HK1170883A - Method for use in wtru, method for use in node b, and wtru - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention disclosed a method for use in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a method for use in a Node B, and a WTRU. The system includes a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a UTRAN and an E-UTRAN. The UTRAN sends to the WTRU a list of available radio access technologies in a coverage area of the UTRAN. The list includes information related to the E-UTRAN. The WTRU receives the list and may initiate a handoff based on the list. The WTRU then sends its multi-mode/multi- RAT capability information including the E-UTRAN capability to the UTRAN. The UTRAN then sends a measurement capability message to the WTRU. The measurement capability message includes parameters necessary for performing measurements on an E-UTRAN channel. The WTRU performs measurements based on the measurement capability message and reports measurement results to the UTRAN. The UTRAN may initiate a handoff to the E-UTRAN based on the measurement results.

Description

Method used in WTRU, method used in node B and WTRU

The application is a divisional application of Chinese patent application with the application number of 200680026488.9, the application date of 2006, 7 and 17, and the name of 'method and system for supporting new UTRAN'.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to a method and system for supporting an evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN).

Background

Various types of wireless access systems have been developed to provide various types of services and capabilities, examples of which include Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), such as IEEE 802 based networks, and cellular networks, such as Umts Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), a global system for mobile communications (GSM)/enhanced data rate for GSM evolution (EDGE) radio access network (GERAN), or the like, and each of these networks has been developed and tailored to provide specific applications.

The introduction of an E-UTRAN (both UTRAN and evolved Node-B (E-Node-B) LTE) has improved wireless network capabilities and enhanced performance, and thus the E-UTRAN provides significant advantages over existing wireless communication systems, as well as additional services through the higher bit rates and lower latency (latency) provided by the E-UTRAN. Fig. 1 shows a conventional integrated wireless communication system 100 including an E-UTRAN 114, the system 100 including an access system layer (access system layer) 110, a network layer 120, and a multimedia layer 130, wherein the access system layer 110 includes Radio Access Networks (RANs) 111 and 115, a Core Network (CN) 116, and an evolved CN 117, and the RAN 111 and 115 include a Generic Access Network (GAN), a GERAN 112, a UTRAN 113, an E-UTRAN 114, and an interleaved wireless local area network (I-WLAN) 115, and the RAN 111 and 115 are connected to the CN 116 or the evolved CN 117 to provide services (e.g., from an Internet protocol (Internet protocol), IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)131, while interworking with an authentication, authorization, accounting (AAA) server 121, a mobile IP (mip) server 122, or other network entities in the network system 120 via a gateway (gateway) General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) support node (GGSN) or a Packet Data Gateway (PDG) 119.

Currently, multi-mode wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) are available that are configured to support multiple wireless communication systems, and the capabilities of each of the WTRUs may vary, for example, while some WTRUs may only support UMTS, others may support multiple operating modes, such as I-WLAN, GERAN, and/or E-UTRAN, and in the future, WTRUs capable of supporting E-UTRAN will also be available.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide a method and system for supporting E-UTRAN so that the WTRU may receive and utilize such additional E-UTRAN capabilities and services.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to a method and system for supporting an E-UTRAN. The present invention extends conventional methods and procedures for supporting multimode operation in the context of a UMTS-based wireless communication system (i.e., UTRAN), which are described in detail in the third generation partnership project (3 GPP) standards (e.g., TS25.331), to support additional new technologies in the system (i.e., E-UTRAN). The system herein includes a WTRU, a UTRAN, and an E-UTRAN, a conventional UTRAN sends a list of available Radio Access Technologies (RATs) to the WTRU in a coverage area of the UTRAN, and the list includes information related to existing RAT attributes, such as technology type, bit rate, bandwidth, or the like, and the invention introduces the information related to the E-UTRAN into the list, which the WTRU then receives during an initial access procedure, or during a handover procedure, and after receiving the list, an E-UTRAN enabled WTRU (E-UTRAN capablewwtru) may configure/reconfigure the WTRU to receive E-UTRAN services based on the list, which the E-UTRAN enabled WTRU may access at the initial access (i.e., attach procedure) or when a system makes a request, it sends to the UTRAN the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability information including the E-UTRAN capability, and during a normal handover procedure the UTRAN sends a measurement capability message to the WTRU, and the measurement capability message includes the parameters necessary to perform measurements on an E-UTRAN channel, after which the WTRU performs measurements based on the measurement capability message and reports the measurement results to the UTRAN, which the UTRAN may then initiate a handover to the E-UTRAN based on the measurement results, and in idle operation the WTRU may decide to reselect to the E-UTRAN based on the force information received earlier from the WTRU, which the WTRU uses to construct transmitter and receiver bandwidths, bit rates, frequency bands, or the like.

