Initial connection establishment in a wireless communication system

Abstract

A method, user equipment, network equipment and a system for initiating a wireless connection and subsequent communication over a shared physical resource in a wireless communication system between user equipment and network equipment comprising: processing a UE-derived temporary identifier; communicating the temporary identifier as an identifier to the network equipment; communicating a downlink message conveying the temporary identifier and a description of a scheduled resource on a shared channel, the scheduled resource comprising a resource allocated to the user equipment by the network equipment; and communicating data on the scheduled resource in response to the downlink message.

1 . A method of initiating a wireless connection and subsequent communication over a shared physical resource in a wireless communication system between user equipment and network equipment, the method, by the user equipment, comprising: 
 deriving a temporary identifier;    transmitting the temporary identifier to the network equipment;    receiving a downlink message conveying the temporary identifier and a description of a scheduled resource on a shared channel, the scheduled resource comprising a resource allocated to the user equipment by the network equipment; and    communicating data on the scheduled resource in response to the downlink message.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deriving of the temporary identifier includes forming the temporary identifier from a portion of a network-known UE identifier.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the network-known UE identifier comprises a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI).  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the network-known UE identifier comprises an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI).  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the network-known UE identifier comprises an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI).  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deriving of the temporary identifier includes selecting the temporary identifier from a plurality of temporary identifiers.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deriving of the temporary identifier includes deriving the temporary identifier based on a time parameter.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of temporary identifiers comprises a table.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising receiving an indication of the plurality of temporary identifiers from the network equipment.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the received indication comprises receiving the indication on a broadcast channel (BCH).  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising saving the plurality of temporary identifiers in non-volatile memory.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting of the temporary identifier to the network equipment includes transmitting the temporary identifier within a first uplink message containing the temporary identifier and a request for the scheduled resource.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the scheduled resource includes an uplink scheduled resource.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the scheduled resource includes a downlink scheduled resource.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the transmitting of the temporary identifier includes transmitting a first uplink message;    the receiving of the downlink message includes receiving a first downlink message; and    the communicating of the data on the scheduled resource includes transmitting a connection request in a second uplink message.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 receiving a second downlink message sent in response to the second uplink message, the second downlink message conveying the temporary identifier and a description of a scheduled downlink resource on a shared downlink channel, the scheduled downlink resource comprising a downlink resource allocated to the user equipment by the network equipment; and    receiving a third downlink message on the scheduled downlink resource, the third downlink message including a connection setup message.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting of the temporary identifier includes transmitting a first uplink message, the method further comprising: 
 timing out after the transmitting the first uplink message and before the receiving of the downlink message;    selecting a different temporary identifier; and    retransmitting the first uplink message including the different temporary identifier in place of the temporary identifier.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting of the temporary identifier includes transmitting the temporary identifier in a first uplink message including an RRC connection request.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting of the temporary identifier includes transmitting the temporary identifier in a first uplink message, the method further comprising transmitting a second uplink message including an RRC connection request, wherein the second uplink message is separate from the first uplink message.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communicating of the data includes a RRC connection request message.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 transmitting a RRC connection request; and    receiving an RRC connection setup message.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving a replacement identifier from the network equipment; and    using the replacement identifier in place of the temporary identifier.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising incorporating a network-known UE identifier in the request.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the network-known UE identifier comprises a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI).  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the network-known UE identifier comprises an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI).  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the network-known UE identifier comprises an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI).  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the incorporating comprises including the network-known UE identifier as a parameter in the request.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the incorporating comprises computing a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value using the network-known UE identifier.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising decoding a message from the network equipment using a network-known UE identifier.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication system comprises an evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN).  
     
     
         31 . User equipment used in initiating a wireless connection and subsequent communication over a shared physical resource in a wireless communication system between the user equipment and network equipment, the user equipment comprising: 
 a memory;    a processor coupled to the memory; and    program code executable on the processor, the program code operable for: 
 deriving a temporary identifier;  
 transmitting the temporary identifier to the network equipment;  
 receiving a downlink message conveying the temporary identifier and a description of a scheduled resource on a shared channel, the scheduled resource comprising a resource allocated to the user equipment by the network equipment; and  
 communicating data on the scheduled resource in response to the downlink message.  
   
