Patent ID: 8554209

Claim:
A method for processing a propagated control channel signal having a common part and one or more operator-specific parts distinct from the common part, comprising: receiving the propagated control channel signal at a wireless device; processing common control data included in the common part for use by mobile terminals authorized to access a shared radio access network (RAN); determining whether the wireless device is associated with a first mobile operator; based on said determining, selectively processing an operator-specific part to obtain operator-specific data included therein for use by those of the mobile terminals that are associated with the first mobile operator; wherein processing the common control data comprises determining, from mapping data included in the common control data, a location within the propagated control channel signal for the operator-specific part; wherein selectively processing the operator-specific part comprises extracting the operator-specific data from the determined location; wherein the determined location indicates one or more subcarriers of the propagated control channel signal; wherein the extracting the operator-specific data from the determined location comprises extracting operator-specific data from the indicated one or more subcarriers.