Inter-network handover in a packet radio system
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorsStephen Spear, Jeffrey Smolinske
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method (400) and apparatus (501) facilitate a session handover between a first site and a second site. A wireless communication unit such as a mobile station (102), user equipment (202, 302) can move from one site to another site whereupon new identifiers can be setup for the new site. If a serving node associated with the new site is also new, identifiers can be set up for the new site and the new serving node.
Claims23
A method for facilitating a handover of a session established between a wireless communication unit and a first site to a second site in accordance with an interface protocol in a wireless cellular communication system, the method comprising:
- determining that the handover of the session from the first site to the second site is imminent;
- and
- establishing one or more new identifiers associated with the second site and a service node in accordance with the interface protocol to form one or more established identifiers associated with the second site;
- and
- informing the first site of the establishing the one or more new identifiers so that the handover of the session from the first site to the second site can be initiated.
A method for facilitating an inter-Radio Access Network (RAN) handover of a session established between a wireless communication unit and a first RAN to a second RAN in accordance with an interface protocol in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
- establishing one or more new identifiers associated with the second RAN and a Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) in accordance with the interface protocol to form one or more established identifiers associated with the second RAN;
- and
- informing the first RAN of the establishing the one or more new identifiers associated with the second RAN.
A controller in a service node for facilitating an inter-Radio Access Network (RAN) handover of a session established between a wireless communication unit and a first RAN to a second RAN in accordance with an interface protocol in a wireless communication system, the controller comprising:
- a interface with the first RAN, the second RAN, and a gateway node;
- a memory;
- and
- a processor coupled to the memory and the interface, the processor configured to:
- determine that the handover is imminent;
- establish one or more new identifiers associated with the second RAN in accordance with the interface protocol to form one or more established identifiers associated with the second RAN;
- establish a tunnel identifier for a first tunnel between the wireless communication unit to the second RAN;
- and
- inform the first RAN of the processor establishing the one or more new identifiers associated with the second RAN.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.