Inter-Node B Handover in HSDPA or Multi-Flow HSPA Including Packet Retransmission

Abstract

The application relates to the removal of one of the links in multi-flow HSPA but the proposed method is also applicable to normal HSDPA operation during handover. In particular the application aims at minimizing the negative impact of a removed radio link, i.e. drop of packets and/or delays. According to the proposed method, in which the radio link to be removed is via a first Node B NB1 (RL Removal Req), the NB1 ends the pending data transmission and informs the controlling RNC about the data which was not transmitted, in particular in the form of the lowest sequence number in its buffer. Subsequently, the RNC decides, based on this sequence number, which data packets need to be retransmitted on a second radio link via a second node B NB2, and instructs NB2 accordingly (Data Forwarding).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.