Title of Invention

METHOD OF PERFORMING CELL UPDATE PROCEDURE

Abstract A method of performing a cell update procedure is achieved by detecting an error associated with a radio link (RL) established with a base station; informing the base station about at least one radio bearer, at least one radio link control (RLC) entity, or both having the detected error; and re-configuring the at least one radio bearer, re-establishing the at least one radio link control (RLC) entity, or both based upon the informing step.
Full Text

Description
Technical Field
The invention relates to a method for settling a dysfunction in a radio link es-
tablished between a user equipment and a cellular network. The invention applies in
particular to UMTS type networks.
Background Art
A universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) is a European-type, third
generation IMT-2000 mobile communication system that has evolved from a European
standard known as Global System for Mobile communications (GSM).
UMTS is intended to provide an improved mobile communication service based
upon a GSM core network and wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA)
wireless connection technology. In December 1998, a Third Generation Partnership
Project (3GPP) was formed by the ETSI of Europe, the ARTB/TTC of Japan, the T1 of
the United States, and the TTA of Korea. The 3GPP creates detailed specifications of
UMTS technology. In order to achieve rapid and efficient technical development of the
UMTS, five technical specification groups (TSG) have been created within the 3GPP
for standardizing the UMTS by considering the independent nature of the network
elements and their operations. Each TSG develops, approves, and manages the
standard specification within a related region. Among these groups, the radio access
network (RAN) group (TSG-RAN) develops the standards for the functions, re-
quirements, and interface of the UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN),
which is a new radio, access network for supporting W-CDMA access technology in
the UMTS.
Figure 1 gives an overview of a UMTS network, including a user equipment (UE),
such as a mobile station, a UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) and a core
network (CN).
The UTRAN is composed of several Radio Network Controllers (RNCs) and
NodeBs which are connected via an Iub interface. Each RNC controls several NodeBs.
Each NodeB controls one or several cells, where a cell is characterised by the fact that
it covers a given geographical area on a given frequency. Each RNC is connected via
an Iu interface to the CN, i.e. towards a Mobile-services Switching Centre entity
(MSC) of the CN and a Serving GPRS Support Node entity (SGSN). RNCs can be
connected to other RNCs via the Iur interface. The RNC handles the assignment and
management of radio resources and operates as an access point with respect to the CN.
The NodeBs receive information sent by the physical layer of the UE through an

uplink and transmil data lo the UE through a downlink. The Node-Bs operate as access
points of the UTRAN for the UE. The GPRS support node (SGSN) is connected via a
Gf interface to an Equipment Identity Register (EIR), via a GS interface to the MSC,
via a GN interface to the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) and via the GR
interlace to the Home Subscriber Server (HSS). The EIR hosts lists of mobiles which
are allowed or are not allowed to be used on the network. The MSC which controls the
connection for Circuit Switched (CS) services is connected via an NB interface
towards the 'Media Gateway (MGW), via a F interface towards the EIR, and via a D
interface towards the Home Subscriber Server (HSS). The MGW is connected via a C
interface towards the HSS, and to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN),
and allows to adapt the codecs between the PSTN and the connected Radio Access
Network (RAN).
[7] The GGSN is connected via a GC interface to the HSS, and via a GI interface to the
Internet. The GGSN is responsible for routing, charging and separation of data flows
into different Radio Access Bearers (RABs). The HSS handles the subscription data of
the users.
[8] Other connections exist that are not important for the current invention.
[9] . The UTRAN constructs and maintains a radio access bearer (RAB) for com-
munication between the UE and the CN. The CN requests end-to-end quality of service
(QoS) requirements from the RAB, and the RAB supports the QoS requirements the
core network has set. Accordingly, by constructing and maintaining the RAB, the
UTRAN can satisfy the end-to-end QoS requirements.
[10] The services provided to a specific UE are roughly divided into the circuit switched
(CS) services and the packet switched (PS) services. For example, a general voice con-
versation service is a circuit switched service, while a Web browsing service via an
Internet connection is classified as a packet switched (PS) service.
[11] For supporting circuit switched services, the RNCs are connected to the mobile
switching center (MSC) of the core network (CN) and the MSC is connected to the
Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) that manages the connection with other
networks. For supporting packet switched services, the RNCs are connected to the
serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN) and the gateway
GPRS support node (GGSN) of the core network. The SGSN supports the packet com-
munications with the RNCs and the GGSN manages the connection with other packet
switched networks, such as the Internet.
[12] Figure 2 illustrates a structure of a radio interface protocol between the UE and the
UTRAN according to the 3GPP radio access network standards. As shown in Figure 2,
the radio interface protocol has horizontal layers comprising a physical layer, a data
link layer, and a network layer, and has vertical planes comprising a user plane

(U-plane) for transmitting user data and a control plane (C-plane) for transmitting .
control information. The user plane is a region that handles traffic information with the
user, such as voice or Internet protocol (IP) packets. The control plane is a region that
handles control information for an interface with a network, maintenance and
management of a call, and the like. The protocol layers in Figure 2 can be divided into
a first layer (L1), a second layer (L2), and a third layer (L3) based on the three lower
layers of an Open System Interconnection (OSI) standard model. The first layer (L1),
namely, the physical layer, provides an information transfer service to an upper layer
by using various radio transmission techniques. The physical layer is connected to an
upper layer called a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, via a transport channel.
[13] The MAC layer and the physical layer exchange data via the transport channel. The
second layer (L2) includes a MAC layer,, a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, a
Broadcast/Multicast control (BMC) layer, and a Packet Data Convergence Protocol
(PDCP) layer. The MAC layer handles mapping between logical channels and
transport channels and provides allocation of the MAC parameters for allocation and
re-allocation of radio resources. The MAC layer is connected to an upper layer called
the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, via a logical channel.
[14] Various logical channels are provided according to the type of information
transmitted. In general, a control channel is used to transmit information of the control
plane and a traffic channel is used to transmit information of the user plane. A logical
channel may be a common channel or a dedicated channel depending on whether the
logical channel is shared. Logical channels include a Dedicated Traffic CHannel
(DTCH), a Dedicated Control CHannel (DCCH), a Common Traffic CHannel
(CTCH), a Common Control CHannel (CCCH), a Broadcast Control CHannel
(BCCH), and a Paging Control CHannel (PCCH), or a Shared Control Channel.
(SCCH) and other channels. The BCCH provides information including information
utilized by a UE to access a system. The PCCH is used by the UTRAN to access a UE.
[15] For the purposes of MB MS (multimedia broadcast/multicast service; or other types
of point-to-multipoint services), additional traffic and control channels are introduced
in the MBMS standard. The MB MS point-to-multipoint Control Channel (MCCH) is
used for transmission of MBMS control information, the MBMS point-to-multipoint
Traffic Channel (MTCH) is used for transmitting MBMS service data. The MBMS
Scheduling Channel (MSCH) is used to transmit scheduling information. The different
logical channels that exist are listed below:
[16]

