Information transmission in a communications system

[0001] The invention relates to the transmission of information in a communication system. In particular, the invention relates to the transmission of information between a network control element and a network transmitter / receiver element.

Background of the Invention [0002] A communication system may be regarded as an object that allows communication between two or more entities, such as a user device and / or other nodes associated with the system. Communication can include, for example, communication of voice, data, multimedia, and so on. The communication system may be circuit switching or packet switching. The communication system can be configured to provide wireless communication.

[0003] One example of a communication system is a cellular communication system. The area covered by the operation of the cellular communication system is divided into cells. In general, user mobility is handled by redirecting calls (calls) to a network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) corresponding to the cell in which the user is currently with his communication device. One example of a second-generation mobile communication system is the global system for mobile communications (Global System for Mobile Telecommunications - GSM), and one example of a third-generation mobile communication system is a wideband code division multiple access (Wideband CDMA).

[0004] Traditionally, cellular communication systems have been circuit switching systems. Certain cellular communication systems of the second generation and many third-generation mobile communication systems support both communication with circuit switching and communication with packet switching. The capacity of communication with packet switching increases, so it is important to ensure performance in a cellular communication system for transmitting packet switched data.

[0005] One feature of packet-switching traffic is that this traffic is often asymmetric. As an example, you can consider browsing the Internet by the user. Typically, there is much more packet-switched traffic to the user than in the opposite direction, i.e. from the user to the server on the Internet. Thus, in addition to handling packet switched data, there is a need in the communication system to handle asymmetric packet switched traffic.

[0006] In the Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) system, one solution for handling packet-switched traffic for communication devices is fast packet access (HSDPA) high-speed packet access. HSDPA contains a new one

- physical channel in the radio interface between the WCDMA system and the communication device. The HSDPA physical channel is shared by communication devices using HSDPA. The HSDPA physical channel is separated from the WCDMA channels and increases the transmission performance of downloading WCDMA data packets in the radio interface.

[0007] The maximum data rate for a shared HSDPA channel is 10 Mbit / second. This data transfer rate is about five times greater than the data transfer rates supported by other channels in the WCDMA system. When the transmission performance in the radio interface increases, the transmission performance inside the WCDMA system must also be increased.

[0008] Figure 1 schematically shows the communication of downloading data packets in a cellular communication system 100. A network transmitter / receiver element 110 communicating over a radio interface to a communication device 101 is connected to a network control element 120. Typically to a single control element. a network (control network element) is connected to several elements of the network transmitter / receiver. The network control element 120 is in turn connected to the core packet network 130 of the cellular communication system 100. In the WCDMA system, the network transmitter / receiver elements (network transmitter elements) are called base stations or base stations. B nodes (Node B),

The element of the network transmitter / receiver 110 (network transmitter element) is often connected to the network control element 120 by a fixed connection 112 provided by the transmission network 140. The transmission network provides permanent connections between endpoints. A permanent connection here means a transmission ability that is reserved for a connection regardless of whether there is data to be transmitted over the connection. The fixed connection provided by the transmission network is often also referred to as a leased line. The transmission network 140 may be implemented using, for example, a pleso-protected ("almost" synchronous) digital hierarchy (PDH) or a synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH). In the PDH transmission network, the common basic data transfer rate is 2. 048 Mbit per second and a permanent connection having this basic data transfer rate is called E1 connection. To support speech calls to and from communication devices using communication system 100, the E1 connection connecting the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) to the network control element (vice versa) is generally divided into 30 channels x 64 kbit / second plus 2 x 64 kbit / s channels for signaling and clocking. Alternatively, it is possible to divide the performance of the E1 connection or the performance of another type of leased line between multiple connections / users in different ways. To support speech calls to and from communication devices using communication system 100, the E1 connection connecting the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) to the network control element (vice versa) is generally divided into 30 channels x 64 kbit / second plus 2 x 64 kbit / s channels for signaling and clocking. Alternatively, it is possible to divide the performance of the E1 connection or the performance of another type of leased line between multiple connections / users in different ways. To support speech calls to and from communication devices using communication system 100, the E1 connection connecting the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) to the network control element (vice versa) is generally divided into 30 channels x 64 kbit / second plus 2 x 64 kbit / s channels for signaling and clocking. Alternatively, it is possible to divide the performance of the E1 connection or the performance of another type of leased line between multiple connections / users in different ways.

