Device and method for saving power during monitoring of a broadcast channel using broadcast scheduling information

1. A mobile radio communications device arranged for receiving a broadcast service, including:

reception means for reading a channel to be employed by the broadcast service,

means for receiving, otherwise than via the channel, scheduling information related to the broadcast service from a service announcement phase,

means for determining from the scheduling information a start time of the broadcast service on the channel,

means for determining from the scheduling information preparation time of the broadcast service that requires transmission on the channel prior to the start time of the broadcast service, and

means for inhibiting monitoring of the channel at the reception means until a time determined by the start time less the preparation time.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the means for inhibiting monitoring of the channel comprises a software control means.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the preparation time includes time required by the network for counting a number of mobile devices requiring receipt of the broadcast service.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 , which is arranged to trigger uplink signal relating to counting upon commencement of monitoring of the channel.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the broadcast service comprises a MBMS service.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the channel comprises a MBMS notification channel.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , embodied in a cellular phone.

8. A mobile radio communications device arranged for receiving a broadcast service, comprising:

reception means for reading a channel to be employed by the broadcast service,

means for receiving, otherwise than via the channel, scheduling information over signaling levels provided by the broadcast service, which signaling levels are different from a service announcement phase,

means for determining from the scheduling information a start time of the broadcast service on the channel,

means for determining from the scheduling information preparation time of the broadcast service and requiring transmission on the channel prior to the start time of the broadcast service, and

means for inhibiting monitoring of the channel at the reception means until a time determined by the start time less the preparation time.

9. A method of operating a mobile radio communications device arranged for receiving a broadcast service and including:

reading a channel to be employed by the broadcast service,

receiving, otherwise than via the channel to be employed by the broadcast service, scheduling information related to the broadcast service from at least one of a service announcement phase or signaling levels,

determining from the scheduling information a start time of the broadcast service on the channel,

determining from the scheduling information preparation time of the broadcast service that requires transmission on the channel prior to the start of the broadcast service, and

inhibiting monitoring of the channel until a time determined by the start time less the preparation time.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein inhibiting monitoring comprises:

inhibiting monitoring with software control means.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 or 10 , wherein the time preparation includes time required by a network for counting a number of mobile devices requiring receipt of the broadcast service.

12. A communication system comprising a network including the mobile radio communications device as defined in claim 1 or 2 .

13. A system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the network comprises a MBMS UTRAN.

14. A communication system comprising the mobile radio communications device of claim 1 .