Mobile telecommunications system

Abstract

A method of processing a handover request from a base station controller (BSC) of a GSM (Global System for Mobile communication)-type network. The method comprises the steps of passing a handover request with GSM-type parameters from a base station controller (BSC) through a Master Switching Center (MSC) of the GSM-type network to a UMTS core network (CN) and to a Radio Network Controller (RNC) of the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network, translating the GSM-type parameters to UTRAN parameters in the Radio Network Controller (RNC), and allocating UTRAN resources in response to the translated parameters.

1 . A method of establishing Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) communication between User Equipment (UE) and a UMTS network, wherein the User Equipment is in communication with a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM)-type network, the method comprising: 
 forwarding UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) parameter information to the User Equipment via the GSM-type network; and    in the User Equipment, interpreting the UTRAN parameter information and initiating communication with the UMTS network.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the UTRAN parameter information is supplied by a Radio Network Controller of the UMTS network.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the UTRAN parameter information comprises a list of potential UTRAN access points.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the UE is arranged to establish a link through the Radio Network Controller (RNC) of the UMTS network to the MSC of the GSM-type network.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein potential links supplied in a list to the UE on which satisfactory communication is not possible are deleted from the list of available links.  
     
     
         6 . A radio network controller of a UMTS network including means for implementing a method according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . User Equipment for a UMTS network arranged to communicate over both a GSM network and said UMTS network, and comprising: 
 means for receiving UTRAN parameters for setting up a UMTS call from the GSM network; and    means for initiating communication with the UMTS network based on said parameters to enable a GSM call to be handed over to the UMTS network.    
     
     
         8 . A message or data packet in a GSM network containing UTRAN parameters for handing over a GSM call to a UMTS network addressed to User Equipment engaged in a GSM call and capable of switching to a UMTS call.  
     
     
         9 . A radio network controller of a UMTS network including means for implementing a method according to  claim 2 .  
     
     
         10 . A radio network controller of a UMTS network including means for implementing a method according to  claim 3 .  
     
     
         11 . A radio network controller of a UMTS network including means for implementing a method according to  claim 4 .  
     
     
         12 . A radio network controller of a UMTS network including means for implementing a method according to  claim 5.