Centralized radio network controller

Abstract

In a radio access network, novel systems and methods reduce processing delay, and improve integration with IP networks, by separating user data from connection management and control data at a Node B or at a base station. The user data are routed to an IP (Internet Protocol) switch, whereas the connection management and control data are routed to a centralized radio network controller (RNC). Pursuant to a second embodiment of the invention, a centralized RNC provides improved radio resource management (RRM) functionality by handing all connection management and control data for a plurality of Node B's, thereby simplifying the switching of user data throughout the radio access network. Pursuant to a third embodiment of the invention, a smart IP switch is equipped to switch user data without core network (CN) involvement. Downlink user data are switched independently of uplink user data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A layer 3 smart IP switch configured to communicate with a core network (CN) comprising:
 a receiver configured to accept a control input from a centralized radio network controller (RNC); and   a transmitter configured to route data between the CN and a source NodeB over a first communication link, wherein one or more non-terminated data layers are transferred between the CN and the source NodeB, and wherein the non-terminated data layers include at least one of an Iu-interface frame protocol data, a user datagram protocol (UDP) data, or IP data.   
     
     
         2 . The layer 3 smart IP switch of  claim 1 , further configured to activate a second communication link from a target NodeB on a condition that a handoff from the source NodeB to the target Node B occurs. 
     
     
         3 . The layer 3 smart IP switch of  claim 2 , further configured to transfer data queued in the source NodeB to a target NodeB, on a condition that the data queued has not yet been delivered to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). 
     
     
         4 . The layer 3 smart IP switch of  claim 3 , wherein the transferring is performed using a tunneling process. 
     
     
         5 . The layer 3 smart IP switch of  claim 1 , further configured to multiplex a downlink data stream from the one or more non-terminated layers to the source NodeB and a target NodeB. 
     
     
         6 . The layer 3 smart IP switch of  claim 1 , further configured to send an uplink data stream from the source NodeB or a target NodeB to the CN, wherein a general packet radio services tunneling protocol (GTP) layer or a real-time transfer protocol (RTP) layer is incorporated into a return data stream. 
     
     
         7 . The layer 3 smart IP switch of  claim 1 , wherein on a condition that the routed data comprise packet-switched data, the layer 3 smart IP switch functions as a termination point for a general packet radio services tunneling protocol (GTP) layer between the layer 3 smart IP switch and the CN, thereby terminating the GTP layer. 
     
     
         8 . The layer 3 smart IP switch of  claim 1 , wherein on a condition that the routed data comprise circuit switched data, the layer 3 smart IP switch functions as a termination point for a real-time transfer protocol (RTP) layer between the layer 3 smart IP switch and the CN, thereby terminating the RTP layer. 
     
     
         9 . The layer 3 smart IP switch of  claim 2 , further configured to maintain the second communication link between the CN and a target NodeB, and releasing the first communication link between the CN and the source NodeB. 
     
     
         10 . The layer 3 smart IP switch of  claim 1 , further comprising an apparatus for switching downlink (DL) user data and uplink (UL) user data independently. 
     
     
         11 . A method on a layer 3 smart IP switch of communicating with a core network (CN) , the method comprising:
 a receiver accepting a control input from a centralized radio network controller (RNC); and   a transmitter routing data between the CN and a source NodeB over a first communication link, wherein one or more non-terminated data layers are transferred between the CN and the source NodeB, and wherein the non-terminated data layers include at least one of an Iu-interface frame protocol data, a user datagram protocol (UDP) data, or IP data.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 activating a second communication link from a target NodeB on a condition that a handoff from the source NodeB to the target Node B occurs.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 transferring data queued in the source NodeB to a target NodeB, on a condition that the data queued has not yet been delivered to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU).   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the transferring is performed using a tunneling process. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 multiplexing a downlink data stream from the one or more non-terminated layers to the source NodeB and a target NodeB.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 sending an uplink data stream from the source NodeB or a target NodeB to the CN, wherein a general packet radio services tunneling protocol (GTP) layer or a real-time transfer protocol (RTP) layer is incorporated into a return data stream.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 on a condition that the routed data comprises packet-switched data, the layer 3 smart IP switch functioning as a termination point for a general packet radio services tunneling protocol (GTP) layer between the layer 3 smart IP switch and the CN, thereby terminating the GTP layer.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 on a condition that the routed data comprise circuit switched data, the layer 3 smart IP switch functioning as a termination point for a real-time transfer protocol (RTP) layer between the layer 3 smart IP switch and the CN, thereby terminating the RTP layer.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 maintaining the second communication link between the CN and a target NodeB; and   releasing the first communication link between the CN and the source NodeB.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 switching downlink (DL) user data and uplink (UL) user data independently.