SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SUPPORTING PACKET-SWITCHED HANDOVER

• US 20070287459A1
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Vikberg, Jari, Diachina, John, Ostrup, Nils
• Granted Patent: US 8,359,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/382 for resource allocation, admission control or handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events

Abstract

A system and method of supporting packet-switched handover of a mobile station (MS) from a GERAN/UTRAN cell to a Generic Access Network (GAN) cell within a GAN. If the MS is within coverage of the GAN cell, the MS registers within the GAN triggering initiation of the packet-switched handover from the GERAN/UTRAN cell to the GAN cell. A preparation phase is then conducted for executing the packet-switched handover. The preparation phase includes identifying the MS context as part of the preparation phase and activating the GA-PSR TC towards the MS. Next, the packet-switched handover is executed, resulting in the MS switching to GAN mode. The MS then begins transferring packets via the GAN cell. The system and method also supports a packet-switched handover from the GAN cell to the GERAN/UTRAN cell.

Claims

1. A method of supporting packet-switched handover of a mobile station (MS) from a first cell compatible with a first network to a Generic Access Network (GAN) cell compatible and located within a GAN, the method comprising the steps of:

determining if the MS is within coverage of the GAN cell;

registering the MS within the GAN;

triggering initiation of the packet-switched handover from the first cell to the GAN cell;

conducting a preparation phase for executing the packet-switched handover;

switching by the MS to a GAN mode; and

transferring packets via the GAN cell.

2. The method of supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 1, wherein the first cell is a GPRS/EDGE radio access network (GERAN) cell and the first network is a GERAN.

3. The method of supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 1, wherein the first cell is a Long Term Evolution (LTE) cell and the first network is a LTE network.

4. The method of supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of triggering initiation of the packet-switched handover includes sending a Packet Associated Control Channel (PACCH) message from the MS to the first network.

5. The method of supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 4, wherein the Packet Associated Control Channel (PACCH) message includes a GAN-SERVICE-AVAILABLE message indicating the MS is ready for packet-switched handover to the GAN cell.

6. The method of supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 1, wherein the first cell is a UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) cell and the first network is a UTRAN.

7. The method of supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of triggering initiation of the packet-switched handover includes sending a measurement report from the first cell to the first network indicating receipt of a specific Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (ARFCN) of a GAN cell, thereby indicating support of packet-switched handover to the GAN cell.

8. The method of supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of conducting a preparation phase for executing the packet-switched handover includes identifying a MS context that relates to a PS Handover preparation phase request and activating a Generic Access-Packet-switched Resources (GA-PSR) Transport Channel towards the correct MS.

9. The method of supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 1, further comprises the step of sending a packet-switched handover command to the MS.

10. A system for supporting packet-switched handover of a mobile station (MS), the system comprising:

a first cell compatible and located within a first network;

the MS operating within a coverage of the first cell;

a Generic Access Network (GAN) cell compatible within a GAN;

means for determining if the MS is within coverage of the GAN cell;

means for registering the MS within the GAN;

means for triggering initiation of the packet-switched handover from the first cell to the GAN cell;

means for conducting a preparation phase for executing the packet-switched handover; and

means for switching by the MS to a GAN mode;

whereby the MS transfers packets via the GAN cell upon completion of the preparation phase and switching by the MS to a GAN mode.

11. The system for supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 10, wherein the first cell is a GPRS/EDGE radio access network (GERAN) cell and the first network is a GERAN.

12. The system for supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 10, wherein the first cell is a Long Term Evolution (LTE) cell and the first network is a LTE network.

13. The system for supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 10, wherein the means for triggering initiation of the packet-switched handover includes sending a Packet Associated Control Channel (PACCH) message from the MS to the first network.

14. The system for supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 13, wherein the Packet Associated Control Channel (PACCH) message includes a GAN-SERVICE-AVAILABLE message indicating the MS is ready for packet-switched handover to the GAN cell.

15. The system for supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 10, wherein the first cell is a UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) cell and the first network is a UTRAN.

16. The system for supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 10, wherein the means for triggering initiation of the packet-switched handover includes sending a measurement report from the first cell to the first network indicating receipt of a specific Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (ARFCN) of a GAN cell, thereby indicating support of packet-switched handover to the GAN cell.

17. The system for supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 10, wherein the means for conducting a preparation phase for executing the packet-switched handover includes identifying a MS context that relates to a PS Handover preparation phase request and activating a Generic Access-Packet-switched Resources (GA-PSR) Transport Channel towards the MS.

18. A node for supporting packet-switched handover of a mobile station (MS) from a first cell compatible with a first network to a Generic Access Network (GAN) cell compatible within a GAN, the node comprising:

means for registering the MS within the GAN when the MS is within a coverage area of the GAN cell; and

means for receiving a handover preparation request, identifying an MS context for the handover preparation request, activating a Generic Access-Packet-switched Resources Transport Channel (GA-PSR TC) towards the MS and responding to the handover preparation request with a handover preparation request acknowledgement;

wherein the node is a network controller operating within the GAN and supporting the handover from the first cell to the GAN cell.

19. The node for supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 18, wherein the node is a Generic Access Network Controller.

20. The node for supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

means for identifying a MS context that relates to a PS Handover preparation phase request; and

means for activating a Generic Access-Packet-switched Resources (GA-PSR) Transport Channel towards the MS.

21. A method of supporting packet-switched handover of a mobile station (MS) from a Generic Access Network (GAN) cell compatible within a GAN to a second cell compatible with a second network, the method comprising the steps of:

determining if the MS is within coverage of the second cell;

determining that a GAN cell quality is deteriorating;

triggering initiation of the packet-switched handover from the GAN cell to the second cell;

conducting a preparation phase for executing the packet-switched handover;

switching by the MS to a mode compatible with the second network; and

transferring packets via the second cell by the MS.

22. The method of supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 21, wherein the second cell is a GPRS/EDGE radio access network (GERAN) cell and the second network is a GERAN.

23. The method of supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 21, wherein the second cell is a Long Term Evolution (LTE) cell and the second network is a LTE network.

24. The method of supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 21, wherein the step of triggering initiation of the packet-switched handover includes sending measurement reports from the MS to the GAN.

25. The method of supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 21, wherein the step of determining that the GAN cell quality is deteriorating is triggered either by the GAN or by local measurements in the MS.

26. The method of supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 21, wherein the second cell is a UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) cell and the second network is a UTRAN.

27. A system for supporting packet-switched handover of a mobile station (MS) the system comprising:

a first cell compatible and located with a first network;

a Generic Access Network (GAN) cell operating and located within a GAN the MS operating within the GAN;

means for determining if the MS is within coverage of the first cell;

means for determining that the GAN cell quality is deteriorating;

means for triggering initiation of the packet-switched handover from the GAN cell to the first cell;

means for conducting a preparation phase for executing the packet-switched handover; and

means for switching by the MS to a mode compatible with the first network;

whereby the MS transfers packets via the first cell upon completion of the preparation phase and switching by the MS to the mode compatible with the first network.

28. The system for supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 27, wherein the first cell is a GPRS/EDGE radio access network (GERAN) cell and the first network is a GERAN.

29. The system for supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 27, wherein the first cell is a Long Term Evolution (LTE) cell and the first network is a LTE network.

30. The system for supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 27, wherein the means for triggering initiation of the packet-switched handover includes sending measurement reports from the MS to the GAN.

31. The system for supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 27, wherein the means for determining that the GAN cell quality is deteriorating is triggered either by the GAN or by local measurements in the MS.

32. The system for supporting a packet-switched handover as recited in claim 27, wherein the first cell is a UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) cell and the first network is a UTRAN.