Method and apparatus for notifying parameter changes of access control mechanism

Abstract

According to one exemplary embodiment, the method includes configuring, in a system information block, a parameter of the access control mechanism which indicates a first access class of the multiple access classes is barred; transmitting a first paging message which includes an indicator indicating the parameter of the access control mechanism has been modified; not allowing any random access associated with the first access class in response to the first access class being barred; configuring, in the system information block, the parameter of the access control mechanism, wherein the parameter of the access control mechanism indicates the first access class of the multiple access classes is no longer barred; transmitting a second paging message which comprises the indicator indicating that the parameter of the access control mechanism is modified; and allowing a random access associated with the first access class after the first access class no longer being barred.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method used by a base station for notifying a specific access class of multiple access classes of parameter changes of an access control mechanism, the method comprising:
 configuring, in a system information block, a parameter of the access control mechanism, wherein the access control mechanism bars at least one access class of the multiple access classes, and the parameter of the access control mechanism indicates that a first access class of the multiple access classes has been barred;   transmitting a first paging message which comprises an indicator indicating that the parameter of an access control mechanism has been modified;   not allowing any random access associated with the first access class in response to the first access class being barred;   configuring, in the system information block, the parameter of the access control mechanism, wherein the parameter of the access control mechanism indicates that the first access class of the multiple access classes is no longer barred;   transmitting a second paging message which comprises the indicator indicating that the parameter of the access control mechanism has been modified; and   allowing a random access associated with the first access class in response to the first access class no longer being barred.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the parameter of the access control mechanism indicates that a second access class of the multiple access classes has been barred, and  claim 1  further comprising:
 not allowing any random access associated with the second access class in response to the second access class being barred 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator indicates multiple states represented by different binary values, the multiple states comprise a first state and a second state, and changing from the first state to the second state indicates that the parameter of the access control mechanism has been modified. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the indicator indicates at least four states by at least two binary bits, wherein the multiple states further comprise a third state and a fourth state. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first state, the second state, and the third state indicates an activation of the access control mechanism, and the fourth state indicates a disablement of the access control mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein any change of the indicator among the first state, the second state, and the third state indicates that the parameter of the access control mechanism has been modified. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 activating the access control mechanism; and 
 configuring the indicator as the first state, the second state, or the third state. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 disabling the access control mechanism; and 
 configuring the indicator as the fourth state. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the access control mechanism is extended access barred (EAB) mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the system information block is broadcasted periodically. 
     
     
         11 . A base station comprising:
 a transceiver; and   a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to:
 configure, in a system information block, a parameter of the access control mechanism, wherein the access control mechanism bars at least one access class of the multiple access classes, and the parameter of the access control mechanism indicates that a first access class of the multiple access classes has been barred; 
 transmit, via the transceiver, a first paging message which comprises an indicator indicating that the parameter of an access control mechanism has been modified; 
 not allow any random access associated with the first access class in response to the first access class being barred; 
 configure, in the system information block, the parameter of the access control mechanism, wherein the parameter of the access control mechanism indicates that the first access class of the multiple access classes is no longer barred; 
 transmit, via the transceiver, a second paging message which comprises the indicator indicating that the parameter of the access control mechanism has been modified; and 
 allow a random access associated with the first access class in response to the first access class no longer being barred. 
   
     
     
         12 . The A base station of  claim 11 , wherein the parameter of the access control mechanism indicates that a second access class of the multiple access classes has been barred, and  claim 11  further comprising:
 not allowing any random access associated with the second access class in response to the second access class being barred. 
 
     
     
         13 . The A base station of  claim 11 , wherein the indicator indicates multiple states represented by different binary values, the multiple states comprise a first state and a second state, and changing from the first state to the second state indicates that the parameter of the access control mechanism has been modified. 
     
     
         14 . The A base station of  claim 13 , wherein the indicator indicates at least four states by at least two binary bits, wherein the multiple states further comprise a third state and a fourth state. 
     
     
         15 . The A base station of  claim 14 , wherein each of the first state, the second state, and the third state indicates an activation of the access control mechanism, and the fourth state indicates a disablement of the access control mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The A base station of  claim 15 , wherein any change of the indicator among the first state, the second state, and the third state indicates that the parameter of the access control mechanism has been modified. 
     
     
         17 . The A base station of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 activate the access control mechanism; and   configure the indicator as the first state, the second state, or the third state.   
     
     
         18 . The A base station of  claim 7 , wherein the processor further configured to:
 disable the access control mechanism; and   configure the indicator as the fourth state.   
     
     
         19 . The A base station of  claim 1 , wherein the access control mechanism is extended access barred (EAB) mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The A base station of  claim 1 , wherein the system information block is broadcasted periodically via the transceiver.