US 8,275,376 B2 · Handover between a cellular network and an unlicensed-radio access network using a single identifier for all the access points

Abstract

In cellular mobile networks handover between base stations of adjacent cells requires the identity, address and frequency of all adjacent cells to be known to other elements of the network. Conventional networks can be extended by the addition of unlicensed-radio access networks. These include an access network controller (303) preferably connected via a broadband network (302) to a plurality of low-power local base stations (301), which communicate with mobile stations (1) over an unlicensed radio interface. The number and changing location of the local base station renders the operation and maintenance required to enable handover from the conventional network to these access networks prohibitively complex. This difficulty is alleviated by assigning the whole access network a single identifier. With this arrangement regardless of which base station mini-cell (304) an active call is being handed-over to, the conventional network will be able to route the request to the access network controller.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An access network adapted to communicate with a mobile station and a core network portion of a public mobile network, said access network comprising:

a plurality of local base stations each defining a mini-cell and adapted to communicate with mobile stations located in said mini-cell over an unlicensed-radio interface;
and
an access network controller adapted to communicate with said core network portion over a predetermined mobile network interface and connected to said plurality of local base stations,
wherein all said mini-cells are assigned a common identifier associated with said access network controller, said common identifier identifying a single cell address known to said core network, said single cell address being a cell address of said public mobile network assigned to said access network such that from a perspective of said core network, said access network is a single cell of said public mobile network, and
wherein said access network controller is adapted
to receive a handover request containing said common identifier from said core network,
to respond to said handover request by assigning a handover reference to said request, and
to setup a communication path between said mobile station and said core network when a message containing said handover reference is received from said mobile station.

5 more elements

A method for handing over a communication with a mobile station from a cell of a public mobile network to a mini-cell of an unlicensed-radio access network connected to said public mobile network, said public mobile network comprising an access portion including a base station defining said cell and a core network portion including a switching control part connected to said access portion, said unlicensed-radio access network comprising a plurality of local base stations each defining a mini-cell and adapted to communicate with said mobile station via an unlicensed-radio interface and an access network controller connected to said plurality of local base stations and adapted to communicate with said core network portion of said public mobile network, said method comprising:

allocating a common identifier to all mini-cells associated with said access network controller said common identifier identifying a single cell address known to said core network, said single cell address being a cell address of said public mobile network assigned to said access network such that from a perspective of said core network, said access network is a single cell of said public mobile network;
said access network controller responding to a handover request message containing said common identifier received from said core network portion by generating a handover reference and transmitting said handover reference in a handover acknowledgment message to said core network portion;
and
said access network controller receiving said handover reference from said mobile station via said local base station and setting up a communication path between said mobile station and said core network in response to said received handover reference.

1 more element

An access network controller for use in an access network adapted to communicate with a mobile station and a core network portion of a public licensed mobile network, said access network controller being adapted to communicate with said core network portion over a predetermined mobile network interface and being connected to a plurality of access points, each defining a mini-cell, wherein said access network controller is adapted to communicate with said mobile station located in a respective mini-cell of an access point via an unlicensed-radio interface between said mobile station and said access point, wherein said access network controller is adapted

to receive a handover request containing a common identifier from said core network, said common identifier being associated with said access network controller and assigned to all mini-cells connected with said access network controller, said common identifier identifying a single cell address known to said core network, said single cell address being a cell address of said public licensed mobile network assigned to said access network such that from a perspective of said core network portion, said access network is a single cell of said public licensed mobile network;
to respond to said handover request by assigning a handover reference to said handover request;
and
to set up a communication path between said mobile station and said core network when a message containing said handover reference is received from said mobile station.

1 more element

In an access network controller forming part of an unlicensed radio access network, said access network controller being connected to a plurality of access points each defining a mini-cell and being adapted to communicate with mobile stations located in said mini-cells via said access points and to communicate with a core network portion of a public licensed mobile network, a method of handling handover of a communication with a mobile station from a cell of said public licensed mobile network to a mini-cell of said unlicensed-radio access network, said method comprising:

said access network controller receiving a handover request message from said core network portion, said handover request message containing a common identifier for identifying all mini-cells associated with said access network controller, said common identifier identifying single cell address known to said core network portion, said single cell address being a cell address of said public licensed mobile network assigned to said access network such that from a perspective of said core network portion, said access network is a single cell of said public licensed mobile network;
said access network controller responding to said handover request message by generating a handover reference and transmitting said handover reference in a handover acknowledgment message to said core network;
said access network controller receiving said handover reference from said mobile station via an access point corresponding to said mini-cell;
and
said access network controller setting up a communication path between said mobile station and said core network in response to said received handover reference.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Handover between a cellular network and an unlicensed-radio access network using a single identifier for all the access points

Life of this patent

Handover between a cellular network and an unlicensed-radio access network using a single identifier for all the access points

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19