[0010] To increase data transmission efficiency between the network control element 120 and the network transmitter / receiver component (network transmitter element) 110, a common

The solution is to provide connections for multiple leased lines, e.g. multiple E1 connections. This may, however, prove to be an economically unfeasible solution to ensure transmission performance for outbound packet data traffic (HSDPA), especially when the maximum performance of outbound packet data traffic (HSDPA - downlink data traffic) is needed only occasionally.

[0011] It is understood that although the HSDPA system and the WCDMA system are discussed in more detail above, similar problems may also arise in other communication systems.

[0012] The publication of international patent application number WO 03/096571 A1 discusses the allocation of radio resources, such as broadcasting codes and transmission power, to various types of radio channels served in a cell. One or more measures have been applied to manage radio resources in the base station. One or more of these reported measures can then be used to access, allocate and / or regulate resources associated with the cell of the base station.

[0013] Embodiments of the invention help to provide a feasible solution for providing efficient data transmission in communication systems.

Summary of the Invention [0014] The invention is defined by the appended independent claims. Certain more specific features are defined by the appended dependent claims.

The first subject of the invention relates to a method for transmitting information between a network control element and a network transmitter element / receiver in a communication system, said method comprising providing a first connection connecting a network control element and a network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element), providing a second connection linking the network control element and the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element), the first connection has a higher guaranteed quality of service than the second connection, and the transmission of some information uses the first connection or the second connection using certain criteria.

[0016] The second subject of the invention relates to a communication system comprising at least one network control element and at least one of the network transmitter / receiver elements in which at least a first network control element of said at least one network control element and at least a first element of a network transmitter / receiver listed at least one of the transmitter network elements is connected through a first connection and a second connection, said first connection provides a higher guaranteed service quality than the second connection, and the communication system is configured to transmit some information using the first connection or second connection using specific criteria.

[0017] A third object of the invention relates to a network control element for a communication system, said network control element being configured to provide a first interface and a second interface for transmitted information.

Between the network control element and the network transmitter / receiver element, the first interface relates to the first connection and the second interface regarding the second connection, said first connection provides a higher guaranteed quality of service than the second connection and use of the first interface or second interface for a piece of information transmitted between the control element network and element of the network transmitter / receiver (element of the network transmitter), depending on specific criteria.

The fourth subject of the invention relates to a network transmitter / receiver element for a communication system, said network transmitter / receiver element being configured to provide a first interface and a second interface for information transmitted between a network control element and a network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element), the first interface is for the first connection and the second interface is for the second connection, the first connection provides a higher guaranteed service quality than the second connection and uses the first interface or second interface for the information part transmitted between the network control element and the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) ), depending on specific criteria.

Brief description of the drawings [0019] Embodiments of the invention will now be described as examples, only with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows an exemplary communication system including a network control element and a network transmitter / receiver element;

Figure 2 shows an exemplary communication system according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figures 3a and 3b show exemplary schematic stacks of communication device protocols, a network transmitter / receiver element and a network control element;

Figure 4 shows an exemplary block diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 shows an exemplary block diagram of a further method according to a further embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 6 shows an exemplary schematic network control element and a network transmitter / receiver element according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention [0020] Embodiments of the invention are discussed below in detail, with many references to the WCDMA system and for quick access to outbound packet data (HSDPA). It is to be understood, however, that the invention may also be applicable to other communication systems than the system combining the features of the WCDMA and HSDPA system.

[0021] Figure 1 has been discussed above in connection with the background of the invention. Figure 2 shows, by way of example, the communication system 200 and the communication device 101. System

The communication 200 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 2 as a cellular communication system. Fig. 2 shows a network transmitter / receiver element 210 responsible for transmitting and receiving information to a communication device 101. Fig. 2 also shows a network control element 220 responsible, for example, for distributing radio resources between a plurality of communication devices communicating over the same transmitter element / the network receiver. To ensure data communication between the communication device 101 and the packet switching network (not shown in Fig. 2) to which the communication system 200 is connected, typically through a network gateway element, the network control element 220 is connected to the packet core network 130 of the communication system 200.

