Handover method (roaming) for mobile terminal devices

• US 6,937,860 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unify GmbH & Co. KG (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Jahn, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US09/725,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20020137512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,735 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.1, 455/436, 455/439, 455/445, 455/560, 455/414.1, 455/415, 455/417, 455/428, 455/442, 455/517, 455/432.1, 370/331
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks

Abstract

In the course of its logging on at a base station (B2) coupled to a switching device (V), a mobile terminal device (E1) transmits a terminal equipment identifier (EK1) identifying the mobile terminal device (E1) to the base station (B2). The base station (B2) thereupon transmits the terminal equipment identifier (EK1)—if appropriate together with a base station identifier (BK2) identifying the base station (B2)—to the switching device (V) and initiates the activation of a forwarding performance feature, e.g. for call diversion, known per se in connection with wire-based terminal equipment, in the switching device (V). As a result of the activation of this forwarding performance feature, a connection setup to be routed via the base station (B2) is initiated in the event of connection requests directed to the mobile terminal device (E1). As a result, a central radio switching assembly, as required in known handover methods, is unnecessary.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a switching device that can be used to establish wire-free connections with mobile terminal devices through coupled base stations, which comprises:

when a mobile terminal device logs on at a base station, communicating a terminal equipment identifier from the mobile terminal device to the base station that identifies the mobile terminal device to the base station;

communicating, from the base station to a switching device, the terminal equipment identifier and a control information item for activating a forwarding feature in the switching device; and

if a connection request is directed to the mobile terminal device, initiating a connection setup to be routed through the base station as a result of the communication.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the base station transmits a base station identifier identifying the base station to the switching device such that if a connection request is directed to the mobile terminal device the connection setup will be routed through the base station.

3. A method for controlling a switching device that can be used to establish wire-free connections with mobile terminal devices through coupled base stations, which comprises:

when a mobile terminal device logs on at a first base station that is coupled to a switching device through at least one interposed base station, communicating a terminal equipment identifier from the mobile terminal device to the first base station that identifies the mobile terminal device to the first base station;

defining a directly connected base station by directly connecting one—

at least one interposed base station to the switching device;

passing on the terminal equipment identifier from the first base station to the directly connected base station;

communicating, from the directly connected base station to a switching device, the terminal equipment identifier and a control information item for activating a forwarding feature in the switching device; and

if a connection request is directed to the mobile terminal device, initiating a connection setup to be routed through the first base station as a result of the communication.

4. The method according to claim 3, which comprises:

communicating information to the directly connected base station about a route of a connection that is to be set up between the directly connected base station and the first base station;

using the information about the route to create a path information item describing the route;

communicating the path information item from the directly connected base station to the switching device; and

if a connection request is directed to the mobile terminal device, initiating a connection setup that is to be routed to the first base station using the route described by the path information item, as a result of the communication.

5. The method according to claim 3, which comprises transmitting a base station identifier from the directly connected base station to the switching device for specifying a base station through which the connection setup is to be routed in the event of a connection request directed to the mobile terminal device.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the forwarding feature to be activated is a feature for call diversion.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the forwarding feature to be activated is a feature for changing an assignment between a call number of a the mobile terminal device and an internal number of a peripheral port of the switching device.

8. The method according to claim 3, which comprises after communicating the terminal equipment identifier, using a base station that processes a table having terminal equipment identifiers of approved terminal devices to check whether the mobile terminal device is authorized to set up connections through the base station;

and

continuing with the connection only if a result of the check establishes that the mobile terminal device is authorized.

9. The method according to claim 3, which comprises transmitting from one base station to another base station, data relating to the logging-on of the mobile terminal device.

10. The method according to claim 3, which comprises transmitting from one base station to another base station, data relating to an authorization of the mobile terminal device to set up connections.

11. The method according to claim 3, which comprises transmitting from one base station to another base station, a system identifier of a communications system.

12. The method according to claim 3, which comprises transmitting data and/or signals in a wire-free manner between base stations.

13. The method according to claim 3, which comprises transmitting data and/or signals in a wire-free manner between a base station and the switching device.