Control node handover in radio access network

Abstract

A telecommunications system () has a radio access network comprising plural control nodes () and inter-control node links (Iur) for connecting the plural control nodes. A handover selection function () makes a selection regarding which of plural connections handled by the radio access network should have control thereof moved from a first control node (e.g., current SRNC) to another of the plural control nodes (e.g., target SRNC) to alleviate congestion on an overloaded one of the inter-control node links. The selection includes a determination of a cost for each of the connections carried by the overloaded link. The cost of each of the connections carried by the overloaded link is a product of a number of inter-control links involved in the connection and an inter-control link bandwidth required by the connection. The handover selection function particularly determines a most costly one of the connections carried by the overloaded link, and further determines a target one of the plural control nodes to which the control of the most costly connection can be handed over. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the target control node is a control node involved in the candidate connection which is farthest from the first control node (e.g., current SRNC node).