PACKET TRANSMISSION CONTROL IN CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS

摘要

A method of, and apparatus for, controlling data packets routed via a packet control means (14) comprising a buffer (16) to a subscriber unit (34) in a cellular communications system (1) The method comprises determining a probability of an interruption in a communication route between the packet control means (14) and the subscriber unit (34); and dependent upon the probability, performing a packet control process for reducing the number of data packets in the buffer (16). The step of performing the packet control process may be, further dependent upon the number of data packets in the buffer (16). The packet control process may comprise deleting data packets from the buffer (16) and/or providing for the rate or number of data packets being sent to the buffer (16) to be reduced. The interruption may be due to the subscriber unit (34) being handed over between cells of the cellular communications system (1).