Control of radio communication network having plural radio network controllers including an anchor controller

• US 7,454,210 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Laitinen, Lauri, Rinne, Mika
• Primary Examiner(s): SOBUTKA, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US10/407,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20030190915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436, 455/438, 455/444, 455/445, 455/560, 455/561, 455/442
• US Class Current: 455/442
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/10 Reselecting an access point controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for controlling radio communications between a terminal (MS, TE) and a communications system (CN, GRAN). A communications connection between the system and the terminal is established by an active radio network controller (RNC) and an active base station (BS). In one embodiment, data communications within the communications connection is directed to the active radio controller by a second radio network controller.

Claims

1. A method comprising

providing a plurality of base stations interconnected via a plurality of radio network controllers wherein the radio network controllers are in communication with a mobile switching center of a communications system,

establishing a radio communications connection between the communications system and a terminal via an active one of said base stations and one of said radio network controllers that serves as an anchor radio network controller, the communication being with a spread code signal,

directing communications connection to said anchor radio network controller via a second of said radio network controllers, and

employing in the communications system macrodiversity combining so that said second radio network controller includes a macrodiversity combination point and a spread code signal combination is carried out in a chain of radio network controllers in which said anchor and said second radio network controllers serve as transmission links, and a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein there is a selection of the anchor radio network controller, or anchor controller, through which the data communication of said connection occurs for the duration of the connection, and communication with possible other active radio network controller is directed via said anchor controller.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said selection is carried out specifically for the connection when setting up the connection.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said selection is carried out in conjunction with system configuration.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein communication is directed frown the anchor controller to new radio network controllers established during the connection by means of chaining.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the number of radio network controllers used in data communication is minimized by determining a new route between the anchor controller and a new active radio network controller so that the previous active radio network controller is bypassed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the handover between radio network controllers is a backward-type handover where signaling during the handover is directed via the old radio network controller.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the handover between radio network controllers is a forward-type handover where signaling during the handover is directed via the new radio network controller.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the communications system uses macrodiversity combining so that the spread code combination is carried out in said anchor controller.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to a handover between radio network controllers an external candidate set is established and a candidate set of the new active radio network controller is established on the basis of said external candidate set.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a handover between radio network controllers comprises a preparation phase and an execution phase.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said preparation phase includes adding a base station to an active set.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said execution phase includes changing the active radio network controller and the active base station set.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said execution phase includes keeping at least two radio network controllers and their base station sets active.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the active radio network controller and base station set are completely transferred.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio network used for the communication is an UMTS network.

17. A communication system comprising

a mobile switching center, a first and a second radio network controller in communication with the mobile switching center, and base stations connected to the radio network controllers to provide a communications connection between the system, which employs communication with a spread code signal, and a terminal connected with it, one of said radio network controllers serving as an amchor radio network controller, the system being configured to

direct the communications connection to an active one of said radio network controllers via another one of said radio network controllers;

and

uses macrodiversity combining so that said second radio network controller includes a macrodiversity combination point and a spread code signal combination is carried out in a chain of radio network controllers formed by a plurality of said radio network controllers serving as transmission links, and a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller.

18. The communication system of claim 17, the system further being configured to

select one of the controllers to be the anchor controller, and

direct the data communication of said connection to a possible other active radio network controller via said anchor controller.

19. The communication system of claim 17, the system further being configured to

create an external candidate set prior to a handover between radio network controllers and

create a new candidate set based on said external candidate set.

20. A radio network controller being configured to

route communication, operative with a macrodiversity signal combination, to a second radio network controller during a connection, said radio network controller and second radio network controller belonging top a commuication system, which comprises a plurality of radio network controllers in communication with a mobile switching center and which employs communication by a spread code signal, and

combine macrodiversity spread code signals independently or together with said second radio network controller via a chain of the radio network controllers so that said second radio network controller includes a macrodiversity combination point, one of the radio network controllers in the chain being an anchor controller, and wherein a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller.

21. The radio network controller of claim 20, the radio network controller further being configured to store information about routing to other radio network controllers.

