Radio telecommunications network, user equipment and method of operation

Abstract

Battery operated user equipment is disclosed for use in a radio telecommunications network, including means for monitoring the state of charge of the battery and means for communicating state of charge data to a base station during call set up. The battery data can be used to inform a caller that, for example, a called user's apparatus has reduced or limited battery capacity and thus that the expected duration of a call is limited.

1 . User equipment for use in a radio telecommunications network, including: a data store; a processor arranged to write to the store, data received from a base station in the network; to monitor the available capacity of the data store; and to communicate available capacity data to a base station.  
     
     
         2 . User equipment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is arranged for configuring the equipment to receive files automatically and store them in the data store, or to retrieve files from the data store and transmit them, without activating any sounder or vibrator for alerting the user.  
     
     
         3 . User equipment as claimed in  claim 1  operable by battery, including a battery monitor means for monitoring the available remaining capacity of the battery and for communicating battery capacity data to the base station.  
     
     
         4 . User equipment as claimed in  claim 3 , including means for estimating which one of a plurality of available physical channels would best conserve battery charge, and for signalling the identity of that channel to the base station during call set up.  
     
     
         5 . A radio telecommunications network including user equipment as claimed in  claim 2 , further including means for estimating whether the state of charge of the battery and/or the available data storage capacity is/are sufficient to allow reception or transmission of each file, with or without a predetermined reserve, and for denying reception or transmission if the state of charge or the available data storage is insufficient.  
     
     
         6 . A method of operating user equipment in a radio telecommunications network, said equipment including a data store, comprising monitoring the available capacity of the store and communicating available capacity data to the radio network.  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , including configuring the equipment to receive files automatically and store them in a data store, or to retrieve files from the 
 data store and transmit them, without activating any sounder or vibrator for alerting the user.    
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 7 , said equipment being battery operated, including monitoring remaining capacity of the battery and communicating battery capacity data to the base station.  
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 7 , including estimating which one of a plurality of available physical channels would best conserve battery charge, and signalling the identity of that channel to the base station during call set up.  
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a radio telecommunications network including operating user equipment in accordance with  claim 2 , and further including estimating whether the state of charge of the battery and/or the available data storage capacity is/are sufficient to allow reception or transmission of each file, with or without a predetermined reserve, and denying reception or transmission if the state of charge or the available data storage is insufficient.  
     
     
         11 . A computer program for carrying out all the steps of a method as claimed in claim  6 .