Abstract: A mobile communications system is proposed in which mobile communications devices are arranged to carry out signal measurements on the signals received from neighboring cells. The bandwidth over which these signal measurements are carried out is determined in dependence upon the bandwidths of the neighboring cells and is signalled to the mobile communication device by a serving base station.

Abstract: A home base station via which a plurality of mobile communication devices are connectable in a communication network, the home base station having an associated closed subscriber group (CSG) and including a unit for receiving a connection request from a mobile communication device wherein the connection request includes an indication of whether the mobile communication device is a member of the CSG associated with the home base station, a unit for monitoring congestion levels for the home base station and for indicating when the home base station is in a congested situation, a unit for determining if the mobile communication device requesting connection is the member of the CSG associated with the home base station from the indication of whether the mobile communication device is the member of the CSG associated with the home base station, and a unit for controlling access to the home base station.

Abstract: There is described a method and apparatus for managing security for a connection between a user device and a communications network comprising at least one base station and a core network. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving at the core network security capability information for the user device connecting to the communications network. Security capability information for the base station is then obtained from memory or from the base station itself. The security capability information for the user device and the security capability information for the base station is then processed in the core network to select a security policy for a connection between the user device and the base station and the selected security policy is transmitted to the base station.

Abstract: A communication system is described in which a home base station operating in a hybrid access mode is able to provide preferential connectivity to mobile communication devices that are members of a closed subscriber group associated with the home base station compared to mobile communication devices that are not members of the closed subscriber group.

Abstract: A user communications device, such as a mobile telephone, obtains and reports capability information to a serving base station. The capability information identifies if a neighboring UTRAN base station is HSPA/EDCH capable. The serving E-UTRAN base station can use this information to control handover decisions and load balancing performed thereby.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, from a user device, a global cell identifier of a cell in the second communications network, wherein information for forming a Location Area Identification ‘LAI’ can be obtained from the global cell identifier, and a Routing Area Code ‘RAC’ for use in identifying a target gateway component operating within a location area represented by the Location Area Identification ‘LAI’ and associated with the neighbor base station component, generating a handover request message in the first communications network, for handing over to the neighbor base station component operating as the target base station component, the handover request message incorporating the Routing Area Code ‘RAC’ and the Location Area Identification ‘LAI’, and transmitting the handover request message to facilitate the handover to the second communications network.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes one or more base stations able to divide resources between multiple network operators sharing the base station. A shared base station is configured to monitor a contribution to the load on the base station associated with network operators sharing the base station resources and to provide the determined contribution to the load to one or more other base stations for use in load balancing between the base stations.

Abstract: There is described a method of facilitating handover of a user device between a source base station component in a first communications network of a first network type and a target base station component in a second communications network of a second network type. The method includes determining an identifier of at least one target gateway component connected to the target base station component in the second communications network. A handover request message is then generated in the first communications network, the handover request message incorporating the identifier of the at least one target gateway component. The handover request message is then transmitted to the second communications network. Apparatus for performing this and other related methods is also described, for example eNodeB, gateway and user device components.

Abstract: A cellular communications system is provided in which a user device sends a Service Request to a Mobility Management Entity together with parameter data that depends on the service that is requested. The Mobility Management Entity then determines from the parameter value if AS security is required to provide the requested service. If it is not, then the Mobility Management Entity accepts the Request without providing security parameters for establishing another signalling radio bearer so that an existing signalling radio bearer is used to provide the requested service. If it is, then the Mobility Management Entity accepts the Request and provides security parameters for establishing another signalling radio bearer to be used in providing the requested service.

Abstract: A relay communications system is described in which a base station receives a request from an MME that an overload procedure be started or stopped. The base station inserts the identity of the MME into the request and forwards the modified request to a relay node. The relay node then initiates or terminates the overload procedure in accordance with the request for mobile telephones which the MME that made the request serves, but not for mobile telephones which the MME does not serve.

Abstract: A method of managing security for a connection between a user device and a communications network including a plurality of base stations and a core network, the method including receiving at the core network security capability information for the user device connecting to the communications network via a first base station, retrieving security capability information at the core network for the first base station from a database that stores security capability information for the plurality of base stations, processing in the core network the security capability information for the user device and the security capability information for the first base station to select a security policy for a connection between the user device and the first base station, and transmitting the selected security policy to the first base station.

Abstract: A user communications device, such as a mobile telephone, obtains and reports capability information to a serving base station. The capability information identities if a neighbouring UTRAN base station is HSPA/EDCH capable. The serving E-UTRAN base station can use this information to control handover decisions and load balancing performed thereby.

Abstract: A communication system is described in which a home base station operating in a hybrid access mode is able to provide preferential connectivity to mobile communication devices that are members of a closed subscriber group associated with the home base station compared to mobile communication devices that are not members of the closed subscriber group.

Abstract: A cellular communications system is provided in which a user device sends a Service Request to a Mobility Management Entity together with parameter data that depends on the service that is requested. The Mobility Management Entity then determines from the parameter value if AS security is required to provide the requested service. If it is not, then the Mobility Management Entity accepts the Request without providing security parameters for establishing another signalling radio bearer so that an existing signalling radio bearer is used to provide the requested service. If it is, then the Mobility Management Entity accepts the Request and provides security parameters for establishing another signalling radio bearer to be used in providing the requested service.

Abstract: A method of determining whether to accept a connection request from a user device requesting connection to a communications network is described. The method includes receiving a connection request from the user device, the connection request including a predefined identifier. A message requesting capability information associated with the user device is then generated and transmitted and the capability information is received in response. The method further includes determining whether to permit a connection to the user device based on the capability information and transmitting a message to release or reject or to establish the connection based on the determining. Apparatus for performing the method, including an eNodeB, gateway and user device are also described and corresponding methods of operation these components are provided.

Abstract: There is described a method of facilitating handover of a user device between a source base station component in a first communications network of a first network type and a target base station component in a second communications network of a second network type. The method includes determining an identifier of at least one target gateway component connected to the target base station component in the second communications network. A handover request message is then generated in the first communications network, the handover request message incorporating the identifier of the at least one target gateway component. The handover request message is then transmitted to the second communications network. Apparatus for performing this and other related methods is also described, for example eNodeB, gateway and user device components.

Abstract: A user communications device having active and idle states operates in a cellular communications network in which user communications devices communicate via network communications devices of cells of the network. History data identifying the cells in which the user communications device has been present whilst in the idle state is maintained. This history data is used by the user communications device or by a network communications device to enable adjustment of cell selection/reselection parameters for the user communications device in the active state.

Abstract: A mobile communications system is proposed in which mobile communications devices are arranged to carry out signal measurements on the signals received from neighbouring cells. The bandwidth over which these signal measurements are carried out is determined in dependence upon the bandwidths of the neighbouring cells and is signalled to the mobile communication device by a serving base station.

Abstract: There is described a method and apparatus for managing security for a connection between a user device and a communications network comprising at least one base station and a core network. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving at the core network security capability information for the user device connecting to the communications network. Security capability information for the base station is then obtained from memory or from the base station itself. The security capability information for the user device and the security capability information for the base station is then processed in the core network to select a security policy for a connection between the user device and the base station and the selected security policy is transmitted to the base station.

Abstract: A method and system are proposed for establishing a requested connection between a source node and a destination node in a telecommunications network. The system and method are described in relation to a 3GPP network, but are applicable to other types of networks. The method includes generating a source application identifier for the connection within the source node, retrieving a source node identifier for the source node and transmitting the source application identifier and the source node identifier to the destination to provide a source connection identifier for the requested connection between the source node and the destination node.