Short message transmission and handover procedures

摘要

The present invention relates to an improved method for handover of a mobile node from E-UTRAN to UTRAN in a scenario where SMS is the only service of the mobile node. The improved handover method allows saving radio resources by establishing the signalling connection for SMS exchange in the target network, and avoiding the data connection in the target network, since it is not used. The MME takes the decision to establish or not the data connection in the target UTRAN, and accordingly instructs the SGSN and UE to set the corresponding PDP contexts for the data connection to a “preserved” state, so as to avoid the establishment of same. Embodiments further relate to improved SMS delivery for IDLE mode UEs that activate ISR so as to avoid the involvement of the MSC server. Instead, packet-switched domain nodes are to be involved only.

主权项

1. A method for transmitting downlink small data packets to a user equipment subscribed to a mobile communication network comprising a base station, the method comprising the steps of:
triggering the user equipment by a connectivity-related network entity to establish connectivity with the mobile communication network via the control plane only and not via user plane, establishing by the user equipment and the connectivity-related network entity control plane connectivity for the user equipment, in response to the triggering, transmitting the downlink small data packets to the user equipment using the established control plane connectivity, not using user plane connectivity, starting by the user equipment a control-plane establishment timer when initiating the establishing of the control plane connectivity, in response to the triggering, and stopping the control-plane establishment timer, upon establishing the control plane connectivity with the mobile communication network.