Abstract: A mobile radio communication system and method of initiating a circuit-switched service at a mobile station over a System Architecture Evolution (SAE) core network using packet-switched communications between the mobile station and the SAE core network is provided. The method includes communicating service handling information between a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) and the mobile station through a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the SAE core network; sending instructions from the MSC for setting up the circuit-switched service through a Media Gateway, coupled to at least one network external to the SAE core network; providing packet-switched addressing information for the Media Gateway to the mobile station; and initiating the circuit-switched service at the mobile station over the SAE core network and through the Media Gateway.

Abstract: A GSM, UMTS or LTE mobile telecommunications network is disclosed. In addition to the conventional radio access network comprising the base stations, one or more additional access points may be provided. An access point is typically connected to the network core by an IP transport broadband connection. The access point is configured to appear to the mobile terminal as a conventional base station. Arrangements are disclosed which allow the network to more simply route mobile terminating calls to a mobile terminal in a network including home base stations. Other arrangements are disclosed which allow the network to verify the validity of a mobile terminal accessing the telecommunications network using a home base station, and correspondingly the validity of the home base station to register itself as serving a given UE.

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: A method and apparatus for temporarily disabling a mobile terminal which is associable with a mobile telecommunications network for obtaining communication services therefrom is described. A base station simulator (20) is provided which transmits a signal for causing the mobile terminal (1) to register with the base station simulator (20). For example, this signal may be transmitted at a power higher than the base stations (3,4,5) of PLMNs in the area around the mobile terminal. The base station simulator (20) then transmits a message to cause the mobile terminal (1) to be temporarily disabled from communicating with the network. For example, the message may force the mobile terminal to perform a Location Area Update and/or a Routing Area Update.

Abstract: An SAE/LTE or 4G cellular telecommunications network is disclosed which comprises a plurality of eNodeBs and a network core. A plurality of mobile telecommunications devices are registered with the network and communicate with the network core via the eNodeBs. At least one relay is provided between the eNodeB and the mobile telecommunications devices to extend the radio coverage provided by the eNodeB. Radio Resource Control signalling is tunnelled between the mobile telecommunications device and the relay. A Relay Resource Control signalling protocol is additionally provided for tunnelling signalling between the relay and the node. One or more further relays may be provided in a communication path between the first-mentioned relay (the controlling relay) and the eNodeB.

Abstract: A mobile or cellular telecommunications network includes a plurality of terminals which are registered. The terminal may be fixed in position, such as a terminal in a vending machine. Alternatively, the terminal may be fixed to a vehicle used for sending an SOS message when the vehicle is involved in an accident. The terminal may be immobile, and therefore does not need to continually advise the network of its location. The terminal may not receive incoming calls or other communications. The terminals therefore may not require paging by the network. In the embodiments described, such terminals are assigned a special terminal type identifier which indicates to the network that these terminals do not require paging. The way in which the network interacts with the terminals is adjusted so that signaling to perform location updates is eliminated or at least reduced.

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 bv 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 method of controlling selection of a data transmission network node, such as a base station, node B, eNodeB, GGSN or LTE PDN-GW, for a mobile device in a telecommunications network is disclosed. The mobile telecommunications network includes a plurality of mobility management nodes, such as SGSN and LTE MME. When the mobile terminal moves from a first one of the mobility management nodes to a second of the nodes, it is determined at the second node whether to cause the mobile terminal to re-select a data transmission network node. The determining step may be performed in response to a periodic routing area/periodic tracking area update request generated by the mobile terminal or in response to the mobile terminal being in an idle communication state. When the data transmission network node is re-selected, a data transmission network node that is relatively geographically near to the mobile terminal is selected.

Abstract: The invention relates to operating a Machine-Type Communication (MTC) device for communication with a cellular radio network. A transmission is made from the MTC device to the cellular radio network to register the MTC device with the cellular radio network. The transmission includes a message from the MTC device to the cellular radio network, identifying the MTC device as an MTC device to the cellular radio network. Also, the MTC device has an associated HPLMN. An instruction is received at the MTC device from the network not to make a transmission from the MTC device for accessing the network. The instruction specifies a criteria for the MTC device's HPLMN or preferred list of networks. The MTC Device compares the criteria with the HPLMN associated with the MTC device and avoids making a transmission to access the network for a period of time based on the result comparing step.

Abstract: In a mobile or cellular telecommunications network a single tunnel between nodes 7, 11, 15 and 19 of the network is established to transmit data on a plurality of bearers. Each bearer transmits data relating to a particular service. The respective bearers may be identified by identification data. The identification data may indicate the priority of the data in the particular bearer. The identification data may indicate the DiffServ Service Class, DSSC, as defined in RFC 4594.

