Collective notification of node reset to subset of connections in radio access network

• US 20060234706A1
• Filed: 11/05/2003
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pontus Wallentin
• Original Assignee: Pontus Wallentin
• Inventors: Wallentin, Pontus
• Granted Patent: US 8,107,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/32 Release of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/34 Selective release of ongoing connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices

Abstract

Upon reset of a control node (261) of a radio access network (24) which controls connections with user equipment units (30) in a connected mode, a message (102) indicative of the reset is sent between nodes of the radio access network. The message results from occurrence of a reset procedure (104) affecting the control node. The message includes an element which collectively indicates that a subset of the connections (i.e., not all of the connections) controlled by the control node are to be released. Inclusion in the message of the element, also known as the subset reset element, facilitates return to an idle mode of the user equipment units involved in the subset of the connections. By virtue of inclusion of the subset reset element, the message need not go to one extreme of listing individually each of the connections affected by the reset, nor to another extreme of specifying all connections controlled by the control node.

Claims

1. A node (26₁ or 26₂) of a radio access network of a telecommunications system which prepares a message for transmission to at least one other node of the radio access network, the message resulting from occurrence of a reset procedure (104) affecting a control node which controls connections with user equipment units (30) in a connected mode, the message including an element which collectively indicates that a subset of the connections are to be released so that the user equipment units (30) involved in the subset of the connections can return to an idle mode, the element being recognizable when included in a further message received over an air interface by a user equipment unit having a connection in the subset whereby the user equipment unit can determine if it is to return to the idle mode.

2. The node of claim 1, wherein the node which prepares the message is a radio network control node (26₁) which controls the connections.

3. The node of claim 1, wherein the node performs plural processes with each of the plural processes handling a respective one of plural subsets of connections with user equipment units (30) in the connected mode, and wherein when the reset procedure (104) affects a specific one of the plural processes, an element corresponding to the respective one of the plural subsets of connections handled by the specific one of the plural processes is included in the message.

4. The node of claim 1, wherein the element comprises a group identity for the subset of connections;

wherein the group identity comprises a group value and a group bit mask index, wherein the group bit mask index indicates bits of the group value which are common for all connections of the subset of connections; and

wherein the group value is a group S-RNTI and the group bit mask index indicates the bits of the group S-RNTI which are common for all connections of the subset of connections.

5. The node of claim 1, wherein the further message is prepared by a drift radio network control node (26₂) which provides radio resources for the connections handled by a serving radio network control node (26₁).

6. The node of claim 5, wherein the element comprises a group identity for the subset of connections;

wherein the group identity comprises group value, and a group bit mask index, wherein the group bit mask index indicates bits of the group value which are common for all connections of the subset of connections; and

wherein the group value is a group U-RNTI and the group bit mask index indicates the bits of the U-RNTI value which are common for all connections of the subset of connections.

7. A radio access network of a telecommunications system comprising:

a serving control node (26₁) which controls connections with user equipment units (30) in a connected mode;

at least one drift control node (26₂) which provides radio resources in cells controlled by the at least one drift control node (26₂) for some of the connections handled by the serving control node (26₁);

wherein the serving control node (26₁) sends a message for transmission to the at least one drift control node (26₂) of the radio access network, the message resulting from occurrence of a reset procedure (104) affecting the serving control node (26₁), the message including an element which collectively indicates that a subset of the connections are to be released so that the user equipment units (30) involved in the subset of the connections can return to an idle mode, the element being recognizable when included in a further message received over an air interface by a user equipment unit having a connection in the subset whereby the user equipment unit can determine if it is to return to the idle mode.

8. The network of claim 7, wherein the at least one drift control node (26₂) is arranged, upon receipt of the message, to send a response message to the serving control node (26₁).

9. The network of claim 7, wherein the at least one drift control node (26₂) sends the further message via a base station (28) controlled by the at least one drift control node (26₂), the further message including a further element, the further element being derived from the element included in the message.

10. The network of claim 9, wherein the further element comprises a group identity for the subset of connections;

wherein the group identity comprises a control node identifier indicative of the serving control node, a group value, a group bit mask index, and wherein the group bit mask index indicates bits of the group value which are common for all connections of the subset of connections; and

wherein the group value is a group U-RNTI and the group bit mask index indicates the bits of the U-RNTI value which are common for all connections of the subset of connections.

11. A method of operating a node (26₁ or 26₂) of a radio access network of a telecommunications system which prepares a message for transmission to at least one other node of the radio access network, the message resulting from occurrence of a reset procedure (104) affecting a control node which controls connections with user equipment units (30) in a connected mode, the method comprising including in the message an element which collectively indicates that a subset of the connections are to be released so that the user equipment units (30) involved in the subset of the connections can return to an idle mode, the element being recognizable when included in a further message received over an air interface by a user equipment unit having a connection in the subset whereby the user equipment unit can determine if it is to return to the idle mode.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising using a radio network control method (26₁) which controls the connections to prepare the message.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

performing at the node plural processes with each of the plural processes handling a respective one of plural subsets of connections with user equipment units (30) in the connected mode;

when the reset procedure (104) affects a specific one of the plural processes, including in the message an element corresponding to the respective one of the plural subsets of connections handled by the specific one of the plural processes.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising using a drift radio network control node (26₂) which provides radio resources for the connections handled by a serving radio network control node (26₁) to prepare the further message.

15. A method of operating a radio access network of a telecommunications system which includes a serving control node (26₁) and at least one drift control node (26₂), the serving control node (26₁) handling connections with user equipment units (30) in a connected mode, the at least one drift control node (26₂) providing radio resources in cells controlled by the at least one drift control node (26₂) for some of the connections handled by the serving control node (26₁), the method comprising:

performing a reset procedure (104) at the serving control node;

sending from the serving control node (26₁) to the at least one drift control node (26₂) a message resulting from performance of the reset procedure (104), the message including an element which collectively indicates that a subset of the connections are to be released the element being recognizable when included in a further message received over an air interface by a user equipment unit having a connection in the subset whereby the user equipment unit can determine if it is to return to the idle mode; and

using the further message so that the user equipment units (30) involved in the subset of the connections can return to an idle mode.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

performing at the serving control node (26₁) plural processes with each of the plural processes handling a respective one of plural subsets of connections with user equipment units (30) in the connected mode;

when the reset procedure (104) affects a specific one of the plural processes, including in the message an element corresponding to the respective one of the plural subsets of connections handled by the specific one of the plural processes.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising sending, from the at least one drift control node (26₂), a response message to the serving control node (26₁).

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending from the at least one drift control node (26₂) the further message to the user equipment unit via a base station (28) controlled by the at least one drift control node (26₂);

including in the further message a further element, the further element being derived from the element included in the message.

19. A message transmitted from a node (26₁ or 26₂) of a radio access network of a telecommunications system to at least one other node of the radio access network, the message resulting from occurrence of a reset procedure (104) affecting a control node which controls connections with user equipment units (30) in a connected mode, the message including an element which collectively indicates that a subset of the connections are to be released so that the user equipment units (30) involved in the subset of the connections can return to an idle mode, the element being recognizable when included in a further message received over an air interface by a user equipment unit having a connection in the subset whereby the user equipment unit can determine if it is to return to the idle mode.

20-23. -23. (canceled)