The present invention provides a method for use in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising: receiving a message from a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) on a UTRAN channel; extracting a first Information Element (IE) associated with an evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) from the received message; and receiving a service from the E-UTRAN based on the message.

The present invention also provides a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising: a receiver configured to receive a message from a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) on a UTRAN channel; and a processor configured to extract a first Information Element (IE) associated with an evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) from the message, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a service from the E-UTRAN based on the message.

The present invention also provides a method for use in a node B, the method comprising: generating a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) message including a first Information Element (IE) associated with an evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN); transmitting the message on a UTRAN channel; and receiving an E-UTRAN service in response to the message.

The present invention also provides a method for use in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising: receiving a first message from a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) base station via a first UTRAN channel; extracting a first Information Element (IE) associated with an evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) from the first message; generating a second message indicating E-UTRAN capability information, wherein the E-UTRAN capability information includes an indication that an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) mode is supported and a UTRAN-to-E-UTRAN handover is supported; transmitting the second message to the UTRAN base station via a second UTRAN channel; and receiving an E-UTRAN service based on the second message.

The present invention also provides a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising: a processor configured to receive a first message from a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) base station via a first UTRAN channel; a processor configured to extract a first Information Element (IE) associated with an evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) from the first message; and configured to generate a second message indicating E-UTRAN capability information, wherein the capability information includes an indication that an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) mode is supported and a UTRAN to E-UTRAN handover is supported; a transmitter configured to transmit the second message to the UTRAN base station via a second UTRAN channel; and a receiver configured to receive an E-UTRAN service based on the second message.

Drawings

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived from the following description of the preferred embodiment by way of example, and is to be understood in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a conventional wireless communication system;

fig. 2 illustrates a wireless communication system constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a procedure for supporting E-UTRAN in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description

When referred to hereafter, the term "WTRU" includes, but is not limited to, a user equipment, a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a pager, or any other type of device capable of operating in a wireless environment.

The features of the present invention may be incorporated into an Integrated Circuit (IC) or may be implemented in a circuit comprising a plurality of interconnected components.

Fig. 2 illustrates a wireless communication system 200 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The system 200 includes a plurality of RANs 210a, 210b deployed under different RATs, and a core network 220, which may be all Internet Protocol (IP) networks (AIPN), wherein the core network 220 is connected to other networks, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 230, the internet 240, or the like, and each of the RANs 210a, 210b may be a GAN, a GERAN, a UTRAN, an E-UTRAN, an IEEE-based I-WLAN, or other types of radio access networks.

To optimize mobility between the diversity (diversity) RANs 210a, 210b, the core network 220 provides an open interface to the Mobility Management (MM) 222 that allows the operator of the core network 220 to direct the WTRU250 to the most appropriate RAN210a, 210b, and the core network 220 also provides an open interface that allows the WTRU250 to access other AIPN services, such as Session Control (SC) 224, authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) 226, and an extension control 228.

A WTRU250 is a multi-mode WTRU equipped with at least two radio units configured to support communication with at least two different RATs, for example, the WTRU250 may include a radio unit for communicating with an E-UTRAN and other radio units for communicating with an I-WLAN, and the WTRU250 may establish a connection with one of the RANs and may perform a handover to a target RAN if the target RAN meets handover criteria.

