Method and apparatus for receiving a control channel

1. A method in a communication device, the method comprising:

monitoring a first control channel;

receiving information from the network regarding a configuration of a second control channel;

during a random access procedure between the communication device and the network:

receiving an uplink grant from the network; and

transmitting a message to the network, the message including an indication that the communication device is capable of monitoring a second control channel; and

monitoring the second control channel based on the received configuration information.

2. The method in claim 1 wherein receiving an uplink grant from the network comprises:

transmitting a random access preamble to the network; and

receiving the uplink grant from the network in response to the random access preamble transmission.

3. The method of claim 1 ;

wherein the step of receiving the uplink grant comprises being granted resources that are usable by the communication device to transmit messages to the network; and

wherein the step of transmitting message to the network comprises transmitting the message using the granted resources.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the granted resources include one or more resource blocks.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication device is in a first mode for receiving downlink data, the method further comprising:

receiving, via the first control channel, an identification of a second mode for receiving downlink data; and

receiving downlink data using the second mode.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving downlink control information via the second control channel; and

using the downlink control information to decode data received on a data channel from the network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of monitoring the second control channel comprises:

attempting to decode downlink control information on a set of time-frequency resources received on a sub-frame from the network; and

if the attempt is successful, reading the control information contained in the decoded time-frequency resource.

8. A communication device comprising:

a processor; and

a transceiver;

wherein the processor and the transceiver cooperate to perform steps comprising:

monitoring a first control channel;

receiving information from the network regarding a configuration of a second control channel;

during a random access procedure between the communication device and the network:

receiving an uplink grant from the network and

transmitting a message to the network, the message including an indication that the communication device is capable of monitoring a second control channel; and

monitoring the second control channel based on the received configuration information.