Apparatus and methods for improved handover in multi-operator shared radio access network communications systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for connection handover between cells or base stations of an at least partly shared radio access network of a radio communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining at a shared radio access network node, a serving operator associated with a user equipment according to an identity of an interface between the radio access network node and a core network of the radio communications system, the serving operator determined using a table that associates the identity of the interface with the serving operator, wherein the interface is an lu interface of a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system;
establishing at the shared radio access network node a neighbor-cell list including cells shared with or run by the serving operator and excluding cells run by a second operator not shared with the serving operator, the second operator not serving the user equipment;
transferring the neighbor-cell list to the user equipment involved in the connection; and
facilitating in the handover of the user equipment to a cell on the neighbor cell list.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to handover in a communications system, and more especially it relates cell change using Iu-interface dependent neighbor-cell lists, particularly in a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS or WCDMA system.
-
Citations
6 Claims
-
1. A method for connection handover between cells or base stations of an at least partly shared radio access network of a radio communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
-
determining at a shared radio access network node, a serving operator associated with a user equipment according to an identity of an interface between the radio access network node and a core network of the radio communications system, the serving operator determined using a table that associates the identity of the interface with the serving operator, wherein the interface is an lu interface of a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system; establishing at the shared radio access network node a neighbor-cell list including cells shared with or run by the serving operator and excluding cells run by a second operator not shared with the serving operator, the second operator not serving the user equipment; transferring the neighbor-cell list to the user equipment involved in the connection; and facilitating in the handover of the user equipment to a cell on the neighbor cell list. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A radio access network element, the radio access network element being connected to a core network and one or more base stations or one or more radio network controllers, the radio access network element comprising:
-
a processor for processing a neighbor-cell list for a user equipment associated with a serving cell and for identifying an interface to the core network that identifies a serving operator of the serving cell, the serving operator determined using a table that associates the identity of the interface with the serving operator, the neighbor-cell list being processed to include cells shared with or run by the serving operator and to exclude cells run by network operators other than the serving operator and not shared with the serving operator depending on the identity of the interface, wherein the interface is an lu interface of a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system and wherein the network operators other than the serving operator are not serving the user equipment; and an interface for transferring the neighbor-cell list to the user equipment; and wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate in the handover of the user equipment to a cell on the neighbor cell list. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
-
Specification