CA2235000A1 - A method for system registration and cell reselection - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for registering a mobile station when the mobile station first enters a communication system which supports packet data channels is disclosed. The mobile station receives system information broadcasted on a digital control channel. The mobile station is then assigned to a beacon packet data channel over which the mobile station registers with the communication system.

Description

CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 A METHOD FOR ~Y.~ ;~ REGISTRATION AND CELL RESELI~:CTION

BACKGROUND
Applicants' invention relates to electrical telec~.,l""ullication, and more 5 particularly to wireless commllnic~ion systems, such as cellular and satellite radio systems, for various modes of operation (analog, digital, dual mode, etc.), and access techniques such as frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time divisional multiple access (TDMA), code divisional multiple access (CDMA), hybrid FDMA/TDMA/CDMA, for example.
In North America, digital co... ~ tion and multiple access techniques such as TDMA are currently provided by a digital cellular radiotelephone system called the digital advanced mobile phone service (D-AMPS), some of the characteristics of which are specified in the interim standard TIA/EIA/IS-54-B, "Dual-Mode Mobile Station-Base Station C~ )alibility Standard", published by the Telecol.. "ir~tions Industry Association and Electronic Industries Association (TIA/EIA), which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Because of a large existing consumerbase of equipment opeldli-lg only in the analog domain with frequency-division multiple access (FDMA), TIA/EIA/IS-54-B is a dual-mode (analog and digital) standard, providing for analog compatibility together with digital commllnir~tion capability. For example, the TIA/EIA/IS-54-B standard provides for both FDMA
analog voice channels (AVC) and TDMA digital traffic channels (DTC). The AVCs and DTCs are impl~ment~od by frequency mo~ ting radio carrier signals, which have frequencies near 800 megahertz (MHz) such that each radio channel has a spectralwidth of 30 kilohertz (KHz).
In a TDMA cellular radiotelephone system, each radio channel is divided into a series of time slots, each of which contains a burst of information from a data ~ source, e.g., a digitally encoded portion of a voice conversation. The time slots are grouped into successive TDMA frames having a predetermined duration. The number ~ of time slots in each TDMA frame is related to the number of different users that can simultaneously share the radio channel. If each slot in a TDMA frame is assigned to CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 a dirr~re~l user, the duration of a TDMA frame is the minimllrn amount of time between successive time slots ~igned to the same user.
The successive time slots ~ign~d to the same user, which are usually not consecutive time slots on the radio carrier, coll~.LiLuLe the user's digital traffic channel, S which may be considered a logical channel ~ign~-l to the user. As described inmore detail below, digital control channels (DCCs) can also be provided for commllnic~ting conkol signals, and such a DCC is a logical channel formed by a succession of usually non-consecutive time slots on the radio carrier.
In only one of many possible embodiments of a TDMA system as described 10 above, the TIA/EIA/IS-54-B standard provided that each TDMA frame consists of six consecutive time slots and has a duration of 40 milli~econds (msec). Thus, each radio channel can carry from three to six DTCs (e.g., three to six telephone conversations), depending on the source rates of the speech coder/decoders (codecs) used to digitally encode the conversations. Such speech codecs can operate at either full-rate or half-15 rate. A full-rate DTC requires twice as many time slots in a given time period as a half-rate DTC, and in TIA/EIA/IS-54-B, each full-rate DTC uses two slots of eachTDMA frame, i.e., the first and fourth, second and fifth, or third and sixth of a TDMA frame's six slots. Each half-rate DTC uses one time slot of each TDMA
frame. During each DTC time slot, 324 bits are tr,.n~mitfed7 of which the major 20 portion, 260 bits, are allocated for the speech output of the codec, including bits used for error correction coding of the speech output, and the rem~ining bits are used for guard times and overhead si~n,.lling for purposes such as synchronization.
It can be seen that the TDMA cellular system operates in a buffer-and-burst, or discontinuous-tr~n~mi~ion, mode: each mobile station transmits (and receives)25 only during its ,.ccign~od time slots. At full rate, for example, a mobile station might transmit during slot 1, receive during slot 2, idle during slot 3, transmit during slot 4, receive during slot 5, and idle during slot 6, and then repeat the cycle during s~-ccee-1ing TDMA frames. Therefore, the mobile station, which may be battery-powered, can be switched off, or sleep, to save power during the time slots when it is 30 neither tr,.n~mitting nor receiving.

CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 In addition to voice or traffic channels, cellular radio comml-nic~tion systems also provide paging/access, or control, channels for carrying call-setup messages between base stations and mobile stations. According to TIA/EIA/IS-54-B, for example, there are twenty-one t~ te-1 analog control channels (ACCs), which have5 predetermined fixed frequencies for transmission and reception located near 800 MHz.
Since these ACCs are always found at the same frequencies, they can be readily located and monitored by the mobile stations.
For example, when in an idle state (i.e., switched on but not making or receiving a call), a mobile station in a TIA/EIA/IS-54-B system tunes to and then 10 regularly monitors the strongest control channel (generally, the control channel of the cell in which the mobile station is located at that moment) and may receive or initiate a call through the corresponding base station. When moving between cells while in the idle state, the mobile station will eventually "lose" radio connection on the control channel of the "old" cell and tune to the control channel of the "new" cell. The15 initial tuning and subsequent re-tuning to control channels are both accomplished automatically by sc~nning all the available control channels at their known frequencies to find the "best" control channel. When a control channel with good reception quality is found, the mobile station remains tuned to this channel until the quality deteriorates again. In this way, mobile stations stay "in touch" with the system.
While in the idle state, a mobile station must monitor the control channel for paging messages addressed to it. For example, when an ordinary telephone (land-line) subscriber calls a mobile subscriber, the call is directed from the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to a mobile switching center (MSC) that analyzes the dialed number. If the dialed number is v,.licl,.t~?d, the MSC requests some or all of a 25 number of radio base stations to page the called mobile station by tr~n~mitting over their respective control channels paging messages that contain the mobile identific~tion number (MIN) of the called mobile station. Each idle mobile station receiving a paging message cOlllpal~s the received MIN with its own stored MIN. The mobile ~ station with the m~trhing stored MIN transmits a page response over a control channel (typically the same control channel on which the mobile station received the CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 corresponding paging message) to the base station, which forwards the page response to the MSC.
Upon receiving the page response, the MSC selects an AVC or a DTC
allocated to the base station that received the page response, switches on a 5 corresponding radio transceiver in that base station, and causes that base station to send a message, via the control rll~nn~l, to the called mobile station that instructs the called mobile station to tune to the selected voice or traffic channel. A through-connection for the call is established once the mobile station has tuned to the selected AVC or DTC.
The performance of the system having ACCs that is specified by TIA/EIA/IS-54-B has been improved in a system having digital control channels (DCCs) that is specified in TIA/EIA/IS-136, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
One example of such a system having DCCs with new formats and processes is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 07/956,640 entitled "Digital Control Channel", which was filed on October 5, 1992, and which is incorporated in this application by reference. Using such DCCs, each TIA/EIAtIS-54-B radio channel can carry DTCs only, DCCs only, or a mixture of both DTCs and DCCs. Within the TIA/EIA/IS-136 framework, each radio carrier frequency can have up to three full-rate DTCs/DCCs, or six half-rate DTCs/DCCs, or any combination in between, for 20 example, one full-rate and four half-rate DTCs/DCCs.
In cellular telephone systems, an air link protocol is required in order to allow a mobile station to cc."",l~ fe with the base stations and MSC. The col,....l-"i~tions link protocol is used to initiate and to receive cellular telephone calls.
The comml-nic~tions link protocol is commonly referred to within the cc""~ ic~tions 25 industry as a Layer 2 protocol, and its functionality includes the delimiting, or framing, of Layer 3 messages. These Layer 3 messages may be sent between commlmic~tin~ Layer 3 peer entities residing within mobile stations and cellularswitching systems. The physical layer (Layer l) defines the parameters of the physical cornmunications channel, e.g., radio frequency spacing, modulation 30 characteristics, etc. Layer 2 defines the techniques nt-cess~ry for the accurate CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 tr~n~mi~ion of information within the constraints of the physical channel, e.g., error correction and detection, etc. Layer 3 defines the procedures for reception and processing of information Ll~ (ed over the physical channel using the Layer 2 protocol.
Commllni~ti~ns between mobile stations and the cellular ~wiLchillg system (the base stations and the MSC) can be described in general with ~ci.,lcl~ce to FIGS. 1 and

