Channel-occupancy-status based early avoidance

A method for reducing call initiation collisions in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a user equipment (UE), a broadcast notification message from an eNodeB, the broadcast notification message comprising information indicating whether the UE is barred from sending a call initiation request to the eNodeB;
• determining, at the UE, whether the UE is barred from sending the call initiation request based upon the information in the received notification message;
• permitting the UE to send the call initiation request to the eNodeB if the UE is not barred from sending the call initiation request;
• and
• refraining from sending the call initiation request to the eNodeB if the UE is barred from sending the call initiation request.

A network apparatus configured to reduce call initiation collisions in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to determine a need to reduce a number of call initiation requests arriving at the apparatus from a plurality of user equipment (UEs) operating within the wireless communication system;
• a transmitter configured to broadcast a notification message to the UEs responsive to the determining of the need to reduce the number of call initiation requests, the notification message comprising information for facilitating a determination of whether a receiving UE is permitted to transmit a call initiation request to the apparatus;
• and
• a receiver configured to receive the call initiation request from one or more of the plurality of UEs that are determined to be permitted to transmit the call initiation request.

A user equipment (UE) configured for reducing call initiation collisions in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a broadcast notification message from an eNodeB, the broadcast notification message comprising information indicating whether the UE is barred from sending a call initiation request to the eNodeB;
• a transmitter configured to send uplink signals to the eNodeB;
• a processor configured to:
• determine whether the UE is barred from sending the call initiation request based upon the information in the received notification message;
• cause the transmitter to send the call initiation request to the eNodeB if the UE is not barred from sending the call initiation request;
• and
• refrain from sending the call initiation request to the eNodeB if the UE is barred from sending the call initiation request.