User equipment and method for certification based feature enablement

Abstract

Embodiments of a system and method for wireless communication are provided. In certain embodiments, an identification number is received from a subscriber station. The identification number is used to retrieve information regarding features supported by the subscriber station from a first database. An indication of features to be enabled for communication with the subscriber station can be provided based on the features supported by the subscriber station.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A user equipment (UE) comprising:
 one or more processors arranged to determine which of a plurality of feature groups are supported by the UE; and   transmitter circuitry arranged to send a message, the message including an information element (IE) that includes an indication of feature packages supported by the UE.   
     
     
         3 . The UE of  claim 2 , wherein
 the IE is a UE-EUTRA-Capability IE in accordance with a standard of the Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) Long Term Evolution (LTE) family of standards, and   the IE includes feature group indicators for features that are mandatory, a mandatory nature of a feature being based on a capability of the UE.   
     
     
         4 . The UE of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more processors are arranged to:
 set each IE for a radio access technology (RAT) not supported by the UE to a value indicating that the UE does not support the RAT.   
     
     
         5 . The UE of  claim 2 , wherein the message includes indicators for indicating support for transmission modes in frequency division duplexing (FDD). 
     
     
         6 . The UE of  claim 2 , wherein the message includes indicators for indicating support for transmission modes in time division duplexing (TDD). 
     
     
         7 . The UE of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more processors are arranged to implement tests of a feature group of the plurality of feature groups, responsive to a request. 
     
     
         8 . A method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:
 determining which of a plurality of feature groups are supported by the UE, and   transmitting a message, the message including an information element (IE) that includes an indication of feature packages supported by the UE.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein
 the IE is a UE-EUTRA-Capability IE in accordance with a standard of the Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) Long Term Evolution (LTE) family of standards, and   the IE includes feature group indicators for features that are mandatory, a mandatory nature of a feature being based on a capability of the UE.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 setting each IE for a radio access technology (RAT) not supported by the UE to a value indicating that the UE does not support the RAT.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the message includes indicators for indicating support for transmission modes in frequency division duplexing (FDD). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the message includes indicators for indicating support for transmission modes in time division duplexing (TDD). 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 implementing tests of a feature group of the plurality of feature groups, responsive to a request.   
     
     
         14 . A method for communicating with a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:
 determining that the UE has implemented and tested a feature package based on a message received from the UE, the message including an information element (IE) that includes an indication of feature packages supported by the UE; and   communicating with the UE based on the feature package.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the IE is a UE-EUTRA-Capability IE in accordance with a standard of the Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) Long Term Evolution (LTE) family of standards.