Paging in a radio access network, such as an E-UTRAN

摘要

The present invention relates to methods and arrangements of a network node and a UE of a radio access network supporting discontinuous reception, offering a solution that is based on the idea to use more than one sub frame for transmitting paging messages when needed. An indicator in a sub frame with paging messages indicates to the receiving UE if the subsequent sub frame should be read as well.

主权项

1. A method performed by a base station for paging in a radio access network providing communication services to at least one user equipment, wherein the network and the user equipment support discontinuous reception, and wherein a sub frame used for paging messages comprises a control part and a data part, said method comprising the steps of:
the base station transmitting paging messages in the data part of a first sub frame; the base station transmitting a further paging message in the data part of a next subsequent sub frame subsequent to the first sub frame, when the data rate of the first sub frame is not high enough for transmitting all paging messages, wherein the first sub frame and the next subsequent sub frame are included in a larger data frame, wherein the data frame includes a plurality of sub frames, and one or more of the plurality of sub frames within the data frame are used for paging messages; and the base station indicating by placing an indicator in the first sub frame, whether the control part of the next subsequent sub frame subsequent to the first sub frame should be decoded; wherein when overflow paging data is included in the next subsequent sub frame subsequent to the first sub frame, the indicator indicates the control part of the next subsequent sub frame subsequent to the first sub frame should be decoded, and in response, the UE is caused to extend a duration of an awake period to decode the control part of the next subsequent sub frame within the data frame and read the overflow paging data; and wherein when overflow paging data is not included in the next subsequent sub frame subsequent to the first sub frame, the indicator indicates the control part of the next subsequent sub frame subsequent to the first sub frame should not be decoded, and in response, the user equipment returns to sleep mode without extending the duration of the awake period.