UNLICENSED-RADIO ACCESS NETWORKS IN A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

摘要

Cellular mobile networks can include unlicensed-radio access networks, which comprise access point controllers (303) connected via a fixed broadband network (302) to access points (301) that communicate with mobile stations (1) via unlicensed radio. The access points are connected to the broadband network from any location by the subscriber. In order to alleviate the configuration required to enable handover each access point controller is assigned to a location area defined in the conventional cellular network. A mobile station entering the mini-cell of an access point sends the access point information concerning the location area for the last cell of conventional network it communicated with. With this information, the access point obtains from a memory (40) the fixed broadband address of the access point controller assigned to this location area. The access point uses this address to establish a connection with the access point controller assigned to handle its current location.