Apparatus and method for utilising uplink resources

A base station apparatus in a communication system serving a cell, configured to communicate with a user terminal, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code,
• the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
• broadcast information on one or more neighboring cells supporting preconfigured uplink resources and information on request types supported by the one or more cells;
• receive from a user terminal a request to utilize dedicated preconfigured uplink resources, the request comprising Physical Cell Identity of the previous base station with which the user terminal utilized dedicated preconfigured uplink resources prior camping on the base station and the User Equipment Identification of the user terminal in the previous base station;
• transmit to the previous base station a message requesting configuration data related to dedicated preconfigured uplink resources of the user terminal and an indication that the previous base station may release the resources;
• receive from the previous base station the configuration data;
• and
• restore dedicated preconfigured uplink resources for the user terminal.

A user terminal apparatus in a communication system, configured to communicate with base stations of the communication systems utilizing preconfigured uplink resources, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code,
• the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
• receive broadcast information on one or more neighboring cells supporting preconfigured uplink resources and information on request types supported by the one or more cells;
• perform a cell reselection to a base station serving a neighboring cell;
• transmit to the base station the cell reselection was made a request to utilize dedicated preconfigured uplink resources, the request comprising Physical Cell Identity of the previous base station with which the user terminal utilized dedicated preconfigured uplink resources and the User Equipment Identification of the user terminal in the previous base station;
• and
• receive from the base station the cell reselection was made configuration data related to restored dedicated preconfigured uplink resources.

A method for a user terminal apparatus in a communication system, comprising:

• receiving broadcast information on one or more neighboring cells supporting preconfigured uplink resources and information on request types supported by the one or more cells;
• performing a cell reselection to a base station serving a neighboring cell;
• transmitting to the base station the cell reselection was made a request to utilize dedicated preconfigured uplink resources, the request comprising Physical Cell Identity of the previous base station with which the user terminal utilized dedicated preconfigured uplink resources and the User Equipment Identification of the user terminal in the previous base station;
• receiving from the base station the cell reselection was made configuration data related to restored;
• and dedicated preconfigured uplink resources.