Patent ID: 6131030
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A radio access network having a multiplicity of cells and a mobile station in communication with said radio access network through a given one of said cells, said radio access network comprising:a serving radio network controller controlling a plurality of cells within said radio access network and controlling said mobile station;a plurality of drift radio network controllers each controlling respective other pluralities of said cells; andsignaling connection means connecting said serving and drift radio network controllers and providing signaling connections therebetween;a serving controller memory attached to said serving radio network controller, said memory having a permanent portion and a control portion, said permanent portion comprising a plurality of identifiers of cells and signaling addresses for radio network controllers adjacent said serving radio network controller, said control portion containing signaling addresses of cells adjacent said given cell and identifiers of other radio network controllers adjacent the radio network controller of said given cell, and wherein the permanent portion of said serving controller memory contains no identifiers of a plurality of remote cells and no signaling addresses for remote radio network controllers, said remote radio network controllers being non-adjacent said serving radio network controller, whereby via said signaling connection means said serving controller controls radio resource allocation for handovers of said mobile station to another cell within said radio access network.