METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MOBILE TERMINAL ASSISTED HANDOVER IN A PRIVATE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

摘要

Mobile assisted handover of an encrypted traffic connection between linked base stations of a private radio communications network are provided in a system including a plurality of base stations and a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal detects a signal quality of a received beacon transmission from a private base station of the private radio communications network while an encrypted traffic connection is underway with another base station of the private radio communications network. The beacon transmissions are received and a signal quality detected during idle frames of the ongoing traffic connection. The mobile terminal may also detect signal quality of the ongoing traffic connection and transmit it to the base station. The detected signal quality and identification of the beacon transmitting private base station are provided to the private radio communications network which determines whether a handover should be initiated. Depending upon which of the forwarding or receiving base stations current TDMA frame number will be used for encryption of a handed over encrypted traffic connection, a reference TDMA frame number is exchanged between the forwarding and receiving base station. If the receiving base station TDMA reference number is to be used, it is forwarded to the mobile terminal on a control channel of the ongoing encrypted traffic connection from the forwarding base station. The transfer takes place within a single multiframe of the TDMA protocol of the private radio communications network and, after correction for any delays in transfer of the TDMA reference number, handover takes place in the following multiframe.