In the system 200, a switch may be initiated manually or automatically. In the manual handover procedure initiated by a user of the WTRU250, the user knows the existence of the alternate RAT in his current geographic location, e.g., E-UTRAN, and performs a handover between them (e.g., between the UTRAN and the E-UTRAN), and the automatic handover procedure may be initiated by the WTRU250, or by the RAN210a, 210b, or the core network 220.

In the WTRU-initiated handover, the WTRU250 detects the presence of an alternate RAT (e.g., an E-UTRAN) and initiates a handover procedure based on the preferences of the user of the WTRU250, the WTRU250 then receives the necessary information (e.g., handover extensions, resource status, or the like) from the network (e.g., a RAN210a, or the core network 220), the WTRU250 then tracks the location of the coverage areas of the RANs 210a, 210b and initiates the handover procedure based on the predetermined handover criteria.

In a system-initiated handover, the core network 220 (or the RANs 210a, 210b) recognize that the WTRU250 is capable of supporting multiple RATs (including E-UTRAN) and request the necessary information (e.g., power measurements) from the WTRU 250. the core network 220 (or the RANs 210a, 210b) then tracks the location of the WTRU250 and, once the WTRU250 falls within the coverage of a target RAN, the core network 220 initiates the handover procedures based on a set of criteria (e.g., mobility of the WTRU250, required bandwidth, applications, load balancing, subscriber's profile, measurement reports provided by the WTRU250, or the like).

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a procedure for supporting an E-UTRAN in accordance with the present invention. First, a WTRU 352 listens to a channel (e.g., a Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)) on the UTRAN 354 (step 302), and then the UTRAN 354 sends a list of available RATs (e.g., E-UTRAN356 RATs) to the WTRU 352 within the coverage of the UTRAN 354 (step 304), wherein the list of available RATs is preferably sent via a UTRAN cell information list message, although the list may be sent via any type of message.

The UTRAN cell info list message includes information about intra-frequency cells, inter-frequency cells, and inter-RAT cells, while the conventional UTRAN cell info list message is modified to include new Information Elements (IEs) for the E-UTRAN356, and the E-UTRAN356 may be Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) or any other type of air interface. In the OFDM example, the UTRAN cell information list may include OFDM selection and reselection information, base transceiver station identification (BSIC) codes, system specific measurement information, which may include supported frequencies, bandwidths, output powers, or the like. Table 1 shows an exemplary UTRAN cell information list message including a new IE (shown in bold) in accordance with the present invention.

1 of tables 1-2

2 of tables 1-2

Referring back to fig. 3, the WTRU 352 receives and stores the list (step 306), and based on current user preferences, the WTRU 352 sends its multi-mode/multi-RAT capability information to the UTRAN 354 (step 308), wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability information indicates a support for E-UTRAN, and/or other RATs. For example, the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability information may indicate a support for OFDM, a support for E-UTRAN to UTRAN handover, OFDM Radio Frequency (RF) capability, OFDM measurement capability, or the like, wherein the OFDM support may be enumerated by supported OFDM channel bandwidths (e.g., 1.25MHz, 2.5MHz, 5MHz, 10MHz, 15MHz, 20MHz), and the support for E-UTRAN to UTRAN handover is preferably a Boolean value indicating such capability of the WTRU.

The OFDM RF capability and OFDM measurement capability indicate to the UTRAN the OFDM RF capability and OFDM measurement capability of the WTRU, an OFDM channel may have different bandwidths depending on the system architecture and the required bit rates and delays associated with certain services, for example, to achieve the highest allowed bit rate (e.g., 100Mbps), the E-UTRAN must transmit and receive using the highest allowed bandwidth (e.g., 20MHz), and the E-UTRAN may perform several combinations of these services (different bandwidths for different WTRUs), so that a handover to the E-UTRAN should be triggered based on the OFDM RF capability of the WTRU, during handover, when the WTRU performs measurements, the WTRU is preferably adjusted and configured to a particular channel frequency and a particular bandwidth for the measurements, in addition, when the WTRU reports the measurements to the UTRAN, the UTRAN correlates the measurements with the physical properties of the E-UTRAN channels, which ensures that the handover will correctly reach the correct target E-UTRAN channel that supports the required bit rate and delay requirements.

