Method and apparatus for improving radio spectrum usage and decreasing user data delay when providing packet PSI status

Abstract

A method provides for operating a wireless communication system having packet data capabilities, and includes steps of: (a) sending a message from a mobile station to a network on a same physical channel that is used to transmit packet data, the message specifying individual ones of packet system information (PSI) messages that are required for reception by the mobile station; and (b) in response to receiving the message, transmitting only the specified individual ones of the PSI messages from the network to the mobile station over the same physical channel used to transmit the packet data.

1. A method for operating a wireless communication system having packet data capabilities, comprising:
 sending a message from a mobile station to a network on a same physical channel that is used to transmit data, packets, the message specifying individual ones of packet system information (PSI) messages that are required by the mobile station; and 
 in response to receiving the message, sending only the specified individual ones of the PSI messages from the network to the mobile station over the same physical channel used to transmit the data packets, 
 wherein the message is a PACKET PSI STATUS message, and wherein the mobile station, for each specified PSI message type in the PACKET PSI STATUS message, sets each of a PSIx COUNT field and an Instance Bitmap field to zero. 
 
     
     
       2. A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the physical channel conveys a Packet Associated Control Channel (PACCH). 
     
     
       3. A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the operations of sending the message and transmitting the PSI messages occur during a packet data transfer mode without suspending an established Temporary Block Flow (TBF). 
     
     
       4. A method as in  claim 1 , wherein, in response, the network determines that the mobile station has not received the particular PSI message type, and disregards an indicated PSI_CHANGE_MARK in the PACKET PSI STATUS message. 
     
     
       5. A method for operating a wireless communication network having packet data capabilities, comprising:
 receiving a message from a mobile station at the network on a same physical channel that is used to convey data packets, the message specifying individual ones of packet system information (PSI) messages that are required by the mobile station; and 
 in response to receiving the message, sending only the specified individual ones of the PSI messages from the network to the mobile station over the same physical channel used to transmit the data packets, 
 wherein the message is a PACKET PSI STATUS message, and wherein the mobile station, for each specified PSI message type in the PACKET PSI STATUS message, sets each of a PSIx COUNT field and an Instance Bitmap field to zero. 
 
     
     
       6. A method as in  claim 5 , wherein the physical channel conveys a Packet Associated Control Channel (PACCH). 
     
     
       7. A method as in  claim 5 , wherein the operations of receiving the message and transmitting the PSI messages occur during a packet data transfer mode without suspending an established Temporary Block Flow (TBF). 
     
     
       8. A method as in  claim 5 , wherein, in response, the network determines that the mobile station has not received the particular PSI message type, and disregards an indicated PSI CHANGE_MARK in the PACKET PSI STATUS message. 
     
     
       9. A method for operating a wireless communication system having packet data capabilities, comprising:
 sending a PACKET PSI STATUS message from a mobile station to a network, the PACKET PSI STATUS message specifying individual ones of packet system information (PSI) message types that are required by the mobile station; and 
 in response to receiving the PACKET PSI STATUS message, sending only the specified individual ones of the PSI message types from the network to the mobile station, and wherein, for each specified PSI message type in the PACKET PSI STATUS message, setting each of a PSIx COUNT field and an Instance Bitmap field to zero. 
 
     
     
       10. A method as in  claim 9  wherein, in response, the network determines that the mobile station has not received the particular PSI message type, and disregards an indicated PSI_CHANGE_MARK in the PACKET PSI STATUS message. 
     
     
       11. A method as in  claim 9 , wherein sending the PACKET PSI STATUS message comprises indicating mobile station-supported PSI message types in a Received PSI Message List in the PACKET PSI STATUS message. 
     
     
       12. A method as in  claim 9 , wherein the mobile station indicates in the PACKET PSI STATUS message, for each PSI message type for which the mobile station desires a PSI CHANGE MARK value, the present status of the PSI message type and that the PSI message type has not been received. 
     
     
       13. A method as in  claim 12 , wherein the mobile station desires the PSI CHANGE MARK value at least during a partial acquisition of PSI messages. 
     
     
       14. A method as in  claim 9 , wherein the PSI message types that are required for reception by the mobile station are those meeting the following criteria:
 those PSI message types that the mobile station considers relevant based on the features that the mobile station supports; and, 
 for optional PSI message types, the PSI message type has been indicated by the network as present on a Packet Broadcast Control Channel. 
 
     
     
       15. A mobile station operable with a wireless communication network having packet data capabilities, the mobile station comprising a RF transceiver coupled to a data processor, said data processor operating under the control of a stored program for transmitting a PACKET PSI STATUS message from the mobile station to the network, the PACKET PSI STATUS message specifying individual ones of packet system information (PSI) message types that are desired by said mobile station and, in response to a reception of said PACKET PSI STATUS message by said network, said mobile station receiving from said network only the specified individual ones of the PSI message types wherein the mobile station, for each specified PSI message type in the RACKET PSI STATUS message, sets each of a PSIx COUNT field and an Instance Bitmap field to zero. 
     
