Terminal for digital mobile radio and method for evaluating data received in such a terminal

Abstract

A terminal and a method for a digital mobile radio system having a receiving device for receiving digital data packets, and having a decision device which before complete reception of an information unit, which comprises one or more data packets, uses a part of the information unit which has already been received to determine whether the information unit is or is not important. If it is determined that the information unit is not important, the decision device causes the receiving unit to ignore the rest of the information unit.

We claim:  
     
       1. A terminal for a mobile digital radio system, comprising: 
       a receiver for receiving an information unit including one or more data packets, at least one of the one or more data packets including soft-decision values, said receiver programmed to initially receive only a portion of the information unit;  
       a decision device programmed to use the soft-decision values to calculate a probability value indicative of whether it is important to receive an additional portion of the information unit, programmed to determine whether it is important to receive the additional portion of the information unit by comparing the probability value with a predetermined threshold, and programmed to provide a signal such that said receiver does not receive the additional portion of the information unit if it is determined that it is not important to receive the additional portion of the information unit.  
     
     
       2. The terminal for a mobile digital radio system according to  claim 1 , wherein said receiver and said decision device are configured to operate in a GSM system, said receiver is programmed for receiving the portion of the information unit from a transmission channel for signaling data, and the information unit includes unimportant data selected from the group consisting of filling data and signaling data that is not required by the terminal. 
     
     
       3. The terminal for a mobile digital radio system according to  claim 1 , comprising: 
       a memory for storing predetermined information, said memory forming part of said decision device; and  
       an evaluator programmed to evaluate an information content of the portion of the information unit, said evaluator programmed to determine whether it is important to receive the additional portion of the information unit by comparing the information content of the portion of the information unit with the predetermined information.  
     
     
       4. The terminal for a mobile digital radio system according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
       the information unit has a length;  
       the portion of the information unit includes information about the actual length of the information unit;  
       said predetermined information includes a predetermined length value having information about a permitted length of the information unit; and  
       said evaluation unit is programmed to compare the actual length of the information unit with the predetermined length value.  
     
     
       5. The terminal for a mobile digital radio system according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
       the information unit has a format;  
       the portion of the information unit includes information about the actual format of the information unit;  
       said predetermined information includes an expected format value having information about an expected format of the information unit; and  
       said evaluation unit is programmed to compare the actual format of the information unit with the expected format value of the information unit.  
     
     
       6. The terminal for a mobile digital radio system according to  claim 1 , wherein said decision device includes a memory for storing predetermined information, said decision device is programmed to determine whether it is important to receive the additional portion of the information unit by comparing an information content of the portion of the information unit with the predetermined information. 
     
     
       7. The terminal for a mobile digital radio system according to  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined information includes information relating to an expected information unit that is not important. 
     
     
       8. The terminal for a mobile digital radio system according to  claim 1 , wherein said decision device includes a memory for temporarily storing a portion of a previously received information unit, and said decision device is programmed to determine whether it is important to receive the additional portion of the information unit by comparing the portion of the information unit with the portion of the previously received information unit. 
     
     
       9. The terminal for a mobile digital radio system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       the information unit includes importance information indicating whether the information unit is important; and  
       said decision device includes an evaluator programmed to evaluate the importance information to determine whether it is important to receive the additional portion of the information unit.  
     
     
       10. The terminal for a mobile digital radio system according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
       said receiver and said decision device are configured to operate in a GSM system;  
       the information unit is assigned to a signaling channel other than an FACCH channel, the signaling channel includes stealing flags, and the information unit includes the stealing flags of the signaling channel.  
     
     
       11. A method for evaluating data for reception is a terminal of a mobile digital radio system, which comprises: 
       providing an information unit that includes one or more data packets;  
       providing at least one of the one or more data packets with soft decision values;  
       receiving a portion of the information unit;  
       calculating, using the soft decision values, a probability value indicative of whether it is important to receive an additional portion of the information unit; and  
       determining whether it is important to receive the additional portion of the information unit by comparing the probability value with a predetermined threshold.  
     
     
       12. The method for evaluating data for reception according to  claim 11 , which composes: 
       providing the information unit with unimportant data selected from the group consisting of filling data and signaling data that is not required by the terminal;  
       transmitting the information unit in a transmission channel for signaling data;  
       providing a terminal and operating the terminal in a GSM system; and  
       using the terminal to perform the receiving step by receiving the portion of the information unit from the transmission channel.  
     
     
       13. The method for evaluating data for reception according to  claim 11 , which comprises providing a terminal; and storing the predetermined threshold in the terminal. 
     
     
       14. A method for evaluating data for reception in a terminal of a mobile digital radio system, which comprises: 
       providing a terminal;  
       storing predetermined information in the terminal;  
       providing an information unit that includes one or more data packets, and providing the information unit with an information content;  
       receiving a portion of the information unit with the terminal and defining the portion of the information unit as a received portion of the information unit;  
       obtaining the information content of the received portion of the information unit; and  
       determining whether it is important to receive an additional portion of the information unit by comparing the information content of the received portion of the information unit with the predetermined information.  
     
     
       15. The method for evaluating data for reception according to  claim 14 , which comprises: 
       performing the storing step by storing a predetermined length value having information about a permitted length of the information unit;  
       providing the information unit with a length;  
       performing the obtaining step by obtaining the length of the information unit from the received portion of the information unit; and  
       performing the determination step by comparing the obtained length with the predetermined length value.  
     
     
       16. The method for evaluating data for reception according to  claim 14 , which comprises: 
       performing the storing step by storing an expected format value having information about an expected format of  
       the information unit;  
       providing the information unit with a format;  
       performing the obtaining step by obtaining the format of the information unit from the received portico of the information unit; and  
       performing the determination step by comparing the obtained format with the expected format value.  
     
     
       17. The method for evaluating data for reception according to  claim 14 , which comprises: 
       performing the storing step by storing an expected format value having information about an expected format of a non-important information unit;  
       providing the information unit with a format;  
       performing the obtaining step by obtaining the format of the information unit from the received portion of the information unit; and  
       performing the determination step by comparing the obtained format with the expected format value.  
     
     
       18. The method for evaluating data for reception according to  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined information is a portion of a previously received information unit. 
     
     
       19. A method for evaluating data for reception in a terminal of a mobile digital radio system, which comprises: 
       providing an information unit that includes one or more data packets, and providing the information unit with a portion having information relating to whether the information unit is important;  
       receiving the portion of the information unit having information relating to whether the information unit is important; and  
       determining whether it is desirable to receive an additional portion of the information unit by evaluating the received information relating to whether the information unit is important.  
     
     
       20. The method for evaluating data for reception according to  claim 19 , which comprises: 
       assigning the information unit to a signaling channel other than an FACCH channel;  
       providing the signaling channel with stealing flags;  
       providing the stealing flags of the signaling channel as the portion of the information unit having information relating to whether the information unit is important;  
       providing a terminal operated in a GSM system; and  
       using the terminal to perform the receiving step by receiving the portion of the information unit.