Method for controlling connections to a mobile station
AssigneeNokia Networks Oy
InventorKalle Ahmavaara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
When a mobile station has moved from a network area controlled by a first radio network controller (RNC) to a network area controlled by a second RNC, the utilisation of transmission links in the radio access network is optimized and the transmission delay between the controlling RNC and the radio interface is minimized by relocating the entities which control the connections of the mobile station from the first RNC to the second RNC. Such controlling entities may be, for example, the macrodiversity combining function, radio resource control block, and associated user plane entities.
Claims25
A method for routing the control of at least one connection to a mobile station from a first radio network controller presently controlling the at least one connection to a second radio network controller controlling a base station within whose area the mobile station is currently located in a cellular telecommunication system, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting state information of at least one protocol control block controlling at least one communications protocol, which protocol governs the communication of data between the mobile station and the first radio network controller on the at least one connection, from the first radio network controller to the second radio network controller;
- initializing at least one protocol control block in the second radio network controller based on the state information received from the first radio network controller;
- and
- relocating control of said at least one communication protocol from said first radio network controller to said second radio network controller at a certain instant.
A system for controlling connections to a mobile station in a cellular telecommunications network, comprising:
- a first radio network controller presently controlling at least one connection to the mobile station;
- a protocol control block in said first radio network controller for controlling at least one communication protocol which governs the communication of data on the at least one connection between the mobile station and the first radio network controller;
- and
- a second radio network controller which controls a base station within whose area the mobile station is currently located;
- wherein:
- said first radio network controller is arranged to send information specifying the state of said protocol control block to said second radio network controller;
- said second radio network controller is arranged to initialize at least one protocol control block in the second radio network controller based on the state information received from the first radio network controller;
- and
- said second radio network controller is arranged to take over control of said at least one connection at a certain instant.
A method for switching control of at least one connection with a mobile station from a first radio network controller (RNC) presently controlling the at least one connection to a second RNC controlling a base station in whose area the mobile station is currently located, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting state information of said at least one mobile terminal connection from the first RNC to the second RNC, wherein a first protocol control block located in the first RNC controls the at least one mobile terminal connection according to at least one protocol, and wherein the transmitted state information comprises information specifying the at least one protocol and a state of said at least one mobile terminal connection according to the at least one protocol;
- initializing a second protocol control block in the second RNC using the state information received from the first RNC;
- and
- relocating control of the at least one mobile terminal connection from the first RNC to the second RNC by switching control from the first protocol control block in the first RNC to the second protocol control block in the second RNC.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.