The multi-mode/multi-RAT capability information may be sent via a conventional UTRAN WTRU multi-mode/multi-RAT capability message, a WTRU radio access capability extension message, or any other type of message. Tables 2-4 show an exemplary UTRAN WTRU multi-mode/multi-RAT capability message, a WTRU radio access capability, and a WTRU radio access capability extension message, respectively, including the new IE (shown in bold) in accordance with the present invention.

TABLE 2

TABLE 3

TABLE 4

Referring back to fig. 3, the UTRAN 354 receives the WTRU multi-mode/multi-RAT capability message (step 310), and then the UTRAN 354 sends a measurement capability message to the WTRU 352 (step 312), wherein the measurement capability message defines the parameters necessary for the measurement, new IEs for the E-UTRAN are included in the conventional measurement capability message and the measurement capability extension message for the E-UTRAN parameters (e.g., OFDM measurement parameters for each frequency band), and each IE in the measurement capability message and the measurement capability extension message is a Boolean value (Boolean value) indicating whether downlink, or uplink, compressed mode is needed for performing measurements on each frequency band.

Tables 5 and 6 show an exemplary UTRAN measurement capability message and a measurement capability extension message, respectively, and the new IE introduced according to the present invention is shown in bold.

1 of tables 5-3

2 of tables 5-3

3 of tables 5-3

1 of tables 6-4

2 of tables 6-4

3 of tables 6-4

4 of tables 6-4

Referring again to figure 3, the WTRU 352 receives the measurement capability message, and the WTRU 352 performs measurements on the E-UTRAN signals 315 on the E-UTRAN channels specified in the measurement capability message and reports the measurements to the UTRAN 354 (step 314), and the UTRAN 354 may initiate a handover to the E-UTRAN356 based on the measurement reports.

Examples

1. A method for supporting a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) and an evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) in a wireless communication system including the WTRU.

2. The method of embodiment 1, comprising the steps of: the WTRU listens to a UTRAN channel.

3. The method of embodiment 2, comprising the steps of: the UTRAN sends a list of available radio access technologies, RATs, over the UTRAN channel in a coverage area of the UTRAN), wherein the list includes information related to the E-UTRAN.

4. The method of embodiment 3, comprising the steps of: the WTRU receives the list, whereby the WTRU receives E-UTRAN services based on the list.

5. The method as in any embodiments 3-4, wherein the list is sent via a Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH).

6. The method as in any embodiments 3-5, wherein the list is included in a cell information list message.

7. The method as in any embodiments 3-4, wherein the list is sent via a dedicated channel.

8. The method as in any embodiments 3-7, wherein one RAT of the E-UTRAN is Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).

9. The method as in any embodiments 3-8, wherein the E-UTRAN information includes at least one of OFDM selection and reselection information, base transceiver station identification (BSIC) codes, and system specific measurement information.

10. The method of embodiment 9 wherein the system specific measurement information lists at least one of supported frequencies, bandwidths, and output powers.

11. The method of any of embodiments 1-10, comprising: the WTRU sends a multi-mode/multi-RAT capability of the WTRU to the UTRAN.

12. The method of embodiment 11, comprising the steps of: the UTRAN receives the multi-mode/multi-RAT capabilities of the WTRU.

13. The method as in any embodiments 11-12, wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability indicates an E-UTRAN capability of the WTRU.

14. The method of embodiment 13 wherein the E-UTRAN capability includes an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) capability.

15. A method as in any embodiments 11-14 wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability comprises at least one of an indication of OFDM support, an indication of handover support between the UTRAN and the E-UTRAN, OFDM radio frequency capability, and OFDM measurement capability.

