Methods and arrangements for a mobile communications network

Abstract

A procedure for synchronization of re-configuration of RRC procedures between the radio base station and the UE is achieved by associating a new configuration to be used by a UE with an additional UE identity. The UE is normally identified by a first UE identity, but is informed in a re-configuration message that the UE also has the additional UE identity. The UE is identified by the additional UE identity when the new configuration is to be activated. Hence, when the radio base station detects that the UE responds to requests, which included the additional UE identity, the radio base station can conclude that the UE has activated the new configuration.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method in a radio base station for activating a radio resource reconfiguration in a User Equipment (UE) and in the radio base station, wherein the UE being subject to the reconfiguration is identifiable by a first UE identity, and wherein the method comprises:
 sending a reconfiguration message indicating a new configuration to be used by said UE, wherein the reconfiguration message comprises a second UE identity for said UE and the second UE identity is associated with said new configuration;   activating the new configuration;   receiving an indication that the UE is identifiable by the second UE identity, wherein the indication comprises a response to a scheduling command that was sent to the UE using the second UE identity; and   determining that the UE is ready to start transmission or reception with use the new configuration for communication with the radio base station when the indication that the UE is identifiable by the second UE identity is received;   wherein the first UE identity is a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), the first UE identity associated with an old configuration used for communication between the radio base station and the UE prior to activating the new configuration; and   wherein the second UE identity is a second RNTI.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiving an indication comprises:
 sending the scheduling command to said UE by using at least the second UE identity;   receiving the response to the scheduling command with the second UE identity.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the sending the scheduling command to the UE by using at least the second UE identity is performed when an acknowledgement to the reconfiguration message is received at the radio base station from the UE. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 :
 wherein the reconfiguration message comprises a request to the UE to perform a UE initiated procedure in association with the reconfiguration; and   wherein the receiving the indication comprises detecting an indication that the UE initiated procedure is initiated.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the UE initiated procedure is a Random Access procedure. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reconfiguration is sent in a radio resource control protocol message. 
     
     
         7 . A method in a User Equipment (UE) for activating a radio resource reconfiguration in athe UE and in a radio base station, wherein the UE being subject to the reconfiguration is identifiable by a first UE identity, and wherein the method comprises:
 receiving a reconfiguration message indicating a new configuration to be used by said UE, wherein the reconfiguration message comprises a second UE identity for said UE and the second UE identity is associated with said new configuration; 
 activating the new configuration; and 
 indicating to the radio base station that the UE is identifiable by the second UE identity, wherein the indication comprises a response to a scheduling command that was sent to the UE using the second UE identity; 
 wherein the first UE identity is a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), the first UE identity associated with an old configuration used for communication between the radio base station and the UE prior to activating the new configuration; and 
 wherein the second UE identity is a second RNTI. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the indicating comprises:
 receiving the scheduling command, wherein the UE is identified by at least the second UE identity; and   sending the response to the scheduling command.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 :
 wherein the reconfiguration message comprises a request to the UE to perform a UE initiated procedure in association with the reconfiguration; and   wherein the indicating comprises initiating the UE initiated procedure in association with the reconfiguration.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the UE initiated procedure is a Random Access procedure. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the reconfiguration is received in a radio resource control protocol message. 
     
     
         12 . A radio base station for activating a radio resource reconfiguration in a User Equipment (UE) and in the radio base station, wherein the UE being subject to the reconfiguration is identifiable by a first UE identity, said radio base station comprising:
 a transmitter configured for sending a reconfiguration message indicating a new configuration to be used by said UE, wherein the reconfiguration message comprises a second UE identity for said UE and the second UE identity is associated with said new configuration;   a processing circuit configured for activating the new configuration;   a receiver configured for receiving an indication that the UE is identifiable by the second UE identity, wherein the indication comprises a response to a scheduling command that was sent to the UE using the second UE identity; and   the processing circuit further configured for determining that the UE is ready to start transmission or reception with use the new configuration for communication with the radio base station when the indication that the UE is identifiable by the second UE identity is received;   wherein the first UE identity is a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI); and   wherein the second UE identity is a second RNTI.   
     
