Release-Independent Modifications of Network Parameters

Abstract

A UE transmits a radio access capability to a base station. The radio access capability is transmitted via an information element that comprises a bitmap in which a bit has a value that indicates, to the base station, support of a modification to at least one of a maximum power reduction or a spectrum emission requirement. According to embodiments, the base station manages the UE based on the supported modification. Such managing of the UE may include, for example, one or more of admission control, imposing scheduling restrictions, and imposing handover restrictions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, implemented by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:
 transmitting, to a base station in a wireless communication network, a radio access capability of the UE;   wherein the radio access capability of the UE is communicated in an information element comprising a plurality of fields;   wherein the plurality of fields comprises a field operative to indicate to the base station that the UE supports a release-independent modification to an A-MPR behavior specified by an NS value.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information element comprises a bitmap comprising a plurality of bit positions mapped to radio parameters. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the information element comprises a vector of integers;   each position in the vector is associated with a radio parameter; and   the integer at each position indicates a release number of a 3GPP standard defining a modification or addition of the associated radio parameter.   
     
     
         4 . A method, implemented by a base station in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a User Equipment (UE), a radio access capability of the UE, the radio access capability of the UE being comprised in an information element comprising a plurality of fields and the plurality of fields comprising a field operative to indicate that the UE supports a release-independent modification to an A-MPR behavior specified by an NS value; and   managing the UE in response to the UE's support of the release-independent modification to the A-MPR behavior specified by the NS value.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein managing the UE comprises performing admission control on the UE in response to the UE's support of the release-independent modification to the A-MPR behavior specified by the NS value. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein managing the UE comprises imposing scheduling restrictions on the UE in response to the UE's support of the release-independent modification to the A-MPR behavior specified by the NS value. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein managing the UE comprises imposing restrictions on inter-band handover of the UE in response to the UE's support of the release-independent modification to the A-MPR behavior specified by the NS value. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the information element comprises a bitmap, the bitmap comprising a plurality of bit positions mapped to radio parameters in a predetermined manner. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the information element comprises a vector of integers;   each position in the vector is associated with a radio parameter;   the integer at each position indicates a release number of a 3GPP standard defining a modification or addition of the associated radio parameter.   
     
     
         10 . A User Equipment (UE) comprising:
 a transceiver configured to exchange signals with a base station in a wireless communication network;   processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the transceiver and configured to cause the transceiver to transmit, to the base station, a radio access capability of the UE in an information element comprising a plurality of fields, the plurality of fields comprising a field operative to indicate to the base station that the UE supports a release-independent modification to an A-MPR behavior specified by an NS value.   
     
     
         11 . The UE of  claim 10 , wherein the UE further comprises a memory configured to store a data structure of the radio access capability. 
     
     
         12 . The UE of  claim 10 , wherein the information element includes a bitmap comprising a plurality of bit positions mapped to radio parameters in a predetermined manner. 
     
     
         13 . The UE of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the information element includes a vector of integers;   each position in the vector is associated with a radio parameter; and   the integer at each position indicates a release number of a 3GPP standard defining a modification or addition of the associated radio parameter.   
     
     
         14 . A base station configured to operate in a wireless communication network, the base station comprising:
 a transceiver configured to exchange signals with a User Equipment (UE);   processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the transceiver and configured to:
 cause the transceiver to receive, from the UE, a radio access capability of the UE in an information element comprising a plurality of fields, the plurality of fields comprising a field operative to indicate that the UE supports a release-independent modification to an A-MPR behavior specified by an NS value; and 
 manage the UE in response to the UE's support of the release-independent modification to the A-MPR behavior specified by the NS value. 
   
     
     
         15 . The base station of  claim 14 , wherein to manage the UE, the processing circuitry is configured to perform admission control on the UE in response to the UE's support of the release-independent modification to the A-MPR behavior specified by the NS value. 
     
     
         16 . The base station of  claim 14 , wherein to manage the UE, the processing circuitry is configured to impose scheduling restrictions on the UE in response to the UE's support of the release-independent modification to the A-MPR behavior specified by the NS value. 
     
     
         17 . The base station of  claim 14 , wherein to manage the UE, the processing circuitry is configured to impose restrictions on inter-band handover of the UE in response to the UE's support of the release-independent modification to the A-MPR behavior specified by the NS value. 
     
     
         18 . The base station of  claim 14 , wherein the information element includes a bitmap comprising a plurality of bit positions mapped to radio parameters in a predetermined manner. 
     
     
         19 . The base station of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the information element includes a vector of integers;   each position in the vector is associated with a radio parameter; and   the integer at each position indicates a release number of a 3GPP standard defining a modification or addition of the associated radio parameter.