EP0570643A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Handover of mobile radio calls between mobile switching centers
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1992-11-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-11-19
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to apparatus and methods for providing cellular mobile telecommunication service in accordance with the requirements of the Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard. A handover of communications to a mobile station from a first base station to a second base station, the first and second base stations being served by a first and second mobile telecommunications switching system, respectively, is accomplished by changing connections within a switching network of the first switching system from a first port and a second port, to the first port and a third port, the third port being connected via an interoffice trunk to the second base system.
Inventors
- 👤 David John Howard
- 👤 Chinmei Chen Lee
- 👤 Prasad Venkateswara Nimmagadda
- 👤 Luat Tan Phung
- 👤 Johannes Josephus Christoffel Schiet
- 👤 Alex Lawrence Wierzbicki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W36/00; H04W36/12; H04W36/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
In a cellular mobile telecommunications network, a method of handing over communications to a mobile radio station from a first base station system to a second base station system, the first and second base stations being served by a first and second mobile telecommunications switching system, respectively, a communication path to said mobile station initially comprising a connection from a first port to a second port of a switching network of said first switching system, comprising the ordered steps of: establishing a connection from a third port of said switching network via an interoffice trunk to said second base station system; sending a request to said first base station to cause said mobile station to retune to a channel of said second base station; and concurrently connecting said first port to said switching network to said third port and disconnecting said first port from said second port of said switching network.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said concurrently connecting step comprises the step: changing a control memory of a time slot interchange unit of said switching network to steer time slots, previously steered from and to said second port, from and to said third port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said sending step comprises sending a signal requesting said mobile station to send a signal from said mobile station to said second base station system over a channel of said second base station system further comprising: receiving a message from said second switching system to said first switching system to perform the concurrently connecting step in response to said second switching system establishing a connection to said second base station system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: prior to said establishing step, said first base station receiving signal strength measurement data from said mobile station; and determining whether a handover to a transceiver served by a base station system served by said second switching system is required and responsive to said determination, transmitting a request to initiate a handover to said second switching system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first and third ports are on the same side of said switching network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
186 words
In a cellular mobile telecommunications network, apparatus for handing over communications between a mobile radio station and a first base station system to a second base station system, the first and second base stations being served by a first and second mobile telecommunications switching system, respectively, the apparatus in the first switching system comprising: a switching network for establishing connections between ports of said switching network; and processor means operative under the control of a program for controlling establishment of a connection from a first port of said switching network connected to one end of a mobile call to a second port of said switching network connected to said first base station; for controlling establishment of a subsequent connection from a third port of said switching network to a trunk connected to said second switching system; for requesting said first base station system to send a signal to said mobile unit to retune to a channel of said second base station system; and for controlling a concurrent connection of said first port to said third port, and disconnection of said first port from said second port.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said switching system is modular and said processor means comprises module processor means for each module.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a first module processor means controls said concurrent connection and controls said first base station system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said switching network has two sides and wherein said first and third ports are on a common side.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said switching network comprises a time slot interchange unit, and wherein said controlling a concurrent connection and disconnection comprises controlling a control memory of said time slot interchange unit to steer time slots, previously steered from and to said second port, from and to said third port.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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