DETECTION AND EFFICIENT USE OF BROADCAST-ONLY MODES OF CELLULAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM OPERATION

摘要

Operation of a network node in a mobile communication system that serves a User Equipment (UE) includes ascertaining whether the network node is operating in a broadcast-only mode. If so, then broadcast channel information is transmitted on a physical multicast/broadcast channel. Otherwise, the broadcast channel information is transmitted on a physical broadcast channel. To inform the UE of where to find the broadcast channel information, the network node transmits an indicator to the UE, wherein the indicator indicates whether the broadcast channel information is conveyed via the physical broadcast channel or the physical multicast/broadcast channel. The indicator can be included within signals that are also used to enable a UE's cell search procedure.