22. The radio network controller of claim 20, the radio network controller further being configured to send and receive encapsulated handover messages to and from another radio network controller via the core network of a cellular network.

23. The radio network controller of claims 20, the radio network controller further being configured to send and receive handover messages and user data to and from another radio network controller via a physical connection, such as a cable or radio link, between two radio network controllers.

24. The radio network controller of claim 20, the radio network controller further being configured to transparently send and receive handover messages and user data to and from another radio network controller via a base station that is connected with both said radio network controllers.

25. The radio network controller of claim 20, the radio network controller further send and receive handover messages and user data to and from another radio network controller via the core network of a cellular system by independently communicating with the active protocol of the core network.

26. The radio network controller of claim 20, the radio network controller further being configured to realize an anchor function.

27. The radio network controller of claim 26, wherein the anchor function realization comprises logical inter-RNC connections creation between the anchor controller and the active radio network controller.

28. The radio network controller of claim 26, the radio network controller further being configured to relay user data to another radio network controller on the basis of direction by said means for realizing an anchor function.

29. The radio network controller of claim 20, the radio network controller further being configured to controll data communication between a radio network controller and a terminal by a logical link control unit.

30. The radio network controller of claim 29, the radio network controller further being configured to controll and terminate messages of the logical link control unit between the terminal and the radio network controller.

31. The radio network controller of claim 30, the radio network controller further being configured to controll and terminate first messages of the logical link control unit between the terminal and the radio network controller and means for relaying second messages between the terminal and the core network.

32. The radio network controller of claim 29, the radio network controller further being configured to relay messages of the logical link control unit between the terminal and the core network.

33. The radio network controller of claim 20, the radio network controller further being configured to controll a logical link control unit of a stone or another radio network controller.

34. The radio network controller of claim 20, the radio network controller further being configured to realize a set control function.

35. The radio network controller of claim 20, wherein said macrodiversity spread code signal combination comprises a selection of the momentarily strongest transmission connection.

36. The radio network controller of claim 20, wherein said macrodiversity spread code signal combination comprises a signal production by combining the signals of at least two transmission paths.

37. The radio network controller of claim 20, the radio network controller further being configured to select in packet transmission a radio path separately for each packet transmission.

38. The radio network controller of claim 37, the radio network controller further being configured to select precisely one radio path for each packet transmission.

39. The radio network controller of claim 20, further comprising a macrodiversity controller.

40. The radio network controller of claim 20, the radio network controller further being configured to data encryption or access control scramble in a radio network controller that is an anchor and/or is in active mode.

41. A radio network controller being configured to route data communication related to a communication connection between a base station and a second radio network controller of a chain of radio network controllers comprising said radio network controller, wherein the chain of controllers further includes a radio network controller serving as an anchor controller, wherein the chain of radio network controllers uses macrodiversity combining so that said second radio network controller includes a macrodiversity combination point and a spread code signal combination is carried out in said chain of radio network controllers, and a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller.

42. The radio network controller of claim 41, the radio network controller further being configured to establish an external candidate set.

43. The radio network controller of claim 42, the radio network controller further being configured to create a boundary base station list and establish an external candidate set on the basis of said boundary base station list.

44. The radio network controller of claim 42, the radio network controller further being configured to turn an external candidate set into a candidate set.

45. The radio network controller of claim 41, the radio network controller further being configured to control communication between a radio network controller and a terminal by a logical link control unit.

46. The radio network controller of claim 41, further comprising a set controller.

47. The radio network controller of claim 41, further comprising an external candidate set controller.

48. A radio network controller being configured to

route communication to a second radio network controller of a chain of radio network controllers comprising said radio network controller during a connection, said chain of radio network controllers including a network controller that serves as an anchor radio network controller,

create a boundary base station list,

establish an external candidate set on the basis of said boundary base station list, and

control communication between the radio network controller and a terminal by a logical link control unit based on said boundary base station list, wherein said second radio network controller includes a macrodiversity combination point and a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller.

49. The radio network controller of claim 48, the radio network controller further being configured to turn an external candidate set into a candidate set.

