System information acquisiton

Abstract

An apparatus comprising means for: determining information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information; determining, when the apparatus is in a radio resource control, RRC, idle or RRC inactive mode and is using a discontinuous reception, DRX, cycle longer than a system information modification period, whether to acquire at least part of system information based, at least in part, on the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information; and acquiring at least part of system information in response to determining that at least part of system information should be acquired.

Description

[0001] TITLE

[0002] SYSTEM INFORMATION ACQUISITON

[0003] TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[0004] Examples of the disclosure relate to system information acquisition. Some relate to system information acquisition when an apparatus, such as a UE, is using discontinuous reception.

[0005] BACKGROUND

[0006] A wireless network comprises a plurality of network nodes including terminal nodes and access nodes. Communication between the terminal nodes and access nodes is wireless.

[0007] System information can be acquired by a terminal node from an access node. In some circumstances it may be desirable to improve or enhance acquisition of system information by a terminal node.

[0008] BRIEF SUMMARY

[0009] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising means for: determining information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information; determining, when the apparatus is in a radio resource control, RRC, idle or RRC inactive mode and is using a discontinuous reception, DRX, cycle longer than a system information modification period, whether to acquire at least part of system information based, at least in part, on the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information; and acquiring at least part of system information in response to determining that at least part of system information should be acquired.

[0010] In some examples, determining information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information comprises at least one of the following: retrieving the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information from at least one memory; or receiving the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information from an access node.

[0011] In some examples, receiving the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information from an access node comprises receiving the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information with at least one of the following: at least part of system information; at least one paging message; at least one RRC short message; or at least one radio resource control, RRC, Release message.

[0012] In some examples, determining whether to acquire at least part of system information comprises determining whether at least one system information modification period boundary has passed since the apparatus last verified validity of stored system information.

[0013] In some examples, the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information comprises at least one of the following: information to control the apparatus to acquire at least part of system information before initiation of at least one procedure; or information indicating at least one time at which the apparatus is to acquire at least part of system information.

[0014] In some examples, the information to control the apparatus to acquire at least part of system information before initiation of at least one procedure comprises at least one of the following: information to control the apparatus to acquire at least part of system information before initiation of at least one procedure if it has been longer than a expiration time period since the apparatus last verified validity of stored system information; information to control the apparatus to acquire at least part of system information before initiation of at least one procedure if at least one system information modification period boundary has passed since the apparatus last verified validity of stored system information; or information to control the apparatus to acquire at least part of system information before initiation of at least one procedure during a time period.

[0015] In some examples, the at least one procedure comprises at least one procedure for establishment or resumption of a radio connection.

[0016] In some examples, the at least one procedure comprises at least one of the following:

[0017] RRC connection establishment;

[0018] RRC connection re-establishment;

[0019] Request for on demand system information; or

[0020] RRC connection resume.

[0021] In some examples, the at least one time at which the apparatus is to acquire at least part of system information comprises at least one of the following: immediately; a specified time; the beginning of the next system information modification period; the beginning of the next system information acquisition period; a plurality of times.

[0022] In some examples, acquiring at least part of system information comprises acquiring at least part of system information to enable a check of system information validity.

[0023] In some examples, acquiring at least part of system information comprises acquiring system information block one, SIB1.

[0024] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided a method comprising: determining information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information; determining, when the apparatus is in a radio resource control, RRC, idle or RRC inactive mode and is using a discontinuous reception, DRX, cycle longer than a system information modification period, whether to acquire at least part of system information based, at least in part, on the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information; and acquiring at least part of system information in response to determining that at least part of system information should be acquired.

[0025] In some examples, the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information comprises at least one of the following: information to control the apparatus to acquire at least part of system information before initiation of at least one procedure; or information indicating at least one time at which the apparatus is to acquire at least part of system information.

[0026] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided a computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to perform: determining information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information; determining, when the apparatus is in a radio resource control, RRC, idle or RRC inactive mode and is using a discontinuous reception, DRX, cycle longer than a system information modification period, whether to acquire at least part of system information based, at least in part, on the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information; and acquiring at least part of system information in response to determining that at least part of system information should be acquired.

[0027] In some examples, the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information comprises at least one of the following: information to control the apparatus to acquire at least part of system information before initiation of at least one procedure; or information indicating at least one time at which the apparatus is to acquire at least part of system information.

[0028] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising means for: causing transmission of information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 towards at least one access node 120; receiving, based at least in part on the transmitted information 170, at least one request for at least part of system information 172 from at least one requesting terminal node 110; and causing transmission of the requested at least part of system information 172 towards the at least one requesting terminal node 110.

[0029] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least a part of one or more methods described herein.

[0030] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising means for performing at least part of one or more methods described herein.

[0031] The description of a function and / or action should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function and / or action. Functions and / or actions described herein can be performed in any suitable way using any suitable method.

[0032] The description of a feature, such as an apparatus or a component of an apparatus, for performing a function should additionally be considered to also disclose an apparatus or a component of an apparatus configured to perform the function. Similarly, the description of a feature, such as an apparatus or a component of an apparatus, configured to perform a function should additionally be considered to also disclose an apparatus or a component of an apparatus for performing the function.

[0033] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided examples as claimed in the appended claims.

[0034] While the above examples of the disclosure and optional features are described separately, it is to be understood that their provision in all possible combinations and permutations is contained within the disclosure. It is to be understood that various examples of the disclosure can comprise any or all the features described in respect of other examples of the disclosure, and vice versa. Also, it is to be appreciated that any one or more or all the features, in any combination, may be implemented by / comprised in / performable by an apparatus, a method, and / or computer program instructions as desired, and as appropriate.

[0035] BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0036] Some examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows an example of the subject matter described herein;

[0038] FIG. 2 shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0039] FIG. 3 shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0040] FIG. 4A shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0041] FIG. 4B shows another example of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 4C shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0042] FIG. 4D shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0043] FIG. 4E shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0044] FIG. 4F shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0045] FIG. 5 shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0046] FIG. 6 shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0047] FIG. 7A shows another example of the subject matter described herein; and FIG. 7B shows another example of the subject matter described herein.

[0048] The figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and views of the figures can be shown schematically or exaggerated in scale in the interest of clarity and conciseness. For example, the dimensions of some elements in the figures can be exaggerated relative to other elements to aid explication. Similar reference numerals are used in the figures to designate similar features. For clarity, all reference numerals are not necessarily displayed in all figures.

[0049] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] FIG 1 illustrates an example of a network 100 comprising a plurality of network nodes including terminal nodes 110, access nodes 120 and one or more core nodes 129. The terminal nodes 110 and access nodes 120 communicate with each other. The one or more core nodes 129 communicate with the access nodes 120. The network 100 is in this example a radio telecommunications network, in which at least some of the terminal nodes 110 and access nodes 120 communicate with each other using transmission / reception of radio waves / signals.

[0051] The one or more core nodes 129 may, in some examples, communicate with each other. The one or more access nodes 120 may, in some examples, communicate with each other.