     
       16. A mobile station as in  claim 15  wherein said network determines from the included message fields that said mobile station has not received the particular PSI message type, and disregards an indicated PSI_CHANGE_MARK in the PACKET PSI STATUS message. 
     
     
       17. A mobile station as in  claim 15 , wherein said data processor, when transmitting the PACKET PSI STATUS message, indicates mobile station-supported PSI message types in a Received PSI Message List in the PACKET PSI STATUS message. 
     
     
       18. A mobile station as in  claim 15 , wherein said data processor, when transmitting the PACKET PSI STATUS message, indicates in the PACKET PSI STATUS message, for each PSI message type for which a PSI CHANGE MARK value is desired, the present status of the PSI message type and that the PSI message type has not been received. 
     
     
       19. A mobile station as in  claim 18 , wherein said PSI CHANGE MARK value is desired at least during a partial acquisition of PSI messages. 
     
     
       20. A mobile station as in  claim 15 , wherein the PSI message types that are desired for reception by said mobile station are those meeting the following criteria:
 those PSI message types that said mobile station considers relevant based on the features that said mobile station supports; and, 
 for optional PSI message types, the PSI message type has been indicated as being present by said network on a Packet Broadcast Control Channel (PBCCH). 
 
     
     
       21. A program of computer-readable instructions, tangibly embodied on an information bearing a non-transitory storage medium and executable by a digital data processor, to perform actions comprising:
 sending a PACKET PSI STATUS message from a mobile station to a network, the PACKET PSI STATUS message specifying individual ones of packet system information (PSI) message types that are required by the mobile station; and 
 receiving the specified individual ones of the PSI message types from the network wherein sending the PACKET PSI STATUS message comprises, for each specified PSI message type in the PACKET PSI STATUS message, setting each of a PSIx COUNT field and an Instance Bitmap field to zero. 
 
     
     
       22. A program as in  claim 21 , wherein sending the PACKET PSI STATUS message comprises indicating mobile station-supported PSI message types in a Received PSI Message List in the PACKET PSI STATUS message. 
     
     
       23. A program as in  claim 21 , wherein the mobile station indicates in the PACKET PSI STATUS message, for each PSI message type for which the mobile station desires a PSI CHANGE MARK value, the present status of the PSI message type and that the PSI message type has not been received. 
     
     
       24. A program as in  claim 23 , wherein the mobile station desires the PSI CHANGE MARK value at least during a partial acquisition of PSI messages. 
     
     
       25. A program as in  claim 21 , wherein the PSI message types that are required for reception by the mobile station are those meeting the following criteria:
 those PSI message types that the mobile station considers relevant based on the features that the mobile station supports; and, 
 for optional PSI message types, the PSI message type has been indicated by the network as present on a Packet Broadcast Control Channel. 
 
     
     
       26. An apparatus for use in a wireless communication network having packet data capabilities, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor configured to transmit a PACKET PSI STATUS message to the network, the PACKET PSI STATUS message specifying individual ones of packet system information (PSI) message types that are desired by the apparatus and in response to a reception of said PACKET PSI STATUS message by said network, configured to receive only the specified individual ones of the PSI message types wherein the apparatus, for each specified PSI message type in the PACKET PSI STATUS message, sets each of a PSIx COUNT field and an Instance Bitmap field to zero.   
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said network determines from the included message fields that said at least one processor has not received the particular PSI message type, and disregards indicated PSI — CHANGE — MARK in the PACKET PSI STATUS message. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to indicate supported PSI message types in a Received PSI Message List in the PACKET PSI STATUS message, when the PACKET PSI STATUS message is transmitted. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to indicate in the PACKET PSI STATUS message, for each PSI message type for which a PSI CHANGE MARK value is desired, the present status of the PSI message type and that the PSI message type has not been received, when the PACKET PSI STATUS message is transmitted. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said PSI CHANGE MARK value is desired at least during a partial acquisition of PSI messages. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the PSI message types that are desired for reception are those meeting the following criteria:
 those PSI message types that said at least one processor considers relevant based on the features supported by a device including said at least one processor; and,   for optional PSI message types, the PSI message type indicated as being present by said network on a Packet Broadcast Control Channel (PBCCH).   
     
     
       32. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said at least one processor comprises at least one of a microcontrol unit, a digital signal processor, or Packet PSI Status processing module. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a memory operably coupled to said at least one processor. 
     
     
       34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising wireless transceiver operably coupled to said at least one processor.