Method, system, network entity, and end-user terminal for controlling a handover of a cellular terminal

• US 20060234708A1
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Aaltonen, Janne
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/24 Arrangements for distribution of identical information via broadcast system and non-broadcast system
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0007 for multicast or broadcast services, e.g. MBMS multicast or broadcast application services H04W4/06; resource management for broadcast services H04W72/30; connection management for selective distribution or broadcast H04W76/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A method, a system and an end-user terminal for providing a handover between a digital unidirectional data communication domain and a digital bi-directional data communication domain is disclosed. Exemplary domains can be a broadcast network such as IP over DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) network, or a broadcast mode, in further examples IP over DVB-T (Terrestrial DVB) or alternatively referred to as IPDC (IP Datacast), the 3G (The Third Generation for Mobile Communication) network, in further examples UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Node). The embodiments apply measurement signalling structure of the Inter-system handover of ULMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone System) to control the handover. The measurements of the cell is extended to contain digital unidirectiona communications domain cells such as IP over DVB cells, as well as apply these cells to perform the handover. The fact that one of the network is principally delivering one (unidirectional) leads to a partial handover where the downlink data of the bi-directional network is applied in the handover. The unidirectional communications domain is already in a downlink transmission which knits the handover with the downlink of the bi-directional domain.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a handover of a terminal between a digital generally bi-directional communications service and a digital generally unidirectional communications service, comprising the steps of:

listening to available downlink radio signals,

selecting according to a predetermined criteria between the available downlink radio signals, and

changing to another available downlink radio signal for at least in part performing said handover.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the changing step includes receiving a partial handover command.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the terminal is adapted to listen to the downlink radio signal, and to send a report on a listening result to a network element deciding the handover.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises performingthe service handover from a digital broadband data communication domain to a cellular mobile data communication domain or vice versa.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises selecting the downlink radio signal by means of a measurement signalling structure of Intersystem handover of UMTS for the handover between said services.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said handover relates to a certain service remaining any other service transmitted via networks of said services still usable for said terminal.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein, in said method, the handover process is adapted to use a native network level signalling for application independent handover between said services.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said services are adapted to pertain to domains comprising a hybrid network system containing at least two functionally different network systems.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of continuing unidirectional communication service reception in another cell area from current downlink communication received in a first cell area.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the digital generally unidirectional communications service pertains to a domain comprising DVB-T cells establishing a DVB-T network.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the digital generally unidirectional communications service comprises a wireless multi-carrier signal transmission.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said services pertains to domains comprising cells of wireless cellular networks and the terminal is adapted to wirelessly communicate with said domains.

13. Data processing system comprising means for carrying out the method according to claim 1.

14. A computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to perform the method of claim 1 when said program is run on a computer.

15. A computer program as claimed in claim 14 embodied on a computer readable medium.

16. A computer readable medium comprising program code adapted to carry out the method of claim 1 when run on a computer.

17. A carrier medium carrying the computer executable program of claim 14.

18. A method for performing a handover of a service from a cellular mobile data communication domain to a digital broadband data communication domain, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring received radio signals of said domains at a terminal,

sending a measurement report of said received radio signals to said cellular mobile data communication domain,

reserving resources of the digital broadband data communication domain by communicating between the cellular data communication domain and the digital broadband data communication domain,

sending a handover command to said terminal from the cellular mobile data communication domain, and

sending a confirmation from said terminal to the digital broadband data communication domain for moving the service delivered via the cellular mobile data communication domain to the digital broadband data communication domain.

19. A method according claim 18, further comprising the step of communicating in such a way that the cellular mobile data communication domain requests resources from the digital broadband data communication domain, and

obtaining an acknowledgement on available resources of the digital broadband data communication domain at the cellular data communication domain.

20. A method for performing a handover of a service from a digital broadband data communication domain to a cellular mobile data communication domain, the method comprising the step of:

measuring received radio signals of said domains at a terminal,

sending a measurement report of said received radio signals to said digital broadband data communication domain,

reserving resources of the cellular mobile data communication domain by communicating between the digital broadband data communication domain and the cellular mobile data communication domain,

sending a handover command to said terminal from the digital broadband data communication domain, and

sending a confirmation from said terminal to the cellular mobile data communication domain for moving the service delivered via the digital broadband data communication domain to the cellular mobile data communication domain.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of communicating in such a way that the digital broadband data communication domain requests resources of the cellular mobile communication domain, and

obtaining an acknowledgement on available resources of the cellular mobile communication domain at the digital broadband data communication domain.

22. A system for controlling a handover of a terminal between a digital generally bi-directional communications service and a digital generally unidirectional communications service, comprising:

means for listening available downlink radio signals,

means for selecting according to a predetermined criteria between the available downlink radio signals, and

means for changing to another available downlink radio signal for at least in part performing said handover.

23. A user terminal for adapting a handover of the terminal between a digital generally bi-directional communications service and a digital generally unidirectional communications service, comprising:

a receiver for measuring available downlink radio signals,

a transceiver for transmitting the measurements,

said receiver further for receiving a handover command for changing to another available downlink radio signal, and

said transceiver further for transmitting a confirmation for at least in part performing said handover.

24. A network entity for controlling a handover of a service between a digital generally bi-directional communications domain and a digital generally unidirectional communications domain, comprising:

means for receiving a measurement about available downlink radio signals,

means for selecting according to a predetermined criteria between the available radio signals, and

means for changing to another available downlink radio signal for at least in part performing said handover.