Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (publ)

Per H A Willars

Bo S P Wallentin

Göran Rune

Ina Widegren

Lars Håkan Palm

Par Beming

In the context of a radio communications system that includes a core network coupled to a radio access network (RAN) and a plurality of mobile terminals, a connection may be established between the core network and one of the plurality of mobile terminals through the radio access network. A temporary RAN identifier is associated with the mobile terminal for the established connection. The temporary RAN identifier is used to assist in the transfer of information pertaining to the established connection or to the establishment of that connection through the radio access network. The radio access network includes a first RAN node associated with a first geographical coverage area and a second RAN node associated with a second geographical coverage area. When the mobile terminal moves from the first coverage area to the second coverage area, the connection is re-established through the RAN by way of the first and second RAN nodes using the temporary RAN identifier. The temporary RAN identifier in packets corresponding to the established connection is used to direct those packets to and from the first and second RAN nodes. The first and second RAN nodes analyze packets corresponding to the established connection including the temporary RAN identifier included in each packet. From analysis of the temporary RAN identifier, the first and second RAN nodes determine where packets are to be routed. The temporary RAN identifier is also advantageously employed to facilitate mobile terminal registration and paging operations.

Method and apparatus for transferring information between mobile terminals and entities in a radio access network

Efficient channel switching procedures are provided in a mobile communications system. A first channel is established to support a connection through a radio access network to a mobile station. Subsequently, if the first channel is no longer used to support that connection, a portion of that first channel is nevertheless maintained for a period of time. That way, if the first channel is again needed to support the connection to the mobile station, the maintained portion of the first channel is simply reactivated thereby reducing channel switching costs and delays associated with channel set-up and release operations. The portion of the first channel that is maintained may be associated with resources within the radio access network. Another portion of the first channel, corresponding for example to a radio channel resource supporting the connection between the radio access network and the mobile station, may be released after the first channel is no longer being used to support the connection in order to make that radio channel resource available for other mobile connections.

Efficient handling of connections in a mobile communications network

The present invention provides flexible radio access and resource allocation in a Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS). A UMTS Terrestrial access network (UTRAN) in response to a radio access bearer service request, flexibly and efficiently allocates resources necessary to support a communication with a mobile radio. The UTRAN includes plural base stations for communicating with mobile radios over a radio/air interface using radio channel resources allocated by a radio network controller connected to the base stations. External network service nodes interfacing with external networks communicate with the UTRAN over a radio access network interface. The UTRAN provides a radio access bearer service to the external network service nodes, and radio access bearers are dynamically assigned to radio channel resources by the UTRAN. When establishing each bearer, the UTRAN flexibly maps or allocates the radio access bearer to physical transport resources through the UTRAN and radio channel resources over the radio/air interface. In an example embodiment, the transport between nodes and the UTRAN includes an ATM connection, and a radio channel over the air interface includes one or more CDMA spreading codes. The mapping is based on one or more parameters including for example one or more quality of service parameters and/or current traffic conditions. In addition, if the one or more parameters changes during the life of the connection, the connection may be switched to a more appropriate channel type.

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Stockholm, Sweden

Per H A Willars