[0052] The network 100 may be a cellular network comprising a plurality of cells 122 each served by an access node 120. In this example, the interface between the terminal nodes 110 and an access node 120 defining a cell 122 is a wireless interface 124.

[0053] The access node 120 is a cellular radio transceiver. The terminal nodes 110 are cellular radio transceivers.

[0054] In the example illustrated the cellular network 100 is a third generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network in which the terminal nodes 110 are user equipment (UE), see, for example, FIG. 3, and the access nodes 120 are base stations.

[0055] In examples the network 100 is an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access network (E-UTRAN). The E-UTRAN consists of E-UTRAN NodeBs (eNBs) 120, providing the E- UTRA user plane and control plane (RRC) protocol terminations towards the UE. The eNBs 120 are interconnected with each other by means of an X2 interface 126. The eNBs are also connected by means of the S1 interface 128 to the Mobility Management Entity (MME) 129.

[0056] In other examples the network 100 is a Next Generation (or New Radio, NR) Radio Access network (NG-RAN). The NG-RAN consists of gNodeBs (gNBs) 120, providing the user plane and control plane (RRC) protocol terminations towards the UE. The gNBs 120 are interconnected with each other by means of an Xn interface 126. The gNBs are also connected by means of the N2 interface 128 to the Access and Mobility management Function (AMF).

[0057] A user equipment (UE) can comprise a mobile equipment. Where reference is made to user equipment that reference includes and encompasses, wherever possible, a reference to mobile equipment. In examples, the network 100 can comprise a combination of E-UTRAN and NG-RAN.

[0058] In examples, the network 100 can comprise a 6thgeneration radio access network (6GRAN).

[0059] System information comprises information to, for example, enable a terminal node 110 to select / reselect at least one cell, and to establish a radio connection with at least one access node.

[0060] System information can be acquired by a terminal node 110, such as a UE, from at least one access node 120, such as at least one gNB.

[0061] As used herein acquiring at least a part of system information can comprise at least one of: newly acquiring at least part of system information or re-acquiring at least part of system information 172.

[0062] In examples, system information comprises a master information block (MIB) and various system information blocks (SIBs).

[0063] System information can be radio system information.

[0064] In some examples, system information is as described in at least one 3GPP technical specification (TS). For example, at least one of 3GPP TS 38.300 clause 7.3.1 release 18 or later, or 3GPP technical specification 36.300, clause 7.4 release 18 or later.

[0065] In examples, a terminal node 110 can be in radio resource control (RRC) idle or RRC inactive mode and can be configured with and use a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle longer than a system information modification period.

[0066] In some examples, DRX cycle is as described in at least one 3GPP technical specification (TS). For example, at least one of 3GPP TS 38.304 clause 7.1 release 18 or later.

[0067] In some examples a terminal node 110 can be configured with and use an idle DRX cycle longer than a system information modification period. In some examples, idle DRX is at least one of DRX for monitoring of paging or DRX for monitoring of paging occasions.

[0068] In some examples, idle DRX is at least one of DRX for RRC idle mode or DRX for RRC inactive mode.

[0069] In some examples, a terminal node 110 can be configured with and use an extended DRX (eDRX) cycle. In examples, an eDRX cycle can be longer than a DRX cycle.

[0070] In some examples, eDRX is as described in at least one 3GPP technical specification (TS). For example, at least one of 3GPP TS 38.300 clause 9.2.10 release 18 or later.

[0071] A system information modification period can be a time period used to enable change of system information at predetermined times, such as particular radio frames.

[0072] In some examples, system information modification period is as described in at least one 3GPP TS. For example, at least one of 3GPP TS 38.300 clause 7.3.3 release 18 or later and / or 3GPP TS 38.331 clause 5.2.2.2.2 release 18 or later.

[0073] By way of example, reference is made to the example of FIG. 2.

[0074] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of a timing scenario. In the example of FIG. 2, time increases from left to right.

[0075] In the example of FIG. 2 a terminal node 110 is using a DRX cycle 176 in the form of an idle DRX cycle 176, which in examples, is an eDRX cycle 176.

[0076] In FIG. 2 the paging occasions of the terminal node 110 are indicated by the solid lines 196, and the length of the eDRX cycle is indicated by double headed arrow 176.

[0077] In some examples, paging occasions 196 can be the beginning of a series of paging occasions (not illustrated in the example of FIG. 2).

[0078] Also shown in the example of FIG. 2 are system information modification period boundaries which are indicated by the dashed lines 186, and the system modification period is indicated by the dashed double headed arrow 178. It can be seen in the example of FIG. 2 that the eDRX cycle 176 of the terminal node 110 is longer than the system information modification period 178. In the illustrated example, four system information modification period boundaries 186 pass during a single eDRX cycle.

[0079] In examples, a terminal node 110 configured with and using a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle longer than a system information modification period can be configured, caused, or controlled to acquire system information in accordance with at least one condition.

[0080] For example, such a terminal node 110 can be configured, caused, or controlled to acquire system information at a certain time or times and / or before initiation of at least one procedure.

[0081] Examples of the disclosure relate to at least one of the following: apparatuses, methods, or computer programs for or involved in acquisition of at least part of system information by a terminal node 110.

[0082] In examples, acquisition of at least part of system information by a terminal node 110 can be conditional acquisition of at least part of system information by a terminal node 110.

[0083] Additionally, or alternatively, examples of the disclosure relate to at least one of the following: apparatuses, methods, or computer programs for or involved notifying a terminal node of a change in system information.

[0084] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of signaling between entities. FIG. 3 also illustrates an example of a method 300.

[0085] FIG. 3 illustrates methods performed by a system comprising interaction between different system entities. FIG. 3 also illustrates a collection of separate methods performed separately by the different system entities. The different system entities of FIG. 3 can be considered apparatuses.

[0086] One or more of the features discussed in relation to FIG. 3 can be found in one or more of the other FIGs. In the example of FIG. 3, a plurality of apparatuses transmit and / or receive one or more signals and / or messages across and / or via and / or using a network. In examples, any suitable form of communication in any suitable network can be used. For example, at least a portion of the network 100 of FIG. 1 can be used.

[0087] In the example of FIG. 3, a terminal node 110, and an access node 120 transmit and / or receive one or more signals and / or one or more messages.

[0088] In the example of FIG. 3, the terminal node 110 is a UE 198 and the access node 120 is a gNB 200.

[0089] In examples, transmissions between entities illustrated in FIG. 3 can proceed via any number of intervening entities, including no intervening entities.

[0090] Although a single terminal node 110 is illustrated in the example of FIG. 3, in examples any suitable number of terminal nodes 110 can be included. Similarly, any suitable number of access nodes 120 can be used.

[0091] As used herein, a description of a function / action should also be considered to disclose at least one of the following: enabling, causing, or controlling that function / action. For example, description of transmitting information should also be considered to disclose at least one of the following: enabling transmission of information, causing transmission of information, or controlling transmission of information.

[0092] For example, a description of an apparatus, such as a gNB 200, transmitting information should also be considered to disclose at least one controller of the apparatus performing at least one of the following: enabling the apparatus to transmit the information, causing the apparatus to transmit the information, or controlling the apparatus to transmit the information.