50. The radio network controller of claims 48, further comprising a set controller.

51. The radio network controller of claims 48, further comprising an external candidate set controller.

52. A method

providing a plurality of base stations interconnected via a plurality of radio network controllers in a chain of radio network controllers, wherein the plurality of radio network controllers are in communication with a mobile switching center of a mobile switching center,

establishing a radio communications connection between the communications system and a terminal via an active one of said base stations and one of said radio network controllers that serves as an anchor radio network controller, the communication being with a spread code signal,

directing the communications connection to said anchor radio network controller via a second of said radio network controllers, wherein said second radio network controller includes a macrodiversity combination point, and prior to a handover between radio network controllers, an external candidate set is established and a candidate set of a new active radio network controller is established on the basis of said external candidate set, a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller;

and

wherein a handover between radio network controllers comprises a preparation phase and execution phase.

53. A method comprising

establishing a radio communications connection between a communications system having a plurality of radio network controllers in communication with a mobile switching center and a terminal via an active one of said radio network controllers and an active base station,

establishing an external candidate set of base stations in preparation for a handover, directing user data to a second of said radio network controllers which serves as an anchor controller in a chain of the radio network controllers, said second radio network controller including a macrodiversity combination point, and

directing communications connection to said active radio network controller and a further active radio network controller via said anchor controller, wherein a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller.

54. A method comprising

establishing a radio communications connection between a communications system, which comprises multiple radio network controllers in a chain of the network controllers and groups of base stations associated with respective ones of the radio network controllers, and a mobile terminal via a first one of said radio network controllers and a first one of said base stations, wherein a controller of said chain of network controllers serves as an anchor controller, said radio network controllers being in communication with each other and with their respective base stations by use of a spread code signal;

prior to a handover of said mobile terminal between a base station of said first radio network controller and a base station of another of said radio network controllers, establishing for communication with the mobile terminal a candidate set of base stations and a candidate set of at least one of the radio network controllers associated with the base stations of the candidate set of base stations;

selecting, from said candidate sets, a base station and a radio network controller associated therewith; and

for implementing the handover, directing the communications connection to the selected radio network controller via the first radio network controller, wherein communication among a plurality of said radio network controllers is carried out by macrodiversity combining with the spread code signal in the chain of radio network controllers serving as transmission links, wherein said selected radio network controller includes a macrodiversity combination point, and a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller.

55. A method comprising

providing a plurality of base stations interconnected via a plurality of radio network controllers wherein the radio network controllers are in communication with a mobile switching center of a communications system,

establishing a radio communications connection between the communications system and a terminal via an active one of said base stations and one of said radio network controllers that serves as an anchor radio network controller, the communication being with a spread code signal

directing communications connection to said anchor radio network controller via a second of said radio network controllers,

employing in the communications system macrodiversity combining so that said second radio network controller includes a macrodiversity combination point and a spread code signal combination is carried out in a chain of radio network controllers in which said anchor and said second radio network controllers serve as transmission links, and a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller, and

providing data encryption or access control scrambling in a radio network controller that is an anchor and/or is in active mode.

56. A communication system comprising

a mobile switching center, a first and a second radio network controller in communication with the mobile switching center, and base stations connected to the radio network controllers to provide a communications connection between the system, which employs communication with a spread code signal, and a terminal connected with it, one of said radio network controllers serving as an anchor radio network controller, the system being configured to

direct the communications connection to an active one of said radio network controllers via another one of said radio network controllers;

data encryption or access control scrambling in a radio network controller that is an anchor and/or is in active mode, and

use macrodiversity combining so that said second radio network controller includes a macrodiversity combination point and a spread code signal combination is carried out in a chain of radio network controllers formed by a plurality of said radio network controllers serving as transmission links, and a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller.

57. A radio network controller being configured to

route communication, operative with a macrodiversity signal combination, to another radio network controller during a connection, said radio network controller and another radio network controller belonginh to a communication system, which comprises a plurality of radio network controllers in communication with a mobile switching center and employs communication by a spread code signal,

combine macrodiversity spread code signals independently or together with said another radio network controller in a chain of the radio network controllers so that said another radio network controller includes a macrodiversity combination point, one of the radio network controllers in the chain being an anchor controller, and wherein a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller, and

data encrypt or access control scramble in the radio network controller that is an anchor and/or is in active mode.

