Channel Traffic Congestion Avoidance in a Mobile Communication System

Abstract

A mobile station detects whether there is congestion in a cell by monitoring a first channel fix downlink messages and decoding the messages to see if the decoded messages indicate congestion, where the first channel is a common control channel (CCCH). For the case in which the mobile station determines from the decoded messages that there is no congestion, the mobile station initiates a random access procedure by transmitting a request message uplink on a random access channel (RACH). Else for the case in which the mobile station determines from the decoded messages that there is congestion, the mobile station waits for a waiting time before initiating a random access procedure.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a mobile station, the method comprising:
 detecting by the mobile station whether there is congestion in a cell by monitoring a first channel for downlink messages and decoding the messages to see if the decoded messages indicate congestion, where the first channel is a common control channel (CCCH); and   for the case in which the mobile station determines from the decoded messages that there is no congestion, the mobile station initiating a random access procedure by transmitting a request message uplink on a random access channel (RACH); else   for the case in which the mobile station determines from the decoded messages that there is congestion, the mobile station waiting for a waiting time before initiating a random access procedure.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the waiting time is pre-determined. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the waiting time includes a random element. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the waiting time is received from a network base station. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mobile station initiates the random access procedure by transmitting on the RACH at least one of a CHANNEL REQUEST message; and
 an EGPRS PACKET CHANNEL REQUEST.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the first channel is an access grant channel (ACH) and the messages comprise at least one of:
 IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT messages; and   IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT REJECT messages.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the method is executed by the mobile station or by one or more components thereof while the mobile station is operating in a Global system for mobile communication—Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution network (GERAN). 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for controlling a mobile station, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one controller and a memory storing a computer program which are configured to cause the mobile station at least to:
 detect whether there is congestion in a cell by monitoring a first channel for downlink messages and decoding the messages to see if the decoded messages indicate congestion, where the first channel is a common control channel (CCCH): and 
 for the case in which the mobile station determines from the decoded messages that there is no congestion, to initiate a random access procedure by transmitting a request message uplink on a random access channel (RACH); else 
 for the case in which the mobile station determines from the decoded messages that there is congestion, to wait for a waiting time before initiating a random access procedure. 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the waiting time is pre-determined. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the waiting time includes a random element. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the waiting time is received from a network base station. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one controller and the memory storing the computer program are configured to cause the mobile station to initiate the random access procedure by transmitting on the RACE at least one of:
 a CHANNEL REQUEST message; and   an EGPRS PACKET CHANNEL REQUEST,   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the first channel is an access grant channel (ACE) and the messages comprise at least one of:
 IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT messages; and   IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT REJECT messages.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus comprises the mobile station or one or more components thereof which causes the mobile station to perform as said while the mobile station is operating in a Global system for mobile communication—Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution network (GERAN). 
     
     
         15 . A memory storing a computer program comprising a set of instructions, which, when executed on a data-processing system, causes the data processing system to:
 detect whether there is congestion in a cell by monitoring a first channel for downlink messages and decoding the messages to see if the decoded messages indicate congestion, where the first channel is a common control channel (CCCH); and   for the case in which it is determined from the decoded messages that there is no congestion, initiate a random access procedure by transmitting a request message uplink on a random access channel (RACE); else   for the case in which it is determined from the decoded messages that there is congestion, wait for a waiting time before initiating a random access procedure.   
     
     
         16 . The memory according to  claim 15 , wherein the waiting time is pre-determined. 
     
     
         17 . The memory according to  claim 15 , wherein the waiting time includes a random element. 
     
     
         18 . The memory according to  claim 15 , wherein the waiting time is received from a network base station at a mobile station in which is disposed the memory and the data processing system. 
     
     
         19 . The memory according to  claim 15 , wherein the data processing system causes a mobile station to initiate the random access procedure by transmitting on the RACH at least one of
 a CHANNEL REQUEST message; and   an EGPRS PACKET CHANNEL REQUEST.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the first channel is an access grant channel (ACH) and the messages comprise at least one of
 IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT messages; and   IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT REJECT messages.