# US 10,321,440 B2 · Communication of control information using alert flag and version number > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,321,440 B2 - Document ID: US10321440B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/595,404 - Filed: 2017-05-15 - Published: 2017-09-14 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-10 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Mo-Han Fong; Hang Zhang; Sophie Vrzic; Robert Novak; Jun Yuan; Dong-Sheng Yu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10321440B2 ## CPC - H04W 72/20: Control channels or signalling for resource management - H04L 1/1812: Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ] - H04L 5/0053: {Allocation of signalling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals} - H04L 5/0055: {Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK (for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861)} - H04L 5/0057: {Physical resource allocation for CQI} - H04W 24/10: Scheduling measurement reports {; Arrangements for measurement reports} - H04W 48/12: using downlink control channel - H04W 72/0446: Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames - H04W 72/0453: Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA - H04W 72/23: in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal - H04W 72/542: using measured or perceived quality - H04W 48/10: using broadcasted information - H04W 48/14: using user query {or user detection} - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract To effectively and efficiently provide control information, a broadcast pointer channel (BPCH) may be used to identify the type and perhaps relative location of control information that is being provided in a given frame structure, such as a sub-frame, frame, or superframe. A sub-frame (or like framing entity, such a frame or superframe) may have a BPCH and a corresponding system control information segment in which control information may reside. The system control information segment may have any number of control information blocks, wherein each control information block that is present may correspond to a particular type of control information. The BPCH is used to identify the type of control information that is present in a corresponding system control information segment, and if needed or desired, the relative locations of the various control information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: memory storing program instructions; one or more processors, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: monitor at least one sub-frame location to receive a first message from a base station, wherein the first message includes an alert flag for both of active and idle modes of operation of the apparatus; receive the alert flag, wherein the alert flag is set to a first state indicating that second control information is different from first control information that is currently in effect, wherein the second control information is to take effect in the future; receive a version number that corresponds to the second control information, wherein the version number represents a count of control information changes; in response to determining that the alert flag is set to the first state, determine whether the version number corresponding to the second control information is different than a version of control information that has been previously decoded and stored; and in response to determining the version number corresponding to the second control information is different than a version of the control information that has not been previously decoded and stored, decode and store the second control information. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the version number is transmitted in a frequent and periodic manner. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to support orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communications. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert flag has only two states. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive an action time indication in association with reception of the second control information, wherein the action time indication is indicative of when the apparatus should start using the second control information. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: in response to determining the version number corresponding to the second control information is the same as a version of the control information that has not been previously decoded and stored, determine not to attempt further decoding of the second control information from the base station. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: at a subsequent time, in response to receiving a second message that does not include the alert flag set to the first state, determine not to attempt decoding of third control information from the base station. ### Claim 8 A method for operating a user equipment (UE) device, the method comprising: monitoring at least one sub-frame location to receive a first message from a base station, wherein the first message includes an alert flag for both of active and idle modes of operation of the UE device; receiving the alert flag, wherein the alert flag is set to a first state indicating that second control information is different from first control information that is currently in effect, wherein the second control information is to take effect in the future; receiving a version number that corresponds to the second control information, wherein the version number represents a count of control information changes; in response to determining that the alert flag is set to the first state, determining whether the version number corresponding to the second control information is different than a version of control information that has been previously decoded and stored; and in response to determining the version number corresponding to the second control information is different than a version of the control information that has not been previously decoded and stored, decoding and storing the second control information. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the version number is transmitted in a frequent and periodic manner. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the UE device is configured to support orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communications. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the alert flag has only two states. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving an action time indication in association with reception of the second control information, wherein the action time indication is indicative of when the UE device should start using the second control information. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: in response to determining the version number corresponding to the second control information is the same as a version of the control information that has not been previously decoded and stored, determining not to attempt further decoding of the second control information from the base station. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: at a subsequent time, in response to receiving a second message that does not include the alert flag set to the first state, determining not to attempt decoding of third control information from the base station. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory memory medium storing program instructions that, when executed by a processor of a user equipment (UE) device, cause the UE device to: monitor at least one sub-frame location to receive a first message from a base station, wherein the first message includes an alert flag for both of active and idle modes of operation of the UE device; receive the alert flag, wherein the alert flag is set to a first state indicating that second control information is different from first control information that is currently in effect, wherein the second control information is to take effect in the future; receive a version number that corresponds to the second control information, wherein the version number represents a count of control information changes; in response to determining that the alert flag is set to the first state, determine whether the version number corresponding to the second control information is different than a version of control information that has been previously decoded and stored; and in response to determining the version number corresponding to the second control information is different than a version of the control information that has not been previously decoded and stored, decode and store the second control information. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory memory medium of claim 15, wherein the version number is transmitted in a frequent and periodic manner. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory memory medium of claim 15, wherein the UE device is configured to support orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communications. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory memory medium of claim 15, wherein the alert flag has only two states. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory memory medium of claim 15, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the UE device to: receive an action time indication in association with reception of the second control information, wherein the action time indication is indicative of when the UE device should start using the second control information. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transitory memory medium of claim 15, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the UE device to: in response to determining the version number corresponding to the second control information is the same as a version of the control information that has not been previously decoded and stored, determine not to attempt further decoding of the second control information from the base station.