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 telecommunications network comprises a base station and a mobile station in use in call connection on at least one uplink channel for communicating user data. The base station is operative such that on receipt of a command to transfer to and/or add at least one other uplink channel for communicating user data, the at least one other uplink channel is allocated to the call connection after a predetermined period during which power level adjustment is undertaken to compensate for mobile station movement.

Abstract: Battery operated user equipment is disclosed for use in a radio telecommunications network, including means for monitoring the state of charge of the battery and means for communicating state of charge data to a base station during call set up. The battery data can be used to inform a caller that, for example, a called user's apparatus has reduced or limited battery capacity and thus that the expected duration of a call is limited.

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: In a UMTS, the AICH is arranged to send, in addition to a signal acknowledging that a preamble from a mobile is at an acceptable strength, an additional signal indicating that the mobile is not currently permitted to send its message; this may apply when the BTS does not have hardware resources available. If the BTS can predict when the hardware will become available, the additional signal can include a time out (T) after which the mobile system can send its message signal.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of allocating a channelisation code comprising, for each user, defining a path in the code tree based on a required range of spreading factors, selecting a node of the path in dependence on the currently required spreading factor; and reserving all nodes on the code tree in an upward and downward direction from the selected node, wherein the selected node for any user must not coincide with a node reserved by any other user.

Abstract: A method is provided of informing mobile user terminals (12) camped on a cell of a base station (8) of a radio telecommunications network that a service is unavailable, such that a mobile user terminal (12) desirous of said service is handed over to another cell which provides said service. The method comprises informing the terminals (12) that selectably at least one of circuit-switched services (4) and packet-switched services (6) are unavailable.

Abstract: A mobile for use in the UMTS is arranged, on activation to read the Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) for all available preamble signatures; to store the signatures in its processor; to read the Acquisition Indication Channel (AICH) for acquisition indicators sent to other mobiles; to store usage of other mobiles against each signature; and to select when required a signature the recorded usage of which is unlikely to cause collisions.

Abstract: In a data packet, e.g. a PDU of the UMTS, a length indicator field of variable granularity is created, depending on the exact length of the payload to be transmitted. An additional field is provided, a single bit in length, to indicate the granularity of the length indicator field. This increases the resolution of the header, whilst keeping low an overhead of extra field bits. The method comprises: assessing the length of the data to determine the appropriate units, from a plurality of possible units, in which the length should be expressed; setting the granularity field to define the appropriate units in which the length of the data is to be indicated; and setting the length indicator field to indicate the data length.

Abstract: In the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, a method of transport format combination selection is provided for directing data units for transmission from a buffer in the RLC layer to transport channels in the MAC layer. The method includes providing a set of information channels in the RLC layer for connection to the buffer and a set of transport channels in the MAC layer for transmission of the data units, selecting a subset of the information channels and a subset of the transport channels for interconnection, and selecting for each transport channel one or more information channels to be multiplexed on the transport channel. A mapping table and a transport block combination table are created as a result of prioritizing the selected transport channels according to a predetermined scheme in dependence on the characteristics of the information channels and then there from, determining the number of data units which may be transmitted in a timing interval.

Abstract: In a UMTS system, the AICH is arranged to send, in addition to signals acknowledging that a preamble (164) from a mobile (12) is at an acceptable strength, further signals (171, 176) acknowledging message signals (168, 178) from the mobile. Preferably the further signal (171) is a negative acknowledgement signal, indicating that a message (168) is corrupted. Application of the invention avoids the involvement of layer (2) in message acknowledgement.

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 practical and efficient persistency control for the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, comprising determining a persistency value for making random transmissions for access to the system, the method comprising: 1. determining for a system cell, the maximum allowable user equipment transmission power PMAX; 2. assessing the number in a current time interval of ongoing packet transmissions NCURRENT based upon a fraction &agr; of user equipment measured current transmission power Ptotal; 3. assessing the power available in a next time interval based upon the maximum allowable transmission power and the current transmission power, and determining therefrom a number of allowable new packets NNEXT in the next time interval; and 4. determining a persistency value p for transmission to user equipment in said cell, being a function of the number of ongoing packet transmissions NCURRENT and the number of allowable new packets NNEXT.

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 cellular mobile telephone network is disclosed in which a mobile station requests service in data modulated on a common random access channel (RACH) in a format associated with first a cell in which the mobile station is located. Base stations in cells neighbouring the first cell, are configured to demodulate the RACH message burst having the format associated with the first cell, and to pass the demodulated data to a radio network controller (RNC). This enables the average power required for a successful RACH transmission to be reduced.

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 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.