Control Channel (CCH) Broadcast Control Channel
Paging Control Channel
Dedicated Control Channel
Common Control Channel
Shared Channel Control Channel (SHCCH)
MBMS point-to-multipoint Control Channel (MCCH)
MBMS Scheduling Channel (MSCH).
Traffic Channel (TCH) -— Dedicated Traffic Channel
Common Traffic Channel (CTCH)
MBMS point-to-multipoint Traffic Channel (MTCH)
[17] The MAC layer is connected to the physical layer by transport channels and can be
divided into a MAC-b sub-layer, a MAC-d sub-layer, a MAC-c/sh sub-layer, a MAC-
hs sub-layer and a MAC-m sublayer according to the type, of transport channel being
managed. The MAC-b sub-layer manages a BCH (Broadcast Channel), which is a
transport channel handling the broadcasting of system information. The MAC-c/sh
sub-layer manages a common transport channel, such as a forward access channel
(FACH) or a downlink shared channel (DSCH), which is shared by a plurality of UEs,
or in the uplink the Radio Access Channel (RACH). The MAC-m sublayer may handle
the MBMS data.
[18] The possible mapping between the logical channels and the transport channels from
a UE perspective is given in Figure 3.
[19] The possible mapping between the logical channels and the transport channels from
a UTRAN perspective is given in Figure 4.
[20] The MAC-d sub-layer manages a dedicated channel (DCH), which is a dedicated
transport channel for a specific terminal. The MAC-d sublayer is located in a serving
RNC (SRNC) that manages a corresponding user equipment, and one MAC-d sublayer
also exists in each terminal. The RLC layer, depending of the RLC mode of operation
supports reliable data transmissions and performs segmentation and concatenation on a
plurality of RLC service data units (SDUs) delivered from an upper layer. When the
RLC layer receives the RLC SDUs from the upper layer, the RLC layer adjusts the size
of each RLC SDU in an appropriate manner based upon processing capacity and then
creates data units by adding header information thereto. The data units, called protocol
data units (PDUs), are transferred to the MAC layer via a logical channel. The RLC
layer includes a RLC buffer for storing the RLC SDUs and/or the RLC PDUs.
[21] The BMC layer schedules a cell broadcast (CB) message transferred from the core
network and broadcasts the CB message to terminals positioned in a specific cell or
cells.

[22] The PDCP layer is located above the RLC layer. The PDCP layer is used to
transmit network protocol data, such as the IPv4 or IPv6, efficiently on a radio
interface with a relatively small bandwidth. For this purpose, the PDCP layer reduces
unnecessary control information used in a wired network, a function called header
compression.
[23] The radio resource control (RRC) layer located at the lowest portion of the third
layer (L3) is only defined in the control plane. The RRC layer controls the transport
channels and the physical channels in relation to setup, reconfiguration, and the release
or cancellation of the radio bearers (RBs). The RB signifies a service provided by the
second layer (L2) for data transmission between the terminal and the UTRAN. In
general, the set up of the RB refers to the process of stipulating the characteristics of a
protocol layer and a channel required for providing a specific data service, and setting
the respective detailed parameters and operation methods. Additionally the RRC
handles user mobility within the RAN, and additional services, e.g. location services.
[24] The different possibilities that exist for the mapping between the radio bearers and
the transport channels for a given UE are not all possible all the time. The UE /
UTRAN deduce the possible mapping depending on the UE state and the procedure
that the UE / UTRAN is executing. The different states and modes are explained in
more detail below, as far as they concern the present invention.
[25] The different transport channels are mapped onto different physical channels. The
configuration of the physical channels is given by RRC signalling exchanged between
the RNC and the UE..
[26] The DPCH channel can be established and used simultaneously between the UE
and one or several cells of one or several NodeBs as shown in Figure 5. This situation
where the UE has a DPCH established simultaneously to several cells is called "soft
handover". The case where the UE has established a DPCH simultaneously to several
cells of the same NodeB is called "softer handover". For the DPCH the UE is always
combining the TPC commands from all radio links in the downlink, and uses always
the command which asks for the least transmit power (i.e. in the case one radio link
says "up" and the other one "down" the UE chooses to decrease the transmit power).
[27] The RLC layer (Radio Link Control) is a layer 2 protocol which is used in order to
control the data exchange between the logical channels between the RNC and the UE.
The RLC layer can currently be configured in 3 types of transfer modes:
[28] - Transparent mode,
[29] - Unacknowledged mode,
[30] - Acknowledged mode
[31] The detailed behaviour of these modes is described in [3]. The different func-
tionalities that are available depend on the transfer mode.

[32] In acknowledged and unacknowledged mode, Serving Data Units (SDUs) can be
split into smaller Packet Date Units (PDUs) that'are used for transmission over the air
interface. The transmitter side separates the SDU into PDUs, and based on control in-
formation that is added to the PDUs die receiver side re-assembles the PDUs in order
to reconstruct the SDUs. Such control information is e.g. a PDU sequence number in
order to detect whether a PDU has been lost, or a Length Indicator (L1) which indicates
the beginning / end of a SDU inside an RLC PDU.
[33] In unacknowledged mode the receiver does not send a confirmation to the
transmitter of correctly received PDUs, but the receiver side just reassembles PDUs to
SDUs based on signalling information contained in the PDUs and transfers the
complete SDUs to higher layers.
[34] In acknowledged mode the receiver sends acknowledgements for the correctly
received PDU. The transmitter uses these acknowledgements in order to initiate re-
transmissions of missing PDUs. The acknowledgements are sent in certain conditions.
There are several mechanisms foreseen in order to initiate the transmission of the ac-
knowledgements for PDUs received by the receiver. Which mechanisms are activated
is defined in the standard and/or configured by RRC signalling. One example for such
a mechanism for the transmission of a status PDU is e.g. the'reception of a PDU with a
sequence number that does not correspond to the latest received sequence number
increased by one, or when the receiver receives an indication from the transmitter in
the RLC control information that an acknowledgment (also called "Status") should be
sent. The indication of the transmitter to send a status PDU is called "Polling".
[35] When the transmitter sends a Polling bit a mechanism is defined in the UMTS
standard if no Status report has been received after the transmission of the polling after
a certain time. This mechanism initiates the transmitter to retransmit a PDU including
the polling indicator and is called "timer poll".
[36] Another mechanism counts the number of retransmissions of a PDU. In the case the
retransmission exceeds a certain number (MaxDat) the transmitter starts the reset
procedure which is a procedure that allows to set the transmitter and the receiver entity
of a radio bearer using AM RLC mode to an initial state. When the Reset procedure is
initiated the initiating entity transmits a "Reset" PDU to the terminating entity. The
terminating entity acknowledges the reception of the "Reset" PDU by transmitting the
. "Reset Ack" PDU. If the initiating entity has not received the "Reset Ack" PDU after a
certain, time the initiating entity retransmits the "Reset" PDU. If the initiating entity has
not received an "Reset Ack" PDU after a certain amount of re-transmissions the
initiating entity detects an "unrecoverable error".
[37] This disclosure describes the situation where a dysfunction is detected in the
operation of a radio Link Control (RLC) entity in RLC AM mode. Other mechanisms

