Indicating optional parameter groups

Abstract

Various communication systems may benefit from improved network communications. For example, messages sent to a user equipment may benefit from having optional configurations of parameters. A method includes determining optional configurations for parameters that override or supplement a default configuration of the parameters. The optional configurations are grouped into optional parameter groups. The method also includes encoding at least one of the optional parameter groups in a message. In addition, the method includes transmitting the message from the network node to a user equipment.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 determining a plurality of optional configurations for one or more parameters, respective optional configurations of the plurality of optional configuration overriding or supplementing that override or supplement a at least one default configuration of the one or more parameters, wherein the plurality of optional configurations are grouped into a number of optional parameter groups; 
 determining a the number of the optional parameter groups of optional configurations from among the plurality of optional configurations that are to be encoded so as to not exceed a container size of a physical broadcast channel; 
 encoding the number of optional parameter groups of the plurality of optional configuration in a system information block; and 
 transmitting, from a network node, to a user equipment, the system information block from a network node to a user equipment. having the number of optional parameter groups of optional configurations from among the plurality of optional configurations encoded therein.  
 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an optionality bit is added to at least one of the number of optional parameter groups in an Abstract Syntax Notation One coding. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prioritizing optional parameter groups from among the number of optional parameter groups based on at least one of a service supported by a coverage area or a current network measurement.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 encoding an indication of whether respective optional configurations of the plurality of optional configurations override or supplement the at least one default configuration of the one or more parameters.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adding an identification of the at least one default configuration to the system information block.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the system information block is transmitted through a broadcast or a dedicated signal. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adding, to at least one of a neighboring carrier frequency, a neighboring cell, or a neighboring beam, an indication of validity of at least one of the at least one default configuration or the number of optional parameter groups. to at least one of a neighboring carrier frequency, a neighboring cell, or a neighboring beam.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adding, to the system information block, a mapping between the plurality of optional configurations and the one or more parameters. to the system information block.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adding an identification of respective optional configurations of the plurality of optional configurations indicating an availability of respective optional configurations of the plurality of optional configurations in a cell.   
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a user equipment, from a network node, a system information block at a user equipment from a network node, wherein the system information block comprises comprising a number of optional parameter groups, the number of optional parameter groups comprising a plurality of optional configurations for one or more parameters, wherein respective optional configurations of the plurality of optional configurations that override or supplement a at least one default configuration of the one or more parameters, and wherein the number of optional parameter groups do not exceed a container size limit of a physical broadcast channel; 
 configuring radio parameters according to the system information block; and 
 overriding or supplementing the at least one default configuration  configurations with one or more of the plurality of optional configurations. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining if a first portion of the plurality of optional parameter groups configurations has been received; and   requesting a second portion of the plurality of optional parameter groups configurations via dedicated signaling from the network node.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining that one or more of the plurality of optional configurations override the at least one default configuration of the one or more parameters.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining a mandatory configuration within the plurality of optional configurations included in the system information block.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the system information block is received via dedicated signaling, and wherein the network node is an intra-network or an inter-network node. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 requesting the plurality of default configuration via a macro connection.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining if at least one of the plurality of optional configurations is present; and   requestrequesting, from a small cell, via a dedicated signal, the at least one of the plurality of optional configurations. via a dedicated signal from a small cell.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and  
 at least one memory comprising computer program code; 
 at least one processor; 
 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to perform at least:  
 determinedetermining a plurality of optional configurations for one or more parameters, respective optional configurations of the plurality of optional configurations overriding or supplementing that override or supplement aat least one default configuration of the one or more parameters, wherein the plurality of optional configurations are grouped into a number of optional parameter groups; 
 determine adetermining the number of the optional parameter groups of optional configurations from among the plurality of optional configurations to be encoded so as to not exceed a container size of a physical broadcast channel; 
 encodeencoding the number of optional parameter groups in a system information block; and 
 transmittransmitting, from a network node, to a user equipment, the system information block from a network node to a user equipment.having the number of optional parameter groups of optional configurations from among the plurality of optional configurations encoded therein.  
 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and  
 at least one memory comprising computer program code; 
 at least one processor; 
 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least:  
 receivereceiving, at a user equipment, from a network node, a system information block at a user equipment from a network node, wherein the system information block comprisescomprising a number of optional parameter groups, the number of optional parameter groups comprising a plurality of optional configurations for one or more parameters, respective optional configurations of the plurality of optional configurations overriding or supplementing at least one that override or supplement a default configuration of the one or more parameters, and wherein  respective optional parameter groups of the number of optional parameter groups do not exceed a container size limit of a physical broadcast channel; 
 configureconfiguring radio parameters according to the system information block; and 
 overrideoverriding or supplementing the at least one default configuration with at least some of the plurality optional configurations. 
 
