US 6,385,451 B1 · Handover between mobile communication networks

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for handing over a connection between a first (NW1) and a second mobile communication network (NW2) in a wireless terminal (MS1). In the method, at least one data transmission connection is established for the purpose of transmitting information between the wireless terminal (MS1) and one said mobile communication network (NW1, NW2). In the first mobile communication network, the connection type is either connection-oriented (HSCSD) or connectionless (GPRS), and in the second mobile communication network (NW1, NW2), at least two traffic classes with different transmission features are defined and one of them is selected for the data transmission connection of the second mobile communication network (NW1, NW2). In the method, it is also examined what active data transmission connections the wireless terminal (MS1) has to the mobile communication network (NW1, NW2) handing over the connection. When handing over a connection from the first mobile communication network (NW1) to the second mobile communication network (NW2), the connection type of each active data transmission connection is examined, the traffic class corresponding to each active data transmission connection type is defined in the second mobile communication network (NW2), and a connection according to the defined traffic class is established for each data transmission connection in the second mobile communication network (NW2). When handing over a connection from the second mobile communication network (NW2) to the first communication network (NW1) the traffic class of each active data transmission connection is examined, the connection type corresponding to each active data transmission traffic class is defined in the first mobile communication network (NW1), and a connection according to the defined connection type is defined for each data transmission connection in the first mobile communication network (NW1).

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method for handing over a connection between a first (NW1) and a second mobile communication network (NW2) in a wireless terminal (MS1), in which method at least one data transmission connection is established for the purpose of transmitting information between the wireless terminal (MS1) and one said mobile communication network (NW1, NW2), the connection type in the first mobile communication network being either connection-oriented (HSCSD) or connectionless (GPRS), and wherein at least two traffic classes with different transmission features are defined in the second mobile communication network (NW1, NW2) and one of them is selected for the data transmission connection of the second mobile communication network (NW1, NW2), characterized in that in the method:

it is examined what active data transmission connections the wireless terminal (MS1) has to the mobile communication network (NW1, NW2) handing over the connection,
when handing over a connection from the first mobile communication network (NW1) to the second mobile communication network (NW2), the connection type of each active data transmission connection is examined, the traffic class corresponding to each active data transmission connection type is defined in the second mobile communication network (NW2), and a connection according to the defined traffic class is established for each data transmission connection in the second mobile communication network (NW2),
when handing over a connection from the second mobile communication network (NW2) to the first communication network (NW1), the traffic class of each active data transmission connection is examined, the connection type corresponding to each active data transmission traffic class is defined in the first mobile communication network (NW1), and a connection according to the defined connection type is defined for each data transmission connection in the first mobile communication network (NW1).

A communication system, which comprises at least a first (NW1) and a second mobile communication network (NW2), a wireless terminal, means (GGSN, GWMSC) for activating at least one data transmission connection in order to transmit information between the wireless terminal (MS1) and one said mobile communication network (NW1, NW2), and means (GGSN, GWMSC) for handing over a connection between the first (NW1) and the second (NW2) mobile communication network in the wireless terminal (MS1), the first mobile communication network (NW1) comprising means (GGSN, MSC) for establishing a connection as a connection-oriented connection and/or as a connectionless connection, and at least two traffic classes being defined in the second mobile communication network (NW2) for the data transmission connections, characterized in that the communication system also comprises:

means for examining the active connections between the wireless terminal (MS1) and the mobile communication network (NW1, NW2) handing over the connection,
means for handing over the connection comprising:
means for examining the connection type of the active data transmission connections in the first mobile communication network (NW1), means for defining a traffic class corresponding to each active connection type of the data transmission in the second mobile communication network (NW2), and means for establishing a connection according to the traffic class defined for each data transmission connection in the second mobile communication network (NW2), and
means for examining the traffic class of the active data transmission connections in the second mobile communication network (NW2), means for defining a connection type corresponding to each active traffic class of the data transmission connection in the first mobile communication network (NW1), and means for establishing a connection according to the defined connection type for each data transmission connection in the first mobile communication network (NW1).

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Handover between mobile communication networks

Life of this patent

Handover between mobile communication networks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10