[0022] Figure 2 further shows that the network control element 220 and the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) 210 are associated with the first connection 112 provided by the transmission network 140. As discussed above in connection with the background of the invention, this transmission network 140 it may be, for example, an SDH network or a PDH network. The transmission network 140 used in the embodiments of the invention preferably provides a fixed transmission delay, without fluctuations. The transmission network 140 used in the embodiment of the invention is thus usually a multiplex network with time division. The transmission network 140 used in the embodiments of the invention may further provide a timing reference for the communication system. Providing a timing pattern means that the transmission network 140 connecting a plurality of network transmitter / receiver elements with one or more network control elements provides a timing pattern at least for the transmitter / receiver elements of the network (network transmitter elements). The network transmitter / receiver elements typically require a timing pattern for transmitting information at appropriate times relative to each other.

[0023] Figure 2 further shows that the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) 210 and the network control element 220 are connected to each other via the packet switching network 250. This packet switching network 250 may be in the possession of a mobile communication system operator or network packet switching 250 may be in the possession of a third party. The packet switching network 250 typically provides a lower guaranteed quality of the data service than the transmission network 140. Guaranteed service quality means here, for example, a fixed transmission delay between endpoints of the connection. Other important factors are: high reliability ensuring that, for example, signaling messages between the network control element and the network transmitter / receiver element (element of the network transmitter) will not be lost.

[0024] The connection between the network control element 220 and the network transmitter element 210 is here called the second connection, but it is understood that the second connection is

With a packet switching and the second connection can mean a plurality of separate packet data connections between the network control element 220 and the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) 210. Furthermore, it is understood that the first connection via the transmission network 140 can be implemented, example, as multiple E1 connections or T1 connections. In many cases, however, it is sufficient to have only one E1 or T1 connection connecting the network control element 220 to the network transmitter / receiver element 210.

[0025] Generally, the network control element 220 and the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) 210 have two interfaces for transmitting packet data between the network control element 220 and the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) 210. The first interface is the first connection via the transmission network 140, and the second interface relates to the second connection via the packet switching network 250.

Considering as an example WCDMA and HSDPA, the element of the network transmitter / receiver (network transmitter element) 210 is a base station (node ​​B) and the network control element 220 is a Radio Network Controller.

[0027] HSDPA is served by a new shared channel, a high speed downlink shared channel (HSDSCH). Certain control features of this HS-DSCH are implemented at least partially in the base station to allow fast adaptation to changing channel properties. These control features include, for example, transmission planning and link adaptation. Transmission planning means splitting transmission resources between multiple users or connections. Adjusting the link means changing, for example, modulation and coding rate of the channel. For dedicated traffic channels, radio resource management and transmission planning are most often implemented in the RNC in WCDMA. Transmission planning in a network transmitter / receiver element (in a base station) means that data sent from the network control element (from the RNC) to be transmitted, e.g., using the HS-DSCH channel, is stored in the buffer in the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element), so the data is not necessarily transmitted immediately upon arrival. For data intended to be transmitted in a dedicated DCH channel, similar buffering in a network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) is usually limited to compensation of small fluctuations arising in E1 or T1 connections. Large delay variations can not be generally tolerated for dedicated traffic channels, because the operating mode of the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) in the DCH usually expects data, for example, in intervals of 20 ms. The element of the transmitter / receiver of the network (element of the network transmitter) can not delay the moment of temporary transmission because of the inaccessible DCH data at the right time. If the DCH data is not available in a timely manner for encoding, the element of the transmitter / receiver of the network (network transmitter element) may use, for example, a non-continuous transmission in DCH and reject data delayed for the time of transmission.

[0028] It is thus understood that the second connection can be used especially for information whose transmission via the radio interface between the communication device and the network transmitter / receiver element is planned under the control of the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element).

[0029] Information scheduling for transmission via a radio interface in a network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) may also be used for information transmitted in an incoming direction from a communication device to a communication system. Information sent in an existing DCH on an incoming link is usually unable to tolerate a varying transport delay since its arrival is generally expected at fixed time intervals to the network control element. In the revised incoming DCH (Enhanced Uplink DCH) line, which is proposed by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), data is sent by the terminal with incoming connection planning controlled in the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element). The information transmitted on the inbound link using the scheduler by the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element), e.g. information transmitted using an improved incoming DCH (Enhanced Uplink DCH), may thus tolerate larger delay in transmission. The idea of ​​a revised incoming DCH (Enhanced Uplink DCH) is also sometimes referred to as High Speed ​​Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA).