[0093] In examples, at least part of method 300 can be considered a method of acquiring at least part of system information.

[0094] In examples, at least part of method 300 can be considered a method of conditionally acquiring at least part of system information. In examples, at least part of method 300 can be considered a method of notifying a terminal node of a change in system information.

[0095] In examples, at least part of method 300 can be considered a method of controlling acquisition of at least part of system information by a terminal node.

[0096] In the illustrated examples, the location of the blocks indicates the entity or entities performing the function(s) / action(s). For example, block 302 is performed by the terminal node (in some examples transmitting) and in some examples the access node 120 transmitting. For example, block 304 is performed by the terminal node 110.

[0097] As used herein, the term ‘block’ is intended to refer to an action or actions indicated in a FIG.

[0098] At block 302, method 300 comprises determining information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172.

[0099] In some examples, information 170 can comprise information for causing acquisition of at least part of system information 172.

[0100] In some examples, information 170 can comprise information for configuring acquisition of at least part of system information 172.

[0101] For example, information 170 can comprise information for controlling / causing / configuring an apparatus to acquire at least part of system information 172.

[0102] In some examples, information 170 is for controlling / causing / configuring conditional acquisition of at least part of system information 172.

[0103] In examples, information 170 comprises information indicating which part or parts of system information 172 is / are to be acquired.

[0104] In examples, at least part of the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 can be pre-installed in the terminal node 110, for example during manufacture. In some examples, at least part of the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 can be received by the terminal node 110, from another entity, such as the access node 120.

[0105] Accordingly, in examples, determining information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 comprises at least one of the following: retrieving the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 from at least one memory 134; or receiving the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 from an access node 120.

[0106] As FIG. 3 illustrates one or more functions / actions of receiving, FIG. 3 also illustrates the corresponding transmitting and causing / enabling / controlling transmitting function(s) / action(s). For example, in some examples, from the point of view of the access node 120, block 302 comprises transmitting information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 towards at least one terminal node 110.

[0107] The information 170 for controlling acquisition of system information 172 can be received with any suitable signal / message / information. Accordingly, in some examples, block 302 comprises receiving any suitable signal / message / information.

[0108] In examples the information 170 for controlling acquisition of system information 172 can be transmitted with at least one of dedicated signaling or broadcast signaling.

[0109] In some examples, receiving information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 from an access node 120 comprises receiving the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 with at least one of the following: at least part of system information 172; at least one paging message 180; at least one RRC short message 182; or at least one RRC Release message.

[0110] The Information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 can be received with any suitable message comprising at least part of system information 172. That is, in examples, the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 can be included in any suitable message comprising at least part of system information 172 and can form part of the system information 172.

[0111] In some examples, information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 can form part of at least one system information message.

[0112] For example, information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 can be received with or as a part of MIB, SIB1 , system information message, SIB2, SIB3 and so on.

[0113] In some examples, an RRC short message is as described in at least one 3GPP TS. For examples, at least one of 3GPP TS 38.331 clause 6.5 release 18 or later.

[0114] The information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 can comprise any suitable information and can have any suitable form.

[0115] In some examples, the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 comprises at least one information element (IE) in at least one message, such as at least one system information message.

[0116] In some examples, the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 can be in the form of a single bit Boolean value, or flag.

[0117] At block 304, method 300 comprises determining, when the terminal node 110 is in a RRC idle or RRC inactive mode and is using a DRX cycle 176 longer than a system modification period 178, whether to acquire at least part of system information 172 based, at least in part, on the information 170 relating to controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172.

[0118] In some examples, at block 304, the terminal node 110 can be using an idle DRX cycle 176.

[0119] In some examples, block 304 comprises determining whether the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 indicates that the terminal node 110 should acquire at least part of system information 172. For example, block 304 can comprise determining whether the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 indicates that the terminal node 110 should acquire at least part of system information 172 under the current conditions / circumstances of the terminal node 110.

[0120] In some examples block 304 comprises determining whether conditions / circumstances have arisen for which the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 indicates that the terminal node 110 should acquire at least part of system information 172.

[0121] In examples, the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 can be received by the terminal node 110 before the terminal node 110 is using the DRX cycle 176, such as an idle DRX cycle 176, or while the terminal node 170 is using the DRX cycle 176.

[0122] In some examples, block 304 is performed in response to receiving the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 from the access node 120.

[0123] In some examples, determining whether to acquire at least part of system information 172 comprises determining whether at least one system information modification period boundary 186 has passed since the terminal node 110, which can be considered an apparatus, last verified validity of at least part of system information 172. See, for example, FIG. 2.

[0124] Determining whether at least one system information modification period boundary 186 has passed since the terminal node 110 last verified validity of at least part of system information 172 can comprise determining whether at least one system information modification period boundary 186 has passed since the terminal node 110 last verified validity of at least part of system information 172 that is relevant to / relied on for the terminal node 110 to perform at least one procedure.

[0125] For example, the terminal node 110 can determine what part(s) of system information 172 are relevant to / relied on for at least one procedure that the terminal node 110 is to perform and determine whether at least one system information modification period boundary 186 has passed since the terminal node 110 last verified validity of those part(s) of system information 172.

[0126] In some examples, the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 comprises at least one of the following: information 170 to control the terminal node 110, which can be considered an apparatus, to acquire at least part of system information 170 before initiation of at least one procedure 188; or information 170 indicating at least one time 190 at which the terminal node 110 is to acquire at least part of system information 172.

[0127] Information 170 to control the terminal node 110 to acquire at least part of system information 172 before initiation of at least one procedure 188 can comprise any suitable information. For example, the information 170 to control the terminal node 110 to acquire at least part of system information 172 before initiation of at least one procedure can comprise an IE in a message in a form of, for example, a single bit Boolean value which when set to true indicates that the terminal node 110 shall acquire at least part of system information 172 before initiation of certain procedure(s) 188.

[0128] The at least one procedure 188 can comprise at least one procedure 188 for which at least part of system information 172 is used / relied upon.

[0129] Accordingly, in examples, the terminal node 110 determines that the terminal node 110 is to perform at least one procedure 188 and acquires at least part of system information 172 before initiation of the at least one procedure 188 based, at least in part, on the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172.

[0130] In some examples, that at least one procedure 188 comprises at least one procedure 188 for establishment or resumption of a radio connection.

[0131] In some examples, the at least one procedure 188 comprises at least one of the following: RRC connection establishment, RRC connection re-establishment, Request for on demand system information, or RRC connection resume.

[0132] The information 170 indicating at least one time 190 at which the terminal node 110 is to acquire at least part of system information 172 can comprise any suitable information. For example, the information 170 indicating at least one time 190 at which the terminal node 110 is to acquire at least part of system information 172 can comprise an IE in a message in a form of, for example, a single bit Boolean value which when set to true indicates that the terminal node 110 shall acquire at least part of system information 172 at a certain time, or in a form of a configurable value and so on.

[0133] The at least one time 190 at which the apparatus is to acquire at least part of system information 172 can comprise a single time or a plurality of times. In some examples, the at least one time can comprise regularly / periodically occurring times separated by a time period, for example a number of radio frames, a number of paging cycles and so on.

