초록 ▼

A cellular communications system permits handover of a group of mobile stations (15) having like characteristics from a base station (13) operating in one type of network e.g. UMTS to a base station (16) operating in a different type of network e.g. GSM, or from a first carrier frequency to a second

A cellular communications system permits handover of a group of mobile stations (15) having like characteristics from a base station (13) operating in one type of network e.g. UMTS to a base station (16) operating in a different type of network e.g. GSM, or from a first carrier frequency to a second carrier frequency both being supported by the same base station, thereby relieving congestion in an overloaded cell by handing over a group of calls to an under-loaded one. The invention has the benefits of enabling such a handover with the minimum of signalling overhead.

대표청구항 ▼

1. Radio telecommunication apparatus including a base station serving a cell and for communicating with a plurality of mobile stations located within the cell, in which the system includes;means for monitoring a characteristic of transmissions between the base station and each mobile station, means

1. Radio telecommunication apparatus including a base station serving a cell and for communicating with a plurality of mobile stations located within the cell, in which the system includes;means for monitoring a characteristic of transmissions between the base station and each mobile station, means for clustering into a group those mobile stations whose monitored characteristic meets a pre-determined first criterion, means for establishing a first communication link between the base station and at least all the mobile stations comprising the group, means for monitoring a cell parameter and for detecting when the parameter meets a pre-determined second criterion, means for transmitting a group handover signal to all the mobile stations comprising the group when the cell parameter meets the second criterion, and means for establishing a second communications link and for severing the first communication link between at least some of the mobile stations comprising the group and the base station in response to the group handover signal.