Apparatus and method for acquisition of system information in wireless communications

Abstract

A wireless terminal communicates over a radio interface with a radio access node of a radio access network (RAN). The wireless terminal comprises receiver circuitry, transmitter circuitry, and processor circuitry. The receiver circuitry is configured to receive first type system information (SI) from the radio access node. The first type SI comprises: availability of second type SI messages, a second type SI message comprising at least one system information block (SIB) and an indication of a delivery mode for each of the second type SI messages, the delivery mode being either broadcast or on-demand basis. The transmitter circuitry is configured to transmit an SI request message to request at least one second type SI message indicated as on-demand delivery in a case where the delivery mode of the second type SI message is on-demand. The processor circuitry is configured to, after receiving from the radio access node an acknowledgement for the SI request message and before performing an SI message acquisition process, wait for a time duration specified by an offset value; and perform an SI message acquisition process. In another of its example aspects the technology disclosed herein concerns method of operating such wireless terminal.