[0134] By way of example, reference is made to the examples of FIGs 4A and 4B.

[0135] FIGs 4A and 4B show timing scenarios and are similar to the example of FIG. 2. However, in the examples of FIGs 4A and 4B the system information modification period boundaries 186 are not shown. Similarly, the paging occasions 196 are not shown or are not present.

[0136] In the example of FIG. 4A, the terminal node 110 is to perform at least one procedure 188, as indicated by the double headed arrow, and determines 304 whether to acquire at least part of system information 172 before initiation of the at least one procedure 188 based at least in part on the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172.

[0137] In the example of FIG. 4A, the information 170 indicates that the terminal node 110 is to acquire at least part of system information 172 before initiation of the at least one procedure 188 and therefore the terminal node 110 acquires 306 at least part of system information 172 before initiation of the at least one procedure 188.

[0138] In some examples, the terminal node 110 can determine what part(s) of system information 172 are relevant to / relied on for the at least one procedure that the terminal node 110 is to perform. In the example of FIG. 4B, a time 190 which the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 indicates that the terminal node 100 is to acquire at least part of system information 172 is shown.

[0139] Accordingly, in the example of FIG. 4B, the terminal node 110 acquires 306 at least part of system information 172 at time 190.

[0140] In some examples, the information 170 to control the terminal node 110, which can be considered an apparatus, to acquire at least part of system information 172 before initiation of at least one procedure comprises information 170 to control the terminal node 110 to acquire at least part of system information 172 before initiation of at least one procedure 188 if it has been longer than an expiration time period 192 since the terminal node 110 last verified validity of stored system information 172.

[0141] Information 170 to control the terminal node 110 to acquire at least part of system information 170 before initiation of at least one procedure 188 can comprise an IE in a message in a form of a configurable expiration time period value.

[0142] Determining how long it has been since the terminal node 110 last verified validity of at least part of stored system information 172 can comprise determining how long it has been since the terminal node 110 last verified validity of at least part of stored system information 172 that is relevant to / relied on for the terminal node 110 to perform the at least one procedure.

[0143] For example, the terminal node 110 can determine what part(s) of system information 172 are relevant to / relied on for the at least one procedure that the terminal node 110 is to perform and determine how long it has been since the terminal node 110 last verified validity of that / those part(s) of stored system information 172.

[0144] For example, the information 170 can indicate that the terminal node 110 is to acquire at least part of system information 172 before initiation of the at least one procedure 188 and the terminal node 110 can determine how long it has been since the terminal node 110 last verified validity of that / those part(s) of stored system information 172.

[0145] In examples, the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 170 can comprise the value of the expiration time period 192. The expiration time period 192 can have any suitable duration. For example, the expiration time period 192 can have a duration in the range 0.5 seconds to 48 hours. In some examples, the expiration time period 192 has a duration in the range 0.64 seconds to 24 hours.

[0146] By way of example, reference is made to the example of FIG. 40.

[0147] FIG. 40 is similar to the example of FIG. 4A. However, in the example of FIG. 40 an expiration time period 192 is shown indicating a period prior to the time at which the terminal node 110 is to perform at least one procedure 188.

[0148] In the example of FIG. 40 a time 206 of last verification of at least part of stored system information 172 is shown, and also the time period 208 since the last verification from the time at which the terminal node 110 is to perform at least one procedure 188.

[0149] In the example of FIG. 4G the time 206 of last verification of at least part of system information 170 is outside of the expiration time period 192 and therefore the terminal node acquires 306 at least part of system information 172 before initiation of the at least one procedure 188.

[0150] However, a second time 206_A of last verification of at least part of stored system information 172 is also shown in the example of FIG. 4G. In the example of the second time 206_A, the time of last verification is within the expiration time period 192 and therefore the terminal node 110 does not acquire 308 at least part of system information 172 before initiation of the at least one procedure 188 in this case.

[0151] In some examples, the information 170 to control the terminal node 110, which can be considered an apparatus, to acquire at least part of system information 172 before initiation of at least one procedure comprises information 170 to control the terminal node 110 to acquire at least part of system information 172 before initiation of at least one procedure 188 if at least one system information modification period boundary 186 has passed since the terminal node 110 last verified validity of stored system information 172.

[0152] Information 170 to control the terminal node 110 to acquire at least part of system information 170 before initiation of at least one procedure 188 can comprise an IE in a message in a form of a single bit Boolean value which when set to true indicates that the terminal node 110 shall acquire at least part of system information 172 if at least one system information modification period boundary 186 has passed since the terminal node 110 last verified validity of at least part of stored system information 172.

[0153] By way of example, reference is made to the example of FIG. 4D.

[0154] FIG. 4D is similar to the example of FIG. 4A. However, in the example of FIG. 4D a system information modification period boundary 186 prior to the time at which the terminal node 110 is to perform at least one procedure 188 is shown.

[0155] In the example of FIG. 4D a time 206 of last verification of at least part of stored system information 172 is shown.

[0156] In the example of FIG. 4D the system information modification period boundary 186 has passed since the time 206 of last verification of at least part of system information 170 and therefore the terminal node acquires 306 at least part of system information 172 before initiation of the at least one procedure 188.

[0157] However, a second time 206_A of last verification of at least part of stored system information 172 is also shown in the example of FIG. 4D. In the example of the second time 206_A, no system information modification period boundary 186 has passed since the time 206_A of last verification and therefore the terminal node 110 does not acquire 308 at least part of system information 172 before initiation of the at least one procedure 188 in this case.

[0158] In some examples, the information 170 to control the terminal node 110, which can be considered an apparatus, to acquire at least part of system information 172 before initiation of at least one procedure comprises information 170 to control the terminal node 110 to acquire at least part of system information 172 before initiation of at least one procedure 188 during a time period 194.

[0159] In examples, the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 170 can comprise information indicating the time period 194. For example, the information indicating the time period 194 can indicate a start time and an end time of the time period 194. The time period 194 can start at any suitable time and can have any suitable duration. In some examples, the start time can be ‘now’ and the end time infinity, that is until further notice.

[0160] Information 170 to control the terminal node 110 to acquire at least part of system information 170 before initiation of at least one procedure 188 can comprise an IE in a message in a form of configurable value(s) indicating the start time and the end time of the period 194 during which the terminal node 110 shall acquire at least part of system information 172 before initiation of certain procedure(s) 188.

[0161] By way of example, reference is made to the example of FIG. 4E.

[0162] FIG. 4E is similar to the example of FIG. 4A. However, in the example of FIG. 4E a time period 194 in during which the terminal node 110 is to acquire at least part of system information 172 before initiation of at least one procedure 188 is shown.

[0163] In the example of FIG. 4E the at least one procedure 188 is to be performed in the time period 194 and therefore the terminal node 110 acquires 306 at least part of system information 172 before initiation of the at least one procedure 188.

[0164] However, a second at least one procedure 188_A at a different time is also shown in the example of FIG. 4E. In the example of the second at least one procedure 188_A, the terminal node 110 is to perform the second at least one procedure 188_A outside of the time period and therefore the terminal node 110 does not acquire 308 at least part of system information 172 before initiation of the second at least one procedure 188_A in this case.

