identity or cell identity and (ii) scheduling information (501) indicating how to send system information of a system information medium access control protocol message of a transport channel in a second system information block (510); Generating the second system information block (510); Sending the first system information block (500) in a statically defined transmission period; and Transmitting the second system information block (510) on a dynamically scheduled radio resource. [8] The base station of claim 7, wherein the instructions are further for transmitting the first system information block (500) and the second system information block (510) according to an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDMA) method. [9] A base station according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the second system information block (510) comprises cell selection information. [10] Base station according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the first system information block (500) or the second system information block (510) is a system information block of a logical broadcast channel (402, 403). [11] The base station of claim 10, wherein the logical broadcast channel is a broadcast control channel, BCCH. [12] The base station according to claim 7, wherein the scheduling information (501) indicates the frequency band in which the second system information block (510) is transmitted. [13] A processor in a subscriber terminal (118), the processor being adapted to: Determining a first system information block (500) that was transmitted in a statically defined transmission period, wherein the first system information block (500) differs from a master information block (MIB) and comprises (i) a public terrestrial mobile network (PLMN) identity or a radio cell identity and (ii) scheduling information (501) indicating how system information of a system information medium access control protocol message of a transport channel is to be transmitted by a base station in a second system information block to the subscriber terminal (118); and Receiving the second system information block (510) transmitted on dynamically scheduled radio resources based on the scheduling information (501). [14] The processor of claim 13, wherein the first system information block (500) and the second system information block (510) were transmitted according to an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, OFDMA. [15] The processor of claim 13 or 14, wherein the second system information block comprises cell selection information. [16] The processor of claim 13 or 14, wherein the first system information block (500) or the second system information block (510) is a system information block of a logical broadcast channel (402, 403). [17] The processor of claim 16, wherein the logical broadcast channel is a broadcast control channel, BCCH. [18] The processor of claim 13, wherein the scheduling information (501) indicates the frequency band in which the second system information block (510) is transmitted.

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