to detect a dysfunction are already described in the UMTS standard, or possible to be
imagined and implemented. It is also possible to imagine detection mechanisms for
RLC entities in UM mode, which would e.g. detect that undefined signalling in-
formation is included in the RLC PDU, or where higher layers detect that the reception
/ transmission of the UM entity is not behaving correctly.
[38] As explained in the above, there are mechanisms defined in the standard that detect
an "unrecoverable error", which can correspond to a blocked situation, or a situation
where the communication is disturbed.
[39] As explained in the above, mere are mechanisms defined in the standard that detect
an "unrecoverable error", which can correspond to a blocked situation, or a situation
where the communication is disturbed.
[40] If the UE detects an "unrecoverable error" situation as described in the standard, the
UE enters CELL_FACH state and sends a "Cell update" message to the NodeB/RNC
eventually indicating that an unrecoverable error has occurred by setting the IE
(Information Element) "Cell update cause" to the cause "RLC unrecoverable error".
The UE indicates by including the IE "AM_RLC error indication (RB2, RB3 or RB4)"
that this unrecoverable error has either occurred for one of the Signalling Radio
Bearers with the Identities 2, 3 or 4 or by including the IE "AM_RLC error indication
(RB>4)" that this error has occurred for one of the Radio Bearers (RBs) using RLC
AM mode with IDs higher than 4. The RNC can then send the "Cell Update Confirm"
message and indicate that the RLC entities for SRBs with the IDs 2, 3 and 4, or for the
RBs with Ids higher than 4 that use RLC AM mode shall be re-established by setting
the IE "RLC re-establish indicator (RB2, RB3 and RB4)" and / or "RLC re-establish
' indicator (RB5 and upwards)" to "true".
[41] The UM / AM RLC entity is also responsible for handling of ciphering and de-
ciphering. In order to do so the RLC entity in the transmitter and the receiver maintain
a COUNT-C number which is composed of a Hyper fFrame nNumber (HFN) and the
RLC sequence number. The COUNT-C value, together with other information is used
as input to a mathematical function that generates a bitstring. This bitstring and the
RLC PDU except the SN are combined by the logical XOR operation, which ensures
the ciphering of the data part of the RLC PDU. The HFN value is incremented each
time the RLC SN wraps around (i.e. when the RLC SN reaches its highest value and
restarts from 0). In the case the receiver misses a certain number of SNs, or in the case
the received SN received has been altered during the reception it is possible that the
COUNT-C in the receiver and the transmitter are desynchronized. In this case the
receiver is not capable to decipher correctly the information received. The receiver can
detect the dysfunction of the deciphering entity by different mechanisms which are not
further described here, and which are not part of the invention.

[42] HS-DSCH is a transport channel which allows to transmit data in the downlink in
the UMTS standard, and which allows to use high data rates. The HS-DSCH channel is
always mapped to the HS-PDSCH physical channel. The HS-PDSCH contrary to the
DPCH can only be transmitted to a given UE from one cell at a time. The HS-DSCH
channel uses a hybrid ARQ mechanism which allows fast retransmission of data from
the NodeB to the UE. This mechanism is also described in [2]. In order to know
whether the UE has received a given block correctly, the UE sends acknowledgments
to the NodeB which are sent on the HS-DPCCH physical channel in the uplink.as
explained in [1]: In addition, on the HS-DPCCH the UE sends the CQI information
which indicates the quality of the radio channel in downlink. This allows the NodeB to
adapt the transport format and the scheduling on the channel conditions.
[43] As illustrated in Figure 5, during the transmission in CELL_DCH the UE performs
inner loop power control i.e. the UE receives transmit power commands (TPC) from
the NodeB which indicate to the UE whether it should increase the transmit power or
decrease the transmit power on the DCH channels as described above. The UE
combines the TPC received from the different cells. Normally this means that the UE
adapts the transmit power to the best radio link in the UL. The UE increases or
decreases the transmit power of the DPCCH, DPDCH and HS-DPCCH. The HS-
DPCCH is only received by the cell that sends the HS-DSCH. This implies that the
transmit power of the HS-DSCCH DPCCH is not always adapted to the uplink channel
conditions between the UE and the HS-DSCH serving cell. This means that the HS-
DSCH channel can be temporarily unavailable.
[44] One of the main advantages is that the HS-DSCH is a shared channel, which
implies that the necessary spreading codes do not need to be allocated in advance and
can be shared dynamically amongst different users.
[45] The RRC mode refers to whether there exists a logical connection between the RRC
of the terminal and the RRC of the UTRAN. If there is a connection, the terminal is
said to be in RRC connected mode. If there is no connection, the terminal is said to be
in idle mode. Because an RRC connection exists for terminals in RRC connected
mode, the UTRAN can determine the existence of a particular terminal within the unit
of cells, for example which cell or set of cells the RRC connected mode terminal is in,
and which physical channel the UE is listening to. Thus, the terminal can be effectively
controlled.
[46] In contrast, the UTRAN cannot determine the existence of a terminal in idle mode.
The existence of idle mode terminals can only be determined by the core network to be
within a region that is larger than a cell, for example a location or a routing area.
Therefore, the existence of idle mode terminals is determined within large regions,
and, in order to receive mobile communication services such as voice or data, the idle

mode terminal must moves or changes, into the RRC connected mode. The possible
transitions between modes and states are shown in Figure 6.
[47] A UE in RRC connected mode can be in different states, e.g. CELL_FACH state,
CELL_PCH state, CELL_DCH state or URA_PCH state. Other states could be
envisaged of course. Depending on the states the UE carries out different actions and
listens to different channels. For example a UE in CELL_DCH state will triesy to
. listen (amongst others) to DCH type of transport channels which comprises DTCH and
DCCH transport channels and which can be mapped to a certain DPCH, DPDSCH, or
other physical channels. The UE in CELL_FACH state willlistens to several FACH
transport channels which are mapped to a certain S-CCPCH, the UE in PCH state will
listens to the PICH channel and to the PCH channel which is mapped to a certain S-
CCPCH physical channel.
[48] As described above, a radio bearer carries data from layers above the L2, i.e. data
generated inside the UTRAN, e.g. RRC and Non access stratum (NAS) signalling
(more generally the c-plane) and user data (the u-plane). The data from the RRC
signalling is today transported via 3 signalling radio bearers, which are numbered from.
0 to 2. The data from NAS signalling is transmitted on the signalling radio bearer 3 and
if used 4. The remaining radio bearer identifiers are available for transmitting user
plane data.
[49] For efficient transport of the different radio bearers according to their Quality of
Service (QoS) characteristics, the radio bearers can be mapped via a logical channel on
different transport channels. The possible mapping options for the radio bearers depend
on the type of traffic they carry. The dedicated signalling radio bearers 0-4 are mapped
via a DCCH / CCCH type of logical channels. The dedicated radio bearers that carry
user plane traffic with identities above 5 are mapped via DTCH type of logical
channels. The possible mapping options are defined via RRC signalling. Different
mapping options can be defined independently for uplink and downlink and depending
on the UE state, and the transport channels that are available.
[50] As illustrated on Figure 7, a possible configuration for mapping options in the
downlink is shown. In this example four mapping options are configured:
[51] In CELL_DCH state when HS-PDSCH and DPCH are available the SRB#1 to #4
are mapped on the DPCH, and the other Radio Bearers RB#5 to #20 are mapped to the
HS-PDSCH. The SRB#0 is not mapped in this case.
. [52] In CELL_DCH state when DPCH is available and HS-PDSCH is not available the
Signalling Radio Bearers SRB#1 to #4 and the other RB#5 to #20 are mapped to
DPCH. The SRB#0 is not mapped in this case. In CELL_DCH state when DPCH is not
available and HS-PDSCH is available the SRB#1 to #4 arid the other RB#5 to #20 are
mapped to HS-PDSCH. The SRB#0 is not mapped in this case.