[0030] The HSDPA traffic does not have the requirement for a constant transmission delay from the network control element (controlling network element) for receiving data in the element of the transmitter / receiver of the network (element of the network transmitter) and further transmitting via the radio interface to the communication device. Correspondingly, in the direction of an incoming link, the HSUPA traffic does not need a base station (or a plurality of base stations in the case of soft handoff) to receive data transmitted in a precise moment to the network control element. The base station controls HSDPA or HSUPA data scheduling between the base station and the communication device. The base station therefore contains buffers for planning. The HSDPA or HSUPA channels are not intended to carry traffic (such as normal speech calls) that requires a constant delay and does not tolerate additional buffering at the base station. It is understood that there may be other data than HSDPA or HSUPA traffic,

[0031] Figures 3a and 3b refer to Fig. 2, in particular to HSDPA in WCDMA. Figures 3a and 3b schematically show the stacks of communication device (user device) protocols, base station (node ​​B) and radio network controller for HSDPA. The protocol layer responsible for access control to the HS-DSCH medium in the B node (Node B) is called MAC-hs. Between node B (Node B) and RNC, the HS-DSCH frame protocol (FP protocol) is used to transmit HSDPA frames. In RNC, a medium control layer for MAC-d packet data and a link layer

-Radiate RLCs are the same for HSDPA and for packet data transfer using dedicated DCH traffic channels.

[0032] It is understood that HSDPA is known to those skilled in the art, so the details of HSDPA are not discussed in detail herein. For example, the details of deciding between using traffic channels or a shared HSDPA channel for downloading packet data transmissions are irrelevant to embodiments of the invention. Embodiments of the invention relate more to data transmission between the network control element and the network transmitter / receiver element, than selecting the correct channel type for data transmission between the communication device and the network control element.

[0033] Details of HSDPA can be found, for example, in the technical specification 3GPP TS 25.308, "High Speed ​​Downlink Packet Access; Overall description; Stage 2; Release 5 ", version 5.5.0 or in the following book:" WCDMA for UMTS ", published by H. Holm and A. Toskal, published by John Wiley and Sons, 2nd edition, 2002, Chapter 11, pages. 279-304.

[0034] Figure 3a shows the stack of protocols 310 for a communications device 101, a stack of B node protocols 320 (Node B) 110 and a stack of protocols 330 RNC 120. Stacks of protocols 320 and 330 in Fig. 3a also apply to the first interface in a transmitter element /. a network receiver (network transmitter element) 210 and a network control element 220. The stack of protocols 310 has three layers: physical layer 311, carrier access control layer (MAC) 312 and radio link control layer (RLC) 313. Protocol stack 320 has two layers for communication device 101: physical layer 321a and a media access control layer 322a. For the radio network controller 120, the stack of B node (Node B) 320 protocols has the following layers: L1 layer 321 b, layer L2 322b and HS-DSCH frame protocol (HSDSCH FP) 323. The stack of protocols 330 has the following layers:

[0035] It is understood that HSDPAs may have two RNCs involved in the HSDPA connection: serving RNC and controlling RNC. It is possible that the control RNC is bypassed, and the HS-DSCH FP layer in the serving RNC has the equivalent at node B (Node B). This option is in accordance with Fig. 3a. Another option is to use HS-DSCH FP between an RNC serving and controlling RNC, and a MAC-c / sh medium access control protocol on the top HS-DSCH FP between node B (Node B) and control RNC. Fig. 3a shows the stack of protocols in the configuration without the MAC-c / sh layer.

[0036] In the example of Fig. 2, when the radio network controller 220 transmits HSDPA data to node B (Node B) 110 via transmission network 140, these HSDPA data transmissions use the protocol stacks shown in Fig. 3a. The L1 and L2 protocol layers in Fig. 3a provide functions relating to a particular transmission network 140 connecting the B node (Node B) 210 and the radio network controller 220.

[0037] Figure 3b shows a stack of 340 B node (Node B) protocols 210 and a stack of protocols 350 with RNC 220. Stacks of 340 and 350 protocols in Fig. 3b apply to the second interface

In the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) 210 and the network control element 220.

