Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (publ)

Ros-Marie Furtenback

Tomas Nylander

Jan Gjärdman

Magnus Hallenstål

Jari Tapio Vikberg

Jan Holm

Maurizio Iovieno

Jörgen Axell

Michael Ranjel

Francesco Attanasio

Biagio Maione

Hans Gundersen

Jan Lindquist

Ulrik Wahlberg

Jan Sjölund

Magnus Hallenst&aring;l

Magnus Hallenstál

Jan Alvar Gjãrdman

Martin Hänström

Jan Alvar Gj&auml;rdman

The present invention relates to handover in a communications system, and more especially it relates cell change using Iu-interface dependent neighbor-cell lists, particularly in a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS or WCDMA system.

Apparatus and methods for improved handover in multi-operator shared radio access network communications systems

A method and apparatus for performing Lawful Interception in a communications network. An Access Transfer Control Function (ATCF) receives an activation message instructing lawful interception. The activation message includes a subject identity. The ATCF sends intercept related information to a Mediation Function at a Lawful Intercept node. The intercept related information relates to a communication session in which the subject participates.

Lawful interception in a communications network

A method and apparatus for indicating to a node in an IMS network a transfer between two endpoints. A node in a first network determines that a communication session is to be transferred from a first endpoint to a second endpoint. The node includes an indication of at least one of the endpoints, and an explicit communication transfer indicator, in a message. The message is then sent towards the node in the IMS network. This allows the node in the IMS network to determine that a transfer has taken place and, if necessary, take further action.

Indicating transfer in an IMS network

The combination of narrowband applications with broadband transport may be enabled by implementing a hybrid switch capable of operating as a narrowband switch, a broadband switch, and/or a combination narrowband/broadband switch. The hybrid switch may be initially installed/activated as a narrowband switch in order to operate with a network of all or mostly all narrowband switches. Eventually, the hybrid switch may be used entirely as a broadband switching mechanism when operated with a network of all or mostly all broadband switches. In the interim, the hybrid switch may be operated in a narrowband or a broadband mode on a communication-by-communication basis, for example, depending on the capabilities of the node or nodes to be used in establishing a given communication. The hybrid switch may include both broadband (e.g., ATM) and narrowband (e.g., STM) switching components.

Combining narrowband applications with broadband transport

ATM is used as a transport and switching mechanism in a hybrid STM/ATM network while the signaling remains normal narrowband signaling. The narrowband signaling is transported on permanent paths over ATM connections, and the narrowband speech channels are transported on ATM and switched on a 'Per call basis' (on-demand) through an ATM switch. A translator formats a call-setup-related signaling message into ATM cells so that the signaling message can be routed through an ATM switch to a circuit switched (STM) node. The circuit switched node (PSTN/ISDN) sets up a physical connection for the call and generates a further signaling message therefor that relates to the physical connection. The ATM switch routes an ATM cell-formatted version of the further signaling message to another ATM switch over an ATM physical interface. Thus, the ATM switch switches both narrowband traffic and signaling for the call over the ATM physical interface.

The combination of narrowband applications with broadband transport is enabled by combining a first node having narrowband ability with a second node having broadband ability in which call control functionality of the first node is provided to the second node. Both the first node and the second node have connection control functionality for switching data information of a given call. However, the broadband second node receives signaling information from the narrowband first node, which has call control functionality, over one or more links to enable the second node to switch a call in accordance with determined call control instructions. The combination of the narrowband first node and the broadband second node results in a hybrid switch that is capable of operating with both synchronous transfer mode (STM) networks and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks.

A hybrid arrangement allows an existing circuit switched telephony network to be deployed on a packet switched network. The circuit switched underlying transport network is replaced with that of an IP based package switched network, while the circuit switched infrastructure, such as terminals, telephone exchanges and the like are retained. Both a subscriber and a local telephone exchange are connected to, and separated by, an IP based packet switched network, such as the Internet. Signalling between the subscriber and exchange are effected using a standard user to network protocol, such as V5.1 for PSTN and ISDN BRI or DSS1 for ISDN PRI. This standard user network is overlaid on an IP based network protocol, such as TCP or UDP on IP.

IP based telephone system

A mobile telecommunications network is proposed with an access network portion () having several base station systems () that can communicate with a core network portion (). The base station systems are adapted to communicate with mobile terminals () over a licensed public mobile network air interface and with the core network portion over a predetermined network interface. The network also includes at least one local base station system () that is arranged to communicate with the core network portion over the predetermined network interface. This local base station system is further adapted to communicate with mobile terminals over an unlicensed radio interface (). The local base station system makes use of an existing fixed network based on IP.

Mobile communication network

The combination of narrowband applications with broadband transport may be enabled with a tri-level nodal system in which a narrowband node (e.g., a telecommunications node) may provide switching intelligence to the switching fabric of multiple broadband nodes (e.g., media gateways). The switching intelligence is provided via an intermediate node (e.g., mediation logic) that emulates a switch interface for the narrowband node and translates circuit-based addresses/routing instructions to packet-based addresses/routing instructions. This translation equates to a mapping of address(es) in a first address space to address(es) in a second address space in order to utilize the address(es) of the second address space for propagating communications on a broadband transport mechanism.

ATM is used as a transport and switching mechanism in a hybrid STM/ATM network ( ), while the signaling remains normal narrowband signaling. The narrowband signaling is transported on permanent paths over ATM connections, and the narrowband speech channels are transported on ATM and switched on a &ldquo;per call basis&rdquo; (on-demand) through an ATM switch. The hybrid STM/ATM network has an access node ( ) which services narrowband terminals and which generates a signaling message in connection with call setup. A translator ( ) formats the first signaling message into ATM cells so that the first signaling message can be routed through an ATM switch ( ) to a circuit switched (STM) node ( ). The circuit switched node (PSTN/ISDN) sets up a physical connection for the call and generates a further signaling message for the call, the further signaling message pertaining to the physical connection. The ATM switch routes an ATM cell-formatted version of the further signaling message to another ATM switch over an ATM physical interface ( ). Thus, the ATM switch switches both narrow band traffic and signaling for the call over the ATM physical interface.

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Johanneshov, Sweden

Ros-Marie Furtenback