Abstract: In one aspect of the instant invention, a method is provided for controlling a communications system that includes a mobile device, a first and second base station and a radio network controller. The method comprises establishing the first base station as a primary base station that communicates high speed data to the mobile device. A parameter associated with the first and a second base stations, such as signal strength or quality, is monitored, and a level one type signal is sent to the first and second base stations indicating that the second base station is the primary base station in response to the monitored parameter associated with the second base station exceeding the monitored parameter associated with the first base station.

Abstract: A method is provided of identifying which one of a plurality of femtocell base stations neighboring a first femtocell base station is to be the target for handover of a call connection with a user terminal from the first base station. The neighbor femtocell base stations use the same primary scrambling code as each other. The femtocell base stations use code-division multiple access, CDMA. Each of the neighbor femtocell base stations transmits a respective broadcast signal that include timing information such that each neighbor femtocell base station transmits a broadcast signal having different timing information to that of the other neighbor femtocell base stations. The user terminal receives broadcast signals, determines the timing information of at least one of the received broadcast signals and reports the timing information to the first femtocell base station. The first femtocell base station identifies the target femtocell base station for handover from the timing information.

Abstract: A method is provided of identifying which one of a plurality of femtocell base stations neighbouring a first femtocell base station is to be the target for handover of a call connection with a user terminal from the first base station. The neighbour femtocell base stations use the same primary scrambling code as each other. The femtocell base stations use code-division multiple access, CDMA. Each of the neighbour femtocell base stations transmits a respective broadcast signal that include timing information such that each neighbour femtocell base station transmits a broadcast signal having different timing information to that of the other neighbour femtocell base stations. The user terminal receives broadcast signals, determines the timing information of at least one of the received broadcast signals and reports the timing information to the first femtocell base station. The first femtocell base station identifies the target femtocell base station for handover from the timing information.

Abstract: In one embodiment of managing the use of channelization codes during soft handoff of a mobile station from a transferring network station to a candidate network station, a determination is made as to whether a field associated with an existing channelization code used by the candidate network station is unused and meets timing criteria associated with a corresponding field received by the mobile station from the transferring network station. Based on this determination, a channelization code for use by the candidate network station in communicating with the mobile station is assigned.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for assigning a channel in response to a request for service for a mobile station in a wireless communication network serving a plurality of regions, such as cells in a digital cellular network. The mobile station may be located in one of the plurality of regions. The method comprises determining a first indication of congestion on a forward access channel and a second indication of congestion on a random access channel and assigning at least one channel of a plurality of channels to the mobile station based on the determined first and second indications of congestion. Based on the first indication of congestion, a first threshold may be adjusted for the forward access channel and a second threshold may be adjusted based on the second indication of congestion on the random access channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for responding to changes in measurement of a system load in a spread spectrum communication system. Using a load control algorithm, for example, the spread spectrum communication system may handle sudden changes or variations, such as spikes or steps in system load measurements for an uplink and/or a downlink between a mobile unit and an access network. The load control algorithm determines whether a sudden variation of a measured system load is generated by a source not under a power control or is caused by a variation of a spread spectrum communication system load. A load control measure may be selectively applied to adjust one or more parameters associated with the system load.

Abstract: A method is provided of transmission of a data frame from a first station to a second station, in a code division multiple access (CDMA) telecommunications network. The network operates according to a hierarchical series of protocol processes including a physical layer process under the control of a radio link control (RLC) process. An indication of when a data frame is passed to the physical layer process for transmission to the second station is sent to the RLC process in the first station. Upon receipt of the indication the RLC process, a timer is started to time a predetermined period before again passing the data frame to the physical layer process for retransmission to the second station unless an acknowledgement of receipt from the second station is received.

Abstract: In the method provided, test transmissions between the mobile user terminal and base station antennas are made, and the received test transmissions processed to determine respective signal path quality for each of the base station antennas. Upon the determined signal path quality exceeding a first predetermined threshold, but being less than a second predetermined threshold higher than the first predetermined threshold, the mobile user terminal is connected to the corresponding base station antenna by control channels but not data channels so as to be time synchronised. Upon the determined signal path quality exceeding the second predetermined threshold, the mobile user terminal is connected to the corresponding base station antenna by both control channels and data channels so as to be call connected.

Abstract: A method is provided of transmitting a control message on a Forward Access Channel (FACH) from a base station in a network for mobile telecommunications in response to a Random Access Channel (RACH) message received from a mobile user terminal. The RACH message indicates to the base station a value of a parameter dependent upon signal attenuation between base station and mobile user terminal. The control message is transmitted repeatedly, the number of times transmission of the FACH control message is repeated being selected dependent upon the value of the parameter.

