Handoff control for point to multipoint connections in mobile ATM networks

A switching node adapted for control of a mobile terminal handoff for a point to multipoint connection in a mobile ATM network comprising:

• a processor, and
• a memory including software instructions adapted to enable said processor to cause the switching node to perform the steps of:
• receiving a handoff request, along an old virtual circuit, indicating a new base station for said mobile terminal;
• evaluating said handoff request to make a determination as to whether said switching node is an entry border node covering said new base station;
• when said determination is affirmative, effecting said handoff as a cross over switch;
• and
• when said determination is negative, passing said handoff request upstream.

A computer program product for enabling a processor of a switching node to control handoff of a mobile terminal for a point to multipoint connection in a mobile ATM network, comprising:

• software instructions for enabling the processor to perform predetermined operations, and
• a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;
• the predetermined operations including:
• receiving a handoff request, along an old virtual circuit, indicating a new base station for said mobile terminal;
• evaluating said handoff request to make a determination as to whether said switching node is an entry border node covering said new base station;
• when said determination is affirmative, effecting said handoff as a cross over switch;
• and
• when said determination is negative, passing said handoff request upstream.

A mobile radio terminal adapted to operate in a mobile ATM network, comprising:

• a processor, and
• a memory including software instructions adapted to enable said processor to cause the mobile terminal, when engaged in a point to multipoint connection, to perform the steps of:
• determining an identity of a new base station having a respective service area;
• sending a handoff request, along an old virtual circuit, indicating said new base station;
• receiving a signaling message over said old virtual circuit;
• and
• participating in a new virtual circuit in response to said signaling message;
• wherein the handoff request includes a leaf locator identifier of the new base station, and is sent toward the root node of the point to multilpoint connection.

A computer program product for enabling a processor of a mobile terminal to participate in a handoff operation involving a point to multipoint connection in a mobile ATM network, comprising:

• software instructions for enabling the processor to perform predetermined operations, and
• a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;
• the predetermined operations including:
• determining an identity of a new base station having a respective service area;
• sending a handoff request, along an old virtual circuit, indicating said new base station;
• receiving a signaling message over said old virtual circuit;
• and
• participating in a new virtual circuit in response to said signaling messages;
• wherein the handoff request includes a leaf locator identifier of the new base station, and is sent toward the root node of the point to multipoint connection.

A method for control of a mobile terminal handoff for a point to multipoint (PMP) connection in a mobile ATM network comprising:

• determining an identity of a new base station having a respective service area;
• then
• sending an initial handoff request message from said mobile terminal to said new base station via said current base station;
• then
• sending an initial handoff response message from said new base station to said mobile terminal, via said current base station, indicating a state of resource availability at said new base station;
• then
• when said initial handoff response message indicates sufficient resources are available at said new base station, making a PMP handoff request to a current base station, along an old virtual circuit, indicating said new base station;
• then
• providing said PMP handoff request to an entry border node covering said current base station and said new base station, said entry border node defining a cross over switch for said transfer;
• then
• sending an add party message from said cross over switch to said new base station;
• then
• setting up at said new base station a new virtual circuit for said mobile terminal in response to said add party message;
• then
• causing said new base station to buffer cells for said new virtual circuit by sending a marker cell from said cross over switch to said new base station, and signaling said mobile terminal to participate in said new virtual circuit by sending a respective marker cell to said mobile terminal;
• and then
• signaling said new base station to release to said mobile terminal said buffered cells.