Management of cell-specific address information

Abstract

A method in a communication network comprising a core network and a radio access network. At least one target cell is defined for at least one originating cell controlled by a first radio access network node. A request for a packet switched communication address of a second RAN node of the target cell is delivered to the second RAN node, and a response comprising the requested address is returned. The request and the response are transferred between the first radio access network node and the second radio access network node in information containers that are transparent to the core network. The received address information is stored in the first radio access network node for facilitating delivery of data packets between the originating cell and the target cell. Based on the stored cell-specific information, information may be exchanged between the nodes controlling the cells without congesting the essential core network elements and interfaces.

1 . A functional unit of a radio access network said functional unit comprising: 
 first receiving means for receiving a request for a packet switched communication address of a second radio access network node comprising the functional unit, wherein the functional unit is included in a communication system comprising the radio access network and a core network;    generating means for generating, in response to receiving the request, a response comprising the packet switched communication address of the second radio access network node;    second receiving means for receiving the request from a first radio access network node; and    transmitting means for transmitting the response to the first radio access network node in information containers transparently to the core network.    
   
   
       2 . A radio access network node comprising: 
 a functional unit;    first receiving means for receiving a request for a packet switched communication address of a second radio access network node comprising the functional unit;    generating means for generating, in response to receiving the request, a response comprising the packet switched communication address of the second radio access network node;    second receiving means for receiving the request from a first radio access network node; and    transmitting means for transmitting the response to the first radio access network node in information containers that are transparent to a core network.    
   
   
       3 . A computer program product, executable on a computer, wherein execution of the computer program product in a user equipment causes a packet control unit to: 
 receive a request for a packet switched communication address of a second radio access network node comprising a functional unit;    generate, in response to receiving the request, a response comprising the packet switched communication address of the second radio access network node;    receive the request from a first radio access network node; and    transmit the response to the first radio access network node in information containers that are transparent to a core network.    
   
   
       4 . A functional unit of a radio access network, said functional unit comprising: 
 a first receiving unit configured to receive a request for a packet switched communication address of a second radio access network node comprising the functional unit, wherein the functional unit is included in a communication system comprising the radio access network and a core network;    a generating unit configured to generate, in response to receiving the request, a response comprising the packet switched communication address of the second radio access network node;    a second receiving unit configured to receive the request from a first radio access network node; and    a transmitting unit configured to transmit the response to the first radio access network node in information containers transparently to the core network.    
   
   
       5 . A radio access network node comprising: 
 a functional unit;    a first receiving unit configured to receive a request for a packet switched communication address of a second radio access network node comprising the functional unit;    a generating unit configured to generate, in response to receiving the request, a response comprising the packet switched communication address of the second radio access network node;    a second receiving unit configured to receive the request from a first radio access network node; and    a transmitting unit configured to transmit the response to the first radio access network node in information containers that are transparent to a core network.