Telecommunications apparatuses and methods

Abstract

A method for use in a mobile telecommunications network, the mobile telecommunications network including a base station providing wireless connectivity within a base station cell, a mobile node providing wireless connectivity within a local cell and configured to communicate with the base station, and a terminal configured to communicate wirelessly with the base station and configured to communicate wirelessly with the mobile node. The method includes: activating a limited base station radio connection between the terminal and the base station; and activating one of a full local radio connection and a limited local radio connection between the terminal and the mobile node.

1 . A mobile node for use in a mobile telecommunications network, the mobile telecommunications network comprising a base station providing wireless connectivity within a base station cell, wherein the mobile node is configured to provide wireless connectivity within a local cell and configured to communicate with the base station; and
 a terminal configured to communicate wirelessly with the base station and configured to communicate wirelessly with the mobile node, the mobile node comprising:   a transmitter;   a receiver; and   processing circuitry configured to control the transmitter and the receiver to:   activate one of a full local radio connection and a limited local radio connection with the terminal while a limited base station radio connection is activated between the terminal and the base station.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile node according to  claim 1 , wherein the base station is configured to transmit a cell notification to the terminal. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile node according to  claim 1 , wherein the base station is configured to transmit a cell connection setup request to the terminal. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile node according to  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the transmitter to transmit mobility instructions to the terminal. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile node according to  claim 4 , wherein the terminal carries out the mobility instructions without disconnection of the limited base station radio connection between the terminal and the base station. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile node according to  claim 2 , wherein the cell notification indicates a cell identifier for a local cell and a type of communication permissible via the limited local radio connection. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile node according to  claim 1 , wherein the terminal and the base station do not exchange user data via the limited base station radio connection. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile node according to  claim 1 , wherein the terminal and the mobile node do not exchange user data via the limited local radio connection. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile node according to  claim 1 , wherein the terminal and the mobile node exchange user data via the full local radio connection. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile node according to  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry controls the transmitter and receiver to exchange user data with the terminal in a case that both the limited base station radio connection is activated and the full local radio connection is activated. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile node according to  claim 1 , wherein while the limited base station radio connection and the full local radio connection are activated:
 the processing circuitry controls the transmitter and receiver to:   maintain first radio connection context information for the terminal, the first radio connection context information being based on the full local radio connection; and   transmit at least part of the first radio connection context information to the base station; and   the base station maintains second radio connection context information for the terminal based on the least part of the first radio connection context information received from the mobile node.   
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a base station in a mobile telecommunications network, the base station comprising a transmitter, a receiver and a controller and being configured to provide wireless connectivity within a base station cell, the mobile telecommunications network comprising the base station, a mobile node providing wireless connectivity within a local cell and configured to communicate with the base station and a terminal configured to communicate wirelessly with the base station and configured to communicate wirelessly with the mobile node; the base station being configured to:
 activate a limited base station radio connection with the terminal while one of a full local radio connection and a limited local radio connection is activated between the terminal and the mobile node.   
     
     
         13 . A base station for use in in a mobile telecommunications network, the base station providing provide wireless connectivity within a base station cell, the mobile telecommunications network comprising the base station, a mobile node providing wireless connectivity within a local cell and configured to communicate with the base station and a terminal configured to communicate wirelessly with the base station and configured to communicate wirelessly with the mobile node, the base station comprising:
 a transmitter; a receiver; and   processing circuitry configured to control the transmitter and the receiver to:   activate a limited base station radio connection with the terminal while one of a full local radio connection and a limited local radio connection is activated between the terminal and the mobile node.   
     
     
         14 . The base station according to  claim 13 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the transmitter to transmit a cell notification to the terminal. 
     
     
         15 . The base station according to  claim 13 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control    
     
     
         16 . The base station according to  claim 13 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the transmitter to transmit a cell connection setup request to the terminal. 
     
     
         17 . The base station according to  claim 13 , wherein the mobile node transmits mobility instructions to the terminal. 
     
     
         18 . The base station according to  claim 17 , wherein the terminal carries out the mobility instructions without disconnection of the limited base station radio connection between the terminal and the base station. 
     
     
         19 . The base station according to  claim 14 , wherein the cell notification indicates a cell identifier for a local cell and a type of communication permissible via the limited local radio connection. 
     
     
         20 . The base station according to  claim 13 , wherein the processing circuitry controls the transmitter and the receiver to not exchange user data with the terminal via the limited base station radio connection.