Abstract: Authentication control for devices within a cellular network is provided. The authentication between a device and an authenticating entity within the cellular network allows the device to access a non-cellular network via one or more access points. Information is obtained about a load caused by the devices located within a cell or cell group performing authentication. If it is determined that the load requires to be controlled, the cellular network controls performance of the authentication by a set of the devices. An indication that performance of the authentication by a device must be controlled is received and performance of the authentication by the device is controlled based on the indication. An identity of a cell or group of cells providing coverage in an area where an access point is located is included within a field of a RADIUS or DIAMETER message, forwarded by the access point to an authenticating entity.

Abstract: Communication between a mobile terminal operating in a cellular network and a server is provided. Communication between the mobile terminal and the server is routed through a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) of the cellular network in which the mobile terminal is operating. Cryptographic integrity check information is communicated in data link layer messages between the mobile terminal and the SGSN.

Abstract: Facilitating authentication on communication between a mobile terminal and a server is achieved. The communication is made through a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) of a network in which the mobile terminal is operating. A Home Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) of the mobile terminal generates a ciphering key for encryption of packet-switched data between the mobile terminal and the server. As part of a message from a network entity in the Home PLMN to the SGSN in which the SGSN expects to receive the ciphering key, alternative data is communicated in place of the ciphering key. Secure communication between the mobile terminal and the server is performed by applying encryption using a ciphering key generated by a network entity in a Home PLMN of the mobile terminal in messages between the mobile terminal and the server.

Abstract: Communicating between a mobile terminal and a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) in a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) of the mobile terminal. An authentication and key agreement push message is communicated from the GGSN to the mobile terminal. This communicating is via a control plane channel and/or the authentication and key agreement push message is generated at the GGSN.

Abstract: A mobile telecommunications network includes a core network and a radio access network. The radio access network has a network node that wirelessly communicates with a mobile terminal registered with the radio access network. The radio access network includes a controller that controls the use of network resources by the mobile terminal and processes control plane signaling. The controller includes an applicator that receives policy information and/or routing information from the core network and provides instructions to the network node to act in accordance with the received information. The network node includes an enforcer that enforces the instructions received from the controller so as to control whether the terminal uplink user plane traffic and control plane signalling messages are passed to the core network, routed to the controller, or duplicated and provided to both the core network and the controller.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for registering a mobile terminal with a cellular telecommunications network, the network having a plurality of location areas and a plurality of extended areas of coverage, each extended area being represented by a list of a subset of cells on one or more the location areas, and the mobile terminal using information about a given one of the location areas to connect to the network. The method comprises transmitting a signal including a temporary identifier, which is unique to the mobile terminal when combined with the location area identifier that identifies the cell in which the temporary identifier was allocated a temporary identifier; transmitting an indication of whether the mobile terminal supports location registration based on extended areas (“soft location registration”); and if soft location registration is supported, performing location registration based on the extended area between the mobile terminal and the network.

Abstract: A mobile telecommunications network and method of operation that includes establishing a first user plane connection between a telecommunications device registered with the network and a network gateway device of the network via a first access point; providing the telecommunications device with a token using the first user plane connection; establishing a second user plane connection between the telecommunications device and the network gateway device via a second access point by using the token information to validate the telecommunications device; and, subsequent to establishment of and corresponding to the second user plane connection, establishing a control plane connection between the telecommunications device and the network gateway device via the second access point.

Abstract: A mobile telecommunications network and method of operation that includes establishing a first user plane connection between a telecommunications device registered with the network and a network gateway device of the network via a first access point; providing the telecommunications device with a token using the first user plane connection; establishing a second user plane connection between the telecommunications device and the network gateway device via a second access point by using the token information to validate the telecommunications device; and, subsequent to establishment of and corresponding to the second user plane connection, establishing a control plane connection between the telecommunications device and the network gateway device via the second access point.

Abstract: Short Messaging Service (SMS) messages are handled at a network entity of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) or a device that communicates with a PLMN. An address for a Short Messaging Entity (SME) is provided in Mobile Subscriber ISDN format, comprising a Type of Number (ToN) data field, a Numbering Plan Identification (NPI) data field and a subscriber identifier field. The SME is identified as a Machine Type Communication (MTC) device based on at least one of the ToN and NPI data fields or based on a predetermined code in the subscriber identifier field. A network entity receiving the SME address can identify the SME as an MTC device and further send a message to another network entity, at least one component of the message being based on the identification. This may be applicable for human to machine communications.

Abstract: A telecommunications system is disclosed, including a first radio access technology (legacy: GSM; UMTS/UTRAN) having a first radio access network (node B 15, RNC 17), and a second radio access technology (EUTRA) having a second radio access network (AP 20), wherein said first radio access network (node B 15, RNC 17) is divided into a plurality of first areas and said second radio access network (AP 20) is divided into a plurality of second areas, and wherein a home subscriber server entity (HSS 10) is provided that is common to both the first and second radio access technologies (legacy: GSM; UMTS) and which controls in which of the first and second areas a mobile terminal (UE 1) is registered, characterized in that a common control plane gateway entity (CP-GW 24) is provided through which communications from the first and second radio access networks, which relate to the first and second area which the mobile terminal (UE 1) occupies, are routed.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network including a mobile terminal in communication with a network base station, and at least one relay node that assists the base station with downlink data transmissions towards the mobile terminal, a method is provided of enabling coherent demodulation of a scheduled data block transmitted in the downlink by the base station and the at least one relay node. A reference signal is provided in the scheduled data block which is configured to change the mobile terminal from using cell specific reference signalling to using mobile terminal specific reference signalling to enable the mobile terminal to demodulate the scheduled data block transmitted in the downlink by the at least one relay node and the base station. Further, a method of performing synchronous retransmission of data includes transmitting pre-scheduling information for any required synchronous retransmission of a first data transmission by the relay node and the transmitting entity.

