Distribution Of System Information In A Wireless Access Telecommunications System

Abstract

The invention relates to a wireless access telecommunications system comprising at least an SA-cell with which a terminal in an active mode is configured to have a data connection and an LA-cell on which the terminal in an idle mode is configured to camp. A method for the terminal to at least obtain LA-cell system information and SA-cell system information includes, when the terminal is in the active mode and an SA-cell radio interface of the terminal is enabled, the terminal receiving at least a part of the SA-cell system information for the terminal from the SA-cell via the SA-cell radio interface. The method further includes enabling an LA-cell radio interface of the terminal during one or more of a plurality of LA time periods and receiving at least a part of the LA-cell system information for the terminal from the LA-cell via the LA-cell radio interface.

1 . In a wireless access telecommunications system comprising at least an SA-cell with which a terminal in an active mode is configured to have a data connection and an LA-cell on which the terminal in an idle mode is configured to camp, a method for the terminal to at least obtain LA-cell system information and SA-cell system information, the method comprising:
 when the terminal is in the active mode and an SA-cell radio interface of the terminal is enabled, the terminal   receiving at least a part of the SA-cell system information for the terminal from the SA-cell via the SA-cell radio interface,   enabling an LA-cell radio interface of the terminal during one or more of a plurality of LA time periods set by the LA-cell, and   receiving at least a part of the LA-cell system information for the terminal from the LA-cell via the LA-cell radio interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, when the terminal is in the active mode, providing an indication to the SA-cell when to pause transmission of user data from the SA-cell to the terminal. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising disabling the SA-cell radio interface when the LA-cell radio interface is enabled and disabling the LA-cell radio interface when the SA-cell radio interface is enabled. 
     
     
         4 . A terminal comprising means for performing the steps of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . A computer program comprising software code portion configured, when executed by a processor, for performing the steps of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . An LA-cell configured for use in the method according to  claim 1 , the LA-cell being configured at least for:
 transmitting the at least the part of the LA-cell system information for the terminal during at least a part of the plurality of the LA time periods, wherein each time period of the plurality of the LA time periods is adjacent to a time period during which no part of the LA-cell system information for the terminal is transmitted.   
     
     
         7 . The LA-cell according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of the LA time periods are set in a first predetermined pattern, e.g. periodically. 
     
     
         8 . The LA-cell according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the plurality of the LA time periods is synchronized with the SA-cell transmitting the SA-cell system information. 
     
     
         9 . An SA-cell configured for use in the method according to  claim 1 , the SA-cell being configured at least for:
 transmitting at least the part of the SA-cell system information for the terminal during a plurality of SA time periods, wherein each time period of the plurality of the SA time periods is adjacent to a time period during which no part of the SA-cell system information for the terminal is transmitted.   
     
     
         10 . The SA-cell according to  claim 9 , further configured for pausing the transmission of user data from the SA-cell to the terminal when the at least the part of the SA-cell system information for the terminal is transmitted. 
     
     
         11 . The SA-cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the SA time periods are set in a second predetermined pattern, e.g. periodically. 
     
     
         12 . The SA-cell according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of the SA time periods is synchronized with the LA-cell transmitting the LA-cell system information. 
     
     
         13 . An SA-cell configured for use in the method according to  claim 1 , the SA-cell being configured at least for:
 receiving an indication from the terminal when to pause transmission of user data from the SA-cell to the terminal; and   pausing the transmission of the user data from the SA-cell to the terminal in response to receipt of the indication.   
     
     
         14 . The SA-cell according to  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the at least the part of the SA-cell system information for the terminal is transmitted by the SA-cell outside of the plurality of the LA time periods. 
     
     
         15 . The SA-cell according to  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of the LA time periods are set in a periodic pattern having a first period and the plurality of the SA time periods are set in a periodic pattern having a second period, wherein the second period is different from the first period by a predetermined time and wherein, optionally, the predetermined time is at least the duration of one of the plurality of the LA time periods.