Abstract: In a UMTS network, each packet data service user requires a dedicated channel (DCH) to transmit at high data rates. However, the number of DCHs available is small due to code and power limitations. Thus many users will have to be allocated the same DCH on a time sharing basis. Such sharing will not impact the quality of service for users whose applications are not delay sensitive and whose traffic generation pattern toggles between transmit and idle states. Such applications include web browsing, FTP sessions and E-mail. The present invention discloses four algorithms that can be used to dynamically allocate DCH channels to a contending user based on the user's need according to its traffic generation.

Abstract: The transmission power is adjusted of a Forward Access Channel (FACH) from a base station to a mobile user terminal in a network for mobile telecommunications. The method comprises steps as follows. The base station sends a signal at a first transmission power level to the mobile user terminal. The mobile user terminal then sends a report of one or more parameter values dependent upon measured signal quality provided a predetermined reporting criterion is met. The base station then adjusts its transmission power to the mobile user terminal in consequence so as to maintain the measured signal quality within acceptable limits.

Abstract: A radio telecommunications network comprises a transmitter (2) and a receiver (4). The transmitter (2) is operative to send signals indicative of data, and the receiver (4) is operative to receive the signals (12) and decode the signals to determine the data. The receiver (4) comprises indicator means to send to the transmitter (2) an indication of whether data has been correctly determined, and the transmitter (2) is operative to retransmit at least some data not correctly determined. The receiver (4) further comprises a buffer (14) operative to store the determined data. The buffer (14) is operative to output the determined data at a predetermined rate.

Abstract: A method is provided of transmission of a data frame from a first station to a second station, in a code division multiple access (CDMA) telecommunications network. The network operates according to a hierarchical series of protocol processes including a physical layer process under the control of a radio link control (RLC) process. An indication of when a data frame is passed to the physical layer process for transmission to the second station is sent to the RLC process in the first station. Upon receipt of the indication the RLC process, a timer is started to time a predetermined period before again passing the data frame to the physical layer process for retransmission to the second station unless an acknowledgement of receipt from the second station is received.

Abstract: The transmission power is adjusted of a Forward Access Channel (FACH) from a base station to a mobile user terminal in a network for mobile telecommunications. The method comprises steps as follows. The base station sends a signal at a first transmission power level to the mobile user terminal. The mobile user terminal then sends a report of one or more parameter values dependent upon measured signal quality provided a predetermined reporting criterion is met.

Abstract: A method of releasing a connection between a mobile user terminal 22 and a first network 9 if a report of presence has not been received from the mobile user terminal by the first network 9 for a predetermined period. The predetermined period being selected to be shorter than otherwise upon the mobile user terminal 22 being determined both as being capable of communicating also with another type of network 6 for mobile telecommunications, and being in an area covered by a network of said another type such that handover to said network 6 of said another type is possible.

Abstract: A method is provided of transmitting a control message on a Forward Access Channel (FACH) from a base station in a network for mobile telecommunications in response to a Random Access Channel (RACH) message received from a mobile user terminal. The RACH message indicates to the base station a value of a parameter dependent upon signal attenuation between base station and mobile user terminal. The control message is transmitted repeatedly, the number of times transmission of the FACH control message is repeated being selected dependent upon the value of the parameter.

Abstract: A method is provided of communicating data over an interface from a base station of a network for mobile telecommunications to a base station controller. The base station controller is operative to control the base station. The method comprises storing user data and diagnostic data for transmission, selecting user data for transmission in preference to diagnostic data, and selecting diagnostic data traffic for transmission when no user traffic data is stored for transmission.

Abstract: A method is provided of providing to a mobile user terminal a set of measurement reporting criteria to be applied by the mobile user terminal in respect of a predetermined cell of a radio telecommunications network. The network comprises a plurality of cells and a controller. The method comprises the controller selecting the set of criteria from stored sets of criteria, one set of which is a default set for all cells under the control of the controller, and another set of which is a cell-specific set of criteria.

Abstract: A method is provided of selecting cells (18,22) of base stations (16,24) of a network for mobile telecommunications for soft-handover connection with a mobile user terminal (20) so as to provide at a first network node (14) multiple received representations of a data frame from the mobile user terminal (20) within a predetermined period. For each cell (18,22) delay due to transfer of a representation of the received data frame across interface(s) (28,30,8) between network nodes along a transfer path to said first network node (14) is estimated by determining the contribution to the delay caused by each interface along the transfer path. Cells (18,22) are selected dependent upon the associated delays.

Abstract: In a UMTS network, each packet data service user requires a dedicated channel (DCH) to transmit at high data rates. However, the number of DCHs available is small due to code and power limitations. Thus many users will have to be allocated the same DCH on a time sharing basis. Such sharing will not impact the quality of service for users whose applications are not delay sensitive and whose traffic generation pattern toggles between transmit and idle states. Such applications include web browsing, FTP sessions and E-mail. The present invention discloses four algorithms that can be used to dynamically allocate DCH channels to a contending user based on the user's need according to its traffic generation.