Inter-MSC handover in a communications network

A Handover Routing Router for use in a communications network, the Handover Routing Router comprising:

• a receiver for receiving, from a source Mobile Switching Centre, a request for handover from a source cell to a target cell in the radio access network;
• a processor for determining from the request an identity of the target cell or node, thereby obviating the need for the source Mobile Switching Centre to make such a determination;
• means for mapping the identity of the target cell or node to an address of a target Mobile Switching Centre, wherein the identity of the target cell or node is mapped to an address of the target Mobile Switching Centre using a Handover Routing Table, the Handover Routing Table containing data identifying cells, Radio Access Controller nodes, and Mobile Switching Centres in the core network;
• a transmitter for forwarding the request for handover from the Handover Routing Router to the target Mobile Switching Centre;
• wherein the source Mobile Switching Centre determines whether a Mobile Switching Centre is defined in the Handover Routing Table for the target cell or node identifier;
• the receiver further configured, if no Mobile Switching Centre is defined in the Handover Routing Table, for receiving the request for handover forwarded from the source Mobile Switching Centre;
• and
• wherein the communications network has a full mesh Mobile Switching Centre configuration.

A source Mobile Switching Centre for use in a cellular radio access network, the Mobile Switching Centre comprising:

• a processor for preparing a message requesting handover of a mobile terminal to a target Mobile Switching Centre;
• a transmitter for sending the message to a Handover Routing Router, which determines from the message an identity of a target cell or node, thereby obviating the need for the Mobile Switching Centre to make such a determination;
• wherein the identity of the target cell or node is mapped, by the Handover Routing Router, to an address of the target Mobile Switching Centre using a Handover Routing Table, the Handover Routing Table containing data identifying cells, Radio Access Controller nodes, and Mobile Switching Centres in the core network;
• wherein the request for handover is forwarded from the Handover Routing Router to the target Mobile Switching Centre;
• the processor further configured for determining whether a Mobile Switching Centre is defined in the Handover Routing Table for the target cell or node identifier;
• the transmitter further configured, if no Mobile Switching Centre is defined in the Handover Routing Table, for sending the request for handover to the Handover Routing Router;
• and
• wherein the communications network has a full mesh Mobile Switching Centre configuration.