     
     
         32 . The user equipment of  claim 31 , wherein the deriving of the temporary identifier includes forming the temporary identifier from a portion of a network-known UE identifier.  
     
     
         33 . The user equipment of  claim 31 , wherein the deriving of the temporary identifier includes selecting the temporary identifier from a plurality of temporary identifiers.  
     
     
         34 . The user equipment of  claim 33 , wherein the program code is further operable for receiving an indication of the plurality of temporary identifiers from the network equipment.  
     
     
         35 . The user equipment of  claim 33 , wherein the program code is further operable for saving the plurality of temporary identifiers in non-volatile memory.  
     
     
         36 . The user equipment of  claim 31 , wherein the transmitting of the temporary identifier to the network equipment includes transmitting the temporary identifier within a first uplink message containing the temporary identifier and a request for the scheduled resource.  
     
     
         37 . The user equipment of  claim 31 , wherein: 
 the transmitting of the temporary identifier includes transmitting a first uplink message;    the receiving of the downlink message includes receiving a first downlink message; and    the communicating of the data on the scheduled resource includes transmitting a connection request in a second uplink message.    
     
     
         38 . The user equipment of  claim 37 , wherein the program code is further operable for: 
 receiving a second downlink message sent in response to the second uplink message, the second downlink message conveying the temporary identifier and a description of a scheduled downlink resource on a shared downlink channel, the scheduled downlink resource comprising a downlink resource allocated to the user equipment by the network equipment; and    receiving a third downlink message on the scheduled downlink resource, the third downlink message including a connection setup message.    
     
     
         39 . The user equipment of  claim 31 , wherein the transmitting of the temporary identifier includes transmitting a first uplink message, and wherein the program code is further operable for: 
 timing out after the transmitting the first uplink message and before the receiving of the downlink message;    selecting a different temporary identifier; and    retransmitting the first uplink message including the different temporary identifier in place of the temporary identifier.    
     
     
         40 . Network equipment used in initiating a wireless connection and subsequent communication over a shared physical resource in a wireless communication system between user equipment and the network equipment, the network equipment comprising: 
 a memory;    a processor coupled to the memory; and    program code executable on the processor, the program code operable for: 
 receiving a temporary identifier derived by the user equipment;  
 allocating a scheduled resource to the user equipment, the scheduled resource comprising a resource on a shared channel;  
 transmitting a downlink message conveying the temporary identifier and a description of the scheduled resource; and  
 communicating data on the scheduled resource in response to the downlink message.  
   
     
     
         41 . The network equipment of  claim 40 , wherein the program code is further operable for transmitting an indication of a plurality of temporary identifiers to the user equipment.  
     
     
         42 . The network equipment of  claim 41 , wherein the transmitting of the indication includes transmitting the indication on a broadcast channel (BCH).  
     
     
         43 . The network equipment of  claim 40 , wherein the receiving of the temporary identifier from the user equipment includes receiving the temporary identifier within a first uplink message containing the temporary identifier and a request for the scheduled resource.  
     
     
         44 . The network equipment of  claim 40 , wherein: 
 the receiving of the temporary identifier includes receiving a first uplink message;    the transmitting of the downlink message includes transmitting a first downlink message; and    the communicating of the data on the scheduled resource includes receiving a connection request in a second uplink message.    
     
     
         45 . The network equipment of  claim 40 , wherein the program code is further operable for: 
 allocating a scheduled downlink resource to the user equipment, the scheduled downlink resource comprising a resource on a shared channel;    transmitting a second downlink message sent in response to the second uplink message, the second downlink message conveying the temporary identifier and a description of the scheduled downlink; and    transmitting a third downlink message on the scheduled downlink resource, the third downlink message including a connection setup message.    
     