2. FIG. 1 sch~m~t~ ly illustrates pluralities of Layer 3 messages 11, Layer 2 frames 13, and Layer 1 channel bursts, or time slots, 15. In FIG. 1, each group of channel bursts corresponding to each Layer 3 message Coll~LiLulc a logical channel, and as described above, the channel bursts for a given Layer 3 message would usually not be consecutive slots on an TIA/EIA/136 carrier. On the other hand, the channel bursts could be consecutive; as soon as one time slot ends, the next time slot could begin.
Each Layer 1 channel burst 15 contains a complete Layer 2 frame as well as other inforrnation such as, for example, error correction hlrollllaLion and other overhead information used for Layer 1 or Layer 2 operation. Each Layer 2 frame contains at least a portion of a Layer 3 message as well as overhead hlrol~lalion used for Layer 2 operation. Although not in~ t~1 in FIG. 1, each Layer 3 message would include various information elements that can be considered the payload of the message, a header portion for identifying the respective message's type, and possibly padding.
Each Layer 1 burst and each Layer 2 frame is divided into a plurality of dirrt;~ fields. In particular, a limited-length DATA field in each Layer 2 framecontains at least some portion of the Layer 3 message 11. Since Layer 3 messageshave variable lengths depending upon the amount of information contained in the Layer 3 message, a plurality of Layer 2 frames may be needed for tr~n~mic~it n of a single Layer 3 message. As a result, a plurality of Layer 1 channel bursts may also be needed to transmit the entire Layer 3 message as there is a one-to-one correspondence between channel bursts and Layer 2 frames.
As noted above, when more than one channel burst is required to send a Layer 3 message, the required bursts are not usually consecutive bursts on the radio CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 channel. Moreover, the several bursts are not even usually successive bursts devoted to the particular logical channel used for carrying the Layer 3 message. Since time is required to receive, process, and react to each received burst, the bursts required for tr~n~mi~sion of a Layer 3 message are usually sent in a staggered format, as 5 scllem~tir~lly illustrated in FIG. 2(a) and as described above in connection with the TIA/EIA/IS-136 standard.
FIG. 2(a) shows a general example of a folwald (or downlink) DCC
configured as a sllcces~ion of time slots 1, 2, . . ., N, . . . included in the consecutive time slots 1, 2, . . . sent on a radio channel. These DCC slots may be 10 defined on a radio channel such as that specified by TIA/EIA/IS-136, and may consist, as seen in FIG. 2(a) for example, of every n-th slot in a series of consecutive slots. Each DCC slot has a duration that may or may not be 6.67 msec, which is the length of a DTC slot according to the TIA/EIA/IS-136 standard.
As shown in FIG. 2(a), the DCC slots may be org~ni7e~l into superframes 15 (SF), and each superframe includes a number of logical channels that carry different kinds of information. One or more DCC slots may be allocated to each logical channel in the superframe. The exemplary downlink superframe in FIG. 2(a) includes three logical channels: a broadcast control channel (BCCH) in~ln~ing six successive slots for overhead messages; a paging channel (PCH) including one slot for paging 20 messages; and an access response channel (ARCH) including one slot for channel ~si~nment and other messages. The rem~ining time slots in the exemplary ~u~clr,~lle of FIG. 2 may be dedicated to other logical channels, such as additional paging channels PCH or other channels. Since the number of mobile stations is usually much greater than the number of slots in the ~u~lr,~lle, each paging slot is 25 used for paging several mobile stations that share some unique characteristic, e.g., the last digit of the MIN.
FIG. 2(b) illustrates a ~lef~ d information format for the slots of a ro,~ud DCC. FIG. 2(b) inflic~tçs the number of bits required for each identified field. The bits sent in the SYNC information are used in a conventional way to help ensure 30 accurate reception of the CSFP and DATA fields. The SYNC information carries a CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 preclPtermined bit pattern used by the base stations to find the start of the slot. The SCF information is used in conjunction with Layer 2 operation of a random accesschannel (RACH), which is used by the mobile to request access to the system. TheCSFP information conveys a coded superframe phase value that enables the mobile 5 stations to find the start of each superframe. This is just one example for the information format in the slots of the forward DCC.
For purposes of efficient sleep mode operation and fast cell selection, the BCCH may be divided into a number of sub-channels. U.S. Patent Application No. 07/956,640 discloses a BCCH structure that allows the mobile station to read a 10 Illillillllllll amount of information when it is switched on (when it locks onto a DCC) before being able to access the system (place or receive a call). After being switched on, an idle mobile station needs to regularly monitor only its assigned PCH slots (usually one in each superframe); the mobile can sleep during other slots. The ratio of the mobile's time spent reading paging messages and its time spent asleep is 15 controllable and represents a tradeoff between call-set-up delay and power consumption.
Since each TDMA time slot has a certain fixed information carrying capacity, each burst typically carries only a portion of a Layer 3 message as noted above. In the uplink direction, multiple mobile stations attempt to co-~ ic~te with the system 20 on a contention basis, while multiple mobile stations listen for Layer 3 messages sent from the system in the downlink direction.
Digital control and traffic channels are desirable because for example, they support longer sleep periods for the mobile units, which results in longer battery life.
Moreover, digital traffic channels and digital control channels have expanded 25 functionality for optimi7ing system capacity and supporting hierarchical cellstructures, i.e., structures of macrocells, microcells, picocells, etc. The term"macrocell" generally refers to a cell having a size comparable to the si_es of cells in a conventional cellular telephone system (e.g., a radius of at least about 1 kilometer), and the terms "microcell" and "picocell" generally refer to progressively smaller 30 cells. For example, a microcell might cover a public indoor or outdoor area, e.g., a _ CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 convention center or a busy street, and a picocell might cover an office corridor or a floor of a high-rise building. From a radio coverage perspective, macrocells, microcells, and picocells may be distinct from one another or may overlap one another to handle different traffic patterns or radio environments.
FIG. 3 is an exemplary hierarchical, or multi-layered, cellular system. An umbrella macrocell 10 represented by a hexagonal shape makes up an overlying cellular structure. Each umbrella cell may contain an underlying microcell structure.
The umbrella cell 10 includes microcell 20 represented by the area enclosed within the dotted line and microcell 30 represented by the area enclosed within the dashed line corresponding to areas along city streets, and picocells 40, 50, and 60, which cover individual floors of a building. The intersection of the two city streets covered by the microcells 20 and 30 may be an area of dense traffic concentration, and thus might represent a hot spot.
FIG. 4 represents a block diagram of an exemplary cellular mobile radiotelephone system, including an exemplary base station 110 and mobile station 120. The base station includes a control and processing unit 130 which is connected to the MSC 140 which in turn is connected to the PSTN (not shown).
The base station 110 handles a plurality of voice channels through a voice channel transceiver 150, which is controlled by the control and processing unit 130.
Also, each base station includes a control channel transceiver 160, which may becapable of h~n-lling more than one control channel. The control channel transceiver 160 is controlled by the control and processing unit 130. The control channel transceiver 160 broadcasts control information over the control channel of the base station or cell to mobiles locked to that control channel. It will be understood that the transceivers 150 and 160 can be implemented as a single device, like the voice and control transceiver 170, for use with DCCs and DTCs that share the same radio carrier frequency.
The mobile station 120 receives the information broadcast on a control channel at its voice and control channel transceiver 170. Then, the processing unit 180 evaluates the received control channel h~r ~ laLion, which includes the characteristics CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 of cells that are c~n~ tes for the mobile station to lock on to, and determines on r which cell the mobile should lock. Advantageously, the received control channel information not only includes absolute information concerning the cell with which it is associated, but also contains relative information concerning other cells proximate to the cell with which the control channel is associated, as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,353,332 to Raith et al., entitled "Method and Apparatus for Co.. -.. -ic~ti~-n Control in a Radiotelephone System".
To increase the user's "talk time", i.e., the battery life of the mobile station, a digital forward control channel (base station to mobile station) can be provided that can carry the types of messages specified for current analog forward control channels (FOCCs), but in a format which allows an idle mobile station to read overhead messages when locking onto the FOCC and thereafter only when the information haschanged; the mobile sleeps at all other times. In such a system, some types of messages are broadcast by the base stations more frequently than other types, and mobile stations need not read every message bro~-lc~t The systems specified by the TIA/EIA/IS-54-B and TIA/EIA/IS-136 standards employ circuit-switched technology, which is a type of "connection-oriented"
co....,.l...ic~tion that establishes a physical call connection and m~int~in~ that connection for as long as the cu---------~ic~ting end-systems have data to exchange. The 20 direct connection of a circuit switch serves as an open pipeline, permitting the end-systems to use the circuit for whatever they deem ~lo~liate. While circuit-switched data Coll--llu- ication may be well suited to constant-bandwidth applications, it is relatively inefficient for low-bandwidth and "bursty" applications.
Packet-switched technology, which may be connection-oriented (e.g., X.25) or 25 "connectionless" (e.g., the Internet Protocol, "IP"), does not require the set-up and tear-down of a physical connection, which is in marked contrast to circuit-switched technology. This reduces the data latency and increases the efficiency of a channel in hz~nl1ling relatively short, bursty, or interactive transactions. A connectionless packet-switched network distributes the routing functions to multiple routing sites, thereby 30 avoiding possible traf~lc bottlenecks that could occur when using a central switching CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 hub. Data is "packetized" with the ~ fo~liate end-system addressing and then tr~n~mitte-l in independent units along the data path. Intermediate systems, s-)m~tim~s called "routers", stationed between the co~lllllunicating end-systems make decisions about the most ~prc,~liate route to take on a per packet basis. Routing decisions are based on a number of characteristics, inr.hlfling: least-cost route or cost metric;
capacity of the link; number of packets waiting for tr~n~mi.s~ion; security requirements for the link; and intermediate system (node) operational status.
Packet tr~n~mi.~inn along a route that takes into consideration path metrics, asopposed to a single circuit set up, offers application and commllnic~tions flexibility.
It is also how most standard local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) have evolved in the corporate ~nvilolllllent. Packet switching is ~ro~liate for data commnnications because many of the applications and devices used, such as keyboard terminals, are interactive and transmit data in bursts. Instead of a channel being idle while a user inputs more data into the terminal or pauses to think about a problem, packet switching interleaves multiple tr~n~mi~ ns from several terminals onto the channel.
Packet data provides more network robustness due to path independence and the routers' ability to select alternative paths in the event of network node failure.
Packet switching, therefore, allows for more efficient use of the network lines.Packet technology offers the option of billing the end user based on amount of data tr~n~mitte(l instead of connection time. If the end user's application has been designed to make efficient use of the air link, then the number of packets tr~n~mittf d will be minim~l. If each individual user's traffic is held to a minimnm, then the service provider has effectively increased network capacity.
Packet networks are usually de~ign~d and based on industry-wide data standards such as the open system interface (OSI) model or the TCP/IP protocol stack. These standards have been developed, whether formally or de facto, for many years, and the applications that use these protocols are readily available. The main objective of standards-based networks is to achieve interconnectivity with other CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 networks. The Internet is today's most obvious example of such a standards-basednetwork pursuit of this goal.
Packet networks, like the Internet or a corporate LAN, are integral parts of today's business and c~ r~tion~ envho~llcnts. As mobile co~ uLillg becomes S pervasive in these environments, wireless service providers such as those using TIA/EIA/IS-136 are best positioned to provide access to these networks.
Nevertheless, the data services provided by or proposed for cellular systems aregenerally based on the circuit-switched mode of operation, using a dedicated radio channel for each active mobile user.
FIG. S shows representative architect -re used for c-~.. l.-.-iczlting across an air link that comprises the protocols which provide connectivity between a mobile end system (M-ES), a mobile data base station (MDBS), and a mobile data intermediatesystem (MD-IS). An exemplary description of the elements in FIG. 5 and a recommended approach for each element when considering alternative RF
technologies follows.
The Internet Protocol/Connectionless Network Protocol (IP/CLNP) are network protocols that are connectionless and widely supported throughout the traditional data network co.ll",-.~ y. These protocols are independent of the physical layer and preferably are not modified as the RF technologies change.
The Security Management Protocol (SMP) provides security services across the air link interface. The services furnished include data link confi~entizllity, M-ES
authentication, key management, access control, and al~,olilhlll upgradability/
replacement. The SMP should remain unch~nged when implementing alternative RF
technologies.
The Radio Resource Management Protocol (RRMP) provides management and control over the mobile unit's use of the RF resources. The RRMP and its associated procedures are specific to the AMPS RF infrastructure and require change based on the RF technology implemented.
The Mobile Network Registration Protocol (MNRP) is used in tandem with a Mobile Network Location Protocol (MNLP) to allow proper registration and CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 authentication of the mobile end system. The MNRP should be llnrh~nged when using alternative RF technologies.
The Mobile Data Link Protocol (MDLP) provides efficient data transfer between the MD-IS and the M-ES. The MDLP supports efficient mobile end system S movement, mobile end system power conservation, RF channel resources sharing, and efficient error recovery. The MDLP should be lln~h~nged when using alternative RF
technologies.
The Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol and associated procedures control the methodology M-ESs use to manage shared access to the RF channel. This 10 protocol and its functionality must be supplied by alternative RF technologies.
Modulation and encoding schemes are used at the physical layer. These schemes are specific to the RF technology employed, and therefore should be replaced with schemes ~lopliate for the alternative RF technology. The adoption of alternative RF technologies can be implemented with a minimllm amount of change to 15 the CDPD system arrhitec~lre. The required changes are limited to the radio resource management protocol, the MAC, and physical layers; all other network services and support services remain llnrh~nged.
A few exceptions to data services for cellular systems based on the circuit-switched mode of operation are described in the following docum~nts, which include 20 the packet data concepts.
U.S. Patent No. 4,887,265 and "Packet Switching in Digital Cellular Systems", Proc. 38th IEEE Vehicular Technolo~y Conf.. pp. 414-418 (June 1988) describe a cellular system providing shared packet data radio channels, each onecapable of accommodating multiple data calls. A mobile station requesting packet25 data service is assigned to a particular packet data channel using essentially regular cellular ~i~n~lling. The system may include packet access points (PAPS) for interfacing with packet data nc~Lw~lh~. Each packet data radio channel is connected to one particular PAP and is thus capable of multiplexing data calls associated with that PAP. Handovers are initiated by the system in a manner that is largely similar to the CA 0223~000 l998-04-l6 WO 97/15168 PCT~US96/16698 handover used in the same system for voice calls. A new type of handover is added for those situations when the capacity of a packet channel is insufficient.
These document.c are data-call oriented and based on using system-initi~te-l handover in a similar way as for regular voice calls. Applying these principles for 5 providing general purpose packet data services in a TDMA cellular system would result in spectrum-efficiency and performance disadvantages.
U.S. Patent No. 4,916,691 describes a new packet mode cellular radio system architecture and a new procedure for routing (voice and/or data) packets to a mobile station. Base stations, public switches via trunk interface units, and a cellular control 10 unit are linked together via a WAN. The routing procedure is based on mobile-station-initi~te~l handovers and on adding to the header of any packet tr~n~mitte~l from a mobile station (during a call) an identifier of the base station through which the packet passes. In case of an extended period of time between subsequent user information packets from a mobile station, the mobile station may transmit extra15 control packets for the purpose of conveying cell location information.
The cellular control unit is primarily involved at call establishment, when it assigns to the call a call control number. It then notifies the mobile station of the call control number and the trunk interface unit of the call control number and the identifier of the initial base station. During a call, packets are then routed directly 20 between the trunk interface unit and the currently serving base station.
The system described in U.S. Patent No. 4,916,691 iS not directly related to the specific problems of providing packet data services in TDMA cellular systems.
"Packet Radio in GSM", Eulu~ean Telecommnnic~tions Standards Tn~ti1~-tf (ETSI) T Doc SMG 4 58/93 (Feb. 12, 1993) and "A General Packet Radio Service 25 Proposed for GSM" presented during a stomin~r entitled "GSM in a Future Competitive Environment", Helsinki, Finland (Oct. 13, 1993) outline a possible packet access protocol for voice and data in GSM. These documents directly relate to TDMA cellular systems, i.e., GSM, and although they outline a possible or~ ion of an optimized shared packet data channel, they do not deal with the aspects of in-30 tegrating packet data channels in a total system solution.

CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 "Packet Data over GSM Network", T Doc SMG 1 238/93, ETSI (Sept. 28, 1993) describes a concept of providing packet data services in GSM based on first using regular GSM sign~lling and authentic~tion to establish a virtual channel between a packet mobile station and an "agent" h~n-lling access to packet data services. With 5 regular .~ign~lling modified for fast channel setup and release, regular traffic channels are then used for packet transfer. This document directly relates to TDMA cellular systems, but since the concept is based on using a "fast switching" version of existing GSM traffic channels, it has disadvantages in terms of spectrum efficiency and packet transfer delays (especially for short messages) compared to a concept based on 10 optimized shared packet data channels.
Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) System Specification, Release 1.0 (July 1993), which is expressly incorporated herein by reference, describes a concept for providing packet data services that utilizes available radio channels on currentAdvanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) systems, i.e., the North American analog 15 cellular system. CDPD is a comprehensive, open specification endorsed by a group of U.S. cellular operators. Items covered include external interfaces, air link interfaces, services, network architectllre, network management, and a-lmini.ctration.
The specified CDPD system is to a large extent based on an infrastructure that is independent of the existing AMPS infrastructure. Commonalities with AMPS
20 systems are limited to ~ltili7~ti~n of the sarne type of radio frequency channels and the same base station sites (the base station used by CDPD may be new and CDPD
specific) and employment of a ~ign~lling interface for coor lin~ting channel assignments between the two systems.
Routing a packet to a mobile station is based on, first, routing the packet to a25 home network node (home Mobile Data Intermediate System, MD-IS) equipped with a home location register (HLR) based on the mobile station address; then, when necessary, routing the packet to a visited, serving MD-IS based on HLR information;
and finally transferring the packet from the serving MD-IS via the current base station, based on the mobile station reporting its cell location to its serving MD-IS.

CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 Although the CDPD System Specification is not directly related to the specific problems of providing packet data services in TDMA cellular systems that are addressed by this application, the network aspects and concepts described in theCDPD System Specification can be used as a basis for the network aspects needed for an air link protocol in accordance with this invention.
The CDPD network is rlesigneC~ to be an extension of existing data co~ lullications networks and the AMPS cellular network. Existing connectionlessnetwork protocols may be used to access the CDPD network. Since the network is always considered to be evolving, it uses an open network design that allows the10 addition of new network layer protocols when a~plo~liate. The CDPD network services and protocols are limited to the Network Layer of the OSI model and below.
Doing so allows upper-layer protocols and applications development without ch~nging the underlying CDPD network.
From the mobile subscriber's perspective, the CDPD network is a wireless 15 mobile extension of traditional networks, both data and voice. By using a CDPD
service provider network's service, the subscriber is able to seamlessly access data applications, many of which may reside on traditional data networks. The CDPD
system may be viewed as two interrelated service sets: CDPD network support services and CDPD network services.
CDPD network support services perform duties n~cess~ry to m~int~in and mini~ter the CDPD network. These services are: accounting server; network management system; message lldl~rel server; and authentication server. These services are defined to permit interoperability among service providers. As the CDPD network evolves technically beyond its original AMPS infrastructure, it is 25 anticipated that the support services shall remain llnch~nged. The functions of network support services are necessary for any mobile network and are independent of radio frequency (RF) technology.
CDPD network services are data ~ r~l services that allow subscribers to col,l",l~"ic~te with data applications. Additionally, one or both ends of the data 30 collllllullications may be mobile.

CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 To ~ul~ lal.~e, there is a need for a system providing general purpose packet data services in D-AMPS cellular systems, based on providing shared packet-data channels optirnized for packet data. This application is directed to systems andmethods that provide the combined advantages of a connection-oriented network like 5 that specified by the TIA/EIA/IS-136 standard and a connectionless, packet data network. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to accessing the CDPD
network, for example, by existing connection1ess network protocols with low complexity and high throughput.

SUMMARY
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for registering a mobile station when the mobile station first enters a commnnic~tion system which supports packet data channels is disclosed. The mobile station receives system information bro~c1c~te~1 on a digital control channel from which it determines 15 its assigned beacon packet data channel. The mobile station then registers with the collllllunication system over the packet data channel to activate packet data service.
The mobile station measures the signal strength of digital control ch~nnel~ of neighboring cells listed on a neighbor list included in the system information as well as the signal strength of the channel the mobile station is ~ y camping on. The 20 mobile station can then decide to switch to a digital control channel of a neighboring cell, e.g., when the signal strength of the neighboring digital control channel is higher than the signal strength of the first digital control channel. Furthermore, each packet data channel can provide an inrlir~ti~n to mobile stations regarding which neighboring cells support packet data channels.
~5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features and advantages of Applicants' invention will be understood by reading this description in conjunction with the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 schem~ticz-11y illustrates pluralities of Layer 3 messages, Layer 2 30 frames, and Layer l channel bursts, or time slots;

CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 WO 97/lS168 PCT/US96/16698 FIG. 2(a) shows a fol~d DCC configured as a succec~ n of time slots included in the consecutive time slots sent on a carrier frequency;
FIG. 2(b) shows an example of an IS-136 DCCH field slot format;
FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary hierarchical, or multi-layered, cellular system;FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary cellular mobile radiotelephone system, including an exernplary base station and mobile station;
FIG. 5 shows a protocol architectllre for commlmic~ting across an air link;
FIG. 6 illustrates one example of a possible mapping sequence;
FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a slot format for BMl ~ M5 on PDCH;
FIG. 8 illustrate a mobile station activating a CDPD mode of operation; and FIG. 9 illustrates a PDCH selection and cell reselection process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
To aid in the underst~n~1ing of the present invention, a description for one possible mapping sequence is illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows a dedicated PDCH
example of how one L3 message is mapped into several layer 2 frames, an example of a layer 2 frame mapping onto a time slot, and an example of time slot mapping onto a PDCH channel. The length of the FPDCH time slots and RPDCH bursts are fixed.
There are three possible forms of RPDCH bursts (i.e., normal abbreviated and auxiliary) which have dirr~,elll fixed lengths. FPDCH slots on a full-rate PDCH are "~.sllme-l to be on the physical layer in FlG. 6. In the present invention, the TDMA
frame structure is the same as for IS-136 DCCH and DTC. In the interest of maximal throughput when a multi-rate channel is used (double rate PDCH and triple rate PDCH), an additional FPDCH slot format is specified. FIG. 7 illustrates an additional slot format which is provided by this invention, specifically a slot format for BMI ~ MS on a PDCH. The difference between the slot format illustrated in FIG. 7 and the IS-136 DCCH BMI MS slot format is that the PCF field is used in CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 W O 97/15168 PCT~US96/16698 the present embodiment instead of SCF and the CSFP/PCF field in the present embodiment has replaced the CSFP field in the IS-136 DCCH format.
In this embodiment of FIG.7, the slot format is divided into seven fields; a synchronization field (SYNC) for providing syncl~luni~a~ion information to the mobile 5 station, a packet channel feedback field (PCF), a first data (DATA) field, a coded superframe phase/packet channel feedback (CSFP/PCF)field, a second data field, asecond packet channel feedback (PCF) field, and a reserved (RSVD) field.
The PCF fieldis used to control access on the RPDCH and includes busy/reserved/idle (BRI), received/not received (R/N), partial echo (PE) and partial 10 echo qualifier (PEQ) information. The B~I, PE, and R/N data are as specified in IS-136. The CSFP/PCF field contains the additional PEQ data in the present embodiment. The CSFP/PCF fieldis used to convey information regarding the superframe phase SFPso that mobile stations can find the start of the superframe.
Also, the CSFP/PCF field provides the PEQ information, which is used to 15 dynamically assign the subchannels of the RPDCH so as to provide an efficient means for inte~ ing tr~n~mi~ions by a first mobile station so as to allow for tr~n~mi~sions from other mobile stations that are either attempting to access the system or have already ~cce~e-l the system and are in the process of sending packet data information.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the digital 20 control channel (DCCH) of the IS-136 specification can be used to inrlir~tr support for packet data channel operation. In the present co~ ic~ti-~n systems, different cells within the comml-nic~tion system have different digital control channels. When a mobile station powers on or enters the coll""~ ic~tion system, the mobile station will receive information about the c-,llll"llllic~tion system which is being broadcast on 25 the DCCH on which the mobile station decides to acquire service. FIG.8 illustrates an activation process for a mobile station at power-up. The mobile station first finds a DCCH and then reads the BCCH to find a pointer to the beacon PDCH. A mobile station interested in packet data operation locks onto the beacon PDCH, and enters an active mode whereby it registers with the commlmiczlti~ n system. The mobile station 30 may be redirected to a different PDCH in response to its registration. The mobile CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 station stays in an active mode on the inllic~tr-l PDCH until an activity timer has expired. The mobile station then enters a passive mode on the PDCH.
FIG. 9 illustrates the relationship between packet data channels belonging to one cell or more specifically, having a common mother DCCH, and digital control channels in different cells. FIG. 9 illustrates a co.. ~ r~tion system with a plurality of digital control channels (DCCHl, DCCH2, ..., DCCHn, DCCHm). When a mobile station is activated or enters the col~ iC~ti~ n system, the mobile station camps on one of the digital control charmels, for example, DCCHl. While the mobile station is camped on DCCHl, the system will send hl~ollllation to the mobile 10 station such as a neighbor list, which lists m-l frequencies of the digital control channels used by neighboring cells and whether the cell encompassed by DCCHl supports packet data channels. If DCCHl inrlir~trs support for one or more dedicated PDCHs, the carrier frequency of one PDCH, i.e., a beacon PDCH, is also provided as part of the broadcast information sent on the BCCH of DCCHl. The mobile 15 station is directed toward the beacon PDCH by a PDCH pointer. If interested in packet data operation, the mobile station camps and registers on the beacon PDCH.
The mobile station may continue to be ~e~ignrd to the beacon PDCH or the mobile station may be ~ignto-l to another derlir~tçd PDCH depending upon the co."".ll..ir~tion system. For example, the digital control channel DCCHl may 20 support a plurality of packet data channels (Beacon PDCH, PDCH2, , PDCHr, PDCHq). As a result, while the mobile station is first ~signt?d to the beacon PDCH, the mobile station can be reassigned to another packet data channel as part of the registration process. The mobile station may be reassigned to another packet data channel for a variety of reasons, such as traffic control.
There are several benefits to having just one PDCH pointer per digital control channel. First of all, if each digital control channel were to have more than one pointer, extra bandwidth on each digital control channel would have to be provided for each additional pointer. In addition, rç~igning mobile stations from the beacon - PDCH allows the system to be more flexible than systems which must reassign mobile stations to new PDCHs directly from the DCCH. For example, a system with CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 multiple pointers on each digital control channel can only assign the mobile stations to the packet data channels as a function of each mobile stations phone number or icientific~tion number (MSID). Thus, the assignment process would be static.
However, according to the present invention, the beacon PDCH can perform S individual rçS~cignments to other PDCHs based on a mobile station's past history and/or current request.
The mobile station performs cell reselection measurements by measuring the signal strengths of digital control channels of neighboring cells using the neighbor list acquired while initially camped on the digital control channel. According to one10 embodiment of the present invention, information on the PDCH in~Tiç~tes whether a neighboring DCCH supports packet data tr~n~mi~ ns. Each packet data channel contains local PDCH information which in-licat~s whether neighbor cells support packet data channels. Each packet data cnannel inrhl-le~ a vector, i.e., a bit map, having a length reflecting the length of the neighboring cell list. The vector may 15 in-lic~te which channels in the neighboring cell list support packet data channels. For example, a "1" in the first bit position in the bit map could in~lic~t~ that the first cell in the neighbor list supports packet ch~nn~l~. It will be understood that the bit map is not limited to binary bits and could include multiple bits. In such a case, the multiple bits could also int1i~te other features of the neighboring cells, e.g., CDPD with 20 original CDPD air interface. When a cell reselection takes place, the mobile station first camps on the new DCCH such as DCCH2. The mobile station is then directed to a beacon PDCH by a PDCH pointer specified for DCCH2. Likewise, the beacon PDCH can reassign the mobile station to another PDCH.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the beacon may be the 25 only PDCH channel which carries broadcast information. In this situation, when the broadcast information is changed, all of the mobile stations assigned to non-beacon packet data channels must be returned to the beacon PDCH so that the mobile stations can receive the new broadcast information. In the alternative, all of the PDCH
channels may provide broadcast information. In this situation, the broadcast 30 information should be the same for all PDCH channels. Thus, if a mobile station CA 0223~000 1998-04-16 reads broadcast hlroll-la~ion on one channel, the mobile station can be assigned to another PDCH channel wherein the mobile station will not have to first reread the broadcast inforrnation.
It will be understood that Applicants' invention is not limited to the particular S embo-liment~ that have been described and illustrated. This application contemplates any and all mollific~tinns that fall within the spirit and scope of Applicants' invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (22)

