Fast cell changeover in packet-switched cellular radio network for real-time services, commences mobile unit change to new base-station before terminating connection to previous (old) base-station

摘要

The inventive system provides cell-change for a mobile station (MS) operating in a packet-switched cellular radio sysetm, using a first base-station (BTSold), second base-station (BTSnew) and controlling unit (PCU). The cell changeover comprises registering in the controlling unit information that the mobile station will require changeover to the cell of thee second base-station, while still communicating through the first base-station. A message (207) is transmitted from the PCU to the mobile station through the first base-station to set an oncoming moment in time (209) for executing the cell-changeover. From such time, service access for the mobile station is then provided from the cell of the second base-station. A count-down timer may be used to trigger the changeover frm old to new base-station cells.