Abstract: A source base station method, a source base station, a target base station method, a target base station and computer program products are disclosed. The source base station method comprises: in response to receiving an identification message from a user equipment being served by the serving base station identifying a target base station detected by the user equipment, transmitting a prepare message to the target base station requesting the target base station allocate but not utilise resources to support communication with the user equipment; and transmitting an active set update message to the user equipment instructing the user equipment to add the target base station to its active set. In this way it can been seen that functionality employed during hard handover is used in order to provision the target base station, but that soft handover procedures are used towards the user equipment.

Abstract: A source base station method, a source base station, a target base station method, a target base station and computer program products are disclosed. The source base station method comprises: in response to receiving an identification message from a user equipment being served by the serving base station identifying a target base station detected by the user equipment, transmitting a prepare message to the target base station requesting the target base station allocate but not utilise resources to support communication with the user equipment; and transmitting an active set update message to the user equipment instructing the user equipment to add the target base station to its active set. In this way it can been seen that functionality employed during hard handover is used in order to provision the target base station, but that soft handover procedures are used towards the user equipment.

Abstract: A node suitable for use in a warning message delivery chain (1) in a telecommunication cellular network, comprising :a receiver for receiving a warning message (2), a state determiner for determining the state of a downstream node (3, 5, 5?, 7, 7?,9, 9?) among “ON” or “OFF”, a sender for sending said warning message (2) at least to any downstream node (3, 5, 5?, 7, 7?, 9, 9?) whose state is “ON”, a store for storing said warning message (2), a repeater for sending said stored warning message (12) to any downstream node (3, 5, 5?, 7, 7?,9, 9?) whose state is “OFF” during the sending of said warning message (2) by said sender, after the state of said downstream node (3, 5, 5?, 7, 7?, 9, 9?) returns back to “ON”.

Abstract: A femtocell arrangement comprises a plurality of femtocells Femto 1 to Femto 13 having coverage distributed over a region, such as, for example, an office. A border femtocell, Femto 3 or Femto 10, of said plurality has coverage at an entrance to the region and is arranged to operate at a higher transmit power level to provide a larger coverage area than that provided by neighboring femtocells. In addition, the border femtocell may be allocated a specific Primary Scrambling Code (PSC) to show its designation as a border femtocell. An approaching user equipment UE 1 or UE 2 tends to attach to the higher transmit power border femtocells. The Femto Gateway managing the connection is aware of the likelihood that an approaching UE will tend to attach to a border femtocell, and this is further confirmed by the use of a specific PSC. Hence, handover is expedited as the most suitable femtocells may be chosen as targets for handover.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes establishing, at a first base station, at least one interface with a second base station. The first and second base stations are associated with different network technologies, and at least one of the first and second base stations is a small cell base station. A small cell base station has a coverage area smaller than and at least partially overlapped by a coverage area of a macro base station. The method further includes one of (i) sending information from the first base station to the second base station over the interface, and (ii) receiving information at the first base station from the second base station over the interface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes establishing, at a first base station, at least one interface with a second base station. The first and second base stations are associated with different network technologies, and at least one of the first and second base stations is a small cell base station. A small cell base station has a coverage area smaller than and at least partially overlapped by a coverage area of a macro base station. The method further includes one of (i) sending information from the first base station to the second base station over the interface, and (ii) receiving information at the first base station from the second base station over the interface.

Abstract: A femtocell arrangement comprises a plurality of femtocells Femto 1 to Femto 13 having coverage distributed over a region, such as, for example, an office. A border femtocell, Femto 3 or Femto 10, of said plurality has coverage at an entrance to the region and is arranged to operate at a higher transmit power level to provide a larger coverage area than that provided by neighboring femtocells. In addition, the border femtocell may be allocated a specific Primary Scrambling Code (PSC) to show its designation as a border femtocell. An approaching user equipment UE 1 or UE 2 tends to attach to the higher transmit power border femtocells. The Femto Gateway managing the connection is aware of the likelihood that an approaching UE will tend to attach to a border femtocell, and this is further confirmed by the use of a specific PSC. Hence, handover is expedited as the most suitable femtocells may be chosen as targets for handover.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed whereby noise is introduced at one or more base stations in non-HSDPA cells into the uplink signal from one or more user devices. As a result, the apparent quality of the uplink channel in those cells will appear to be lower than the actual quality of that channel. The power control commands issued from the base station to the user device will, therefore, reflect this lower estimated channel quality and, as a result, the user device will follow power control commands from the base station in the HSDPA cell. Therefore, the transmit power of the user device will remain adequate to communicate with the base station in the HSDPA cell and, as a result, the UL and DL in the HSDPA cell will remain synchronized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed whereby noise is introduced at one or more base stations in non-HSDPA cells into the uplink signal from one or more user devices. As a result, the apparent quality of the uplink channel in those cells will appear to be lower than the actual quality of that channel. The power control commands issued from the base station to the user device will, therefore, reflect this lower estimated channel quality and, as a result, the user device will follow power control commands from the base station in the HSDPA cell. Therefore, the transmit power of the user device will remain adequate to communicate with the base station in the HSDPA cell and, as a result, the UL and DL in the HSDPA cell will remain synchronized.

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 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: 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: 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: 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.