Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and network system for direct routing of the user plane of a call between two network terminals attached to a first and a second access network, respectively. After establishing the call, the transmission path for user data is changed such that it only comprises the access networks. Relocation between access network elements for such a Direct Routed call is disclosed. The methods described are applicable for circuit-switched as well as packet-switched connection types and especially effective for all IP network situations. Furthermore, the invention relates to a network element, such as a Radio Network Controller, adapted to operation according to the method mentioned above.

Abstract: A method and system for performing cell load control in a mobile radio network using diversity connections between base stations is described, wherein the efficiency of the resource management in the radio network is improved by transmitting an external message containing a load information of a cell to a radio network controller not serving this cell. The transmission may be performed in response to a corresponding request transmitted by the radio network controller to another radio network controller which serves the corresponding radio cell. When the radio network controller has received the load information of the cell controlled by the other radio network controller, it may use the load information for deciding on a load status of the radio cell. Thereby, the resource management of radio network is more efficient and the load is maintained balanced among different cells, wherein a possible situation of cell congestion and high interference is avoided.

Abstract: A method of establishing a communication in a mobile communication system includes two steps. The mobile communication system includes a core network and at least one user equipment connected thereto via a radio access network. The method includes providing at least two types of domain for carrying a predetermined datastream for the communication in the core network. The method also includes providing one of the types of domain for carrying the predetermined datastream in the radio access network.

Abstract: The invention concerns signalling methods in cellular telecommunication systems, especially in so called third generation cellular systems, such as the UMTS system. In the inventive method the network checks, if the mobile station is in or is about to enter into such a state, in which the mobile station needs a c-RNTI, and if that is the case, the c-RNTI is indicated to the mobile station. Preferably, the indication is effected by attaching the c-RNTI identifier to a message, which causes the change of the mobile station to the state, in which the mobile station needs the c-RNTI identifier.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for cell selection in a cellular telecommunication system. According to the invention, cell identification information is attached as a parameter to an RRC message initiating the state change of the mobile station to the cell-connected state. Advantageously, the network selects a cell to be suggested as the cell for use by the mobile station in the cell-connected state, and the network indicates said cell by attaching cell identification as a parameter to said RRC message. Consequently, the mobile station may make the final selection of the cell, and indicate the selected cell to the network by attaching cell identification information as a parameter to a second RRC message, such as the response message to the RRC message initiating the state change.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method, system and an interconnecting handler for sending connection-oriented or connectionless data between two endpoints in a protocol architecture. The transport protocol in the protocol architecture is in a preferred embodiment the Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP). The present invention allows the setup and release of a connection when using a simplified protocol stack which is able to provide the same kind of services without using peer-to-peer messages like SCCP or SUA use. The present invention also enables discrimination between connection-oriented and connectionless services without peer-to-peer signalling.

Abstract: The invention concerns signalling methods in cellular telecommunication systems, especially in so called third generation cellular systems, such as the UMTS system. In the inventive method the network checks, if the mobile station is in or is about to enter into such a state, in which the mobile station needs a c-RNTI, and if that is the case, the c-RNTI is indicated to the mobile station. Preferably, the indication is effected by attaching the c-RNTI identifier to a message, which causes the change of the mobile station to the state, in which the mobile station needs the c-RNTI identifier.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of ciphering data transmission in a radio system, and to a user equipment using the method, and to a radio network subsystem using the method. The method includes the steps of: (602) generating a ciphering key; (604A) producing a ciphering mask in a ciphering algorithm using the ciphering key as an input parameter; (604B) using a logical channel specific parameter or a transport channel specific parameter as an additional input parameter to the ciphering algorithm; and (606) producing ciphered data by applying the ciphering mask to plain data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, system and network element for addressing a server related to a cell in a radio access network. A server identification identifying said server is added to a setup response message transmitted from a drift controller functionality to serving controller functionality. The server identification is then used at the serving controller functionality to derive the address of the server. Thus, the correct server can be addressed and dynamic network configurations can be allowed at reduced delay and processing requirements.

Abstract: An automatic repeat request mechanism (such as Type II/III hybrid ARQ) which includes (soft or hard) combining of initially transmitted and retransmitted versions of a packet, is provided for retransmission of erroneous packets. According to the present invention, in association with each retransmission, there is outband signaling from a transmitter to a receiver that unambiguously indicates when, e.g. the exact time or physical location, the first transmission of the packet was carried out, so that it is possible to combine the retransmitted version with the previous version(s) of the packet. Soft combining requires that the initial packet and the retransmitted packet be identical. In an embodiment of the invention, in order to overcome this problem, the information that needs to be changed between the initial transmission and the retransmission(s) of a packet is sent outband with other outband signaling information.