[53] In CELL_FACH state SRB#Ojto #4 and the other RB#5 to #20 are mapped to
FACH. . I
[54] . In the Release 6 of UTRAN a new physical channel type is introduced which is
called "fractional DPCH" and which can be used in order to replace the normal DPCH
channel. This channel type reduc'es the number of spreading codes that are needed in
the downlink by sharing one code between different users. In order to reduce the code
i
usage, no DCH transport channel can be carried by this "fractional DPCH" physical
channel, although the SRBs are mapped on the HS-DSCH.
[55] In the uplink the SRBs and the user plane radio bearers are mapped on the DPCH,
J
or eventually on any other available channel. This allows mat the UE can transmit in
die uplink.
[56] Here are two examples of situations where Radio Link Control (RLC) entity can be
affected by an error which necessitates that a Radio Network Control (RNC) entity
i
triggers a procedure for re-initializing the Radio Link Control (RLC) entity.
[57] Exeample 1 : Degradation of} the quality of a Radio Link (HS-DSCH RL failure
case) |
[58] In the case the SRBs are mapped, on the HS-DSCH there can be problems when the
HS-DSCH becomes unavailable, but the UE is still RRC connected via the remaining
radio links. The HS-DSCH channel relies on the uplink / downlink communication
between the NodeB and the UEjvia different channels. These channels are in the
j
downlink: . ;
[59] -theHS-SCCH, j-
[60] - the HS-PDSCH. j __
[61] In the uplink the reception of the HS-DSCH relies on:
[62] - the HS-DPCCH.
[63] If the reception of one of these physical channels is not possible any more the
transmission on the HS-DSCH is blocked. This could be the case e.g. due to bad radio
conditions, due to the fact that the distance between the UE and the base station is too
. great, or that there is an obstacle or due to an inappropriate configuration of the
channels. The UE is then blocked, and temporarily, no data can be sent to /from the
UE.
[64] The situation where the UE is blocked is shown on Figure 8..
[65] As shown in Figure 8, the UE is connected to a first cell 1 of a first base station A
and a second cell 2 of the second base station B. In the case that the radio conditions
towards the cell 1, where the HS-DSCH channel is configured, becomes worse than the
radio conditions towards the cell 2, it is necessary to change the configuration such that
the HS-DSCH is configured to be sent from the cell 2 in order to avoid that the contact
between the UE and the RNC is lost.

[66] As shown on Figure 9, according" to a first step, the UE has radio links established
with NodeB 1 and NodeB 2. The NodeB 1 is the NodeB that controls the HS-DSCH
radio link.. .
[67] According to a second step, the radio link towards die NodeB 1 degrades, for
instance because the UE moves away from the NodeB 1 towards the NodeB 2.
[68] According to a third step, the UE informs the RNC of the degradation in quality.
[69] According to a fourth step, the RNC starts a reconfiguration procedure in order to
move the HS-DSCH from the NodeB 1 to the NodeB 2.
[70] In the case the radio quality degrades to a degree that the trans mission on the HS-
DSCH is not possible any more the situation where me reconfiguration as shown on
Figure 9, is not possible any more occurs. On the otiier hand the quality of the radio
link towards the NodeB 2 could still be sufficiently good. In this case the UE is in a
blocked situation, because the RNC can not send any information to the UE.
[71] Currentiy the only mechanism that applies is that at some point in time mere will be
an "unrecoverable error" detected in either the UE or the RNC. In the case it is detected
in the RNC, the RNC can delete the radio links that constitute the active set of the UE
and provoke a radio link failure. In the case it is detected in the UE the UE will initiate
a "Cell Update" procedure.
[72] As shown on Figure 10, according to a first step, the UE has radio links established
with NodeB 1 and NodeB 2. The NodeB 1 is the NodeB that controls the HS-DSCH
radio link.
[73] . According to a second step, the radio link towards the NodeB 1 degrades, for .
instance because the UE moves away from the NodeB 1 towards the NodeB 2.
[74] . According to a third step, the UE informs the RNC of the degradation in quality by
transmitting a Measurement report. In the case the transmission on the HS-DSCH is
already not possible any more the RNC will not be able to transmit the ac-
knowledgment to the UE (3 a). This will lead to an RLC unrecoverable error which will
result in a Cell Update procedure, where the SRBs 2, 3 and 4 are re-established.
[75] According to a fourth step, the RNC starts a reconfiguration procedure in order to
move the HS-DSCH from the NodeB 1 to the NodeB 2. In the case that the downlink
communication is not possible any more the message will be received from the RNC in
the NodeB, but not be transmitted to the UE.
[76] According to a fifth step, either the UE, the NodeB or the RNC triggers a
mechanism such that the UE will enter CELL_FACH state.
[77] According to a sixth step, the UE initiates the transmission of a Cell Update
message.
[78] This message contains two Information Elements (IEs) that are used in order to
indicate the group of RBs that carry RLC entities that have experienced an unre-

coverable error, either the RLC entities mapped to RBs with identity 2, 3 and 4 or the
RLC entities mapped to Radio Bearers RBs with identity higher than 4. This message
also carries the IE "START". This IE contains a value that is used in order to'initialize
the HFN value of the COUNT-C entity which is used for ciphering.
[79] According to a seventh step, the RNC initiates the transmission of a Cell Update
Confirm message. In this message it can set the lEs "RLC re-establish indicator (RB2,
RB3 and RB4)" and / or "RLC re-establish indicator (RB5 and upwards)" to "true" in
order to re-establish the RLC entities. However in the case the RLC entities 3 and 4 are
re-established some messages from NAS layer might be lost.
[80] According to an eighth step, upon reception of the message "Cell update Confirm"
in the case the IEs "RLC re-establish indicator (RB2, RB3 and RB4)" and / or "RLC
re-establish indicator (RB5 and upwards)" are set to "true" the UE re-initializes the
RLC AM entities as indicated in the Cell Update Confirm message. The UE sets the
most significant bits of the HFN of the COUNT-C s values for uplink and downlink to
the START value. The remaining bits.in the HFN are set to 0, and the SNs of the RLC
entity is also initialized to 0.
[81] According to a ninth step, the RNC re-initializes the RLC AM entities as indicated
in the Cell Update Confirm message. The RNC sets the most significant bits of the
HFN of the COUNT-C values for uplink and downlink to the START value. The
remaining bits in the HFN are set to 0, and the SNs of the RLC entity is also initialized
toO.
[82] According to a tenth step, the UE will send a confirmation message to the RNC.
[83] If the RLC entity used for SRB2 has not been re-established the message
transmitted at the fourth step is still in the retransmission buffer of the RNC.
According to an eleventh step, this message will be received by the UE after the
reception of the Cell Update confirm message. However at this point in time the
content of this message is not adequate any more.
[84] The UE could also apply a criteriaa criterion on the quality of the HS-DSCH
channel, the available transmit power in the UE for uplink transmission or any other
criteria in order to trigger the Cell Update.
[85] In the case that the SRBs are mapped on the HS-DSCH transport channel, it is
possible that the RNC has sent data to the UE in order to change the UE configuration.
However in the case the downlink transmission is impossible the data will not reach
the UE. Once the UE / RNC have resolved the problem, by performing a Cell Update
procedure as described above the Reconfiguration message will be transmitted to the
UE. However the content of the Reconfiguration message will not be applicable
anymore, and it is likely that it will trigger a protocol error. A means to re-establish the
RLC entity / empty the re-transmission buffer of the RLC entity is therefore needed.

