Connections in a comunication system

• US 20030169725A1
• Filed: 05/05/2003
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Haumont, Serge, Ahmavaara, Kalle, Rajaniemi, Jaakko, Koskela, Marko
• Granted Patent: US 7,359,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0072 of resource information of target access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/02 Hybrid access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communication system and a method for the same. In the method simultaneous circuit switched and packet switched connections are established between a user equipment and a first element of the communication system. A predefined event is monitored for after initiation of a procedure for handing the circuit switched connection over from the first element to a second element of the communication system. The event is defined to indicate a need for release of resources reserved by the packet switched connection. Subsequent to detection of the event, resources reserved by said packet switched connection at the network side of the system are released.

Claims

1. A method in a communication system comprising:

establishing simultaneous circuit switched and packet switched connections between an user equipment and a first element of the communication system;

initiating a procedure to hand the circuit switched connection over from the first element to a second element of the communication system;

monitoring for a predefined event, the event being defined to indicate a need for release of resources reserved by the packet switched connection; and

subsequent to detection of the event, releasing resources reserved by said packed switched connection.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resources to be released comprise resources reserved by an interface between the firsts element and an element in the core network side of the packet switched connection.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the resources to be released comprise resources reserved in the first element by the packet switched connection.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the event is detected before the user equipment generates a request for an update of information that associates with the radio access entity serving the user equipment.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the request comprises a request for routing area update.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first element is a radio network controller of a first communication network and the second element is a radio network controller of a second communication network.

7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first element and the second element operate based on different technologies.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the first element is a radio network controller of a third generation cellular telecommunications system.

9. A method as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the second element is a radio network controller of a second generation cellular telecommunications system.

10. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the event comprises a request to release resources which associate with the circuit switched connection.

11. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the request is generated by an element of the core network of the communication system.

12. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first element generates a request for release of resources in response to detection of the event.

13. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the event comprises a decision to release the resources, said decision being based on information of the capabilities of the communication network to which the second element belongs.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said information is retrieved from a table.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the information is obtained by transporting an inquiry in the communication network of the second element.

16. A method as claimed in any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the decision is made by the first element.

17. A method as claimed in any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the decision is made by a controller in the core network of the communication system.

18. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the event comprises an indication from a timer function.

20. A method as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein the timer function is implemented in the core network side of the communication system.

21. A method as claimed in any of claims 18 to 20, wherein the timer function is dynamic.

22. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising step of storing data that associates with the connection to be released.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the data to be stored comprises user data.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein only predefined data is stored.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein only such data is stored that has been transmitted before the initiation of the handover but that has not been acknowledged as received by that time.

26. A method as claimed in any of claims 22 to 25, wherein the stored data is transported to the addressed destination after completion of the handover procedure.

19. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the timer function is implemented in the first element.

27. A communication system comprising:

user equipment;

a first controller, wherein simultaneous circuit switched and packet switched connections are enabled between the user equipment and the first controller;

a second controller, wherein the circuit switched connection can be handed over from the first controller to the second controller; and

means for detecting a predefined event, wherein the system is arranged, in response to the detection of the event, to release resources reserved by the packet switched connection.

28. A communication system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the resources to be released comprise resources reserved by an interface between the first element and an element in the core network of the system).

29. A communication system as claimed in claim 27 or 28, wherein the system is arranged to release resources in the first element.

30. A communication system as claimed in any of claims 27 to 29, wherein the event is detected before the user equipment generates a request for an update of information that associates with the radio access entity serving the user equipment.

31. A communication system as claimed in any of claims 27 to 30, wherein the first element is a radio network controller of a first communication network and the second element is a radio network controller of a second communication network.

32. A communication system as claimed in any of claims 27 to 31, wherein the first element and the second element operate based on different technologies.

33. A communication system as claimed in any of claims 27 to 32, wherein the first element is adapted to generate a request to release the resources in response to a message which associates with the circuit switched connection.

34. A communication system as claimed in claim 33, wherein said message comprises a request to release circuit switched resources.

35. A communication system as claimed in any of claims 27 to 34, wherein the event comprises a decision to release the resources, said decision being based on information of the capabilities of the communication network to which the second element belongs.

37. A communication system as claimed in any of claims 27 to 35, wherein a controller in the core network of the communication system is adapted to make the decision.

38. A communication system as claimed in any of claims 27 to 37, comprising at least one timer.

39. A communication system as claimed in claim 38, wherein the at least one timer is dynamic.

40. A communication system as claimed in any of claims 27 to 39, comprising memory means for storing data that associates with the connection to be released.

36. A communication system as claimed in any of claims to 27 to 35, wherein the first element is adapted to make the decision to release the resources.