Apparatus and method of uplink data during cell update in universal mobile telecommunications system user equipment

1. A user equipment apparatus adapted to send uplink data to a UTRAN during a CELL UPDATE, the apparatus comprising an uplink data saving RRC, the uplink data saving RRC comprising:

an uplink data store to save the uplink data while the CELL UPDATE procedure is ongoing; and

a state machine having at least one of a Cell FACH state and a Cell DCH state;

wherein said uplink data saving RRC sends the saved uplink data in said uplink data store to the UTRAN via an UPLINK DIRECT TRANSFER upon the condition that the CELL UPDATE procedure has completed and said state machine has entered one of Cell FACH and Cell DCH state.

2. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure is caused to become ongoing by Uplink Data transmission.

3. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure is caused to become ongoing by Paging.

4. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure is caused to become ongoing by Re-entering service area.

5. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure is caused to become ongoing by Radio Link failure.

6. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure is caused to become ongoing by RLC unrecoverable error.

7. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure is caused to become ongoing by Cell reselection.

8. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure is caused to become ongoing by Periodical cell update.

9. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure notifies the UTRAN by sending a CELL UPDATE message with a Cause of ‘uplink data transmission’.

10. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 , wherein said state machine further comprises an Idle state whereat the user equipment waits for a ‘Signalling Connection establishment request’.

11. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 , wherein said state machine further comprises a Connected state containing said at least one of Cell FACH and Cell DCH states, whereat the user equipment remains upon reception of an RRC CONNECTION SETUP, and whereat the state transitions to said Idle state upon one of the reception of an RRC CONNECTION RELEASE, an error at the user equipment, and other events which cause a transition to said Idle state.

12. The user equipment as recited in claim 11 , wherein said state machine further contains a Cell PCH state.

13. The user equipment as recited in claim 11 , wherein said state machine further contains a URA PCH state.

14. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 , wherein the radio bearer RB 3 is available when the attempt to send the data is made.

15. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 , wherein the radio bearer RB 4 is available when the attempt to send the data is made.

16. A method of sending uplink data to a UTRAN during a CELL UPDATE procedure at a user equipment having a state machine with a CELL FACH and CELL DCH state, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining that the CELL UPDATE procedure is ongoing;

(b) receiving an uplink data request;

(c) saving the uplink data while the CELL UPDATE procedure is ongoing;

(d) determining that the CELL UPDATE procedure is completed;

(e) determining that the user equipment is in one of CELL FACH and CELL DCH state; and

(f) sending the saved uplink data to the UTRAN via an UPLINK DIRECT TRANSFER when the CELL UPDATE procedure is completed and the user equipment is in one of CELL FACH and CELL DCH state.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure is caused to become ongoing by Uplink Data transmission.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure is caused to become ongoing by Paging.

19. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure is caused to become ongoing by Re-entering service area.

20. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure is caused to become ongoing by Radio Link failure.

21. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure is caused to become ongoing by RLC unrecoverable error.

22. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure is caused to become ongoing by Cell reselection.

23. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure is caused to become ongoing by Periodical cell update.

24. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the CELL UPDATE procedure notifies the UTRAN by sending a CELL UPDATE message with a Cause of ‘uplink data transmission’.

25. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the state machine further comprises an Idle state whereat the user equipment waits for a ‘Signalling Connection establishment request’.

26. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the state machine further comprises a Connected state containing said at least one of Cell FACH and Cell DCH states, whereat the user equipment remains upon reception of a RRC CONNECTION SETUP, and whereat the state transitions to said Idle state upon one of the reception of a RRC CONNECTION RELEASE, an error at the user equipment, and other events which cause a transition to said Idle state.

27. The method as recited in claim 26 , wherein said state machine further contains a Cell PCH state.

28. The method as recited in claim 26 , wherein said state machine further contains a URA PCH state.

29. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the radio bearer RB 3 is available when the attempt to send the data is made.

30. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the radio bearer RB 4 is available when the attempt to send the data is made.