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A method for registering a mobile station when the mobile station first enters a communication system which supports packet data channels, comprising the steps of:
receiving at said mobile station system information broadcast on a digital control channel including information used to identify a beacon packet data channel;
listening, at said mobile station, to said identified beacon packet data channel; and registering with said communication system over said identified beacon packet data channel.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said mobile station identifies said identified beacon packet data channel by a packet data channel pointer transmitted on said digital control channel.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
reassigning said mobile station from said identified beacon packet data channel to a secondary packet data channel.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said mobile station is reassigned to said secondary packet data channel based on past service requests.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein said mobile station is reassigned to said secondary packet data channel based on current service requests.

6. A method according to claim 3, wherein said mobile station is reassigned to said secondary packet data channel based on past and current service requests.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said system information includes a neighbor list containing frequencies of other digital control channels used in neighboring cells.

8. A cell reselection method for a mobile station operating in a communication system which supports packet data channels, comprising the steps of:
receiving, at said mobile station, system information broadcast on a first digital control channel including information usable to identify a beacon packet data channel;
listening, at said mobile station, to said identified beacon packet data channel;
registering with said communication system over said identified beacon packet data channel;
measuring signal strength of digital control channels of neighboring cells identified in a neighbor list included in said system information of said first digital control channel; and reselecting a digital control channel of a neighboring cell when the signal strength of the neighboring digital control channel is higher than the signal strength of said first digital control channel.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said mobile station locates said identified beacon packet data channel by a packet data channel pointer transmitted on said reselected digital control channel.

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of:
reassigning said mobile station from said identified beacon packet data channel to a secondary packet data channel.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said mobile station is reassigned to said secondary packet data channel based on its past service requests.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein said mobile station is reassigned to said secondary packet data channel based on its current service requests.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein said mobile station is reassigned to said secondary packet data channel based on its past and current service requests.

14. A method according to claim 8, wherein each packet data channel provides a mobile station with local broadcast information.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said local broadcast information includes a bit map vector which indicates which of the neighboring cells support packet data channels.

16. A mobile station comprising:
a receiver for receiving information broadcast on a digital control channel including information used to identify a beacon packet data channel;
a processor for tuning said receiver to said identified beacon packet data channel; and a transmitter for transmitting a registration message over said identified beacon packet data channel.

17. A mobile station according to claim 16, wherein said mobile station identifies said identified beacon packet data channel by a packet data channel pointer transmitted on said digital control channel.

18. A mobile station according to claim 16, wherein said receiver is also for receiving a message reassigning said mobile station from said identified beacon packet data channel to a secondary packet data channel.

19. A base station comprising:
a transmitter for transmitting information to a mobile station on a beacon packet data channel; and a processor for including a reassignment message in said transmitted information, said reassignment message assigning said mobile station to a secondary packet data channel.

20. The base station according to claim 19, wherein said reassignment message is included by said processor based on past service requests.

21. The base station according to claim 19, wherein said reassignment message is included by said processor based on current service requests.

22. The base station according to claim 19, wherein said reassignment message is included by said processor based on past and current service requests.