[0165] In some examples, the at least one time 190 at which the terminal node 110, which can be considered an apparatus, is to acquire at least part of system information 172 comprises at least one of the following: immediately, a specified time, the beginning of the next system information modification period 186, the beginning of the next system information acquisition period; or a plurality of times.

[0166] In examples, immediately can mean upon reception of the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 when the information 170 comprises an indication to acquire at least part of system information 172 immediately.

[0167] In some examples, immediately can mean at the next available / scheduled opportunity. For example, immediately can mean decode system information 172 in the next downlink slot regardless of system information scheduling.

[0168] In some examples, immediately can mean the currently processed slot or one or the next upcoming downlink slot regardless of system information scheduling.

[0169] For example, a terminal node 110 can decode system information kept in the terminal node buffer for the currently processed slot once the terminal node 110 is notified.

[0170] A system information acquisition period can be a time period used to enable change of system information at predetermined times, such as particular radio frames in relation to a terminal node 110 using an eDRX cycle.

[0171] In some examples, system information acquisition period is as described in at least one 3GPP TS. For example, at least one of 3GPP TS 38.331 clause 5.2.2.2.2 release 18 or later.

[0172] In some examples, the eDRX acquisition period provides a time frame for the process of notifying a UE with IDLE eDRX cycle longer than the modification period about the system information (SI) change (not necessarily an upcoming SI change) and determines the moment of SI re-acquisition.

[0173] In examples, change of system information can occur at any modification period boundary, and is not limited just to rarely occurring eDRX acquisition period boundaries.

[0174] In some examples “modification period” relates to control of the SI modification, whereas “acquisition period” relates to control of SI re-acquisition.

[0175] In some examples, modification period and acquisition period is the same period so can be referred to together as modification period. Information 170 indicating at least one time 190 at which the terminal node 110 is to acquire at least part of system information 172 can comprise inclusion of an IE in a message in a form of a single bit Boolean value, which when set to true indicates that at the beginning of the next system information modification / acquisition period the terminal node shall acquire at least part of system information 172.

[0176] The specified time 190 can be any suitable time. In examples the beginning of the next modification / acquisition period can be considered a specified time 190.

[0177] Information 170 indicating at least one time 190 at which the terminal node 110 is to acquire at least part of system information 172 can comprise inclusion of an IE in a message in a form of a configurable value, which indicates the time when the terminal node 110 shall acquire at least part of system information 172.

[0178] The plurality of times 190 can be any suitable plurality of times 190. In examples, the plurality of times are periodic, separated by a number of radio frames, paging cycles and so on.

[0179] In some examples, the terminal node 110 shall acquire at least part of system information 172 after a number of paging cycles 176 where the number can be, for example, 1, 2, 4, or 8, and so on.

[0180] In examples, the number can be terminal node 110 specific or cell specific. In some examples this number can be specific to the RRC state of the terminal node 110, for example RRC idle or RRC inactive, or can be common between RRC states.

[0181] By way of example, reference is made to the example of FIG. 4F.

[0182] FIG. 4F is similar to the example of FIG. 4B. However, in the example of FIG. 4F a plurality of times 190A, 190B, 190C, 190D, 190E are shown at which the terminal node 110 is to acquire 306 at least part of system information 172.

[0183] In the example of FIG. 4F the plurality of times 190A, 190B, 190C, 190D, 190E are periodic and are separated by a paging cycle of the terminal node 110. Returning to the example of FIG. 3, at block 306, method 300 comprises acquiring at least part of system information 172 in response to determining that at least part of system information 172 should be acquired.

[0184] Consequently, FIG. 3 illustrates a method 300 comprising: determining information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172; determining, when an apparatus is in RRC idle or RRC inactive mode and is using a DRX cycle longer than a system information modification period 178, whether to acquire at least part of system information 172 based, at least in part, on the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172; and acquiring at least part of system information 172 in response to determining that at least part of system information 172 should be acquired.

[0185] Block 306 can comprise at least one of the following: transmitting information, transmitting at least one message, receiving information, or receiving at least one message.

[0186] For example, block 306 can comprise at least one of: transmitting at least one message towards an access node 120 or receiving at least one message from an access node 120.

[0187] In some examples, block 306 comprises transmitting at least one message towards an access node 120 and receiving at least one message from an access node 120. Accordingly, in examples, block 306 comprises uplink and downlink transmissions.

[0188] In some examples, block 306 comprises receiving at least one message from an access node 120 without transmitting a message towards an access node 120. Accordingly, in examples, block 306 comprises at least one downlink transmission without an uplink transmission.

[0189] In some examples, the terminal node 110 transmits at least one request for at least part of system information 172 towards an access node 120 and receives at least part of system information 172 based, at least in part, on the transmitted request. In some examples, acquiring at least part of system information 172 comprises acquiring at least part of system information 172 to enable a check of system information validity.

[0190] In some examples, acquiring at least part of system information 172 comprises acquiring system information block one (SIB1).

[0191] In some examples, acquiring at least part of system information comprises applying the system information acquisition procedure as defined in at least one of clause 5.2.2.3 of 3GPP TS 38.331 release 18 or later.

[0192] In examples, block 304 and block 306 can happen substantially at the same part or can be separated in time. Accordingly, in examples, block 306 can occur after block 304 and therefore the acquisition of at least part of system information 172 can happen after block 304 has occurred, for example according to a system information schedule.

[0193] At block 308, method 300 comprises not acquiring at least part of system information 172 in response to determining that at least part of system information 172 should not be acquired.

[0194] In examples, block 308 can comprise using stored system information 172 in response to determining that at least of system information 172 should not be acquired.

[0195] Consequently, from the point of view of the access node 120, FIG. 3 illustrates a method 300 comprising: transmitting information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 towards at least one access node 120; receiving, based at least in part on the transmitted information 170, at least one request for at least part of system information 172 from at least one requesting terminal node 110; and transmitting the requested at least part of system information 172 towards the at least one requesting terminal node 110.

[0196] In some examples, a field eDRX-checkSIvalidity is used. In examples, the presence of this field indicates that UE in RRCJDLE or RRCJNACTIVE configured to use an IDLE eDRX cycle longer than the modification period is required to check, the validity of stored system information before establishing or resuming an RRC connection. In examples, UE behaviour upon presence of this field is specified in clause 5.2.2.2.1 of 3GPP TS 38.331.

[0197] In some examples, when the UE in RRCJDLE or RRCJNACTIVE is configured to use an IDLE eDRX cycle longer than the modification period, and eDRX-checkSIvalidity is included in SIB1, and at least one modification period boundary has passed since the UE last verified validity of stored system information, the UE shall acquire SIB1 and verify that stored system information remains valid before establishing or resuming an RRC connection.

[0198] Examples of the disclosure relate to a method of system information (SI) change notification for all UEs or some selected categories of UEs (e.g. UEs with paging cycle I IDLE / INACTIVE mode (e)DRX cycle longer than SI modification period) comprising of one or more of the following solutions:

[0199] In examples, network indicates that at the beginning of the next SI modification / acquisition period the UE shall re-acquire SI or a certain part(s) of it.

