Methods and apparatuses for determining cell access during a cell search

A processor for a user equipment (UE) in a mobile communications network, the processor comprising:

• circuitry to execute one or more instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
• establishing a connection to a base station servicing a cell corresponding to a present location of the UE;
• receiving, from the base station, a signaling message including system information associated with the cell;
• obtaining, from the system information included in the signaling message, one or more fields that indicate an identity associated with the cell and an access condition corresponding to the cell, wherein the identity associated with the cell includes a physical layer cell identifier (PCI) of the base station and the access condition specifies a type of the base station of a plurality of known types of base stations;
• and
• determining, based at least on applying one or more rules known to the UE, to one or more of the identity associated with the cell or the access condition corresponding to the cell, whether the UE is authorized to connect to the base station, wherein the determining comprises:
• identifying, based at least on the type of the base station, that the base station operates a closed subscriber group (CSG) cell;
• in response to the identifying, comparing the PCI of the base station to an approved range of PCI values assigned to base stations operating CSG cells that the UE is allowed to access;
• determining, based on the comparison, that the PCI of the base station is included in the approved range of PCI values;
• and
• in response to the determination, continuing the connection to the base station.

A method performed by a base station in a mobile communications network, the method comprising:

• establishing a connection to a user equipment (UE) in a service area of a cell corresponding to the base station;
• and
• sending, to the UE, a signaling message including system information associated with the cell, wherein the system information includes one or more fields that indicate an identity associated with the cell and an access condition corresponding to the cell, wherein the identity associated with the cell includes a physical layer cell identifier (PCI) of the base station and the access condition specifies a type of the base station of a plurality of known types of base stations, the type of the base station indicating that the base station operates a closed subscriber group (CSG) cell,
• wherein the plurality of known types of base stations includes one or more of a standard base station, a home base station, a home base station configured to operate as a CSG cell, or a home base station configured with partial open access, and wherein distinct ranges of PCI values are assigned to one or more of the known types of base stations, and
• wherein the UE is configured to apply one or more rules to one or more of the identity associated with the cell or the access condition corresponding to the cell to determine whether the UE is authorized to connect to the base station.