Vodafone Group Plc.

Vodafone Espana, S.a.

Tim Frost

David Andrew Fox

Gavin Wong

Kyriakos Exadaktylos

Maria Diaz

Pasqueale Di Viesti

An SAE/LTE or 4G cellular telecommunications network is disclosed which comprises a plurality of eNodeBsand a network core. A plurality of mobile telecommunications devicesare registered with the network and communicate with the network corevia the eNodeBs. A joining relayand at least one other relayis provided between the eNodeBand the mobile telecommunications deviceto extend the radio coverage provided by the eNodeB. The joining relayanalyses the characteristics of the path between the joining relay and the eNodeBand selectively changes the path to optimise the path.

Telecommunications networks

A system and method for use in a telecommunications network may utilize Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS), specifically, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network may utilize MBMS and eHSPA technology. IP multicast connections directly between the eHSPA Node Bs and an IP address are utilized to reduce the amount of transport bearers that need to be established. Further, the RNC functionality for setting up an MBMS communication is divided between the eHSPA Node Bs and a legacy RNC, utilized as a CRNC. In particular, this arrangement enables the user plane to be effectively established from the enhanced node B, whilst still allowing the second RNC to have control of the control plane decisions. This therefore also allows the resources used in establishing the MBMS communication to be minimized.

EHSPA architecture

Growing community of inventors

Madrid, Spain

Tim Frost