Communication system

Abstract

A communication system is presented in which a base station operates a each of a plurality of cells using a respective component carrier. When the base station decides to configure a mobile telephone to use additional cells of the plurality of cells, a access control procedure is initiated to determine for each cell whether the configuration should be allowed.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A base station for taking part in a procedure for adding a cell as a secondary cell, the base station comprising:
 a memory storing instructions; and   one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to:
 receive, as part of the procedure for adding the cell as the secondary cell, from a user equipment (UE) connected to the base station, a measurement report which includes a Closed Subscriber Group Identity (CSG ID), wherein the CSG ID included in the measurement report is the CSG ID of a potential candidate cell for dual connectivity in which the UE will communicate via both a primary cell of the base station and the secondary cell when the candidate cell has been added as the secondary cell; 
 request, as part of the procedure for adding the cell as the secondary cell, a Mobility Management Entity (MME) to verify a membership status of the UE for the CSG ID, wherein the request includes the CSG ID of the candidate cell; and 
   receive, as part of the procedure for adding the cell as the secondary cell, from the MME, a response which includes a CSG membership status information element providing a result of CSG membership verification performed at the MME.   
     
     
         43 . A method performed by a base station, as part of a procedure for adding a cell as a secondary cell, the method comprising:
 receiving, as part of the procedure for adding the cell as the secondary cell, from a user equipment (UE) connected to the base station, a measurement report which includes a Closed Subscriber Group Identity (CSG ID), wherein the CSG ID included in the measurement report is the CSG ID of a potential candidate cell for dual connectivity in which the UE will communicate via both a primary cell of the base station and the secondary cell, when the candidate cell has been added as the secondary cell;   requesting, as part of the procedure for adding the cell as the secondary cell, a Mobility Management Entity (MME) to verify a membership status of the UE for the CSG ID, wherein the request includes the CSG ID of the candidate cell; and   receiving, as part of the procedure for adding the cell as the secondary cell, from the MME, a response which includes a CSG membership status information element providing a result of CSG membership verification performed at the MME.   
     
     
         44 . A user equipment (UE) for taking part in a procedure for adding a cell as a secondary cell, the UE comprising:
 a memory storing instructions; and   one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to:
 detect, as part of the procedure for adding the cell as the secondary cell and when the UE is connected to a base station, a potential candidate cell for dual connectivity in which the UE will communicate via both a primary cell of the base station and the secondary cell when the candidate cell has been added as the secondary cell; 
   read system information in the candidate cell, the system information comprising a Closed Subscriber Group Identity (CSG ID); and   transmitting, to the base station, a measurement report which includes the CSG ID.   
     
     
         45 . A method, performed by a user equipment (UE), as part of a procedure for adding a cell as a secondary cell, the method comprising:
 detecting, as part of the procedure for adding the cell as the secondary cell and when the UE is connected to a base station, a potential candidate cell for dual connectivity in which the UE will communicate via both a primary cell of the base station and the secondary cell when the candidate cell has been added as the secondary cell;   reading system information in the candidate cell, the system information comprising a Closed Subscriber Group Identity (CSG ID); and   transmitting, to the base station, a measurement report which includes the CSG ID.