WO2002033995A3 - Cellular network reconfiguration - Google Patents

Abstract

A radio communications network is coupled to an external network and includes a first network service node coupled to a first radio network controller. A first radio base station is coupled to the first radio network controller. Mobile radio terminals communicate over a radio interface with the first base station. A connection between the mobile radio terminal and the external network is set up by way of the first network service node, the first radio network controller, and the first base station. A determination is made if the configuration of the radio communications network is to be changed. In the transport reconfiguration in accordance with the present invention, a second radio network controller is established, and the active connection between the external network and the mobile terminal is transferred from the first radio network controller to the second radio network controller without disruption. The first base associated is now associated with and under the control of the second radio network controller. In a preferred, example embodiment of the present invention, the second radio network controller is associated with the first radio network controller, and more particularly, the second radio network controller is a logical radio network controller that uses processing resources also used by the first radio network controller. For example, a second, logical radio network controller may be established on the same or different physical node or platform that supports the first radio network controller.