Abstract: In a third generation mobile telecommunications network, when a mobile is in a foreign network, packets are addressed to it by a home agent which changes the header so that the source address is the home agent address and the destination address is the Care of Address of the mobile. Identifier codes for the mobile node and correspondent node are included in the packet header, and tables of identifier codes and the correspondent nodes are retained by the home agent and sent to a foreign agent (FA COA working) or mobile node (CO-COA working) which readdress each received packet, to a higher layer or to an application, as appropriate. In this non-encapsulated mode of working, packets are not rejected by a firewall or by egress filtering.

Abstract: To deliver packets to the MAC of a roaming mobile in a seamless manner, a proxy ARP is set up, in addition to the usual ARP, and is informed of the COA and MAC address of the mobile. The proxy ARP then informs the last routing switch in the foreign network of the MAC address of the mobile.

Abstract: In the UMTS, resource reservation is provided by using unidirectional RSVP messages to set up a bi-directional PDP context. The MT 30 and a support node 24 can be arranged to compare incoming RSVP messages with any existing secondary PDP context, and if a match is found, no action is taken on the incoming message. The match is made by determining whether a flag is set. This eliminates “racing” when each end of an RSVP session sends an RSVP message.

Abstract: In a third generation telecommunications network, quality of service can be provided to a mobile in a foreign network by providing a quality of service session divided into a first section from the correspondent node (24) to the home network (50) and a second section from the home network (50) to the mobile node (28); a quality of service enquiry message is sent through both sections, but a quality of service response message is not returned in the first section until the response message from the second section has been received by the home network (50).

Abstract: Two-way resource reservation techniques for use in UMTS and other telecommunication systems. A determination is made as to whether a user requires resource reservations in both an uplink direction and a downlink direction within the system, and if the user requires such two-way resource reservations, a two-way protocol is implemented to establish the required resource reservations. The two-way protocol integrates resource negotiation procedures for both the uplink direction and the downlink direction so as to ensure that the required resource reservations are provided for both directions. The two-way protocol may be a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) based on a Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) resource negotiation procedure. The determination may be based on one or more flag bits which identify whether the user requires resource reservations for both the uplink and downlink directions.

Abstract: A telecommunications network having at least one radio network controller, a plurality of base stations and a user terminal. At least one base station is operative to receive from the user terminal data packets having an associated quality of service QoS class. The base station is operative to communicate the data packets to an associated radio network controller in accordance with an internet protocol IP by assigning an internet protocol IP QoS class dependent upon whether soft handover of the user terminal to another base station is occurring and/or QoS class.

Abstract: A method of sending data packets through a Multiple Protocol Label Switching MPLS network is provided. It comprises assigning to each packet a quality of service (QoS) class flag, then routing each packet through the MPLS network dependent on the QoS class flag assigned.

Abstract: A telecommunications network comprises of network resources including at least one service domain which has a user's terminal. There is a controller operative to control transmissions of a data stream from or to the user's terminal with a predetermined quality of service. The quality of service depends on the terms of a service level agreement between the user and the service domain, processed by the controller into a set of policies to be applied. The policies include dynamic selection and allocation of the network resources so as to transmit the data stream with the expected quality of service.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network, a method is provided of transmitting a data stream from a user's terminal in a first service domain to an end point in a second service domain. The data stream is transmitted according to procedures selected o as to provide the first user with a predetermined quality of service. The quality of service is determined dependent upon the terms of the service level agreement between the user and the first service domain, and service level agreements between service domains through which the data stream passes to reach the end point.

Abstract: In a UMTS operating UDP/IP, a first MPLS Edge Node is located in a GGSN 42 on one side of a CN 40, and a second MPLS Edge Node is located at the other side of CN 40 in either a SGSN 48 or a RNC 56, 58 or a node B 74.

Abstract: To deliver packets to the MAC of a roaming mobile in a seamless manner, a proxy ARP is set up, in addition to the usual ARP, and is informed of the COA and MAC address of the mobile. The proxy ARP then informs the last routing switch in the foreign network of the MAC address of the mobile.

Abstract: In the UMTS, resource reservation is provided by sending either the data object contents or the entire contents, of a QoS request in RSVP messages. The QoS request is piggybacked in PDP Context messages, and is passed transparently between MT 30 and GGSN 24 or SGSN 26.

Abstract: In a UTRAN for an all-IP UMTS, an RNC 26 is arranged to set up IP tunnels across the lub interface to the Node Bs 24 it controls, or across the lur interface to other RNCs 28. Selected transport channels pass through the IP tunnels, encapsulated in IP packets. The transport channels may be multiplexed, or dedicated IP tunnels may be set up for each selected transport channel.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network, RSVP services are controlled by a proxy server (12A or 34A). RSVP session set-up is prioritised by each request for a session containing a priority level; the proxy server checks whether network resources are sufficient for a new session and, if not, the proxy server closes a current RSVP session of lower priority. Optionally the network is a mobile network.

Abstract: In a third generation mobile telecommunications network, when a mobile is in a foreign network, packets are addressed to it by a home agent which changes the header so that the source address is the home agent address and the destination address is the Care of Address of the mobile. Identifier codes for the mobile node and correspondent node are included in the packet header, and tables of identifier codes and the correspondent nodes are retained by the home agent and sent to a foreign agent (FA COA working) or mobile node (CO-COA working) which readdress each received packet, to a higher layer or to an application, as appropriate.

Abstract: In a 3G telecom network, when a mobile wanders in a foreign network and a home agent (26) is allocated a Care of Address for the mobile, the home agent (26) also changes packet headers so that the destination address is the Care of Address, and there is a mobile node identifier field (50); the home agent maintains a mapping table of mobile nodes and mobile node identifiers. Route optimization is therefore provided. Quality of Service can be provided; when the mobile node sends a PATH message and a RSVP proxy server is built into the mobile node, the server changes the packet header source address to the mobile node Care of Address, to prevent misrouting of the RESV message to the home network.

Abstract: In a third generation telecommunications network, quality of service can be provided to a mobile in a foreign network by providing a quality of service session divided into a first section from the correspondent node (24) to the home network (50) and a second section from the home network (50) to the mobile node (28); a quality of service enquiry message is sent through both sections, but a quality of service response message is not returned in the first section until the response message from the second section has been received by the home network (50).

Abstract: In an EDGE system, an IP tunnel is provided between a BSC (16) and each BTS (18) which it supports; packets can then be tunneled across the circuit-switched Abis interface between the BSC and the BTS.

Abstract: In the UMTS, resource reservation is provided by using RSVP as a generic QoS signaling protocol and to activate PDP Context. The RSVP messages are filtered at either the GGSN 24 or the SGSN 26.

Abstract: In the UMTS, resource reservation is provided by using unidirectional RSVP messages to set up a bi-directional PDP context. The MT 30 and a support node 24 can be arranged to compare incoming RSVP messages with any existing secondary PDP context, and if a match is found, no action is taken on the incoming message. The match is made by determining whether a flag is set. This eliminates “racing” when each end of an RSVP session sends an RSVP message.