     
         13 . The radio base station according to  claim 12 :
 wherein the transmitter is further configured to send the scheduling command to said UE by using at least the second UE identity; and   wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the response to the scheduling command with the second UE identity.   
     
     
         14 . The radio base station according to  claim 13 , wherein the transmitter is configured to send the scheduling command to the UE by using at least the second UE identity when an acknowledgement to the reconfiguration message is received at the radio base station from the UE. 
     
     
         15 . The radio base station according to  claim 12 :
 wherein the reconfiguration comprises a request to the UE to perform a UE initiated procedure in association with the reconfiguration; and   wherein the receiver is configured to detect an indication that the UE initiated procedure is initiated.   
     
     
         16 . The radio base station according to  claim 15 , wherein the UE initiated procedure is a Random Access procedure. 
     
     
         17 . The radio base station according to  claim 12 , wherein the reconfiguration is sent in a radio resource control protocol message. 
     
     
         18 . A User Equipment (UE) for activating a radio resource reconfiguration in athe UE and in a radio base station, wherein the UE being subject to the reconfiguration is identifiable by a first UE identity, said UE comprising:
 a receiver configured for receiving a reconfiguration message indicating a new configuration to be used by said UE, wherein the reconfiguration message comprises a second UE identity for said UE and the second UE identity is associated with said new configuration; 
 a processing circuit configured for activating the new configuration; 
 a transmitter configured for indicating to the radio base station that the UE is identifiable by the second UE identity, wherein the indication comprises a response to a scheduling command that was sent to the UE using the second UE identity; 
 wherein the first UE identity is a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), the first UE identity associated with an old configuration used for communication between the radio base station and the UE prior to activating the new configuration; and 
 wherein the second UE identity is a second RNTI. 
 
     
     
         19 . The UE according to  claim 18 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the scheduling command, wherein the UE is identified by at least the second UE identity, and the transmitter is further configured to send the response to the scheduling command. 
     
     
         20 . The UE according to  claim 18 :
 wherein the reconfiguration comprises a request to the UE to perform a UE initiated procedure in association with the reconfiguration; and   wherein the processing circuit is further configured to initiate the UE initiated procedure in association with the reconfiguration.   
     
     
         21 . The UE according to  claim 20 , wherein the UE initiated procedure is a Random Access procedure. 
     
     
         22 . The UE according to  claim 18 , wherein the reconfiguration is received in a radio resource control protocol message. 
     
     
       23. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein determining that the UE is ready to use the new configuration comprises determining that the UE is ready to receive information according to the new configuration, and further comprising transmitting information to the UE according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       24. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein determining that the UE is ready to use the new configuration comprises determining that the UE is ready to transmit information according to the new configuration, and further comprising receiving information from the UE according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       25. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration complete message from the UE. 
     
     
       26. The method according to  claim 25 , wherein receiving the RRC reconfiguration complete message comprises receiving the RRC reconfiguration complete message from the UE according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       27. The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising transmitting information to the radio base station according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       28. The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising receiving information from the radio base station according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       29. The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising transmitting a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration complete message to the radio base station. 
     
     
       30. The method according to  claim 29 , wherein transmitting the RRC reconfiguration complete message comprises transmitting the RRC reconfiguration complete message to the radio base station according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       31. The radio base station according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the processing circuit is further configured for determining that the UE is ready to use the new configuration by determining that the UE is ready to receive information according to the new configuration, and   the transmitter is further configured for transmitting information to the UE according to the new configuration.   
     
     
       32. The radio base station according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the processing circuit is further configured for determining that the UE is ready to use the new configuration by determining that the UE is ready to transmit information according to the new configuration; and   the receiver is further configured for receiving information from the UE according to the new configuration.   
     
     
       33. The radio base station according to  claim 12 , wherein the receiver is further configured for receiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration complete message from the UE. 
     
     
       34. The radio base station according to  claim 33 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the RRC reconfiguration complete message by receiving the RRC reconfiguration complete message from the UE according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       35. The UE according to  claim 18 , wherein the transmitter is further configured for transmitting information to the radio base station according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       36. The UE according to  claim 18 , wherein the receiver is further configured for receiving information from the radio base station according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       37. The UE according to  claim 18 , wherein the transmitter is further configured for transmitting a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration complete message to the radio base station. 
     
