System and method for primary point handovers

Abstract

A method for operating a multiple point (MP) controller includes receiving, from a source primary point, a handover required message for a user equipment coupled to the source primary point, the handover required message including target primary point information and MP radio bearer information. The method also includes determining an MP configuration according to the handover required message, and sending, to a target primary point, a handover request message including the MP configuration and the MP radio bearer information. The method further includes sending, to the source primary point, a handover message including the MP configuration, the MP radio bearer information, and reconfiguration information for the user equipment, the handover message initiating a handover of a subset of the MP radio bearer from the source primary point to the target primary point, and receiving, from the target primary point, a handover complete message.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for operating a multiple point (MP) controller, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a source primary point, a handover required message for a user equipment coupled to the source primary point, the handover required message including target primary point information and MP radio bearer information for an MP radio bearer; 
 determining an MP configuration according to the handover required message; 
 sending, to a target primary point, a handover request message including the MP configuration and the MP radio bearer information; 
 sending, to the source primary point, a handover message including the MP configuration, the MP radio bearer information, and reconfiguration information for the user equipment, the handover message initiating a handover of a subset of the MP radio bearer from the source primary point to the target primary point; and 
 receiving, from the target primary point, a handover complete message indicating completion of the a handover, the handover complete message including an update to the MP radio bearer information; and 
 sending, to the source primary point, a handover message including the MP configuration, the MP radio bearer information, and reconfiguration information for the user equipment, the handover message initiating the handover of a subset of the MP radio bearer from the source primary point to the target primary point. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the handover required message also includes target primary point security information. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the MP configuration comprises:
 changing a first MP radio bearer configuration for the source primary point according to the MP radio bearer information; and 
 changing a second MP radio bearer configuration for the target primary point according to the MP radio bearer information. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the handover required message further comprises non-MP radio bearer information for a non-MP radio bearer, and wherein determining the MP configuration further comprises:
 removing the non-MP radio bearer from the source primary point; and 
 adding the non-MP radio bearer at the target primary point. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the MP radio bearer information includes an identifier of the MP radio bearer, and a parameter of the MP radio bearer. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the parameter comprises a radio resource management parameter, a Quality of Service parameter, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the handover request message also includes target primary point security information. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the handover message also includes remaining MP radio bearer information for a remaining MP radio bearer that is retained at the source primary point after completion of the handover. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reconfiguration information includes user equipment identity information assigned to the user equipment at the target primary point, user equipment security information at the target primary point, the MP radio bearer information, remaining MP radio bearer information for a remaining MP radio bearer that is retained at the source primary point after completion of the handover, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the handover complete message includes an update to the MP radio bearer information. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending, to a secondary point, a second handover complete message indicating completion of the handover. 
     
     
       12. A multiple point (MP) controller comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive, from a source primary point, a handover required message for a user equipment coupled to the source primary point, the handover required message including target primary point information and MP radio bearer information for an MP radio bearer, and to receive, from a target primary point, a handover complete message indicating completion of a handover, wherein the handover complete message includes an update to the MP radio bearer information; 
 a processor operatively coupled to the receiver, the processor configured to determine an MP configuration according to the handover required message; and 
 a transmitter operatively coupled to the processor and to the receiver, the transmitter configured to send, to the target primary point, a handover request message including the MP configuration and the MP radio bearer information, and to send, to the source primary point, a handover message including the MP configuration, the MP radio bearer information, and reconfiguration information for the user equipment, the handover message initiating a handover of a subset of the MP radio bearer from the source primary point to the target primary point. 
 
     
     
       13. The MP controller of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to change a first MP radio bearer configuration for the source primary point according to the MP radio bearer information, and to change a second MP radio bearer configuration for the target primary point according to the MP radio bearer information. 
     
     
       14. The MP controller of  claim 12 , wherein the handover required message includes non-MP radio bearer information for a non-MP radio bearer, and wherein the processor is configured to remove the non-MP radio bearer from the source primary point, and to add the non-MP radio bearer from the source primary point to the target primary point. 
     
     
       15. The MP controller of  claim 12 , wherein the transmitter is configured to send, to a secondary point, a second handover complete message indicating completion of the handover. 
     
     
       16. The MP controller of  claim 12 , wherein the handover required message also includes target primary point security information. 
     
     
       17. The MP controller of  claim 12 , wherein the MP radio bearer information includes an identifier of the MP radio bearer, and a parameter of the MP radio bearer. 
     
     
       18. The MP controller of  claim 17 , wherein the parameter comprises a radio resource management parameter, a Quality of Service parameter, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       19. The MP controller of  claim 12 , wherein the handover request message also includes target primary point security information. 
     
     
       20. The MP controller of  claim 12 , wherein the handover message also includes remaining MP radio bearer information for a remaining MP radio bearer that is retained at the source primary point after completion of the handover. 
     
     
       21. The MP controller of  claim 12 , wherein the reconfiguration information includes user equipment identity information assigned to the user equipment at the target primary point, user equipment security information at the target primary point, the MP radio bearer information, remaining MP radio bearer information for a remaining MP radio bearer that is retained at the source primary point after completion of the handover, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       22. The MP controller of  claim 12 , wherein the handover complete message includes an update to the MP radio bearer information.