Abstract: A frame control method and apparatus is described for controlling a transport frame used for transmitting a data unit via a dedicated channel between network elements of a communication system having different types of connections. The frame type coding of the transport frame is selected in accordance with a connection type of the dedicated channel, such that a connection type specific frame length, dimension and/or segmentation is achieved. This allows an efficient usage of transmission resources, wherein an overhead of control information for the transmission of the data units is achieved.

Abstract: A communication system, said system arranged to provide communication coverage over an area, said system comprising a plurality of first means, each of said first means controlling at least one parameter and/or configuration setting with respect to an area smaller than said coverage area and second means for receiving information from a plurality of said plurality of first means and for controlling at least one parameter and/or configuration setting with respect to the area associated with at least one of said plurality of said plurality of first means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for managing a connection of a mobile element to a network, the mobile element having at least one user plane connection for transmitting user traffic from and/or to the mobile element, and at least one control plane connection for signaling connection of the mobile element to a radio access network. When a relocation of the connection(s) of the mobile element is to be performed, only the user plane connection(s) is relocated, and the control plane connection(s) is maintained unchanged. The connections are Iu interface connections, i.e. the control plane is to an Iu control plane of a radio access controlling means, and the user plane is an Iu user plane of the radio access controlling means.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a virtual radio access network access server (RNAS) which is able to operate as an interworking unit between the base stations and other radio access elements as well as core network. Specifically, unlike according to the present scenario of the radio access network in which the functionalities of RNC and BSC have been implemented in the separate elements thus significantly increasing the number of network elements that has to be logically connected to the core network and/or to other radio access networks, the present invention is designed to reduce the amount of said elements.

Abstract: The present invention describes a novel method, radio access node and system for specifying and interpreting identifiers in a telecommunications system. In the method of the present invention, an RNC identifier extension element extending the RNC identifier is created and one or more radio access network nodes are specified with the RNC identifier and RNC identifier extension element extending the RNC identifier in the first and/or second interface instance. In a preferred embodiment, the RNC identifier and RNC identifier extension element extending the RNC identifier specify a radio network access server and an IP base station in the second interface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and arrangement for performing a cell update procedure in a cellular communications system. The cellular communication system comprises a plurality of cells, and a first and a second network controllers. A station is initially on a first cell controlled by the first controller and then in a second cell controlled by the second controller. When changing from one cell to another the station sends cell update information and other information to the second controller which then stores the received other information and send to the first controller a message indicating that information has been received at the second controller from the station. A network element for use in the above method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A communication system covering an area, said system comprising a plurality of first means, each of said first means being arranged to control the allocation of channels in a part of said area, at least one of said area, at least one of said first means being arranged to send information relating to channel allocation in the part of the area associated with said at least one first means to at least one other of said first means, said at least one other of said first means being arranged to take into account said received information when controlling the allocation of channels in the part of the area associated with said at least one other first means.

Abstract: A method for use in a network covering a region, said region comprising a plurality of areas, a user being assigned to at least oen of said area and having associated therewith a plurality of candidate areas to which the user may be assigned, said method comprising the steps of receiving information identifying said plurality of candidate areas; estimating for each candidate area a parameter, said parameter assuming that said user is assigned to said candidate area; and prioritising said plurality of candidate areas which takes into account the estimated value of said parameter.

Abstract: An automatic repeat request mechanism (such as Type II/III hybrid ARQ) which includes (soft or hard) combining of initially transmitted and retransmitted versions of a packet, is provided for retransmission of erroneous packets. According to the present invention, in association with each retransmission, there is outband signaling from a transmitter to a receiver that unambiguously indicates when, e.g. the exact time or physical location, the first transmission of the packet was carried out, so that it is possible to combine the retransmitted version with the previous version(s) of the packet. Soft combining requires that the initial packet and the retransmitted packet be identical. In an embodiment of the invention, in order to overcome this problem, the information that needs to be changed between the initial transmission and the retransmission(s) of a packet is sent outband with other outband signaling information.

Abstract: Methods and systems for setting-up channels in third generation (3G) communication systems that utilize wideband, code division multiple access signaling protocols including the reserving of a branch of the channelisation code tree to set-up the channels. By reserving a branch of the tree, the channels can be automatically coded using the pre-reserved codes in the branch which eliminates the need for separate verification procedure to be performed to determine whether there are enough transport layer resources available to accommodate the new channel and whether the new channel will disturb or otherwise interfere with current channel data transport. Since the new channels are set-up using reserved codes, the transport layer resources already exist to accommodate the new channels and there can be no chance of existing channel interference.