Procedure for the handover of a radio connection

A procedure for the handover of a radio connection to a mobile radio station from a first base station to a second base station in a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) cellular radio communications network having a controller coupled to the first base station and also to the second base station, the procedure comprising:

• transmitting from the controller to the second base station identification information regarding the mobile station, the identification information including frequency channel information enabling tuning of the second base station to a channel in which the mobile station shall transmit;
• transmitting from the controller, through the first base station, a handover command to the mobile station that does not include information describing timing characteristics of the second base station;
• in response to the mobile station establishing communication with the second base station, correcting with a channel equalizer for any deviation in signal timing caused by a change in timing during handover;
• and
• initiating trafficking with the mobile station immediately after the mobile station moves to the new channel as a result of the handover.

A method for accomplishing a handover of a radio connection of a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station in a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) cellular radio communications network having a controller coupled to the first base station and also to the second base station, the method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting from the controller to the second base station identification information regarding the mobile station, the identification information including (a) information that uniquely identifies the mobile station;
• (b) information that identifies an assigned radio frequency channel to be used for communication with the mobile station;
• and (c) information that identifies a portion of a TDMA frame to be used in communicating with the mobile station;
• transmitting from the controller, through the first base station, a handover command to the mobile station, the handover command including (a) information that identifies the assigned radio frequency channel to be used for communication with the second base station;
• and (b) the information that identifies the portion of a TDMA frame to be used in communicating with the second base station;
• and
• in response to the mobile station establishing communication with the second base station in accordance with the information included within the handover command, operating a channel equalizer of at least the mobile station to (a) correct for any received symbol time dispersion errors that result from the use of the assigned radio frequency channel, and to (b) correct for any received symbol time dispersion errors that result from any deviation in signal timing caused by any change in timing characteristics from the first base station to the second base station, wherein
• a maximum received symbol time dispersion that is correctable by the channel equalizer is selected to equal or exceed a sum of (a) a maximum allowable received symbol time dispersion that can occur as a result of handing over the mobile station and (b) a maximum received symbol time dispersion that can result from the use of an assigned radio frequency channel.