Cell re-selection utilizing system information length

1. A method for performing cell re-selection in a cellular network, comprising

a subscriber terminal measuring received powers of neighbour cells in accordance with system information received from a current cell;

selecting one of the neighbour cells as a new cell;

the subscriber terminal receiving a part of the system information sent by the new cell;

calculating the time used for receiving the system information of the new cell by employing the length information in the system information part sent by the new cell; and

utilizing the calculated time in the cell re-selection.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein calculating the time comprises:

using information on multiframe length.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein calculating the time comprises:

using information on the number of radio blocks used for sending system information in one multiframe.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein calculating the time comprises:

using information on a repeat period of the system information part.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

deciding on the basis of the calculated time whether to continue the re-selection of said new cell.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

providing the user with information associated with cell re-selection.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

comparing the time spent in reality for receiving the system information of the new cell with the calculated time.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising:

interrupting the re-selection of said new cell, if the time spent in reality exceeds the calculated time.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising:

selecting another neighbour cell as the new cell.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cellular network using GPRS and the method further comprises:

placing the system information on a PBCCH.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the system information is formed of system information elements comprising an element referred to as PSI 1 containing the system information length as a figure indicating the number of system information elements.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the PBCCH is placed in at least one four TDMA frames long radio block in each multiframe.

13. A subscriber terminal comprising:

a radio connection to a current cell base station of a cellular network;

means for measuring received powers of neighbour cells in accordance with system information received from a current cell;

means for discovering the need for cell re-selection;

means for receiving system information sent by a new cell;

means for calculating the time it takes to receive the system information of the new cell using the length information in a system information part sent by the new cell; and

means for utilizing the calculated time in the cell reselection.

14. The subscriber terminal of claim 13 , the subscriber terminal comprising means for deciding on the basis of the calculated time whether to continue the re-selection of said new cell.

15. The subscriber terminal of claim 13 , the subscriber terminal comprising means for comparing the time spent in reality for receiving the system information of the new cell with the calculated time.

16. The subscriber terminal of claim 15 , the subscriber terminal comprising means for interrupting the reselection of said new cell if the time spent in reality exceeds the calculated time.