Method for a handover between different nodes in a mobile communication system

A switching node for a mobile communications system, the mobile communications system having further switching nodes and user equipment connectable to base station subsystems according to different connection specifications, the switching node comprising:

• means for the control of a first base station subsystem and a first interface for connection to the first base station subsystem with a protocol corresponding to the connection specification used on the interface between the base station subsystem and the user equipment;
• a second interface for the exchange of messages with the further switching nodes in a handover procedure of the user equipment from the first base station subsystem to a second base station subsystem which is controlled by one of the further switching nodes, at least one message of the messages encapsulating a parameter set for the connection protocol between the second base station subsystem and the further switching node;
• means to generate the parameter set from a first message which is transmitted from the user equipment;
• means to detect out of a second message transmitted from the user equipment whether the user equipment is capable of connections according to different connection specifications on the interface to a base station subsystem;
• and
• means to select the parameter set encapsulated in at least one message to the further switching node according to the protocol for the connection of the further switching node to the base station subsystem to which the handover procedure of the user equipment is performed.

A program unit on a data carrier or loadable into a switching node for the control of base station subsystems in a communication system,

• wherein the program unit can be executed in a handover of user equipment from a first base station subsystem to a second base station subsystem which is controlled by a second switching node, wherein the communication system comprises base station subsystems differing in connection specifications on the interface to the user equipment, and wherein the switching node controls a base station subsystem with a protocol corresponding to the connection specification for the interface between the base station subsystem and the user equipment, the program unit comprising:
• means to exchange messages in a handover procedure with the second switching node, at least one message of the messages encapsulating a parameter set for the protocol;
• and
• means to generate the parameter set from a message which is transmitted from the user equipment to the switching node, the program unit checking from the message transmitted from the user equipment whether the user equipment is capable of connections according to different specifications, and the program unit selecting the parameter set encapsulated in the message to the second switching node according to the protocol for the connection of the second switching node to the base station subsystem to which the handover procedure of the user equipment is performed.