16. The method of embodiment 15 wherein the indication of OFDM support enumerates supported frequencies and bandwidths.

17. The method as in any embodiments 11-16, wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability is sent via at least one of a WTRU multi-mode/multi-RAT capability message, a WTRU radio access capability message, and a WTRU radio access capability extension message.

18. The method as in any embodiments 11-17, wherein a multi-mode/multi-RAT capability is signaled during an attach procedure.

19. The method as in any embodiments 11-17, wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability is signaled when requested by the UTRAN.

20. The method of any of embodiments 1-19, comprising: the UTRAN sends a measurement capability message to the WTRU, and the measurement capability message includes parameters necessary to perform measurements on an E-UTRAN channel.

21. The method of embodiment 20, comprising the steps of: the WTRU performs measurements based on the measurement capability message.

22. The method of embodiment 21, comprising the steps of: the WTRU reports the measurement results to the UTRAN.

23. The method of embodiment 22, comprising the steps of: the UTRAN initiates a handover from the WTRU to the E-UTRAN based on the measurement results.

24. The method as in any embodiments 20-23, wherein the measurement capability message comprises parameters for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) measurements.

25. The method of any of embodiments 3-24, comprising: the WTRU initiates a handover from the UTRAN to the E-UTRAN based on the list.

26. The method of embodiment 25 wherein the handover is triggered by a user of the WTRU.

27. The method of embodiment 25 wherein the switching is automatically triggered.

28. A wireless communication system supports an evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio Access network (E-UTRAN).

29. The system of embodiment 28 comprising an E-UTRAN.

30. The system of embodiment 29 comprising a UTRAN configured to send a list of available Radio Access Technologies (RATs) in a coverage area of the UTRAN, and the list including information related to the E-UTRAN.

31. The system of embodiment 30 comprising a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configured to receive the list and receive E-UTRAN services based on the list.

32. The system as in any embodiments 30-31 wherein the UTRAN sends the list via a Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH).

33. A system as in any embodiments 30-32 wherein the UTRAN includes the list in a cell info List message.

34. The system as in any embodiments 30-31 wherein the UTRAN is transmitting over a dedicated channel.

35. The system as in any embodiments 30-34 wherein one RAT of the E-UTRAN is Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).

36. The system as in any embodiments 30-35, wherein the E-UTRAN information includes at least one of OFDM selection and reselection information, base transceiver station identification (BSIC) codes, and system specific measurement information.

37. The system of embodiment 36 wherein the system specific measurement information lists at least one of supported frequencies, bandwidths, and output powers.

38. The system as in any embodiments 31-37 wherein the WTRU is configured to send its multi-mode/multi-RAT capability to the UTRAN.

39. The system of embodiment 38 wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability includes E-UTRAN capability.

40. The system of embodiment 39 wherein the E-UTRAN capability includes an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) capability.

41. A system as in any of embodiments 38-40 wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability comprises at least one of an indication of OFDM support, an indication of handover support between the UTRAN and the E-UTRAN, OFDM radio frequency capability, and OFDM measurement capability

42. The system of embodiment 41 wherein the indication of OFDM support enumerates supported frequencies and bandwidths.

43. The system as in any embodiments 38-42 wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability is sent via at least one of a WTRU multi-mode/multi-RAT capability message, a WTRU radio access capability message, and a WTRU radio access capability extension message.

44. The system as in any embodiments 38-43 wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability is signaled during an attach procedure.

45. A system as in any embodiments 38-43 wherein the multi-mode/multi-RAT capability is signaled when requested by the UTRAN.

46. The system as in any embodiments 31-45 wherein the UTRAN is configured to send a measurement capability message to the WTRU, the measurement capability message including parameters necessary to perform measurements on an E-TRAN channel, and the WTRU is configured to perform measurements based on the measurement capability message and report the measurement results to the UTRAN.

47. The system of embodiment 46 wherein the UTRAN is configured to initiate a handover to the E-UTRAN based on the measurements.