[86] Example 2 : Detection of an unrecoverable error by the UE
■ [87] In the case the UE detects an unrecoverable error in an RLC entity operating in AM
mode the UE initiates a Cell Update Procedure.
[88] As illustrated on Figure 11, according to a first step, the UE detects an unre-
coverable error in any AM RLC entity and transits to CELL_FACH state.
[89] According to a second step, the UE then sends a "Cell Update" message to the
RNC. As indicated above this message contains two IES that are used in order to
indicate the group of RBs that carry RLC entities that have experienced an unre-
coverable error, either the RLC entities mapped to RBs with identity 2,3 and 4 or the R
LC entities mapped to RBs with identity higher than 4. This message also carries the ■
IE "START". This IE contains a value that is used in order to initialize the HFN value
of the COUNT-C entity which is used for ciphering.
[90] According to a third step, the RNC indicates the re-establishment of either all RLC
entities which are mapped to the RBs with identities 2,3 and 4, or all RLC entities
which are mapped to the RBs with identities higher than 4 by using the Cell Update
Confirm message.
[91] According to a fourth step, upon reception ofthe message "Cell update Confirm"
the UE re-initializes the RLC AM entities as indicated in the Cell Update Confirm
message. The UE sets the most significant bits of the HFN of the COUNT-C values for
uplink and downlink to the START value. The remaining bits in the HFN are set to 0,
and the SNs of the RLC entity is also initialized to 0.
[92] According to a fifth step, the RNC re-initializes the RLC AM entities as indicated in
the Cell Update Confirm message. The RNC sets the most significant bits of the HFN
of the COUNT-C values for uplink and downlink to the START value. The remaining
bits in the HFN are set to 0, and the SNs of the RLC entity is also initialized to 0.
[93] According to a sixth step, the UE sends a message to confirm the re-establishment.
[94] In the case the UE detects an unrecoverable error in a AM RLC entity, the UE can
only indicate in which set of RLC entities there is an error.
[95] In the case the UE detects an error in the decoding of an RLC UM bearer, the UE is
currently not allowed to initiate any procedure to signal this error to the RNC.
[96] Therefore, in the case the RNC has realized an unrecoverable error the RNC has no
currently available means to initiate the re-establishment of the RLC entity affected by
the error.
[97] This is important because in the case that RLC entities of the RBTds IDs 3 and / or
4 carrying information of the higher layer (NAS) are re-established in the downlink,
data could be lost. Since there is no means for the RNC to verify whether the data has
been received by the UE, and on the other hand the RNC is not allowed to duplicate
the data the RNC can only release the signalling connection in this case.

Disclosure of Invention
Technical Problem
[98] One aspect of the present invention involves the recognition by the present
inventors of the drawbacks in the related art, as explained above. Based upon such
recognition, improvements to radio link control error handling procedures can be
achieved according to the present invention.
[99] It is a desired result of the present invention to minimize lost loss of data when
settling errors in a radio link control entity.
[100J According to the method of the invention, a radio link control entity which is
affected by an error is exactly identified and therefore a procedure for resolving the
error can be initiated only in the radio link control entity identified.
[101] The method of the invention allows to apply the procedure for resolving the error to
specific RLC entities, and hot on a group of radio link control entities without dis-
tinguishing between entities that are in error and entities that operate correctly, as in
the related art.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[102] The invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which:
• [103] - Figure 1 schematically represents a general UMTS network architecture,
[104] - Figure 2 schematically represents a structure of a radio interface protocol between
a user equipment and a UTRAN according to the 3GPP radio access network
standards,
[105] - Figure 3 schematically illustrates the possible mappings between logical channels
and transport channels, as seen from the UE side,
[106] - Figure 4 schematically illustrates the possible mappings between logical channels
and transport channel, as seen from the UTRAN side,
[107] - Figure 5 schematically illustrates a user equipment connected to a cell through a
HS-DSCH in an AM mode, .
[108] - Figure 6 schematically illustrates possible transition states of the user equipment
in a UMTS network,
[109] ' - Figure 7 schematically illustrates mapping configurations between radio bearers
and transport channels for the downlink, depending on the user equipment state,
[110] - Figure 8 schematically illustrates a user equipment in a blocked situation due to
degradation of the quality of the radio link,
[111] - Figure 9 schematically illustrates a reconfiguration procedure for performing a
change of serving HS-DSCH cell due to degradation of the quality of the radio link,
according to the related art,
[112] - Figure 10 schematically illustrates a recovery procedure after failure to change a

serving HS-DSCH cell, according to the related art,
[113] - Figure 11 schematically illustrates a recovery procedure after detection of an unre-
coverable error, according to the related art,
[114] - Figure 12 schematically illustrates a method for settling an error in a radio link
control entity according to a first embodiment of the invention,
[115] - Figure 13 schematically illustrates a method for settling an error in a radio link
control entity according to a second embodiment of the invention.
Mode for the Invention
[116] The present invention is described as being implemented in a 3.GPP type mobile
communications system. However, the features of the present invention may also be
adapted and implemented in communications systems operating under other types of
communication specifications (e.g., 3GPP2, 4G, IEEE, OMA, etc.), because the
concepts and teachings of the present invention could be applied to various com-
munication schemes that operate in a similar manner based upon common techniques.
[117] One aspect of the invention is that the UE reports detailed information about the
situation of errors/dysfunctions in RLC entities. This additional information could
contain: .
[118] (1) the RB id of the radio bearer that carries data of the RLC entity
[119] (2) any other identifier of the RLC entity
[120] (3) the type of error, e.g.
[121] - reception of undefined control information
[122] - detection of errors by higher layer protocols, e.g. PDCP / IP etc. which indicate
an error of the RLC operation
[123] - situations defined in the RLC protocol as unrecoverable error
[124] - situations detected by any other means in the UE implementation that indicates an
error ■
[125] - detection of a dysfunction in the deciphering
[126] - Uplink or Uplink/Downlink or Downlink only affected
[127] Another aspect of the invention is a UE that initiates the transmission of the above
additional information at the moment when any of the errors listed above are detected.
The transmission of the message in the uplink can be done on the current con-
figuration, or include also a state transition. Especially the error detected in a UM
entity can be a trigger for the transmission of the message, where the procedure to
detect the error could be implementation specific.
[128] A further aspect of the invention concerns a UTRAN that re-initializes / re-
establishes an RLC entity. One possibility is that the RNC sends an indication to re-
establish the RLC entity in the UE in a message sent to the UE or that the RNC sends a