[0200] In examples, network indicates the time when the UE shall re-acquire SI or a certain part(s) of it.

[0201] In examples, network indicates that the UE shall re-acquire SI or a certain part(s) of it before initiation of the certain procedure(s).

[0202] In examples, network indicates that the UE shall re-acquire SI or a certain part(s) of it before initiation of the certain procedure(s) if at least one SI modification period boundary has passed since the UE last verified validity of stored SI or a certain part(s) of it.

[0203] In examples, network indicates to the UE SI freshness / stale time value indicating that the UE shall re acquire SI or a part(s) of it before initiation of certain procedure(s), if more than SI freshness / stale time has passed since the UE last verified validity of stored SI or a certain part(s) of it. In examples, network indicates to the UE the start time and the end time of the period during which the UE shall re-acquire SI or a certain part(s) of it before initiation of a certain procedure(s), where the start time apart from values expressed in time units may also take the special value from now and the end time can take the special value infinity (i.e. until further notice).

[0204] In some examples, a UE operating with a paging cycle longer than the SI modification period shall re-acquire SI or a certain part(s) of it after a number of paging cycles where the number could be, for example, 1, 2, 4, 8, and so on.

[0205] In some examples, this number is configured to the UE by the network. In another example, this number could be UE specific or cell specific. In yet another example, this number could also be specific to the RRC state (e.g., IDLE or INACTIVE) or be common between RRC states.

[0206] In some examples, certain procedures above can be e.g.: RRC Setup or RRC Resume procedure, on-demand SI request, RRC re-establishment.

[0207] In some examples, above indications from network to UE can be dedicated (for example RRC Release message) and / or broadcast (for example system information for example SIB1 or paging message) signaling.

[0208] In some examples, UE performs any of the actions above based on, for example, defined technical specification procedures, without an indication from the network.

[0209] The paging cycle may be also referred to as with IDLE / INACTIVE mode (e)DRX cycle length.

[0210] Examples of the disclosure relate to SI change notification for all UEs or some selected categories of UEs (e.g. UEs with paging cycle longer than SI modification period) comprising of one or more of the following solutions:

[0211] In some examples, inclusion of an IE in a SI message in a form of a single bit Boolean value, when set to TRUE it indicates that at the beginning of the next SI modification / acquisition period the UE shall re-acquire SI or a certain part of SI. In some examples, inclusion of an IE in a SI message in a form of the configurable value which indicates the time when the UE shall re-acquire SI or a certain part of it.

[0212] In some examples, inclusion of the an IE in a SI message in a form of a single bit Boolean value, when set to TRUE it indicates that the UE shall re-acquire SI or the relevant part of it before initiation of the certain procedure(s), where the UE’s knowledge of the current value of all or some of the lEs contained in the SI is essential for correct course of these procedures (for example, establishment / resumption / re- establishment of the radio connection, on-demand SI request).

[0213] In some examples, inclusion of an IE in a SI message in a form of a single bit Boolean value, when set to TRUE it indicates that the UE shall re-acquire SI or a or the relevant part of it before initiation of the certain procedure(s) if at least one SI modification period boundary has passed since the UE last verified validity of stored SI or the relevant part of it, where the UE’s knowledge of the current value of all or some of the lEs contained in the SI is essential for correct course of these procedures (for example, establishment / resumption / re-establishment of the radio connection, on-demand SI request),

[0214] In some examples, inclusion of an IE in a SI message in a form of configurable SI freshness / stale time value indicating that the UE shall re-acquire SI or a part of it before initiation of certain procedure(s) if more than SI freshness / stale time has passed since the UE last verified validity of stored SI or the relevant part of it, where the UE’s knowledge of the current value of all or some of the lEs contained in the SI is essential for correct course of these procedures (for example, establishment / resumption / re- establishment of the radio connection, on-demand SI request).

[0215] In some examples, inclusion of an IE in a SI message in a form of configurable value(s) indicating the start time and the end time of the period during which the UE shall reacquire SI or the relevant part of it before initiation of certain procedure(s), where the UE’s knowledge of the current value of all or some of the lEs contained in the SI is essential for correct course of these procedures (for example, establishment / resumption / re-establishment of the radio connection, on-demand SI request), where the start time apart from values expressed in time units may also take the special value from now and the end time can take the special value infinity (that is, until further notice). Examples of the disclosure are advantageous and / or provide technical benefits.

[0216] For example, examples of the disclosure provide for efficiently notifying terminal node(s), such as UE(s), of a change in system information.

[0217] For example, examples of the disclosure provide for terminal node(s), such as UE(s), to efficiently obtain at least part of system information.

[0218] For example, examples of the disclosure provide for notifying terminal nodes with eDRX cycles longer than the system information modification period about a change in system information without increasing the load on physical downlink control channel (PDDCH) related to the transmission of RRC Short Messages persistently transmitted over all paging occasions throughout the eDRX acquisition period.

[0219] For example, examples of the disclosure provide for controlling, configuring, forcing terminal nodes to check validity and if needed acquire system information immediately before establishment / resumption / re-establishment of an RRC connection or on- demand system information request.

[0220] This provides, for example, for reduction or minimizing of the risk of the terminal node using outdated system information. This therefore prevents, for example, the situation where at least one of the terminal node and the network performance is degraded due to the usage of outdated system information for example during cell access procedures (such as establishment / re-establishment / resume / on-demand system information request) or cell re-selection, or any other procedure.

[0221] For example, examples of the disclosure provide for scheduling in advance terminal nodes to acquire system information at a configurable time, for example via a parameter in system information.

[0222] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a method 500.

[0223] Method 500 can be performed by any suitable apparatus comprising any suitable means for performing method 500, for example an apparatus as described in relation to FIG. 7 A and / or FIG. 7B. In examples, method 500 can be performed by at least one terminal node 110, such as a UE 198, or by at least one control device configured to control the functioning thereof.

[0224] At block 502, method 500 comprises determining information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172.

[0225] At block 504, method 500 comprises determining, when an apparatus is in RRC idle or RRC inactive mode and is using a DRX cycle longer than a system information modification period 178, whether to acquire at least part of system information 172 based, at least in part, on the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172.

[0226] If it is determined that at least part of system information 172 should be acquired, method 500 proceeds to block 506.

[0227] At block 506, method 500 comprises acquiring at least part of system information 172.

[0228] If it is determined that at least part of system information 172 should not be acquired, method 500 proceeds to block 508.

[0229] At block 508, method 500 comprises not acquiring system information 172.

[0230] Consequently, FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 comprising: determining information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172; determining, when an apparatus is in RRC idle or RRC inactive mode and is using a DRX cycle longer than a system information modification period 178, whether to acquire at least part of system information 172 based, at least in part, on the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172; and acquiring at least part of system information 172 in response to determining that at least part of system information 172 should be acquired.

[0231] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a method 600. Method 600 can be performed by any suitable apparatus comprising any suitable means for performing method 600, for example an apparatus as described in relation to FIG. 7 A and / or FIG. 7B.

[0232] In examples, method 600 can be performed by an access node 120, or by at least one control device configured to control the functioning thereof.