Abstract: A mobile telecommunications network includes a core and a radio access network having radio means for wireless communication with mobile terminals registered with the network, wherein the radio access network includes control means 700 operable to control the use of network resources by the mobile terminals. The control means processes control plane signalling.

Abstract: A Method of cancelling a Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB) procedure from a source network, particularly E-UTRAN, to a target network, particularly GERAN or UTRAN, for a user equipment is described, wherein a first message for initiating a CSFB procedure is sent from the user equipment to the source network and wherein the cancellation of the CSFB procedure is performed after the first message for initiating the CSFB procedure has been sent, characterised in that after the cancellation of the CSFB procedure has been initiated, the user equipment sends a second message to the source network comprising a new cause value said cause value characterising the cancellation of the CSFB procedure.

Abstract: A method for assigning a location area to a mobile device for use in circuit switched fallback from a first radio access network to a second radio access network. Two counters are implemented at the eNode B—a first counter to count the numbers of times a mobile reports a given last-used location area code and a second counter for counting the numbers of certain unique combinations of location area code and further identifying data. Whenever the eNode B receives a signal incorporating a location area code, checking the respective first counter for that code and conditionally incrementing the first counter such that if the first counter is below a predefined threshold the first counter is incremented. If the first counter is equal to the threshold, obtaining further identifying data in addition to the location area code and incrementing the corresponding second counter.

Abstract: Security of communications between a mobile terminal 1 and a cellular network node (base station 3) is enhanced. A communication session transmitted on a first traffic channel ‘0’ is encrypted using a key ‘KA’. The security is enhanced by causing the communication channel to change to a second communication channel ‘7’ after a predetermined time, preferably very quickly after establishing the key. In one embodiment the communication channel then changes to a third communication channel ‘25’ after a predetermined time. In another embodiment the communication session is encrypted using a second key ‘KB’after causing the communication channel to change to the second communication channel ‘7’.

Abstract: A method for performing Circuit Switched Fallback of a radio access terminal in a multi-RAT network environment comprised of a packet switched network and one or more circuit switched networks, each of said networks including a plurality of cells and the radio access terminal camping on a serving cell in the packet switched cellular network, the method comprising; receiving a service indication for a circuit switched service; transmitting to the radio access terminal a message to release the radio connection in the packed switched network; wherein the message to release the radio connection from the packet switched network comprises: data identifying one or more carrier frequencies associated with one or more of the circuit switched cellular networks; and system information data of a plurality of cells associated with one or more of the circuit switched cellular networks to the radio access terminal; releasing the radio access terminal from the packet switched cellular network; and in the radio access termina

Abstract: A method is disclosed for registering a mobile terminal with a cellular telecommunications network, the network having a plurality of location areas and a plurality of extended areas of coverage, each extended area being represented by a list of a subset of cells on one or more the location areas, and the mobile terminal using information about a given one of the location areas to connect to the network. The method comprises transmitting a signal including a temporary identifier, which is unique to the mobile terminal when combined with the location area identifier that identifies the cell in which the temporary identifier was allocated a temporary identifier; transmitting an indication of whether the mobile terminal supports location registration based on extended areas (“soft location registration”); and if soft location registration is supported, performing location registration based on the extended area between the mobile terminal and the network.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network including a mobile terminal in communication with a network base station, and at least one relay node that assists the base station with downlink data transmissions towards the mobile terminal, a method is provided of enabling coherent demodulation of a scheduled data block transmitted in the downlink by the base station and the at least one relay node. A reference signal is provided in the scheduled data block which is configured to change the mobile terminal from using cell specific reference signalling to using mobile terminal specific reference signalling to enable the mobile terminal to demodulate the scheduled data block transmitted in the downlink by the at least one relay node and the base station. Further, a method of performing synchronous retransmission of data includes transmitting pre-scheduling information for any required synchronous retransmission of a first data transmission by the relay node and the transmitting entity.

Abstract: A telecommunications system is disclosed, including a first radio access technology (legacy: GSM; UMTS/UTRAN) having a first radio access network (node B 15, RNC 17), and a second radio access technology (EUTRA) having a second radio access network (AP 20), wherein said first radio access network (node B 15, RNC 17) is divided into a plurality of first areas and said second radio access network (AP 20) is divided into a plurality of second areas, and wherein a home subscriber server entity (HSS 10) is provided that is common to both the first and second radio access technologies (legacy: GSM; UMTS) and which controls in which of the first and second areas a mobile terminal (UE 1) is registered, characterized in that a common control plane gateway entity (CP-GW 24) is provided through which communications from the first and second radio access networks, which relate to the first and second area which the mobile terminal (UE 1) occupies, are routed.

Abstract: Various advantageous arrangements for use with the proposed SAE/LTE or 4G mobile telecommunications system are disclosed. An arrangement for allowing a mobile terminal/UE (1) to transmit data packets to duplicate access points (5) is disclosed. An IP combiner (20) receives the duplicate data packets from the respective access points (5), together with quality indicators, and determines which data packet should be passed onwardly to the network. An arrangement is also disclosed which allows a particular MME (7) (corresponding to the 3G SGSN) to be selected for a particular access point (5). A particular MME may be selected depending on various criteria, such as to distribute the load evenly between the MMEs (7) of the network or to take a particular MME (7) out of service temporarily in a managed manner. Further, an arrangement is disclosed which enables the more rapid establishment of the user plane bearer between the mobile terminal/UE (1) and the network.