Cellular communication system support for limited bandwidth communication devices
A communication system node transmits first control channel information on a control channel that extends over a first bandwidth of a radiofrequency resource. The first control channel information is necessary to enable a first type of communication device, capable of receiving a signal having the first bandwidth, to establish a connection with a host cell. A MIB, occupying a second bandwidth-size part of the first bandwidth, is transmitted. The second bandwidth is smaller than the first bandwidth and is receivable by a second type of communication device having reduced receive bandwidth capabilities. The MIB has a first part comprising first part information necessary to enable the first type of communication device to establish the connection with the host cell, and a second part comprising second part information directly or indirectly enabling the second type of communication device to obtain parameters that enable connection establishment with the host cell.
1. A method of operating a network node that serves a host cell in a cellular communication system, the method comprising:
at one or more first time intervals, transmitting first control channel information on a control channel that extends over a first bandwidth of a radiofrequency resource, wherein the first control channel communicates information that is necessary to enable a first type of communication device to establish a connection with the host cell, the first type of communication device being capable of receiving a signal having the first bandwidth of the radiofrequency resource; and
at one or more second time intervals, transmitting a master information block that occupies a part of the first bandwidth of the radiofrequency resource, wherein the part of the first bandwidth of the radiofrequency resource has a second bandwidth that is smaller than the first bandwidth and is receivable by a second type of communication device having reduced receive bandwidth capabilities compared to those of the first type of communication device,
wherein the master information block comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part comprises first part information that is necessary to enable the first type of communication device to establish the connection with the host cell, and wherein the second part comprises second part information that directly or indirectly enables the second type of communication device to obtain parameters that enable the second type of communication device to establish a connection with the host cell.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second part information identifies timing and/or frequency locations at which extended broadcast information will be transmitted, wherein the extended broadcast information directly or indirectly enables the second type of communication device to establish the connection with the host cell.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the extended broadcast information provides parameters that enable the second type of communication device to perform a random access procedure directed at the host cell.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the parameters that enable the second type of communication device to perform the random access procedure directed at the host cell include a random access channel sequence to be used during the random access procedure.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the parameters that enable the second type of communication device to perform the random access procedure directed at the host cell include information that identify one or more time and frequency positions at which the second type of communication device can perform the random access procedure directed at the host cell.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the extended broadcast information identifies a time and frequency position at which a special system information block (M-SIB) will be transmitted, wherein the M-SIB is a system information block that includes information that is for use by the second type of communication device.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the extended broadcast information identifies a modulation coding scheme that will be used when a special system information block (M-SIB) is transmitted, wherein the M-SIB is a system information block that includes information that is for use by the second type of communication device.
8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the extended broadcast information is a control channel adapted to be receivable by the second type of communication device.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the control channel adapted to be receivable by the second type of communication device includes information that enables the second type of communication device to receive a special system information block (M-SIB) that is adapted to be receivable by the second type of communication device, wherein the M-SIB is a system information block that includes information that is for use by the second type of communication device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second part information provides parameters that enable the second type of communication device to perform a random access procedure directed at the host cell.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the parameters that enable the second type of communication device to perform the random access procedure directed at the host cell include a random access channel sequence to be used during the random access procedure.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the parameters that enable the second type of communication device to perform the random access procedure directed at the host cell include information that identify one or more time and frequency positions at which the second type of communication device can perform the random access procedure directed at the host cell.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second part information includes a set of possible time and frequency resources and modulation and coding schemes for the second type of communication device to use in a blind decoding procedure that detects whether extended broadcast information has been transmitted.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the cellular communication system operates in accordance with a Long Term Evolution standard, and wherein the extended broadcast information is any one of a system information block, a special SIB adapted for use by the second type of communication device, and a special physical downlink control channel adapted for use by the second type of communication device.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second part of the master information block includes a field encoded to indicate how the second type of communication device can obtain information that is specific to the second type of communication device.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the field encoded to indicate how the second type of communication device can obtain information that is specific to the second type of communication device indicates in which one, out of a pre-defined set of time and frequency positions, the information that is specific to the second type of communication device is located.
17. An apparatus for operating a network node that serves a host cell in a cellular communication system, the apparatus comprising:
circuitry configured to transmit, at one or more first time intervals, first control channel information on a control channel that extends over a first bandwidth of a radiofrequency resource, wherein the first control channel communicates information that is necessary to enable a first type of communication device to establish a connection with the host cell, the first type of communication device being capable of receiving a signal having the first bandwidth of the radiofrequency resource; and
circuitry configured to transmit, at one or more second time intervals, a master information block that occupies a part of the first bandwidth of the radiofrequency resource, wherein the part of the first bandwidth of the radiofrequency resource has a second bandwidth that is smaller than the first bandwidth and is receivable by a second type of communication device having reduced receive bandwidth capabilities compared to those of the first type of communication device,
wherein the master information block comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part comprises first part information that is necessary to enable the first type of communication device to establish the connection with the host cell, and wherein the second part comprises second part information that directly or indirectly enables the second type of communication device to obtain parameters that enable the second type of communication device to establish a connection with the host cell.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the second part information identifies timing and/or frequency locations at which extended broadcast information will be transmitted, wherein the extended broadcast information directly or indirectly enables the second type of communication device to establish the connection with the host cell.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the extended broadcast information provides parameters that enable the second type of communication device to perform a random access procedure directed at the host cell.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the parameters that enable the second type of communication device to perform the random access procedure directed at the host cell include a random access channel sequence to be used during the random access procedure.
21. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the parameters that enable the second type of communication device to perform the random access procedure directed at the host cell include information that identify one or more time and frequency positions at which the second type of communication device can perform the random access procedure directed at the host cell.
22. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the extended broadcast information identifies a time and frequency position at which a special system information block (M-SIB) will be transmitted, wherein the M-SIB is a system information block that includes information that is for use by the second type of communication device.
23. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the extended broadcast information identifies a modulation coding scheme that will be used when a special system information block (M-SIB) is transmitted, wherein the M-SIB is a system information block that includes information that is for use by the second type of communication device.
24. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the extended broadcast information is a control channel adapted to be receivable by the second type of communication device.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the control channel adapted to be receivable by the second type of communication device includes information that enables the second type of communication device to receive a special system information block (M-SIB) that is adapted to be receivable by the second type of communication device, wherein the M-SIB is a system information block that includes information that is for use by the second type of communication device.
26. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the second part information provides parameters that enable the second type of communication device to perform a random access procedure directed at the host cell.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein the parameters that enable the second type of communication device to perform the random access procedure directed at the host cell include a random access channel sequence to be used during the random access procedure.
28. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein the parameters that enable the second type of communication device to perform the random access procedure directed at the host cell include information that identify one or more time and frequency positions at which the second type of communication device ( 207 , 1301 ) can perform the random access procedure directed at the host cell.
29. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the second part information includes a set of possible time and frequency resources and modulation and coding schemes for the second type of communication device to use in a blind decoding procedure that detects whether extended broadcast information has been transmitted.
30. The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the cellular communication system operates in accordance with a Long Term Evolution standard, and wherein the extended broadcast information is any one of a system information block, a special SIB adapted for use by the second type of communication device, and a special physical downlink control channel adapted for use by the second type of communication device.
31. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the second part of the master information block includes a field encoded to indicate how the second type of communication device can obtain information that is specific to the second type of communication device.
32. The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the field encoded to indicate how the second type of communication device can obtain information that is specific to the second type of communication device indicates in which one, out of a pre-defined set of time and frequency positions, the information that is specific to the second type of communication device is located.