new message which indicates that the RLC entity needs to be re-established to the UE.
Additional information is needed to indicate the RLC entity, or the RB id of the radio
bearer that carries data of the RLC entity that shall be re-initialized/re-established, the
direction of the transmission etc.
[129] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described hereafter.
[130] Figure 12 schematically illustrates a method for settling an error in a radio link
control entity according to a first embodiment of the invention, in case the quality of
the radio link between the UE and the network degrades (HS-DSCH RL.failure case).
[131] According to a first step, the UE has radio links established with NodeB 1 and
NodeB 2. The NodeB 1 is the NodeB that controls the HS-DSCH radio link.
[132] According to a second step, the radio link towards the NodeB 1 degrades, for
instance because the UE moves away from the NodeB 1 towards the NodeB 2.
[133] According to a third step, the UE informs the RNC of the degradation in quality by
transmitting a Measurement report. In the case the transmission on the HS-DSCH is
already not possible any more the RNC will not be able to transmit the ac-
knowledgment to the UE (3a). This will lead to an RLC unrecoverable error which will
result in a Cell Update procedure.
[134] According to a fourth step, the RNC starts a reconfiguration procedure in order to
move the HS-DSCH from the NodeB 1 to the NodeB 2.'In the case that the downlink
communication is not possible any more the message will be received from the RNC in
the NodeB, but not be transmitted up to the UE.
[135] According to a fifth step, either the UE, the NodeB or the RNC triggers a
mechanism such that the UE will enter CELL_FACH state.
[136] According to a sixth step, the UE initiates the transmission of a Cell Update
message or URA update message to the RNC.
[137] In the UMTS system the Cell Update message or UMTS Routing Area (URA)
update message is normally used in order to indicate an unrecoverable error in the
uplink to the RNC. This message is sent on the CCCH from the UE to the RNC. It is
current practice to add "non-critical extensions" to the message sent by the UE in the.
uplink to newer releases of the protocol specification. These extensions are coded in a
way that an RNC that does not understand the extension can still decode the part of the
message that the RNC understands.
[138] According to a first possibility, the Cell Update message or URA update message
includes data identifying a radio bearer associated to the radio link control entity which
is affected by the error.
[139] For instance, the Cell update or URA update message includes an extension which
contains a list of RB identities and / or identities of RLC entities for which an error
according to the above has occurred.

[140] According to a second possibility, the Cell Update or URA update message includes
a binary variable. The binary variable designates a particular radio bearer, the radio
bearer being associated with the radio link control entity which is affected by the error.
The binary variable thus identifies the radio link control entity.
[141] For instance, the Cell update or URA update message includes an extension which
contains at least one IE (true / false) and / or cause value which indicates that a RB and
/ or RLC entity for which the identity or the identity of the RB that carries data of this
entity (e.g. the SRB 2) is specified in the standard and / or the transmission direction of
that RLC entity affected to the "Cell update" or "URA Update" message.
[142] In an alternative, the Cell update or URA update message includes an extension
which contains the information that all or a subset of all RLC entities using UM mode
have experienced an error, and / or the error cause / and or the direction (uplink, uplink
/ downlink, downlink) to the "Cell update" or "URA Update" message. Especially the
subset could be all RLC entities using RLC UM mode except the RLC entities mapped
on the SRB 0 and 1.
[143] The Cell Update message or URA Update message also includes a START value.
The START value is an initialization value allowing to re-synchronize the counter in
the radio link control entity of the user equipment and the counter in a radio link
control entity of the cellular network.
[144] The Cell Update message or URA update message can also include data indicative
of a cause of the error.
[145] In this case, the Cell update message or URA update message includes an extension
which contains an IE that indicates the cause of the error.
[146] The Cell Update message or URA update message can also include data indicative
of a transmission direction of a radio bearer associated to the radio link control entity
which is affected by the error.
[147] In this case, the Cell update or URA update message includes an extension which
contains an IE that indicates the transmission direction of the RLC entity affected by
"the error.
[148] The already available mechanism for indication of unrecoverable error in the "Cell
update" or "URA update" message needs to be maintained in order to ensure that a UE
that sends this message to an RNC that does not understand the extension containing
the list. Here, it should be noted that the RB can use the legacy mechanism to indicate
RLC unrecoverable errors.
[149] The UE can also indicate RLC entities where an error has occurred and eventually
provide additional information. In the case the RNC would not have implemented this
method it would just ignore the information.
[150] The transmission of the message from the UE to the RNC is triggered in the case

the UE has detected any error situation or dysfunction (e.g., ciphering problems) in an
RLC entity in the uplink and / or downlink. The message containing the information
according to the above would be transmitted according to the currently available spec-
ification rather on the CCCH logical channel mapped on the RACH transport channel
which is normally mapped on the PRACH physical channel. However it is possible to
transmit this information also on any other logical, transport or physical channel, and
the mapping does not restrict at all the invention. In order to be able to transmit a
message on the PRACH channel it might be necessary that the UE initiates a state
transition, i.e. the UE would move to the CELLJFACH state, while stopping the
reception / transmission on the channels that are used in the CELL_DCH state.
Especially the detection of an error (undefined control information, gap bigger than the
SN space, problem of deciphering) in an RLC UM entity would be a new trigger for
the state transition to CELL_FACH and the transmission of the message containing the
information as described above.
[151] Any extension according to the above alternatives could also be sent on any other
RB / transport channel / physical channel and could be added to any other message in
the uplink. When the UE detects that one or more RLC entities are not working
correctly any more and the UE indicates this in other messages to the RNC, the UE
would also include a START value in order to allow the RNC and the UE to re-
initialize the MSB of the HFN of the COUNT-C values with the same value.
[152] According to a seventh step, the RNC initiates the transmission of a message. In the
case the RNC has implemented the method, the message indicates the RLC entity that
has to be re-established. The RNC can indicate RLC entities to be re-established inde-
pendently of whether they were indicated in the Cell Update or URA update message
sent by the UE.
[153] The message sent by the RNC to the UE can be.a Cell Update confirm message, a
URA Update Confirm message, a UTRAN mobility information message, a Radio
Bearer Reconfiguration message, a Radio Bearer Setup message, a Radio Bearer
Release message, a Transport Channel Reconfiguration message or a Physical Channel
Reconfiguration message.
[154] Other messages could be sent, and new messages could be created in order to carry
the information on the re-establishment.
[155] The message sent by the RNC includes data identifying the radio link control entity
which must be re-established.
[156] According to a first possibility, the RNC sends a Cell Update Confirm message
including data identifying a radio bearer associated to the radio link control entity.
[157] For instance, the Cell update or URA update message includes an extension which
' contains a list of RB identities and / or identities of RLC entities for which an error

according to the above has occurred.
[158] According to a second possibility, the RNC sends a Cell Update Confirm message
including a binary variable. The binary variable designates a particular radio bearer,
the radio bearer being associated with the radio link control entity which is affected by
the error. The binary variable thus identifies the radio link control entity.
[159] For instance, the Cell Update Confirm message includes an extension which
contains at least one IE (true / false) and / or cause value which indicates that a RB and
/ or RLC entity for which the identity or the identity of the RB that carries data of this
entity (e.g. the SRB 2) is specified in the standard and / or the transmission direction of
that RLC entity affected to the Cell update: Confirm message.
[160] In an alternative, the Cell Update Confirm message includes an extension which
contains the information that all or a subset of all RLC entities using UM mode have
experienced an error, and / or the error cause / and or the direction (uplink, uplink /
downlink, downlink) to me "Cell update" or "URA update" message. Especially the
subset could be all RLC entities using RLC UM mode except the RLC entities mapped
on the SRB 0 and 1.
[161] According to an eighth step, upon reception of the Cell update Confirm message,
the user equipment re-initializes the radio link control entity according to the data
included in the message.
[162] The UE sets the most significant bits of the HFN of the COUNT-Cs value for
uplink and downlink to the START value. The remaining bits in the HFN are set to 0,
and the SNs of the RLC entity is also initialized to 0.
[1631 According to a ninth step, the RNC re-initializes the RLC AM entities as indicated
in the Cell Update Confirm message. The RNC sets the most significant bits of die
HFN of the COUNT-C values for uplink and downlink to the START value. The
remaining bits in the HFN are set to 0, and the SNs of the RLC entity are also
initialized to 0.
[164] When the RNC sends a message including the information about the establishment
of an RLC AM / UM entity in the uplink, downlink or uplink and downlink, the RNC
re-establishes the corresponding part of the RLC entities by resetting the corresponding
state variables as described in the RLC specification of 3GPP and / or initializing the
MSB of the HFN of the direction of the corresponding RLC entity with a "START"
value which has been synchronised between the UE and the RNC before, e.g. when the
"START" value has been transmitted from the UE to the RNC in the "Cell update"
message. Upon reception of the message, the UE re-establishes the corresponding part
of the RLC entities by resetting the corresponding state variables as described in the
RLC specification of 3GPP and / or initializing the MSB of the HFN of the direction of
the corresponding RLC entity with a "START" value which has been synchronised

