Assignment and handover in a radio communication network

• US 9,439,109 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Kampmann, Dirk, Hellwig, Karl, Schliwa-Bertling, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsiung, Hai-Chang
• Application Number:
  US12/809,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20110051682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,818 Days
• Field of Search: 370/331
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0072 of resource information of target access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/29 between an access point and the access point controlling device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/14 between access point controllers and backbone network device

Abstract

A network entity for a radio communication network includes a processing unit which causes a first resource and a second resource for a terrestrial interface of the radio network to be seized, where the first resource is distinct and different from the second resource. The entity includes a network interface through which a handover request or an assignment request message identifying the first and the second resource is sent. A network entity for a radio communication network includes a network interface which receives a handover request message or an assignment request message identifying a first resource and a second resource. The first resource is distinct and different from the second resource. The entity includes a processing unit that selects one of the first and second resources, allocates a radio channel associated with the handover or assignment, selects a bearer for a terrestrial interface and seizes resources for the interface.

Claims

1. A method of operating a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of a radio communication network, comprising:

seizing resources for a Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) bearer and an Internet Protocol (IP) bearer for use on a terrestrial A-interface of the radio communication network;

sending a handover request message identifying the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface, wherein the handover request message includes a circuit identifier code (CIC) of a selected TDM circuit with respect to the TDM bearer and a transport address of a media gateway (MGw) that will terminate an IP connection with respect to the IP bearer;

receiving an acknowledgment of the handover;

detecting that one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer is selected; and

releasing an unselected one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein seizing the resources is responsive to receiving an indication that a handover is required.

3. A Mobile Switching Center (MSC) for a radio communication network comprising:

a processing unit configured to cause resources for a Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) bearer and an Internet Protocol (IP) bearer for use on a terrestrial A-interface of the radio communication network to be seized;

a network interface configured to;

send a handover request message identifying the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface, wherein the handover request message includes a circuit identifier code (CIC) of a selected TDM circuit with respect to the TDM bearer and a transport address of a media gateway (MGw) that will terminate an IP connection with respect to the IP bearer; and

receive an acknowledgement of the handover; and

wherein the processing unit is further configured to;

detect that one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer is selected; and

release an unselected one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface.

4. The MSC of claim 3, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

cause resources for the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for the terrestrial A-interface of the radio communication network to be seized responsive to receiving an indication that a handover is required.

5. A method of operating a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of a radio communication network, comprising:

seizing resources for a Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) bearer and an Internet Protocol (IP) bearer for use on a terrestrial A-interface of the radio communication network; and

sending an assignment request message identifying the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface, wherein the assignment request message includes a circuit identifier code (CIC) of a selected TDM circuit with respect to the TDM bearer and a transport address of a media gateway (MGw) that will terminate an IP connection with respect to the IP bearer;

receiving an assignment complete message that indicates a bearer will be used on the terrestrial A-interface;

detecting that one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer is selected; and

releasing an unselected one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein seizing the resources is responsive to receiving an indication that an assignment is required.

7. A Mobile Switching Center (MSC) for a radio communication network comprising:

a processing unit configured to cause resources for a Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) bearer and an Internet Protocol (IP) bearer for use on a terrestrial A-interface of the radio communication network to be seized; and

a network interface configured to;

send an assignment request message identifying the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface, wherein the assignment request message includes a circuit identifier code (CIC) of a selected TDM circuit with respect to the TDM bearer and a transport address of a media gateway (MGw) that will terminate an IP connection with respect to the IP bearer; and

receive an assignment complete message that indicates a bearer will be used on the terrestrial A-interface; and

wherein the processing unit is further configured to;

detect that one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer is selected; and

release an unselected one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface.

8. The MSC of claim 7, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

cause resources for the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for the terrestrial A-interface of the radio communication network to be seized responsive to receiving an indication that an assignment is required.

9. A Base Station Controller (BSC) for a radio communication network comprising:

a network interface configured to receive a handover request message identifying seized resources for a Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) bearer and an Internet Protocol (IP) bearer for use on a terrestrial A-interface of the radio communication network, wherein the handover request message includes a circuit identifier code (CIC) of a selected TDM circuit with respect to the TDM bearer and a transport address of a media gateway (MGw) that will terminate an IP connection with respect to the IP bearer;

a processing unit configured to;

select one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface; and

allocate a radio channel associated with the handover; and

wherein the network interface is further configured to send an acknowledgment of the handover request with information that identifies which bearer is used on the terrestrial A-interface so that an unselected one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface is releasable.

10. A method of operating a Base Station Controller (BSC) of a radio communication network, comprising:

receiving a handover request message identifying seized resources for a Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) bearer and an Internet Protocol (IP) bearer for use on a terrestrial A-interface of the radio communication network, wherein the handover request message includes a circuit identifier code (CIC) of a selected TDM circuit with respect to the TDM bearer and a transport address of a media gateway (MGw) that will terminate an IP connection with respect to the IP bearer;

selecting one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface;

allocating a radio channel associated with the handover; and

sending an acknowledgment of the handover request with information identifying which bearer is used on the terrestrial A-interface so that an unselected one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface is releasable.

11. A Base Station Controller (BSC) for a radio communication network comprising:

a network interface configured to receive an assignment request message identifying resources for a Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) bearer and an Internet Protocol (IP) bearer for use on a terrestrial A-interface of the radio communication network, wherein the assignment request message includes a circuit identifier code (CIC) of a selected TDM circuit with respect to the TDM bearer and a transport address of a media gateway (MGw) that will terminate an IP connection with respect to the IP bearer;

a processing unit configured to;

select one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface; and

allocate a radio channel associated with the assignment; and

wherein the network interface is further configured to send an assignment complete message indicating the selected bearer so that an unselected one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface is releasable.

12. A method of operating a Base Station Controller (BSC) of a radio communication network, comprising:

receiving an assignment request message identifying seized resources for a Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) bearer and an Internet Protocol (IP) bearer of a terrestrial A-interface of the radio communication network, wherein the assignment request message includes a circuit identifier code (CIC) of a selected TDM circuit with respect to the TDM bearer and a transport address of a media gateway (MGw) that will terminate an IP connection with respect to the IP bearer;

selecting one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface;

allocating a radio channel associated with the assignment; and

sending an assignment complete message indicating the selected bearer so that an unselected one of the TDM bearer and the IP bearer for use on the terrestrial A-interface is releasable.