[0038] With regard to the second interface, the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) 210 may be connected to the packet switching network 250, for example, by an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) device. Alternatively, the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) 210 and the network control element 220 may be connected to the packet switching network apparatus 250 using a high-speed digital subscriber line (HDSL) high-speed data line device. As another alternative, the packet switching network 250 may be, for example, a local area network (LAN) and a network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) 210 and a network control element may be connected to a LAN.

[0039] With reference to the stacks of protocols relating to the second interface, stacks of protocols 340 and 350 in node B and RNC in figure 3b are similar to the stacks shown in figure 3a. The L1 layer 341 in the stack of protocols 340 and the layer L1 351 in the stack of protocols 350 relate to the physical carrier connecting the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) and the network control element. The L2 342 layer and the L2 layer 352 relate to a media access control protocol in the packet switching network 250. At the top of the media access control protocol are some packet data protocols, e.g., a user datagram protocol over the Internet Protocol UDP / IP) or the Internet Protocol transfer control protocol (Transfer Control Protocol over Internet Protocol (TCP / IP).) Fig. 3b shows as an example, a TCP / IP combination as a protocol layer 343, 353. The HSDSCH protocol 323, 333 is carried at the top of the protocols for transmitting packet data received from the core packet network 130 to the communication device, or vice versa. The HS-DSCH frame headers contain information indicating, for example, planning priority and flow header. Based on the flow header, the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) (or, in the direction of the incoming link, the network controller element) can determine which communication device the HS-DSCH frame applies to. 333 is carried at the top of the protocols for transmitting packet data received from the core packet network 130 to the communication device, or vice versa. The HS-DSCH frame headers contain information indicating, for example, planning priority and flow header. Based on the flow header, the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) (or, in the direction of the incoming link, the network controller element) can determine which communication device the HS-DSCH frame applies to. 333 is carried at the top of the protocols for transmitting packet data received from the core packet network 130 to the communication device, or vice versa. The HS-DSCH frame headers contain information indicating, for example, planning priority and flow header. Based on the flow header, the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) (or, in the direction of the incoming link, the network controller element) can determine which communication device the HS-DSCH frame applies to.

[0040] The packet switching network 250 may also be used in the direction of an incoming link to transmit data from the network sender / receiver 210 element to the network control element 220.

[0041] Figure 4 shows as an example a block diagram of a method 400 according to an embodiment of the invention. The method 400 is a method for transmitting information between a network control element and a network transmitter / receiver element in a communication system. In step 401, a first connection is provided between the network control element and the network transmitter / receiver element. In step 402, a second connection is provided between the network control element and the network transmitter / receiver element. The first connection provides a higher guaranteed quality of the service than the second connection. The operator of the communication system 200 can provide a communication system 200

- with the first and second connection by, for example, obtaining connection services from third parties.

[0042] In step 403, part of the information is transmitted using the first connection or the second connection using certain criteria. For example, there may be a separate step for selecting a connection for a piece of information, using specific criteria. The connection selection for a piece of information may be carried out, for example, by a network element transmitting some information over the first call or second call. As a second example, the network control element may be responsible for selecting a connection for a portion of information transmitted in an incoming direction and for a portion of information transmitted in the outgoing direction.

[0043] As mentioned above, the portion of information supported in method 400 may be a data packet for transmitting to communication devices using such a channel type, e.g. HS-DSCH, where scheduling is controlled by the base station. Alternatively, the information handled in the method 400 could be inbound data, where the terminal baud rate and the transmission moment are also under the control of the network transmitter element / receiver (network transmitter element), and the data is then transmitted from the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element, respectively). ) to the network control element. The information supported in method 400 may include control information transmitted between a network control element and a member of a transmitter / receiver network (a network transmitter element) or between a network control element and a communication device. This control information may refer to HSDPA or it may be any other control information to control the element of a transmitter / receiver of a network (a network transmitter element) or a communication device.

[0044] In the following, some criteria for selecting a connection for a piece of information to be transmitted to a network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) are discussed in more detail. Fig. 5 shows a block diagram of a method 500 according to a further embodiment of the invention, where a plurality of criteria are applied. It is understood that any suitable combination of different criteria shown in Fig. 5 may be used. For example, each of the checking steps shown in Fig. 5 may be used as a single criterion for sharing information between the first connection and the second connection. In addition, it is possible to change the order of the steps.

