Method for flow control, node and communication network employing the flow control

A method for a flow control to a mobile communication network having a hierarchical structure formed by base stations, ATM nodes directly connected thereto and other ATM nodes, wherein a mobile station located in a radio zone of a first base station communicates with a remote station via an ATM virtual channel formed therebetween, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) sending hand-over start information from the first base station to an ATM node accommodating the first base station when the mobile station moves to a second radio zone accommodated in a second base station, the hand-over start information concerning the second base station and an ATM virtual channel established for the mobile station;
• (b) recognizing, from the hand-over start information, an ATM transmission path and an ATM virtual channel directed to the second base station;
• (c) queuing, in an upper ATM node located at a hierarchical level higher than the first and second base stations, incoming cells to be transferred via the recognized ATM transmission path;
• (d) sending hand-over end information to the upper ATM node from the second base station when the hand-over is completed, said hand-over end information including information concerning the second base station and an ATM virtual channel newly established for the mobile station which is handed over thereto;
• (e) recognizing, in the upper ATM node, the ATM transmission path and the ATM virtual channel directed to the second base station from the hand-over end information;
• (f) stopping queuing at the step (c) and outputting the incoming cells queued to the second base station via the recognized ATM transmission path.

A method for a flow control to a communication network in which cells are transferred via a virtual channel established between nodes, said method comprising:

• (a) temporarily storing incoming cells transferred over an input transmission path in a first buffer in a node in which the virtual channel is switched;
• (b) re-routing the virtual channel to another route;
• (c) allocating a transmission band of an output virtual channel in an output transmission path in order to send the cells stored in the first buffer thereto at a bit rate higher than that of an input virtual channel thereof and to thus facilitate sending the cells which are stored in the first buffer during a hand-over,
• (d) sending the cells stored in the first buffer to the output transmission path;
• and
• (e) releasing the transmission band allocated to send the cells stored in the first buffer.

A node in a communication network in which cells are transferred via a virtual channel established between nodes, said node comprising:

• a cell switch;
• and
• a buffering terminal,
• said buffering terminal comprising;
• a buffer temporarily storing incoming cells transferred over an input transmission path;
• and
• a cell sending part allocating a transmission band of an output virtual channel in an output transmission path in order to send the cells stored in the buffer thereto at a bit rate higher than that of an input virtual channel thereof and to thus facilitate sending the cells which are stored in the first buffer during a hand-over, and sending the cells stored in the buffer to the output transmission path.

A communication network in which cells are transferred via a virtual channel established between nodes, each of said nodes comprising:

• a cell switch;
• and
• a buffering terminal,
• said buffering terminal comprising:
• a buffer temporarily storing incoming cells transferred over an input transmission path;
• and
• a cell sending part allocating a transmission band of an output virtual channel in an output transmission path in order to send the cells stored in the buffer thereto at a bit rate higher than that of an input virtual channel thereof and to thus facilitate sending the cells which are stored in the first buffer during a hand-over, and sending the cells stored in the buffer to the output transmission path.

A method for flow control to a mobile communication network in which cells are transferred via a virtual channel established between a base station having a radio zone in which a mobile station exists and a node in which a remote terminal with which the mobile station communicates is accommodated, said method comprising:

• (a) temporarily storing incoming cells transferred over an input transmission path in a first buffer in the node in which the virtual channel is switched in response to movement of the mobile station of a radio zone of another base station;
• (b) rerouting the virtual channel to another route;
• (c) allocating a transmission band of an output virtual channel in an output transmission path in order to send the cells stored in the first buffer thereto at a bit rate higher than that of an input virtual channel thereof;
• (d) sending the cells stored in the first buffer to the output transmission path;
• and
• (e) releasing the transmission band allocated to send the cells stored in the first buffer.

A mobile communication network in which cells are transferred via a virtual channel established between a base station having a radio zone in which a mobile station exists and a node in which a remote terminal with which the mobile station communicates is accommodated, comprising:

• a cell switch;
• and
• a buffering terminal,
• said buffering terminal comprising:
• a buffer temporarily storing incoming cells transferred over an input transmission path;
• and
• a cell sending part allocating a transmission band of an output virtual channel in an output transmission path in order to send the cells stored in the buffer thereto at a bit rate higher than that of an input virtual channel thereof, and sending the cells stored in the buffer to the output transmission path,
• the buffering terminal operating when the virtual channel is switched due to movement of the mobile station to a radio zone of another base station.