58. A radio network controller being configured to

route data communication related to a communication connection between a base station and another radio network controller of a chain of radio network controllers including said radio network controller, wherein one of the radio network controlleres of the chain of controllers serves as an anchor controller, wherein the chain of radio network controllers uses macrodiversity combining, said another radio network controller includes a macrodiversity combination point, a spread code signal combination is carried out in said chain of radio network controllers, and a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller;

and

data encrypt or access control scramble in a radio network controller that is an anchor and/or is in active mode.

59. A radio network controller being configured to

route communication to another radio network controller of a chain of radio network controllers including said radio network controller during a connection, said chain of radio network controllers including a network controller that serves as an anchor radio network controller,

create a boundary base station list, means for establishing an external candidate set on the basis of said boundary base station list,

data encrypt or access control scramble in a radio network controller that is an anchor and/or is in active mode, and

control communication between the radio network controller and a terminal by a logical link control unit based on said boundary base station list, wherein the communication system employs macrodiversity combining, said another radio network controller includes a macrodiversity combination point, a spread code signal combination is carried out in the chain of radio network controllers in which two of said radio network controllers including said anchor controller serve as transmission links, and a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller.

60. A method comprising

providing a plurality of base stations interconnected via a plurality of radio network controllers (RNCs) in a chain of RNCs, wherein the plurality of radio network controllers are in communication with the mobile switching center of a communications system,

establishing a radio communications connection between the communications system and a terminal via an active one of said base stations and one of said radio network controllers that serves as an anchor radio network controller, the communication being with a spread code signal

directing the communications connection to said anchor radio network controller via a second of said radio network controllers of the chain, wherein prior to a handover between radio network controllers, an external candidate set is established and a candidate set of a new active radio network controller is established on the basis of said external candidate set,

employing in the communication macrodiversity combining so that said second radio network controller includes a macrodiversity combination point, said anchor and said second radio network controllers serving as transmission links of the chain, and a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller;

providing for data encryption or access control scrambling in a radio network controller that is an anchor and/or is in active mode, and

wherein a handover between radio network controllers comprises a preparation phase and execution phase.

61. A method comprising

establishing a radio communications connection between a communications system having a plurality of radio network controllers in communication with a mobile switching center and a terminal via an active one of said radio network controllers and an active base station,

establishing an external candidate set of base stations in preparation for a handover, directing user data to a second of said radio network controllers which serves as an anchor controller in a chain of the radio network controllers,

providing data encryption or access control scrambling in a radio network controller that is an anchor and/or is in active mode,

directing communications connection to said active radio network controller and a further active radio network controller via said anchor controller, and

employing in the communications system macrodiversity combining so that said active radio network controller includes a macrodiversity combination point and a spread code signal combination is carried out in the chain of radio network controllers in which said anchor and said active radio network controllers serve as transmission links, and wherein a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller.

62. A method comprising

establishing a radio communications connection between a communications system, which comprises multiple radio network controlers in a chain of the network controllers and groups base stations associated with respective ones of the radio network controllers, and a mobile terminal via a first one of said radio network controllers and a first one of said base stations, wherein a controller of said chain of network controllers serves as an anchor controller, said radio network controllers are in communication with each other and with their respective base stations by use of a spread code signal;

providing data encryption or access control scrambling in a radio network controller that is an anchor and/or is in active mode;

prior to a handover of said mobile terminal between a base station of said first radio network controller and a base station of another of said radio network controllers, establishing for communication with the mobile terminal a candidate set of base stations and a candidate set of at least one of the radio network controllers associated with the base stations of the candidate set of base stations;

selecting, from said candidate sets, a base station and a radio network controller associated therewith; and

for implementing the handover, directing the communications connection to the selected radio network controller via the first radio network controller, wherein communication among a plurality of said radio network controllers is carried out by macrodiversity combining, said selected radio network controller including a macrodiversity combination point with the spread code signal in the chain of radio network controllers serving as transmission links, and a final signal combination is completed in said anchor controller.