[0045] In step 501, it is checked whether the current information part is control information between the network control element and the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) or control information between the network control element and the communication device. The control information is transmitted using the first connection having a higher guaranteed quality of service (step 506). Also, the HSDPA control information may be transmitted using the first connection even when the HSDPA user data is transmitted using a second connection. In step 502, it is checked whether the current portion of the information to be transmitted to the communication device is used for scheduling in the element of the transmitter / receiver of the network (element of the network transmitter). It is understandable that for

Most of the data transmission in the dedicated channel, the network control element is responsible for planning. Regarding HSDPA, the element of the network transmitter / receiver (network transmitter element) may be responsible for planning, for example, to allow fast adaptation to changing channel properties. (In other words, for enabling, for example, high-speed data transmission to a communication device when the communication device has good channel properties.) If the current information part is to be planned in a network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element), it is transmitted to the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) using a second connection (step 507).

[0046] In some embodiments, each information transmitted using a packet data shared channel may be transmitted using a second connection. However, in the method 500, in step 503, it is checked whether the packet data using the shared channel relate to the streaming service or for another reason requires a guaranteed bit rate or a guaranteed delay of transmission and delay changes. The information part of the streaming service can be transmitted using the first connection, which is usually more reliable than the second connection. HSDPA background traffic, i.e. packet data using a shared channel and not having any specific delay requirements, can be transmitted using a second connection.

[0047] In step 504, it is checked whether the current information part is a retransmission, in particular whether it is a HSDPA retransmission. Typically, the lower protocol layers between the network transmitter element / receiver (network transmitter element) and the communication device support retransmissions, but sometimes these retransmissions may be unsuccessful and the media access control unit in the network control element must perform retransmission. These retransmissions can be performed using the first connection (step 506).

[0048] In step 505, it is checked whether packet data using a shared channel has a high scheduling priority. If this is the case, the first connection may be used. Otherwise, packet data using a shared channel may be transmitted using a second connection. In other words, scheduling priority can be considered when deciding whether to transmit some information using the first connection or the second connection.

[0049] In addition or as an alternative to the various checking steps shown in Fig. 5, it is possible to use the performance of the first connection in the full range and then use the second connection for the remaining packet data.

[0050] It is understood that although Figure 5 shows method 500 as one method, different checking steps may be implemented in different protocol units in the network control unit.

[0051] Some specific alternatives to selecting a connection for information to be transmitted between a network control element and a network transmitter / receiver element (an element of a network transmitter) are discussed below. The first alternative is to route HSDPA traffic to the second connection and route other traffic to the first connection. The second alternative is to direct all traffic that is planned to be transmitted in the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) to the second connection (see step 502). This second alternative is also possible for the incoming traffic from the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) to the network control element. The third alternative is to use the performance of the first connection in the full scope and then inserting the packet data (in other words, data,

[0052] A fourth alternative is to direct HSDPA data (or other scheduled data for transmission under the control of a transmitter / receiver element of a network transmitter or element) for a first transmission (from an RNC point of view) for a second connection and if there are RLC and RNC retransmissions, routing the data. retransmission to the first connection (see step 504). A fifth alternative is to route the background traffic HSDPA to the second connection and route streaming services, even if the streaming services use HSDPA, for the first connection (see steps 502, 503). A sixth alternative is to divide the HSDPA data into the first and second connection based on the planning priority information, so that the HSDPA HSP data uses a more reliable first connection (see step 505). The seventh alternative is

[0053] It is understood that the connecting network control element 220 and the transceiver network entity 210 using the transmission network 140 and using the packet switching network 250 have advantages over the connecting network control element 220 and the network transmitter / receiver element (an element a network transmitter) 210 using only the packet switching network 250. One advantage is that the timing pattern provided by the transmission network 140 is available to the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) 210.

[0054] Figure 6 shows as an example a block diagram of a network control element 220 and a network transmitter / receiver element 210. The network control element 220 may include a selection function 601 for dialing a piece of information to be transmitted to a network transmitter element / receiver (network transmitter element) 210. The dialing functionality 601 may implement, for example, method 500 or a variation thereof. The dialing functionality is usually connected using the corresponding protocol layer and protocol handling units (not shown in Fig. 6) to the first.