Abstract: Controlling access by a User Equipment (UE) to a cellular network may be effected by: receiving an instruction at the UE from a base station of the cellular network regarding transmission by the UE over a Random Access Channel (RACH) of the cellular network; and controlling when transmissions are made from the UE over the RACH, on the basis of the received instruction. In some cases, a transmission over the RACH may be made in response to the received instruction, which gives permission for the UE to transmit if it has data to send. In other cases, the instruction specifies a Group Identifier, which is compared with a Group Identifier specific to the UE and transmission over the RACH may be avoided based on the comparison. In particular, the UE may be a Machine Type Communication device.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns methods and systems for network communications. In one example of such a method, respective groups of cells are first allocated to respective location regions. Next, respective indicators are received from various devices, indicating the identity of the cell occupied by the corresponding device. Additionally, a database is maintained that includes information concerning the location region occupied by each device. In operation, when a device switches from a radio access network to another access network, the other access network receives the indicator of the identity of the cell occupied by the device and, in dependence thereon, selects the location region which the device is deemed to occupy by a core network.

Abstract: A method and system for routing a voice connection over a cellular network to a mobile station is disclosed. The cellular network comprises a plurality of base stations, some of which have capability to provide the voice connection to the mobile station using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). A voice connection for the mobile station is identified at an Application Server of the cellular network. A request message is sent from the Application Server to a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), or Home Location Register (HLR), of the cellular network. The request message requests an indication ds to whether the mobile station is being served by a base station having capability to provide a voice connection using VoIP.

Abstract: The mobile telecommunications network (n) has at least one mobile terminal (1) registered therewith. The network (n) has an active communication state with the mobile terminal (1) and an inactive communication state with the mobile terminal (1). Means Q; V for calculating an indication of the movement of the mobile terminal (1) within the network (n) in each of the states is provided. One embodiment is characterised in that, when the communication changes from a first of the states to a second of the states, the mobility indication calculated in the first of the states is used in the second of the states. In another embodiment, the indication of movement of the mobile terminal is calculated periodically at a time interval (CMCL). A value (DRX Cycle Length) which determines this time interval (CMCL) is transmitted by the network (n) to the mobile terminal (1).

Abstract: A mobile station is operated within at least one radio network having a plurality of base stations. Only some of the plurality of base stations support a Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP, service. The mobile station is registered with a first base station of the plurality of base stations. The mobile station may be registered with a second base station. The mobile station determines that one of the first base station and the second base station has functionality to support VoIP and the other does not. A Routing Area Update Request message or Tracking Area Update Request message is sent from the mobile station to the second base station in response to determining support for VoIP.

Abstract: A mobile radio communication system and method of initiating a circuit-switched service at a mobile station over a System Architecture Evolution (SAE) core network using packet-switched communications between the mobile station and the SAE core network is provided. The method includes communicating service handling information between a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) and the mobile station through a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the SAE core network; sending instructions from the MSC for setting up the circuit-switched service through a Media Gateway, coupled to at least one network external to the SAE core network; providing packet-switched addressing information for the Media Gateway to the mobile station; and initiating the circuit-switched service at the mobile station over the SAE core network and through the Media Gateway.

Abstract: A mobile telecommunications network includes a core network and a plurality of eNode Bs. A mobile terminal communicates with the core network via one of the eNode Bs. In an embodiment, when the mobile terminal is in a connected state and there is a pause in data transfer, during which the mobile terminal is handed over from one eNode B to another eNode B, the first eNode B informs the new eNode B of the pause in data transmission so that an optimal length of the pause in data transmission can be maintained before the idle state is entered. In another embodiment, an element of the telecommunications network stores a history of movement of the mobile terminal and passes this to a new eNode B. In another embodiment, when handover occurs, the first eNode B provides the new eNode B with radio quality information relating to the mobile terminal.

Abstract: A method of routing legacy messages between a message centre and a mobile telecommunications device registered with a mobile telecommunications network, which mobile telecommunications network includes a plurality of base stations each serving a plurality of mobile telecommunications devices, and a plurality of mobility management entities, each serving a plurality of said base stations, the mobility management entities (being adapted to communicate using a legacy protocol with a legacy network for routing the legacy messages between the message centre and the mobile telecommunications device via the legacy network. A legacy message interworking function communicates with the mobility management entities using the legacy protocol and directly routes messages between the mobility management entities and the message centre without routing the messages via the legacy network.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns systems and methods for location updating in communications networks. In one example, when a device initiates a connection to an access network, by way of which a communications network is adapted to provide core network GSM functions to devices registered therewith over a non-GSM bearer, a core network interrogates the device to obtain, if available, data indicative of the cell occupied thereby, interrogates the core network to obtain, if available, an indicator of the identity of the cell occupied by the device, obtains, if available, data indicative of the location of the access point with which the device communicates, and, in dependence on that location, selects an access controller for communicating with the access point or instructs the device to attempt to connect to the GSM radio access network.