Transfer between cells in a communications system

• US 8,340,050 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2005
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Schwarz, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon, Christian A
• Application Number:
  US11/102,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20060171359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,815 Days
• Field of Search: 455/560, 455/561, 455/552.1, 455/436, 455/438, 455/443, 455/439, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/437, 370/331, 370/332, 370/315, 370/333, 370/334
• US Class Current: 370/332
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1443 between licensed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/26 by agreed or negotiated communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/38 by fixed network equipment

Abstract

A method for transferring user equipment from a current cell during an ongoing communication is disclosed. The current cell belongs to a first network. In the method capability information for at least one available cell of a second network is determined in a controller of the current cell, where after at least one cell of the second network is selected based on the capability information to prepare a transfer of the user equipment from the current cell. Information regarding the selected at least one cell of the second network is then sent from the controller to the user equipment.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving system information, in a controller of a current cell belonging to a first network, during an ongoing communication;

determining, in the controller of the current cell, capability information for at least one available cell of a second network based on the system information;

selecting, with the controller of the current cell and prior to obtaining inter-system compressed mode measurements, the at least one available cell of the second network based on the capability information by choosing a suitable at least one available cell for user equipment to prepare a transfer of the user equipment from the current cell;

causing information regarding the selected at least one cell of the second network to be sent from the controller of the current cell to the user equipment; and

initiating transfer of the user equipment from the current cell during the ongoing communication.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selecting of the at least one available cell of the second network comprises comparing capabilities of the user equipment and the capabilities of the at least one available cell.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining of the capability information comprises determining in the controller of the current cell at least one target cell that supports a service of the user equipment that is to be handed over.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the determining of the available cells by the controller of the current cell comprises determining available cells that are enhanced general packet radio service or dual transfer mode enabled.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining of the capability information comprises determining in the controller of the current cell available cells of the second network providing parallel circuit and packet switched services.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the current cell comprises a cell of a third generation mobile communications system.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining of the capability information comprises obtaining the capability information from system information of the second network by the controller of the current cell.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the obtaining of the capability information comprises receiving the capability information in a network assisted cell change message.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selecting of the at least one available cell of the second network further comprises considering the capability information with respect to matching of the cell capabilities to at least one of capabilities of the user equipment, signal strength, load and capacity.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using the capability information during inter-system neighbor measurements.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ongoing communication comprises packet data communications.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user equipment selects a new cell based on the information regarding the selected at least one available cell of the second network.

13. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program embodied thereon, the computer program controlling a processor to perform a process, the process comprising:

receiving system information, in a controller of a current cell belonging to a first network, during an ongoing communication;

determining, in the controller of the current cell, capability information for at least one available cell of a second network based on the system information;

selecting with the controller of the current cell and prior to obtaining inter-system compressed mode measurements, at least one available cell of the second network based on the capability information, by choosing a suitable at least one available cell for user equipment, to prepare a transfer of the user equipment from the current cell;

causing information regarding the selected at least one available cell of the second network to be sent from the controller of the current cell to the user equipment; and

initiating transfer of the user equipment from the current cell during the ongoing communication, the current cell belonging to the first network.

14. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, direct the apparatus at least to:

receive system information, in a current cell belonging to a first network, during an ongoing communication;

determine capability information for at least one available cell of a second network based on the system information;

select, prior to obtaining inter-system compressed mode measurements, the at least one available cell of the second network based on the capability information by choosing a suitable at least one available cell for user equipment to prepare a transfer of the user equipment from the current cell;

cause information regarding the selected at least one available cell to be sent to the user equipment; and

initiate transfer of the user equipment from the current cell of the first network during the ongoing communication.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is directed to interpret system information messages of the second network.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is further directed to determine at least one target cell that supports a service of the user equipment that is to be handed over.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the apparatus is directed to determine available cells that are enhanced general packet radio service or dual transfer mode enabled.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is a radio network controller of a third generation mobile communications system.

19. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is part of an access network controller, a base station controller, or a radio network controller.

20. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is further directed to compare capabilities of the user equipment and the capabilities of at least one available cell when selecting the at least one available cell of the second network based on the capability information.

21. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is directed to determine available cells of the second network providing parallel circuit and packet switched services.

22. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the current cell is a cell of a third generation mobile communications system.

23. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is directed to obtain the capability information from system information of the second network.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the apparatus is directed to obtain the capability information by receiving the capability information in a network assisted cell change message.

25. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is directed to consider capability information regarding matching of the cell capabilities to at least one of capabilities of the user equipment, signal strength, load and capacity when selecting the at least one cell.

26. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is directed to measure the capability information during inter-system neighbor measurements.

27. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the ongoing communication comprises packet data communications.

28. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the user equipment is configured to select a new cell based on the information regarding the selected at least one cell of the second network.

29. A system, comprising:

a first network;

a second network; and

a controller of a current cell of the first network,

wherein the controller is configured to control an user equipment in the current cell of the first network during an ongoing communication, and

wherein the controller is configured

to receive system information, in the current cell belonging to the first network, during the ongoing communication,

to determine capability information for at least one available cell of the second network based on the received system information,

to select, prior to obtaining inter-system compressed mode measurements, the at least one available cell of the second network based on the capability information by choosing a suitable at least one available cell for the user equipment to prepare a transfer of the user equipment from the current cell,

to initiate transfer of the user equipment from the current cell of the first network during the ongoing communication, and

to cause information regarding the selected at least one available cell of the second network to be sent to the user equipment.

30. An apparatus, comprising:

receiving means for receiving system information, in a controller of a current cell belonging to a first network, during an ongoing communication;

determining means for determining, in the controller of the current cell, capability information for at least one available cell of a second network based on the received system information;

selecting means for selecting, prior to obtaining inter-system compressed mode measurements, with the controller of the current cell the at least one available cell of the second network based on the capability information, by choosing a suitable at least one cell for user equipment, to prepare a transfer of the user equipment from the current cell;

means for causing information regarding the selected at least one available cell from the controller of the current cell to be sent to the user equipment; and

initiating means for initiating transfer of the user equipment from the current cell of the first network during the ongoing communication.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the apparatus is part of an access network controller, a base station controller, or a radio network controller.