초록 ▼

In connection-oriented switching of packet data in known mobile communications systems, resources of the transmission path between the serving node (SGSN) and the radio network subsystem (RNS) and memory resources of the radio network subsystem are reserved unnecessarily due to the burst-like nature

In connection-oriented switching of packet data in known mobile communications systems, resources of the transmission path between the serving node (SGSN) and the radio network subsystem (RNS) and memory resources of the radio network subsystem are reserved unnecessarily due to the burst-like nature of packet data. Thus the transmission network's limited address space and the radio network subsystem's management resources are consumed. The invention concerns such connection management in a mobile communications system, which is suitable for packet-switched data transmission. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the logical connection between the serving node (SGSN) and the radio network subsystem (RNS) is released, so that the logical connection between the serving node (SGSN) and the mobile station (MS) remains, and the released logical connection is reconnected, when relaying of user data starts.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of connection management in a communications system, which is suitable for packet switched data transmission and which includes at least one serving node, at least one access system and terminals, said communications system being adapted for having a first logical connection relating to

1. A method of connection management in a communications system, which is suitable for packet switched data transmission and which includes at least one serving node, at least one access system and terminals, said communications system being adapted for having a first logical connection relating to a terminal between the serving node and the access system and a second, upper-level logical connection relating to the terminal between the terminal and the serving node, the method comprising the steps of: releasing the first logical connection between the serving node and the access system when the first logical connection is inactive, so that the second logical connection remains between the serving node and the terminal; andreconnecting the first logical connection between the serving node and the access system when transmission of user data begins. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first logical connection is released between the serving node and the access system, when terminal's communications on the first logical connection have been idle for a pre-established time. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the pre-established time is set for the connection based on the service class. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first logical connection is released between the serving node and the access system, when a shortage of resources occurs on this transmission distance and the first connection is idle. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein information on release of the first logical connection is signaled between the serving node and the terminal. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein information on the need for reconnection of the first logical connection is signaled between the serving node and the terminal. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: preventing the release of the first logical connection between the serving node and the access system, when some unit in the communications system has such user data, which is intended for relaying over this connection. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications system is a mobile communications system. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the connection of the mobility management protocol is released between the serving node and the access system, so that the connection of the upper level connection protocol between the serving node and the terminal remains. 10. A communications system, which is suitable for packet switched data transmission and which includes at least one serving node, at least one access system and terminals, said communications system being adapted for having a first logical connection relating to a terminal between the serving node and the access system and a second, upper-level logical connection relating to the terminal between the terminal and the serving node, the communications system comprising connection management equipment for releasing the first logical connection between the serving node and the access system during data transmission non-activity relating to the first logical connection so that the second logical connection remains between the serving node and the terminal and for reconnecting this first logical connection, when traffic activity starts. 11. The communications system of claim 10, wherein the connection management equipment comprises: monitoring equipment for identifying activity and non-activity of the user data traffic on the terminal's communication connection;at least one timer for measuring an uninterrupted non-activity period in the relaying of user data; andstate control equipment for releasing the first logical connection between the serving node and the access system, when a pre-established time has passed as measured by the timer, and for reconnecting the first logical connection between the serving node and the access system, when the relaying of user data resumes. 12. The communications system of claim 11, wherein an operation and management system controls setting of the timer. 13. The communications system of claim 11, wherein the timer's setting depends on the service class. 14. The communications system of claim 10, the connection management equipment further comprising: resources monitoring equipment for monitoring the degree of reservation of the connection identifiers of connections between the serving node and the access system. 15. The communications system of claim 10, wherein the connection management equipment comprises: monitoring equipment for identifying activity and non-activity of the user data traffic on the terminal's first connection;resources monitoring equipment for monitoring the degree of reservation of the connection identifiers of connections between the serving node and the access system; andstate control equipment for releasing the first logical connection between the serving node and the access system, when there is a shortage of connection identifiers and the connection is idle, and for reconnecting the first logical connection between the serving node and the access system, when relaying of user data resumes. 16. The communications system of claim 10, the connection management equipment also comprising signaling equipment for signaling of release and reconnection of the first logical connection between the serving node and the terminal. 17. The communications system of claim 10, wherein the access system is a radio network subsystem. 18. The communications system of claim 10, wherein the terminal is a mobile station. 19. A method, comprising: releasing a first logical connection between a serving node and an access system when the first logical connection is inactive, so that a second logical connection remains between the serving node and a terminal; andreconnecting the first logical connection between the serving node and the access system when transmission of user data begins. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first logical connection is released between the serving node and the access system, when terminal's communications on the first logical connection have been idle for a pre-established time. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the pre-established time is set for the connection based on the service class. 22. The method of claim 19, wherein the first logical connection is released between the serving node and the access system, when a shortage of resources occurs on this transmission distance and the first connection is idle. 23. The method of claim 19, wherein information on release of the first logical connection is signaled between the serving node and the terminal. 24. The method of claim 19, wherein information on the need for reconnection of the first logical connection is signaled between the serving node and the terminal. 25. The method of claim 19, wherein the connection of the mobility management protocol is released between the serving node and the access system, so that the connection of the upper level connection protocol between the serving node and the terminal remains. 26. A communications system, comprising: a connection management equipment configured to release a first logical connection between a serving node and an access system during data transmission non-activity relating to the first logical connection so that a second logical connection remains between the serving node and a terminal and configured to reconnect this first logical connection, when traffic activity starts. 27. The communications system of claim 26, wherein the connection management equipment comprises: a timer configured to measure an uninterrupted non-activity period in the relaying of user data; anda state control equipment configured to release the first logical connection between the serving node and the access system, when a pre-established time has passed as measured by the timer, and to reconnect the first logical connection between the serving node and the access system, when the relaying of user data resumes. 28. The communications system of claim 26, wherein the connection management equipment comprises: resources monitoring equipment configured to monitor a degree of reservation of the connection identifiers of connections between the serving node and the access system; andstate control equipment configured to release the first logical connection between the serving node and the access system, when there is a shortage of connection identifiers and the connection is idle. 29. The communications system of claim 26, further comprising: a signaling equipment configured to signal information between the serving node and the terminal upon occurrence of at least one of a release of the first logical connection and a need for a reconnection of the first logical connection. 30. The communications system of claim 26, wherein the terminal comprises a mobile station.