Abstract: A method for estimating the location of a terminal operating in a communication system having at least two networks having overlapping areas of coverage, each network supporting at least one method for estimating the location of the terminal, and the terminal being in communication with a first one of the networks, the method comprising: assessing which of the networks is likely to form the more accurate estimate of the location of the terminal; and if that is the first one of the networks, estimating the location of the terminal by means of the first one of the networks, and if that is a second one of the networks, handing over the terminal to the second one of the networks and estimating the location of the terminal by means of the second one of the networks.

Abstract: A communication network is established by a connection to a user terminal that is capable of roaming amongst a plurality of serving areas. The network includes a controller for each serving area capable of routing a connection to a location covered by that serving area. If a controller serving the user terminal is faulty, a home database, which stores a plurality of identities of other controllers, is able to route the connection to the user terminal by selecting one of the other controllers that is valid.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel and improved method for managing in a single location the ciphering keys and algorithms used for encrypting or ciphering the communications of a specific mobile station with multiple core networks or core network entities. Further another aspect of the invention is that the management location is movable as the mobile station moves within the radio access network.

Abstract: A communication network system is disclosed, which comprises at least two different types of radio access networks attached to a core network. In the network system, a subscriber communicates via a first radio access network with the core network which forces handover of the subscriber to another type of radio access network on the basis of operator specific criteria.

Abstract: A method in a communication system is disclosed. In the method a procedure for setting up a communication link between a first user equipment and a second user equipment via a communications network is initiated. Information regarding at least two modes of communication that can be used for communication via the communication link is signalled between the first and second user equipment. An indicator regarding a mode to be used for the communication is also signalled between the first user equipment and the second user equipment. After the signalling steps, a procedure for setting the mode of communication in accordance with the indicator is initiated in at least in one of the user equipment. According to an alternative embodiment signalling for reserving a possibility for at least tow different communication modes occurs between elements of the communication system.

Abstract: A method in a communication system is disclosed. In the method a procedure for setting up a communication link between a first user equipment and a second user equipment via a communications network is initiated. Information regarding at least two modes of communication that can be used for communication via the communication link is signalled between the first and second user equipment. An indicator regarding a mode to be used for the communication is also signalled between the first user equipment and the second user equipment. After the signalling steps, a procedure for setting the mode of communication in accordance with the indicator is initiated in at least in one of the user equipment. According to an alternative embodiment signalling for reserving a possibility for at least tow different communication modes occurs between elements of the communication system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for performing a location update of a user equipment in a mobile network, wherein it is decided on the basis of the result of a negotiation with an old location register whether to use an identification information obtained from the old location register or to retrieve the identification information from a user database. Accordingly, whenever a fall-back to a protocol version not supporting the required identification information is determined, the identification information is retrieved from the user database, to thereby guarantee that the correct identification information is used in the new location register. The identification information may comprise security or authentication parameters.

Abstract: A method for performing an inter-system handover of a user terminal in a telecommunications network comprising a first telecommunications system operable according to a first protocol and comprising a first service subsystem and a first access subsystem and a second telecommunications system operable according to a second protocol and comprising a second service subsystem and a second access subsystem; the user terminal storing capability data indicative of the user terminal's capabilities for communication with the service subsystems and the access subsystems.

Abstract: A method for performing an inter-system handover of a user terminal in a telecommunications network comprising a first telecommunications system operable according to a first protocol and comprising a first service subsystem and a first access subsystem and a second telecommunications system operable according to a second protocol and comprising a second service subsystem and a second access subsystem; the user terminal storing capability data indicative of the user terminal's capabilities for communication with the service subsystems and the access subsystems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a controller for a radio communication system. The system comprises a plurality of location areas. The controller serves said location areas and mobile stations within said location areas. In accordance with the method a request for initiation of location area information update proceedings is received at the controller. The controller then verifies whether the mobile station is subjected to a simultaneous paging procedure. If a simultaneous paging procedure is detected, the location area information update proceedings are interrupted and an acknowledgement message is generated and transmitted, said message informing the mobile station that the location area information update proceedings are completed.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data between first and second network entities in a communications network, the method including, transmitting from the first network entity an establishment message providing a first indication which indicates whether the first network entity is capable of handling extended messages, receiving the message at the second network entity and returning to the first network entity an establishment response which provides the first indication in respect of the second network entity, and transmitting a data message from the first network entity to the second network entity, the data message selectively being an extended message in dependence on the first indication received in the response message, the data message further providing a second indication which indicates whether or not the data message is an extended message.

Abstract: A communication network is established by a connection to a user terminal that is capable of roaming amongst a plurality of serving areas. The network includes a controller for each serving area capable of routing a connection to a location covered by that serving area. If a controller serving the user terminal is faulty, a home database, which stores a plurality of identities of other controllers, is able to route the connection to the user terminal by selecting one of the other controllers that is valid.