     
       38. The UE according to  claim 37 , wherein the transmitter is further configured for transmitting the RRC reconfiguration complete message to the radio base station according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       39. A method in a radio base station for activating a radio resource reconfiguration in a User Equipment (UE) and in the radio base station, wherein the UE being subject to the reconfiguration is identifiable by a first UE identity, and wherein the method comprises:
 sending a reconfiguration message indicating a new configuration to be used by the UE, wherein the reconfiguration message includes a second UE identity for the UE and the second UE identity is associated with the new configuration, and wherein the reconfiguration message comprises a request for the UE to perform a UE initiated procedure associated with the reconfiguration;   activating the new configuration;   detecting the UE has initiated the UE initiated procedure associated with the reconfiguration; and   determining that the UE is ready to use the new configuration based on detecting that the UE has initiated the UE initiated procedure associated with the reconfiguration,   wherein the first UE identity is a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), the first UE identity associated with an old configuration used for communication between the radio base station and the UE prior to activating the new configuration; and   wherein the second UE identity is a second RNTI.   
     
     
       40. The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the UE initiated procedure is a Random Access procedure. 
     
     
       41. The method according to  claim 40 , further comprising allocating to the UE a contention free resource for a Random Access attempt associated with the reconfiguration. 
     
     
       42. The method according to  claim 39 , wherein sending the reconfiguration message comprises sending a radio resource control (RRC) message comprising the reconfiguration message. 
     
     
       43. The method according to  claim 39 , wherein determining that the UE is ready to use the new configuration comprises determining that the UE is ready to receive information according to the new configuration, and further comprising transmitting information to the UE according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       44. The method according to  claim 39 , wherein determining that the UE is ready to use the new configuration comprises determining that the UE is ready to transmit information according to the new configuration, and further comprising receiving information from the UE according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       45. The method according to  claim 39 , further comprising receiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration complete message from the UE. 
     
     
       46. The method according to  claim 45 , wherein receiving the RRC reconfiguration complete message comprises receiving the RRC reconfiguration complete message from the UE according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       47. A method in a User Equipment (UE) for activating a radio resource reconfiguration in the UE, wherein the UE is identifiable by a first UE identity, and wherein the method comprises:
 receiving, from a radio base station, a reconfiguration message indicating a new configuration to be used by the UE, wherein the reconfiguration message includes a second UE identity for the UE and the second UE identity is associated with the new configuration, and wherein the reconfiguration message comprises a request for the UE to perform a UE initiated procedure associated with the reconfiguration;   activating the new configuration; and   indicating to the radio base station that the UE is identifiable by the second UE identity by initiating the UE initiated procedure associated with the reconfiguration;   wherein the first UE identity is a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), the first UE identity associated with an old configuration used for communication between the radio base station and the UE prior to activating the new configuration; and   wherein the second UE identity is a second RNTI.   
     
     
       48. The method according to  claim 47 , wherein:
 the UE initiated procedure comprises a Random Access procedure; and   indicating to the radio base station comprises indicating to the radio base station that the UE is identifiable by the second UE identity by initiating the Random Access procedure.   
     
     
       49. The method according to  claim 48 , wherein initiating the Random Access procedure comprises initiating the Random Access procedure using a contention free resource allocated by the radio base station for a Random Access attempt associated with the reconfiguration. 
     
     
       50. The method according to  claim 47 , wherein receiving the reconfiguration message comprises receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message comprising the reconfiguration message. 
     
     
       51. The method according to  claim 47 , further comprising transmitting information to the radio base station according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       52. The method according to  claim 47 , further comprising receiving information from the radio base station according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       53. The method according to  claim 47 , further comprising transmitting a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration complete message to the radio base station. 
     