between the UE and the RNC before, e.g. when the "START" value has been
transmitted from the UE to the RNC in the "Cell update" message.
[165] According to a tenth step, the UE sends a confirmation message to the RNC.
[166]' Figure 13 illustrates a method for settling an error in a radio link control entity
according to a second embodiment of the invention, in case a user equipment (UE)
detects an unrecoverable error in the operation of the radio link control entity.
I-167] According to a first step, the UE detects an unrecoverable error in any AM RLC
entity and transits to CELL_FACH state.
[168] According to a second step, the UE sends a Cell Update message to the RNC, the
message indicating.an unrecoverable error.
[169] The Cell Update Message includes data identifying the radio link control entity
which is in error.
[170] According to a first possibility, the Cell Update message includes a binary variable.
The binary variable designates a particular radio bearer, the radio bearer being
associated with the radio link control entity which is affected by the error. The binary
variable thus identifies the.radio link control entity.
[171] According to a second possibility, the Cell Update message-includes data
identifying a radio bearer associated to the radio link control entity.
[172] . The Cell Update message also includes a START value. The START value is an
initialization value allowing to re-synchronize the counter in the radio link control
entity of the user equipment and the counter in a radio link control entity of the cellular
network.
[173] The Cell Update message can also include data indicative of a cause of the error and
data indicative of a transmission direction of a radio bearer associated to the radio link'
control entity which is affected by the error.
[174] The UE can also indicate RLC entities where an error has occurred and eventually.
additional information.
[175] In the case the RNC would not have implemented this method it would just ignore
the information.
[176] According to a third step, the RNC initiates a transmission of a Cell Update
Confirm message. In the case the RNC has implemented the method, the RNC
indicates the RLC entity that it wants to be re-established. The RNC can indicate RLC
entities to be re-established independently of whether they are indicated in the Cell
Update message.
[177] The Cell Update Confirm message includes data identifying the radio link control
• entity which is in error.
[178] According to a first possibility, the Cell Update Confirm message includes a binary
variable. The binary variable designates a particular radio bearer, the radio bearer

being associated with the radio link control entity which is affected by the error, The
binary variable thus identifies the radio link control entity.
[179] According to a second possibility, the Cell Update Confirm message includes data
identifying a radio bearer associated to the radio link control entity.
[180] According to a fourth step, upon reception of the Cell update Confirm message, the
UE re-initializes the deficient RLC AM entities according to the data included in the
Cell Update Confirm message.
[181] The UE upon reception of this message re-establishes the RLC entity. The UE
eventually re-initializes the RLC entity in only one direction. The UE eventually uses
the START value transmitted in the Cell Update message in order to initialize the MSB
of the HFN of the COUNT-C of the direction that is ordered to be re-established in the
Cell Update Confirm message.
[182] During this recovery procedure, parts of messages that have been received before
are removed from the RNC buffer, so that they will not be received and/or re-
transmission will be not requested by the UE after the recovery procedure. Especially
in the case the RNC indicates to re-establish RLC entity 2 this will allow the RNC to
remove the message sent in the fourth step.
[183] According to a fifth step, the RNC re-initializes the RLC AM entities as indicated in
the Cell Update Confirm message.
[184] The RNC eventually re-initializes the RLC entity in only one direction. The RNC
eventually uses the START value transmitted in the Cell Update message in order to
initialize the MSB of the HFN of the COUNT-C of the direction that is ordered to be
re-established in the Cell Update Confirm message.
[185] During this recovery procedure, parts of messages that have been received before
are removed from the RNC buffer, so that they will not be received and/or re-
transmission will not be requested by the UE after the recovery procedure.
[186] According to a sixth step, the UE sends a message in order to acknowledge the
reception of the Cell Update Confirm message and to confirm the re-establishment.
[187] In the above description of Figures 12 and 13 the exchange of messages between
the RNC and the UE is described. However, the role of the RNC can be taken by any
other entity, within the scope of the present invention.
[188] To implement the various features described above, the present invention can
employ various types of hardware and/or software components (modules). For
example, different hardware modules may contain various circuits and components
necessary to perform the steps of the above method. Also, different software modules
(executed by processors and/or other hardware) may contain various codes and
protocols necessary to perform the steps of the present invention method.
[189] The present invention provides a method of performing a cell update procedure,

comprising: detecting an error associated with a radio link established with a base
station; informing the base station about at least one radio bearer, at least one radio link
control entity, or both having the detected error; and re-configuring the at least one
radio bearer, re-establishing the at least one radio link control entity, or both based
upon the informing step.
[190] The steps may be performed for acknowledged mode operation or for unac-
knowledged mode operation. The error may indicate reception of undefined control in-
formation. The error may indicate detection of errors by higher layer protocols which
indicate an error of the RLC operation. The error may indicate situations defined in the
radio link control protocol as unrecoverable error. The error may indicate situations
detected by any other means in mobile station implementation that indicates an error.
The error may indicate detection of a dysfunction in the deciphering. The error may
indicate whether the uplink or uplink/downlink or downlink is affected. If the re-
configuring is performed, a re-transmission buffer is flushed. The informing may be
performed by using cell update messages or URA update messages. The cell update
messages or URA update messages may include extensions, indicating that all or a
subset of all radio link control entities have experienced an error and/or a cause of the
error and/or a transmission direction of the radio link control entity affected by the
error. A legacy mechanism may be additionally used to indicate radio link control un-
recoverable errors.
[191] Also, the present invention provides a method of performing a cell update
procedure, comprising: discovering, by the mobile station, an error associated with a
radio link established with a base station; reporting, by a mobile station to a base
station, information about errors and/or dysfunctions in radio link control entities and/
or errors in at least one radio bearer as a result of the discovering step; and updating,
by the mobile station and/or the base station, at least one radio link control entity and/ .
or at least one radio bearer based upon the reporting step.
[192] The updating step may comprise: re-establishing at least one radio link control
entity, re-configuring at least one radio bearer, or performing both the re-establishing
and re-configuring steps. The information may comprise at least one of a radio bearer
identification of a radio bearer that carries data of a corresponding radio link control
■ entity, other identifiers of the radio link control entity that has the errors and/or dys-
functions, and a type of error. The steps are performed for acknowledged mode
operation or unacknowledged mode operation.
[193] As described thus far, those skilled in the art related to the field of the present
invention would understand that various substitutions, modifications, and changes are
possible within the technical scope of the present invention, without being limited to
the exemplary embodiments and attached Figures described herein.