[0233] At block 602, method 600 comprises transmitting information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 towards at least one access node 120.

[0234] At block 604, method 600 comprises receiving, based at least in part on the transmitted information 170, at least one request for at least part of system information 172 from at least one requesting terminal node 110.

[0235] At block 606, method 600 comprises, transmitting the requested at least part of system information 172 towards the at least one requesting terminal node 110.

[0236] Consequently, FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 comprising: transmitting information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 towards at least one access node 120; receiving, based at least in part on the transmitted information 170, at least one request for at least part of system information 172 from at least one requesting terminal node 110; and transmitting the requested at least part of system information 172 towards the at least one requesting terminal node 110.

[0237] Fig 7A illustrates an example of a block diagram of an apparatus 130. The apparatus 130 may be a controller of an apparatus or device such as a terminal node 110, for example a UE 46, or an access node 120, for example a gNB 200. The apparatus 130 may be considered a controller or controller device.

[0238] In examples, a terminal node 110 can be considered an apparatus. In examples, an access node can be considered an apparatus. Implementation of a controller 130 may be as controller circuitry. The controller 130 may be implemented in hardware alone, have certain aspects in software including firmware alone or can be a combination of hardware and software (including firmware).

[0239] As illustrated in Fig 7A the controller 130 may be implemented using instructions that enable hardware functionality, for example, by using executable instructions 136 in a general-purpose or special-purpose processor 132 that may be stored on a machine readable storage medium (disk, memory etc.) to be executed by such a processor 132.

[0240] The processor 132 is configured to read from and write to the memory 134. The processor 132 may also comprise an output interface via which data and / or commands are output by the processor 132 and an input interface via which data and / or commands are input to the processor 132.

[0241] The memory 134 stores instructions, program, or code 136 that controls the operation of the apparatus 130 when loaded into the processor 132. The computer program instructions, program or code 136, provide the logic and routines that enables the apparatus 130 to perform the methods illustrated in the accompanying FIGs. The processor 132 by reading the memory 134 is configured to load and execute the instructions, program, or code 136.

[0242] The apparatus 130 comprises: at least one processor 132; and at least one memory 134 storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 132, cause the apparatus at least to: determining information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172; determining, when an apparatus is in RRC idle or RRC inactive mode and is using a DRX cycle longer than a system information modification period 178, whether to acquire at least part of system information 172 based, at least in part, on the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172; and acquiring at least part of system information 172 in response to determining that at least part of system information 172 should be acquired.

[0243] The apparatus 130 comprises: at least one processor 132; and at least one memory 134 storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 132, cause the apparatus at least to: transmitting information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 towards at least one access node 120; receiving, based at least in part on the transmitted information 170, at least one request for at least part of system information 172 from at least one requesting terminal node 110; and transmitting the requested at least part of system information 172 towards the at least one requesting terminal node 110.

[0244] In some examples, there is a (computer implemented) system comprising: At least one terminal node 110 as described herein and at least one access node 120 as described herein.

[0245] As illustrated in Fig 7A, the instructions, program, or code 136 may arrive at the apparatus 130 via any suitable delivery mechanism 162. The delivery mechanism 162 may be, for example, a machine readable medium, a computer-readable medium, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, a computer program product, a memory device, a record medium such as a Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD- ROM) or a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) or a solid-state memory, an article of manufacture that comprises or tangibly embodies the computer program 136. The delivery mechanism may be a signal configured to reliably transfer the computer program 136. The apparatus 130 may propagate or transmit the computer program 136 as a computer data signal.

[0246] The term “non-transitory” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal ) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0247] Computer program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following or for performing at least the following: determining information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172; determining, when an apparatus is in RRC idle or RRC inactive mode and is using a DRX cycle longer than a system information modification period 178, whether to acquire at least part of system information 172 based, at least in part, on the information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172; and acquiring at least part of system information 172 in response to determining that at least part of system information 172 should be acquired.

[0248] Computer program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following or for performing at least the following: transmitting information 170 for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information 172 towards at least one access node 120; receiving, based at least in part on the transmitted information 170, at least one request for at least part of system information 172 from at least one requesting terminal node 110; and transmitting the requested at least part of system information 172 towards the at least one requesting terminal node 110.

[0249] The computer program instructions may be comprised in a computer program, a non- transitory computer readable medium, a computer program product, a machine readable medium. In some but not necessarily all examples, the computer program instructions may be distributed over more than one computer program.

[0250] Although the memory 134 is illustrated as a single component / circuitry it may be implemented as one or more separate components / circuitry some or all of which may be integrated / removable and / or may provide permanent / semi-permanent / dynamic / cached storage.

[0251] In examples the memory 134 comprises a random-access memory 158 and a read only memory 160. In examples the computer program 136 can be stored in the read only memory 158. See, for example, Fig. 7B.

[0252] Although the processor 132 is illustrated as a single component / circuitry it may be implemented as one or more separate components / circuitry some or all of which may be integrated / removable. The processor 132 may be a single core or multi-core processor.

[0253] References to ‘computer-readable storage medium’, ‘computer program product’, ‘tangibly embodied computer program’ etc. or a ‘controller’, ‘computer’, ‘processor’ etc. should be understood to encompass not only computers having different architectures such as single / multi- processor architectures and sequential (Von Neumann) / parallel architectures but also specialized circuits such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application specific circuits (ASIC), signal processing devices and other processing circuitry. References to computer program, instructions, code etc. should be understood to encompass software for a programmable processor or firmware such as, for example, the programmable content of a hardware device whether instructions for a processor, or configuration settings for a fixed-function device, gate array or programmable logic device etc.

[0254] As used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ may refer to one or more or all the following:

[0255] (a) hardware-only circuitry implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and

[0256] (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable): i. a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and ii. any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory or memories that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions and

[0257] (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (for example, firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0258] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the claim element, a baseband integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0259] The blocks illustrated in the accompanying Figs may represent steps in a method and / or sections of code in the computer program 136. The illustration of a particular order to the blocks does not necessarily imply that there is a required or preferred order for the blocks and the order and arrangement of the block may be varied. Furthermore, it may be possible for some blocks to be omitted.

[0260] Where a structural feature has been described, it may be replaced by means for performing one or more of the functions of the structural feature whether that function or those functions are explicitly or implicitly described.

[0261] In examples, an apparatus 130 can comprise means for performing one or more methods, or at least part of one or more methods, as disclosed herein.

[0262] In examples, an apparatus 130 can be configured to perform one or more methods, or at least a part of one or more methods, as disclosed herein.

[0263] The above-described examples find application as enabling components of: automotive systems; telecommunication systems; electronic systems including consumer electronic products; distributed computing systems; media systems for generating or rendering media content including audio, visual and audio visual content and mixed, mediated, virtual and / or augmented reality; personal systems including personal health systems or personal fitness systems; navigation systems; user interfaces also known as human machine interfaces; networks including cellular, non- cellular, and optical networks; ad-hoc networks; the internet; the internet of things; virtualized networks; and related software and services.