Abstract: A method for maintaining association between switching units in a network includes the steps of determining that a call is to be routed via a base station, routing units, and a switching unit. The call is then routed via the base station, at least one routing unit, a routing link, and a switching unit. An association message is transmitted to the switching unit to inform it of an address of an additional switching unit. A mobile station within a coverage area of the base station is capable of communicating with the switching units, and elements of the system are configured to address the additional switching unit to determine whether the mobile station is communicating via an appropriate path.

Abstract: A method for indicating a mobile station's (MS) location. A first radio network controller, RNC, acts as the mobile station's serving RNC (SRNC), for reporting the mobile station's location to the core network (CN). A second RNC acts as the mobile station's drift RNC (DRNC), for maintaining a radio connection with the mobile station. In response to fulfillment of at least one criterion in a first set of criteria, the mobile station (MS) sends location information about its location to the second RNC (DRNC) which forwards the location information to the first RNC (SRNC) for reporting to the core network (CN). There is also a second set of criteria for transforming the location information. In response to fulfillment of at least one criterion in the second set, the first RNC (SRNC) sends falsified information about the mobile station's location to the core network (CN).

Abstract: A method for estimating the location of a terminal operating in a communication system having at least two networks having overlapping areas of coverage, each network supporting at least one method for estimating the location of the terminal, and the terminal being in communication with a first one of the networks, the method comprising: assessing which of the networks is likely to form the more accurate estimate of the location of the terminal; and if that is the first one of the networks, estimating the location of the terminal by means of the first one of the networks, and if that is a second one of the networks, handing over the terminal to the second one of the networks and estimating the location of the terminal by means of the second one of the networks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of changing a telecommunication channel in a mobile communication system for a given mobile station, which mobile station has a connection in progress, and the connection is provided with a channel on a radio connection between the mobile station and base station system and a telecommunication channel between the base station system and a mobile services switching center. In order to facilitate the changing of the telecommunication channel the method includes putting a new telecommunication channel between the mobile services switching center and the base station system, indicated by the handover message into use for the connection, and connecting the channel used to the new telecommunication channel in such a way that the radio channel remains unchanged irrespective of the change of the telecommunication channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for supporting a handover of a user equipment (15) from a first radio access network (11) to a second radio access network (13). In order to ensure the success of the handover, it is proposed that a core network stores at least for some user equipment (15) a list identifying all radio access networks, (11, 13) to which the respective user equipment (15) is allowed to be handed over. The core network can then transmit the information stored for a specific user equipment (15) to the first radio access network (11) (step c), so the first radio access network (11) can determine reliably before carrying out a handover by which other radio access network (13) a handover will be accepted. The invention equally relates to a core network, a network element of a core network and a network element of a radio access network that are designed for carrying out the proposed method.

Abstract: Method comprising the steps of, when a mobile station is connected in a call routed to a first part via a first base station, a first routing unit and a first switching unit and the mobile station is within the coverage area of a second base station; determining that the call is to be transferred to be routed to the first part via the second base station, a second routing unit, the first routing unit and the first switching unit: routing the call to the first part via the second base station, the second routing unit, a routing link, the first routing unit and the first switching unit; and transmitting an association message to the first switching unit to inform it of the address of a fourth switching unit; whereby the mobile station is capable of communicating with a second part via the fourth switching unit, and the first switching unit is capable of addressing the fourth switching unit for determining whether the mobile station is communicating with the second part via the fourth switching unit.

Abstract: A communications network comprising: a connection data store for storing: a list of addresses accessible in the network, and associated with each address a list of connection types indicating the types of connection that can be made to that address, and associated with at least some of the pairings of address and connection type a respective identity of a terminal connected in the network; a connection identification unit for, when a connection is to be made in the network, identifying and address to which the connection is addressed and a desired type of the connection; a connection controller for receiving from the connection identification unit the address and type of the desired connection, searching the connection data store for a pairing of that address and service type, and on finding that pairing determining the associated terminal identity; and a routing unit for receiving that terminal identity and routing the connection to that terminal.

Abstract: The basic idea of the invention is to separate the location area used in the RAN and the reporting area used when reporting the location of the mobile to the core network. The size of the location area is selected preferably in the RAN based on the services used by the subscriber to optimize the use of radio resources. A reporting area comprises one or a plurality of location areas. The size of a reporting area is selected based on the accuracy of location information needed in the core network. The RAN informs the core network when a subscriber moves out of his current location area. The core network and the radio access network negotiate the size of the reporting area prior to the activation of the service. Additionally, the reporting areas can be renegotiated when the service is in the active state.