[194] This specification describes various illustrative embodiments of the present
invention. The scope of the claims is intended to cover various modifications and
equivalent arrangements of the illustrative embodiments disclosed in the specification.
Therefore, the following claims should be accorded the reasonably broadest inter-
pretation to cover modifications, equivalent structures, and features that are consistent
with the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed herein.
[195] .*** ABREV1AT10NS ***
[196] AM Acknowledged mode
[197] AS Access Stratum
[198] ASN.l Abstract Syntax Notation. 1
[199] CCCH Common Control CHannel
[200] CQI Channel Quality Indicator
[201] HS-DSCH High Speed Physical Downlink Shared CHannel
[202] MAC Medium Access Control
[203] MBMS Multicast Broadcast Multimedia Service
[204] NAS Non Access Stratum
[205] PvLC Radio Link Controller
[206] RNC Radio Network Controller
[207] RRC Radio Resource Control
: [208] S-CCPCH Secondary Common Control Physical CHannel
[209] SRB Signalling Radio Bearer
[210] TCTF Target Channel Type Field
[211] TFC Transport format combinationTM Transparent modeTPC Transmit power
commands
[212] UE User Equipment
[213] UM Unacknowledged mode
Sequence Listing
[214] [1] 3GPP TS 25.211: "Physical channels and mapping of transport channels onto
physical channels (FDD)"
[215] rftp://ftp.3gpp.org/Specs/2004-09/Rel-6/25 series/2521 l-620.zip!
[216] [2] 3GPP TS 25.308:"High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA)"
[217] fftp://ftp.3gpp.org/Specs/2004-09/Rel-6/25 series/25308-620.zip')
[218] [3] 3GPP TS 25.322: "Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol specification"
[219] fftp://ftp.3gpp.org/Specs/2004-09/Rel-6/25 56063/25322-610.210)
[220] [4] 3GPP TS 25.331: "Radio Resource Control (RRC)"
[221] fftp://ftp.3gpp.org/Specs/2004-12/Rel-6/25 series/2533l-640.zip)

WE CLAIM:
1. A method of performing a cell update procedure, comprising:
detecting an error associated with a radio link established with a base station;
transmitting a message related to an update of the radio link, from the mobile
station to the base station, to inform the base station about the detected error, wherein
the message comprises first identifier data to identify a particular radio bearer
associated with a particular radio link control entity affected by the error and second
identifier data to identify the particular radio link control entity affected by the error;
and
re-establishing the identified radio bearer to the base station when the base
station indicates that the identified radio bearer needs to be re-established and
re-establishing the identified radio link control entity to the base station when the base
station indicates that the identified radio link control entity needs to be re-established,
wherein the second identifier data transmitted from the mobile station to the
base station is used to identify a first counter in a first radio link control entity of the
base station and a second counter in a second radio link control entity of the mobile
station for synchronizing the first and second radio link control entities with a same
initialization value,
wherein the transmitted message is either a cell update message or a universal
mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) routing area (URA) update message,
wherein the cell update message and the URA update message includes a
non-critical extension using a specific code such that a particular base station that
does not understand the non-critical extension can still decode at least a portion of the
transmitted message that the particular base station understands,
wherein the non-critical extension of the transmitted message from the mobile
station to the base station includes first indicators that indicate at least a subset of all
radio link control entities that experienced a first particular error, a cause of the first
particular error, and a transmission direction of the at least a subset of all radio link
control entities affected by the first particular error,

wherein the transmitted message indicates radio link control unrecoverable
errors using a legacy mechanism when the base station does not understand the
non-critical extension,
wherein the identified radio bearer is re-established upon receiving the cell
update confirm message or the URA update confirm message from the base station,
wherein the cell update confirm message and the URA update confirm
message each include a particular extension containing a list of radio bearer identities
or identities of radio link control entities, and
wherein the particular extension additionally includes second indicators that
indicate at least a subset of all radio link control entities that experienced a second
particular error, a cause of the second particular error, and a transmission direction of
the at least a subset of all radio link control entities affected by the second particular
error
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cell update procedure is
performed in an acknowledged mode operation.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cell update procedure is
performed in an unacknowledged mode operation.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detected error indicates
detection of errors by higher layer protocols related to an error of an RLC operation
error.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detected error indicates
situations defined in a radio link control protocol as an unrecoverable error.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detected error indicates error
situations detected in mobile station implementation .

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detected error indicates
detection of a dysfunction when deciphering information .
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detected error indicates
whether an uplink or an uplink/downlink or a downlink is affected.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein re-establishing the identified radio
bearer comprises flushing a re-transmission buffer .



ABSTRACT


METHOD OF PERFORMING CELL UPDATE PROCEDURE
A method of performing a cell update procedure is achieved by detecting an error associated with a
radio link (RL) established with a base station; informing the base station about at least one radio
bearer, at least one radio link control (RLC) entity, or both having the detected error; and re-configuring the at least one radio bearer, re-establishing the at least one radio link control (RLC) entity, or
both based upon the informing step.

Documents:

00991-kolnp-2007 assignment.pdf

00991-kolnp-2007 correspondence-1.1.pdf

00991-kolnp-2007 form-3-1.1.pdf

0991-kolnp-2007-abstract.pdf

0991-kolnp-2007-claims.pdf

0991-kolnp-2007-correspodence others.pdf

0991-kolnp-2007-description (complete).pdf

0991-kolnp-2007-form1.pdf

0991-kolnp-2007-form3.pdf

0991-kolnp-2007-form5.pdf

0991-kolnp-2007-international publication.pdf

0991-kolnp-2007-international search authority report.pdf

0991-kolnp-2007-pct form.pdf

0991-kolnp-2007-priority document.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(07-02-2014)-ABSTRACT.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(07-02-2014)-CLAIMS.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(07-02-2014)-CORRESPONDENCE-1.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(07-02-2014)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(07-02-2014)-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(07-02-2014)-DRAWINGS.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(07-02-2014)-FORM-1.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(07-02-2014)-FORM-2.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(07-02-2014)-FORM-3.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(07-02-2014)-FORM-5.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(07-02-2014)-OTHERS.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(07-02-2014)-PA.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(07-02-2014)-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(07-04-2014)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(14-03-2014)-ANNEXURE TO FORM 3.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-(14-03-2014)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-ASSIGNMENT.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-CANCELLED PAGES.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-FORM 18-1.1.pdf

991-kolnp-2007-form 18.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-GPA.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-GRANTED-ABSTRACT.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-GRANTED-CLAIMS.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-GRANTED-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-GRANTED-DRAWINGS.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-GRANTED-FORM 1.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-GRANTED-FORM 2.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-GRANTED-FORM 3.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-GRANTED-FORM 5.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-GRANTED-SPECIFICATION-COMPLETE.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT & OTHERS.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-OTHERS.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

991-KOLNP-2007-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

abstract-00991-kolnp-2007.jpg


Patent Number 263580
Indian Patent Application Number 991/KOLNP/2007
PG Journal Number 45/2014
Publication Date 07-Nov-2014
Grant Date 03-Nov-2014
Date of Filing 20-Mar-2007
Name of Patentee LG ELECTRONICS, INC.
Applicant Address 20, YOIDO-DONG, YONGDUNGPO-GU, SEOUL, 150-010
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 KIM, MYEONG-CHEOL KELMISERSTR.2, 52074
PCT International Classification Number H04B 7/26
PCT International Application Number PCT/KR2006/000398
PCT International Filing date 2006-02-03
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 05292360.4 2005-11-08 U.S.A.
2 60/650,999 2005-02-07 U.S.A.