Relocation of serving radio network controller with signaling of linking of dedicated transport channels

Abstract

In a radio access network, a SRNC relocation procedure (') is performed for relocating a role of a serving radio network controller (SRNC) for a telecommunications service involving a user equipment unit (UE) from a first radio network controller () to a second radio network controller (). In accordance various modes of the SRNC relocation procedure, the first radio network controller signals to the second radio network controller information for linking transport channels utilized for the service with a radio access bearer (RAB) for the service. In a first mode of the invention, the signaling links a dedicated transport channel (DCH) utilized for the service with a radio access bearer (RAB) for the service. In second through fourth modes of the invention, during the SRNC relocation procedure the signaling links uplink and downlink transport channel (TrCH) IDs with the radio access bearer (RAB) identifier. Preferably but not exclusively, in accordance with the SRNC relocation procedure the signaling of the information for linking the transport channels with the radio access bearer (RAB) for the service occurs at a time when a user equipment unit (UE) involved in the service is not changing cells, with the signaling being routed via a core network. Advantageously, the SRNC relocation procedure of the invention allows the target SRNC node to utilize, after the relocation, the same transport channels as before the location, without having to make new allocations of transport channels.