Paging Procedures Using an Enhanced Control Channel

A method, in a control node of a radio communications network that comprises one or more first base stations configured to support transmission of broadcast messages using either or both of a first control channel type and a second control channel type and one or more second base stations configured to support transmission of broadcast messages using only the first control channel type, the method comprising:

• receiving a message from each of a plurality of user terminals, each message indicating whether the corresponding user terminal supports the receipt of broadcast messages via the second control channel type;
• initiating a transmission of a broadcast message to a first one of the user terminals from one or more base stations in a tracking area for the first one of the user terminals, wherein said initiating comprises indicating to the one or more base stations whether the first one of the user terminals supports the receipt of broadcast messages via the second control channel type.

A method, in a base station configured to support transmission of broadcast messages using either or both of a first control channel type and a second control channel type, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a control node, a paging initiation message for each of a plurality of user terminals;
• receiving, for each user terminal, an indication of whether the corresponding user terminal supports the receipt of broadcast messages via the second control channel type;
• transmitting a paging message to each of the user terminals, wherein said transmitting comprises selectively using the first control channel type or the second control channel type, based on whether the targeted user terminal supports the receipt of broadcast messages via the second control channel type.

A method, in a user terminal that supports reception of broadcast messages using either or both of a first control channel type and a second control channel type, the method comprising:

• detecting that the user terminal has moved from a first tracking area of a radio communications network into a second tracking area;
• sending a message to the radio communications network in response to said detecting, the message indicating that the user terminal supports reception of broadcast messages using the second control channel type.

A user terminal apparatus comprising a transceiver adapted to support reception of broadcast messages using either or both of a first control channel type and a second control channel type, and a processing circuit adapted to:

• detect that the user terminal apparatus has moved from a first tracking area of a radio communications network into a second tracking area;
• and
• send a message to the radio communications network in response to said detecting, using the transceiver, the message indicating that the user terminal apparatus supports reception of broadcast messages using the second control channel type.