     
     
       19. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least:
 receiving, from a network node, a system information block comprising one or more optional parameter groups, the one or more optional parameter groups comprising one or more optional configurations for one or more parameters, wherein the one or more parameters have one or more default configurations, and wherein the one or more optional parameter groups are limited so as not to exceed a container size provided by a physical laver; and 
 applying at least some of the one or more optional configurations for the one or more parameters to override the one or more default configurations of the one or more parameters.  
   
     
     
       20. The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein one or more mandatory configurations are included within the one or more optional configurations in the system information block.  
     
     
       21. The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the system information block is received via dedicated signaling.  
     
     
       22. The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform:
 determining that at least one of the one or more optional configurations is present in one of the one or more optional parameter groups; and   requesting the at least one of the one or more optional configurations via a dedicated signal from a small cell.    
     
     
       23. A method comprising:
 receiving, at a user equipment, from a network node, a system information block comprising one or more optional parameter groups, the one or more optional parameter groups comprising one or more optional configurations for one or more parameters, wherein the one or more parameters have one or more default configurations, and wherein the one or more optional parameter groups are limited so as not to exceed a container size provided by a physical laver;   applying at least some of the one or more optional configurations for the one or more parameters to override the one or more default configurations of the one or more parameters.    
     
     
       24. The method according to  claim 23 , wherein one or more mandatory configurations are included within the one or more optional configurations in the system information block.  
     
     
       25. The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the system information block is received via dedicated signaling.  
     
     
       26. The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 determining that at least one of the one or more optional configurations is present in one of the one or more optional parameter groups; and   requesting the at least one of the one or more optional configurations via a dedicated signal from a small cell.    
     
     
       27. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least:
 determining based at least on a system information block associated with a network, one or more optional parameter groups comprising one or more optional configurations for one or more parameters, wherein the one or more parameters have one or more default configurations, and wherein the one or more optional parameter groups are limited so as not to exceed a container size provided by a physical layer; and 
 applying the one or more optional configurations for the one or more parameters to supplement the one or more default configurations of the one or more parameters.  
   
     
     
       28. The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein one or more mandatory configurations are included within the one or more optional configurations in the system information block.  
     
     
       29. The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the system information block is received via dedicated signaling.  
     
     
       30. The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform:
 determining that at least one of the one or more optional configurations is present in one of the one or more optional parameter groups; and   requesting the at least one of the one or more optional configurations via a dedicated signal from a small cell.    
     
     
       31. The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform:
 determining that a first optional parameter group of the one or more optional parameter groups has been received; and   requesting a second optional parameter group of the one or more optional parameter groups via dedicated signaling from the network node.    
     
     
       32. The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform:
 determining one or more mandatory configurations within the one or more optional configurations included in the system information block.    
     
     
       33. The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the system information block is received via dedicated signaling and wherein the network node is an intra-network or an inter-network node.  
     
     
       34. The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform:
 requesting the one or more default configurations via a macro connection.    
     
     
       35. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least:
 determining based at least upon a system information block provided by a network node, whether the system information block comprises one or more optional parameter groups, the one or more optional parameter groups comprising one or more optional configurations for one or more parameters, the one or more optional parameter groups being limited so as not to exceed a container size provided by a physical laver; and 
 in an instance in which the system information block comprises the one or more optional configurations for the one or more parameters, causing the one or more optional configurations to supersede one or more default configurations for the one or more parameters.  
   
     
     
       36. The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein one or more mandatory configurations are included within the one or more optional configurations in the system information block.  
     
     
       37. The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform:
 receiving the system information block via dedicated signaling.    
     
     
       38. The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform:
 determining that the one or more optional configurations is present; and   requesting the one or more optional configurations via a dedicated signal from a small cell.    
     
     
       39. The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform:
 determining based at least on the one or more optional parameter groups received from the network node, whether to request at least one additional optional parameter group; and   in an instance in which the at least one additional optional parameter group should be requested, requesting the at least one additional optional parameter group via dedicated signaling from the network node.    
     
     
       40. The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform:
 determining that the one or more optional configurations mandatorily supersede the one or more default configurations.    
     
     
       41. The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform:
 determining one or more mandatory configurations within the one or more optional configurations included in the system information block.    
     
     
       42. The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the system information block is received via dedicated signaling from the network node, and wherein the network node is an intra-network node or an inter-network node.  
     
     
       43. The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform:
 requesting the one or more default configurations via a macro connection.    
     
     
       44. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least:
 receiving at least one beam from a network node, the at least one beam providing a system information block comprising common and shared channel information for a cell area of the network; 
 determining whether the system information block comprises one or more optional parameter groups, the one or more optional parameter groups comprising one or more optional configurations for one or more parameters, the one or more optional parameter groups being limited so as not to exceed a container size provided by a physical laver; and 
 in an instance in which the system information block comprises the one or more optional configurations for the one or more parameters, causing at least some of the one or more optional configurations to supersede one or more default configurations for the one or more parameters.