     
         46 . The network equipment of  claim 40 , wherein the program code is further operable for: 
 allocating a replacement identifier from a plurality of identifiers; and    transmitting the replacement identifier to the user equipment.    
     
     
         47 . The network equipment of  claim 40 , wherein the program code is further operable for: 
 incorporating a network-known UE identifier in a message; and    transmitting the message to the user equipment.    
     
     
         48 . The network equipment of  claim 47 , wherein the incorporating comprises computing a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value using the network-known UE identifier.  
     
     
         49 . A computer program product comprising program code for initiating a wireless connection and subsequent communication over a shared physical resource in a wireless communication system between user equipment and network equipment, the computer program product comprising program code for: 
 deriving a temporary identifier;    transmitting the temporary identifier to the network equipment;    receiving a downlink message conveying the temporary identifier and a description of a scheduled resource on a shared channel, the scheduled resource comprising a resource allocated to the user equipment by the network equipment; and    communicating data on the scheduled resource in response to the downlink message.    
     
     
         50 . The computer program product of  claim 49 , wherein the deriving of the temporary identifier includes forming the temporary identifier from a portion of a network-known UE identifier.  
     
     
         51 . The computer program product of  claim 49 , wherein the deriving of the temporary identifier includes selecting the temporary identifier from a plurality of temporary identifiers.  
     
     
         52 . The computer program product of  claim 51 , wherein the program code is further operable for receiving an indication of the plurality of temporary identifiers from the network equipment.  
     
     
         53 . The computer program product of  claim 51 , wherein the program code is further operable for saving the plurality of temporary identifiers in non-volatile memory.  
     
     
         54 . The computer program product of  claim 49 , wherein the transmitting of the temporary identifier to the network equipment includes transmitting the temporary identifier within a first uplink message containing the temporary identifier and a request for the scheduled resource.  
     
     
         55 . The computer program product of  claim 49 , wherein: 
 the transmitting of the temporary identifier includes transmitting a first uplink message;    the receiving of the downlink message includes receiving a first downlink message; and    the communicating of the data on the scheduled resource includes transmitting a connection request in a second uplink message.    
     
     
         56 . The computer program product of  claim 55 , wherein the program code is further operable for: 
 receiving a second downlink message sent in response to the second uplink message, the second downlink message conveying the temporary identifier and a description of a scheduled downlink resource on a shared downlink channel, the scheduled downlink resource comprising a downlink resource allocated to the user equipment by the network equipment; and    receiving a third downlink message on the scheduled downlink resource, the third downlink message including a connection setup message.    
     
     
         57 . The computer program product of  claim 49 , wherein the transmitting of the temporary identifier includes transmitting a first uplink message, and wherein the program code is further operable for: 
 timing out after the transmitting the first uplink message and before the receiving of the downlink message;    selecting a different temporary identifier; and    retransmitting the first uplink message including the different temporary identifier in place of the temporary identifier.    
     
     
         58 . A wireless communication system for initiating a wireless connection and subsequent communication over a shared physical resource, the wireless communication system comprising: 
 one or more user equipment, wherein each user equipment includes: 
 a user equipment memory;  
 a user equipment processor coupled to the user equipment memory; and  
 user equipment program code executable on the user equipment processor, the user equipment program code operable for: 
 deriving a temporary identifier;  
 transmitting the temporary identifier to the network equipment;  
 receiving a downlink message conveying the temporary identifier and a description of a scheduled resource on a shared channel, the scheduled resource comprising a resource allocated to the user equipment by the network equipment; and  
 communicating data on the scheduled resource in response to the downlink message; and  
 
   network equipment including: 
 a network equipment memory;  
 a network equipment processor coupled to the network equipment memory; and  
 network equipment program code executable on the network equipment processor, the network equipment program code operable for: 
 receiving the temporary identifier derived by the user equipment;  
 allocating the scheduled resource to the user equipment, the scheduled resource comprising a resource on a shared channel;  
 transmitting the downlink message conveying the temporary identifier and the description of the scheduled resource; and  
 communicating the data on the scheduled resource in response to the downlink message.