[0264] The apparatus can be provided in an electronic device, for example, a mobile terminal, according to an example of the present disclosure. It should be understood, however, that a mobile terminal is merely illustrative of an electronic device that would benefit from examples of implementations of the present disclosure and, therefore, should not be taken to limit the scope of the present disclosure to the same. While in certain implementation examples, the apparatus can be provided in a mobile terminal, other types of electronic devices, such as, but not limited to: mobile communication devices, hand portable electronic devices, wearable computing devices, portable digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, mobile computers, desktop computers, televisions, gaming devices, laptop computers, cameras, video recorders, GPS devices and other types of electronic systems, can readily employ examples of the present disclosure. Furthermore, devices can readily employ examples of the present disclosure regardless of their intent to provide mobility. The term ‘comprise’ is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y. If it is intended to use ‘comprise’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context by referring to ‘comprising only one...’ or by using ‘consisting.’

[0265] In this description, the wording ‘connect’, ‘couple’ and ‘communication’ and their derivatives mean operationally connected / coupled / in communication. It should be appreciated that any number or combination of intervening components can exist (including no intervening components), i.e. , to provide direct or indirect connection / coupling / communication. Any such intervening components can include hardware and / or software components.

[0266] As used herein, the term "determine / determining" (and grammatical variants thereof) can include, not least: calculating, computing, processing, deriving, measuring, investigating, identifying, looking up (for example, looking up in a table, a database, or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, "determining" can include receiving (for example, receiving information), accessing (for example, accessing data in a memory), obtaining and the like. Also, " determine / determining" can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like.

[0267] In this description, reference has been made to various examples. The description of features or functions in relation to an example indicates that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the term ‘example’ or ‘for example’ or ‘can’ or ‘may’ in the text denotes, whether explicitly stated or not, that such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they can be, but are not necessarily, present in some of or all other examples. Thus ‘example’, ‘for example’, ‘can’, or ‘may’ refers to a particular instance in a class of examples. A property of the instance can be a property of only that instance or a property of the class or a property of a sub-class of the class that includes some but not all the instances in the class. It is therefore implicitly disclosed that a feature described with reference to one example but not with reference to another example, can where possible be used in that other example as part of a working combination but does not necessarily have to be used in that other example. As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or” mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0268] Although examples have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0269] Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described above.

[0270] Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

[0271] The description of a feature, such as an apparatus or a component of an apparatus, configured to perform a function, or for performing a function, should additionally be considered to also disclose a method of performing that function. For example, description of an apparatus configured to perform one or more actions, or for performing one or more actions, should additionally be considered to disclose a method of performing those one or more actions with or without the apparatus.

[0272] Although features have been described with reference to certain examples, those features may also be present in other examples whether described or not.

[0273] The term ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising a / an / the Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y unless the context clearly indicates the contrary. If it is intended to use ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context. In some circumstances the use of ‘at least one’ or ‘one or more’ may be used to emphasis an inclusive meaning but the absence of these terms should not be taken to infer any exclusive meaning.

[0274] The presence of a feature (or combination of features) in a claim is a reference to that feature or (combination of features) itself and to features that achieve substantially the same technical effect (equivalent features). The equivalent features include, for example, features that are variants and achieve substantially the same result in substantially the same way. The equivalent features include, for example, features that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result.

[0275] In this description, reference has been made to various examples using adjectives or adjectival phrases to describe characteristics of the examples. Such a description of a characteristic in relation to an example indicates that the characteristic is present in some examples exactly as described and is present in other examples substantially as described.

[0276] The above description describes some examples of the present disclosure however those of ordinary skill in the art will be aware of possible alternative structures and method features which offer equivalent functionality to the specific examples of such structures and features described herein above and which for the sake of brevity and clarity have been omitted from the above description. Nonetheless, the above description should be read as implicitly including reference to such alternative structures and method features which provide equivalent functionality unless such alternative structures or method features are explicitly excluded in the above description of the examples of the present disclosure.

[0277] Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features believed to be of importance the Applicant may seek protection via the claims in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and / or shown in the drawings whether or not emphasis has been placed thereon. l / we claim:

Claims

CLAIMS1 . An apparatus comprising means for: determining information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information; determining, when the apparatus is in a radio resource control, RRC, idle or RRC inactive mode and is using a discontinuous reception, DRX, cycle longer than a system information modification period, whether to acquire at least part of system information based, at least in part, on the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information; and acquiring at least part of system information in response to determining that at least part of system information should be acquired.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein determining information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information comprises at least one of the following: retrieving the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information from at least one memory; or receiving the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information from an access node.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein receiving the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information from an access node comprises receiving the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information with at least one of the following: at least part of system information; at least one paging message; at least one RRC short message; or at least one radio resource control, RRC, Release message.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein determining whether to acquire at least part of system information comprises determining whether at least one system information modification period boundary has passed since the apparatus last verified validity of stored system information.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information comprises at least one of the following: information to control the apparatus to acquire at least part of system information before initiation of at least one procedure; or information indicating at least one time at which the apparatus is to acquire at least part of system information.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the information to control the apparatus to acquire at least part of system information before initiation of at least one procedure comprises at least one of the following: information to control the apparatus to acquire at least part of system information before initiation of at least one procedure if it has been longer than a expiration time period since the apparatus last verified validity of stored system information; information to control the apparatus to acquire at least part of system information before initiation of at least one procedure if at least one system information modification period boundary has passed since the apparatus last verified validity of stored system information; or information to control the apparatus to acquire at least part of system information before initiation of at least one procedure during a time period.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one procedure comprises at least one procedure for establishment or resumption of a radio connection.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, 6, or 7 wherein the at least one procedure comprises at least one of the following:RRC connection establishment;RRC connection re-establishment;Request for on demand system information; orRRC connection resume.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one time at which the apparatus is to acquire at least part of system information comprises at least one of the following:immediately; a specified time; the beginning of the next system information modification period; the beginning of the next system information acquisition period; a plurality of times.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein acquiring at least part of system information comprises acquiring at least part of system information to enable a check of system information validity.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein acquiring at least part of system information comprises acquiring system information block one, SIB1.

12. A method comprising: determining information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information; determining, when the apparatus is in a radio resource control, RRC, idle or RRC inactive mode and is using a discontinuous reception, DRX, cycle longer than a system information modification period, whether to acquire at least part of system information based, at least in part, on the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information; and acquiring at least part of system information in response to determining that at least part of system information should be acquired.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information comprises at least one of the following: information to control the apparatus to acquire at least part of system information before initiation of at least one procedure; or information indicating at least one time at which the apparatus is to acquire at least part of system information.

14. A computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to perform: determining information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information;determining, when the apparatus is in a radio resource control, RRC, idle or RRC inactive mode and is using a discontinuous reception, DRX, cycle longer than a system information modification period, whether to acquire at least part of system information based, at least in part, on the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information; and acquiring at least part of system information in response to determining that at least part of system information should be acquired.

15. A computer program as claimed in claim 14, wherein the information for controlling acquisition of at least part of system information comprises at least one of the following: information to control the apparatus to acquire at least part of system information before initiation of at least one procedure; or information indicating at least one time at which the apparatus is to acquire at least part of system information.

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