Abstract: A method of non-real time software download in an IP-based mobile communication system with heterogeneous access technologies is based on the session initiation protocol (SIP). For download recovery in case of handover between a first and a second access networks using different access technologies while a software download session is ongoing, the SIP user agent associated with a handovering terminal, upon detecting the handover, sends, without releasing the ongoing session, a transfer request message to a SIP proxy server that has set up and is currently managing the download session, and that server can start operations necessary in order a new session is set up with the user agent in the new location, under the control of a proxy server entrusted with managing the new session, and download is resumed from said last received packet.

Abstract: Mass software download in a mobile communication system, in order to supply a plurality of terminals with the same download data, is performed as a multimedia broadcast/multicast service activated by the system when download data to be mass downloaded become available. The apparatus comprises a download management unit arranged to receive the software data to be downloaded from a service provider and provided with storage units for storing the download data and information about the class of terminal to which the software is to be offered, and a multimedia broadcast/multicast service centre connected with the download management unit and with a packet traffic entry node in the system. The service centre receives the download data and the information about the terminals, from said unit, to organizes the software data according to a multimedia broadcast/multicast service protocol and manages service provision.

Abstract: A method of non-real time software download in an IP-based mobile communication system with heterogeneous access technologies is based on the session initiation protocol (SIP). For download recovery in case of handover between a first and a second access networks using different access technologies while a software download session is ongoing, the SIP user agent associated with a handovering terminal, upon detecting the handover, sends, without releasing the ongoing session, a transfer request message to a SIP proxy server that has set up and is currently managing the download session, and that server can start operations necessary in order a new session is set up with the user agent in the new location, under the control of a proxy server entrusted with managing the new session, and download is resumed from said last received packet.