Transmission method for packet data and a network element

Abstract

In packet data transmission method, a packet data connection is indicated with a connection identifier and the destination of the packet data connection is indicated with a destination identifier. A destination identifier is involved in the initialization of a transmission queue, at least one connection identifier is related to each transmission queue, and a set of proper connection identifiers is the union of the connection identifiers related to the initialized transmission queues. A data packet having a proper connection identifier is placed (504, 505) to the corresponding transmission queue. The method is characterized in that the initialization of a new transmission queue is triggered (506, 508) by a data packet not having a proper connection identifier and having a destination identifier and after a successful initialization of a new transmission queue the data packet that triggered the initialization is placed (509) to the new transmission queue. The method can be employed, for example, in a network element (800).

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM[0001]This is a national stage of PCT application No. PCT / FI01 / 00599, filed on 25 June 2001. Priority is claimed on patent application Ser. No. 20001509 filed in Finland on 26 June 2000.CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0002]This application is a Reissue application of U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 049,894, filed May 8, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,180,883, granted Feb. 20, 2007, which is a national stage of PCT application no. PCT / FI01 / 00599, filed Jun. 25, 2001, and claims priority to Finnish application serial no. 20001509 filed Jun. 26, 2000. FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The invention relates in general to packet data connections in cellular networks. In particular the invention relates to reserving resources for the packet data connections.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Traditionally cellular networks have been circuit switched networks, i.e. a certain part of the data transmission capacity both at the fixed network and in the radio access network is reserved for each cal...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This method ensures reliable data packet transmission by preventing delays and packet discards, allowing data to be forwarded without re-sending, even in situations where initial connections are not properly set up, and informs senders of unsuccessful queue initialization.

Problems solved by technology

The problem is that in certain situations a SGSN may transmit packets towards a UMTS radio access network without checking if the receiver mobile station has successfully carried out resource reservation in the UMTS radio access network and has established a PDP context.

In a handover from a GSM radio access network to an UMTS radio access network it may happen that the SGSN receives information from the GSM radio access network that a handover has been completed, but the UMTS radio access network has not yet reserved resources for the GPRS data related to this mobile station.

Other packets heading to other mobile stations within the UMTS radio access network may suffer from additional delays due to the time consumed by the processing of the data packet without a proper PDP context.

Further, if some data packets are deleted without informing the SGSN, it may send the packets again without realizing that the problem is actually the lack of reservations or an unestablished PDP context in the UMTS radio access network.

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