48. The system as in any embodiments 46-47 wherein the measurement capability message comprises parameters for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) measurements.

49. The system as in any of embodiments 31-48 wherein the WTRU is configured to initiate a handover of the WTRU from the UTRAN to the E-UTRAN based on the list.

50. The system of embodiment 49 wherein the handover is triggered by a user of the WTRU.

51. The system of embodiment 49 wherein the switching is automatically triggered.

Although the features and elements of the present invention are described in the preferred embodiments in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone without the other features and elements of the preferred embodiments or in various combinations with or without other features and elements of the present invention.

Claims (22)

1. A method for use in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:

receiving a message from a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) on a UTRAN channel;

extracting a first Information Element (IE) associated with an evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) from the received message; and

receiving a service from the E-UTRAN based on the message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first IE indicates a supported E-UTRAN frequency band.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a measurement capability message or a measurement capability extension message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first IE indicates compressed mode requirements.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first IE is one of a plurality of IEs associated with the E-UTRAN, and the extracting comprises extracting the plurality of IEs, wherein each IE of the plurality of IEs is associated with a different E-UTRAN frequency band.

6. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a message from a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) on a UTRAN channel; and

a processor configured to extract a first Information Element (IE) associated with an evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) from the message, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a service from the E-UTRAN based on the message.

7. The WTRU of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to extract supported frequencies and bandwidth E-UTRAN bands from the first IE.

8. The WTRU of claim 6, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the message, wherein the message comprises a measurement capability message or a measurement capability extension message.

9. The WTRU of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to extract compressed mode requirements from the first IE.

10. The WTRU of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to extract from the message a plurality of IEs associated with the E-UTRAN, wherein the first IE is one of the plurality of IEs, and wherein each IE of the plurality of IEs is associated with a different E-UTRAN frequency band.

11. A method for use in a node B, the method comprising:

generating a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) message including a first Information Element (IE) associated with an evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN);

transmitting the message on a UTRAN channel; and

receiving an E-UTRAN service in response to the message.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first IE is one of a plurality of IEs associated with the E-UTRAN, and the generating comprises generating the plurality of IEs, and wherein each IE of the plurality of IEs is associated with a different E-UTRAN frequency band.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first IE indicates a supported E-UTRAN frequency band.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first IE indicates E-UTRAN support.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first IE indicates support for handover between the UTRAN and the E-UTRAN.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the UTRAN message is a multi-mode/multi-Radio Access Technology (RAT) capability message, a radio access capability message, or a radio access capability extension message.

17. A method for use in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:

receiving a first message from a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) base station via a first UTRAN channel;

extracting a first Information Element (IE) associated with an evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) from the first message;

generating a second message indicating E-UTRAN capability information, wherein the E-UTRAN capability information includes an indication that an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) mode is supported and a UTRAN-to-E-UTRAN handover is supported;

transmitting the second message to the UTRAN base station via a second UTRAN channel; and

receiving an E-UTRAN service based on the second message.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second message indicates a supported E-UTRAN frequency band.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the second message is one of a multi-mode/multi-Radio Access Technology (RAT) capability message, a radio access capability message, or a radio access capability extension message.

20. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), comprising:

a processor configured to receive a first message from a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) base station via a first UTRAN channel;

a processor configured to extract a first Information Element (IE) associated with an evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) from the first message; and configured to generate a second message indicating E-UTRAN capability information, wherein the capability information includes an indication that an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) mode is supported and a UTRAN to E-UTRAN handover is supported;

a transmitter configured to transmit the second message to the UTRAN base station via a second UTRAN channel; and

a receiver configured to receive an E-UTRAN service based on the second message.

21. The WTRU of claim 20 wherein the processor is configured to indicate a supported E-UTRAN frequency band in the second message.

22. The WTRU of claim 20, wherein the second message is one of a multi-mode/multi-RAT capability message, a radio access capability message, or a radio access capability extension message.