An interface 602 regarding the first connection and a second interface 603 regarding the second connection. The first interface 602 and the second interface 602 are operatively connected to the respective connections.

[0055] As discussed above, the dialing functionality 601 may only apply to packet data using a shared channel. In this case, the first connection is usually used for all other data to be transmitted between the network control element 220 and the network transmitter element / receiver (network transmitter element) 210. As a special example, the first connection is typically used for packet data to be transmitted to communication devices. using dedicated channels.

[0056] The element of the network transmitter / receiver 210 (network transmitter element) comprises a first interface 611 relating to a first connection and a second interface 612 relating to a second connection. The first interface 611 and the second interface 612 are operatively connected to the respective connections. The network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) 210 may include a dialing function 613 for information scheduling for transmitting between a network transmitter element / receiver (a network transmitter element) and a communication device, e.g. using a shared packet data channel. Planning functionality 613 typically takes the input information to be transmitted using a shared packet data channel and received from the first interface 611 and the second interface. The network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) 210 also typically comprises a transmission buffer 614 for buffering at least the information of the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) that is planned. The information to be transmitted, e.g., using a shared packet data channel, is routed to the transmission buffer 614. The scheduled information is transmitted from the transmission buffer 614 to the communication devices.

[0057] It is clear to a person skilled in the art that if the second connection is used for other information than for packet data using a shared packet data channel, information received using the second interface 612 must be routed to valid transmission buffers or units responsible for receiving processing. information.

[0058] It is understood that the dialing functionality 601 in the network control element can select calls for inbound and / or outbound link data. Similarly, the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) may include a dialing functionality 615. This dialing functionality 615 may select connections for inbound and / or outbound link data, but typically this dialing functionality 615 is responsible for selecting connections for incoming data. . The network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) 210 may, for example, select connections for those pieces of information that are scheduled to be transmitted between the communication device and the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) 210 under the control of the network transmitter / receiver element

-14 (network transmitter element). It is understood that any of the examples of selecting calls for a piece of information in connection with Fig. 5 may be implemented in the dialing functionality 601, 615.

[0059] It is understood that although the description provides E1 connection as an example of a first connection, the invention may be used in situations where the first connection between the network control element and the network transmitter element / receiver (network transmitter element) is provided by multiple E1 or other connections. connections via the transmission network. Also in these situations, the transmission of information over the second connection through the packet switching network provides at least the benefit of allowing the use of the packet switching network when the capacity allocated for use in the transmission network is not sufficient.

[0060] It is also possible that the network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element) and the network control element are connected to each other in parallel through more than one packet switching network. As mentioned above, the second connection may concern multiple packet data connections. It is understood that the term "second connection" also includes multiple packet data connections, where, for example, some packet data connections are provided by the first packet switching network, and other packet data connections are provided by the second packet switching network. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that in this case, selecting a second connection for a piece of information can be done by selecting between the various available packet switching networks.

[0061] It is further understood that in addition to using a second connection for transmitting information from the network control element to a network transmitter / receiver element (network transmitter element), it is also possible to use a second connection also for transmitting information in the direction of an incoming link. The transmission of information in the direction of an incoming link using a second connection is particularly suitable for the transmission of information planned by the element of the transmitter / receiver of the network (element of the network transmitter).

[0062] It is understood that although the WCDMA and HSDPA system discussed above is discussed in detail, the invention can also be applied to other communication systems. The invention may particularly apply to a communication system providing dedicated traffic channels and special packet data channels, packet data channels providing higher transmission efficiency than dedicated traffic channels and including scheduling implemented at least partly to the network transmitter element / receiver (network transmitter element). Information for transmitting in dedicated traffic channels may be transmitted using the first connection providing a higher guaranteed quality of the service, and the information to be transmitted in the packet data channels may be transmitted using the second connection.

Network-wide), variable transmission delays or possible retransmissions over the second connection are not very important.

[0063] Although preferred embodiments of the apparatus and method using the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the detailed description above, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but that many changes, modifications and substitutions are possible without leaving the facility. the scope of the invention as given and defined in the following claims.

Grażyna Palka Patent attorney