     
       54. The method according to  claim 53 , wherein transmitting the RRC reconfiguration complete message comprises transmitting the RRC reconfiguration complete message to the radio base station according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       55. A radio base station for activating a radio resource reconfiguration in a User Equipment (UE) and in the radio base station, wherein the UE being subject to the reconfiguration is identifiable by a first UE identity, the radio base station comprising:
 a transmitter configured for sending a reconfiguration message indicating a new configuration to be used by the UE, wherein the reconfiguration message comprises a second UE identity for the UE and the second UE identity is associated with the new configuration, and wherein the reconfiguration message comprises a request for the UE to perform a UE initiated procedure associated with the reconfiguration;   a processing circuit configured for activating the new configuration;   a receiver configured for detecting that the UE has initiated the UE initiated procedure associated with the reconfiguration; and   the processing circuit further configured for determining that the UE is ready to use the new configuration based on the receiver detecting that the UE has initiated the UE initiated procedure;   wherein the first UE identity is a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), the first UE identity associated with an old configuration used for communication between the radio base station and the UE prior to activating the new configuration; and   wherein the second UE identity is a second RNTI.   
     
     
       56. The radio base station according to  claim 55 , wherein the UE initiated procedure is a Random Access procedure. 
     
     
       57. The radio base station according to  claim 56 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to allocate to the UE a contention free resource for a Random Access attempt associated with the reconfiguration. 
     
     
       58. The radio base station according to  claim 55 , wherein the transmitter is further configured for sending the reconfiguration message by sending a radio resource control (RRC) message comprising the reconfiguration message. 
     
     
       59. The radio base station according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 the processing circuit is further configured for determining that the UE is ready to use the new configuration by determining that the UE is ready to receive information according to the new configuration, and   the transmitter is further configured for transmitting information from the UE according to the new configuration.   
     
     
       60. The radio base station according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 the processing circuit is further configured for determining that the UE is ready to use the new configuration by determining that the UE is ready to transmit information according to the new configuration; and   the receiver is further configured for receiving information to the UE according to the new configuration.   
     
     
       61. The radio base station according to  claim 55 , where the receiver is further configured for receiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration complete message from the UE. 
     
     
       62. The radio base station according to  claim 61 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the RRC reconfiguration complete message by receiving the RRC reconfiguration complete message from the UE according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       63. A User Equipment (UE) for activating a radio resource reconfiguration in the UE, wherein the UE is identifiable by a first UE identity, the UE comprising:
 a receiver configured for receiving, from a radio base station, a reconfiguration message indicating a new configuration to be used by the UE, wherein the reconfiguration message includes a second UE identity for the UE and the second UE identity is associated with the new configuration, and wherein the reconfiguration message comprises a request for the UE to perform a UE initiated procedure associated with the reconfiguration;   a processing circuit configured for activating the new configuration; and   a transmitter configured for indicating to the radio base station that the UE is identifiable by the second UE identity by initiating the UE initiated procedure associated with the reconfiguration;   wherein the first UE identity is a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), the first UE identity associated with an old configuration used for communication between the radio base station and the UE prior to activating the new configuration; and   wherein the second UE identity is a second RNTI.   
     
     
       64. The UE according to  claim 63 , wherein:
 the UE initiated procedure comprises a Random Access procedure; and   the transmitter is further configured for indicating to the radio base station that the UE is identifiable by the second UE identity by initiating the Random Access procedure.   
     
     
       65. The UE according to  claim 64 , wherein the transmitter is further configured for initiating the Random Access procedure using a contention free resource allocated by the radio base station for a Random Access attempt associated with the reconfiguration. 
     
     
       66. The UE according to  claim 63 , wherein the receiver is further configured for receiving the reconfiguration message by receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message comprising the reconfiguration message. 
     
     
       67. The UE according to  claim 63 , wherein the transmitter is further configured for transmitting information to the radio base station according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       68. The UE according to  claim 63 , wherein the receiver is further configured for receiving information from the radio base station according to the new configuration. 
     
     
       69. The UE according to  claim 63 , wherein the transmitter is further configured for transmitting a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration complete message to the radio base station. 
     
     
       70. The UE according to  claim 69 , wherein the transmitter is further configured for transmitting the RRC reconfiguration complete message to the radio base station according to the new configuration.