Management of cell-specific address information

1. A method comprising:

managing cell-specific address information in a communication network comprising a core network and a radio access network;

defining in a first radio access network node for at least one originating cell controlled by the first radio access network node at least one target cell;

generating a request for a packet switched communication address of a second radio access network node of the at least one target cell;

generating, in response to receiving the request in the second radio access network node, a response comprising the packet switched communication address of the second radio access network node of the at least one target cell;

transferring the request and the response between the first radio access network node and the second radio access network node in information containers that are transparent to the core network;

storing the received packet switched communication address of the second radio access network node in the first radio access network node.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising defining the at least one target cell on the basis of a selection criterion.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the selection criterion defines that the at least one target cell is a neighboring cell to a current cell.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transferring comprises transferring the request and the response between the first radio access network node and the second radio access network node in an information container of a Radio access network Information Management (RIM) message.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

detecting a change in the at least one target cell address information; and

transferring a new request to the at least one target cell.

6. A functional unit of a radio access network said functional unit comprising:

defining means for defining at least one target cell for at least one originating cell controlled by the functional unit, wherein the functional unit is included in a communication system comprising the radio access network and a core network;

generating means for generating a request for a packet switched communication address of a second radio access network node of the at least one target cell;

transmitting means for transmitting the request to the second radio access network node in an information container transparently to the core network;

receiving means for receiving the packet switched communication address of the second radio access network node in the first radio access network node;

storing means for storing the received packet switched communication address for facilitating delivery of data packets between the at least one originating cell and the at least one target cell.

7. The functional unit of claim 6 , wherein said defining means is configured to define the at least one target cell on the basis of a selection criterion.

8. The functional unit of claim 7 , wherein the selection criterion defines the at least one target cell to be a neighboring cell to a current cell.

9. The functional unit of claim 6 , wherein said generating means is configured to include the request in the information container of a Radio access network Information Management (RIM) message.

10. The functional unit of claim 6 , wherein:

said receiving means is configured to receive an indication of a change in the at least one target cell address information; and

said generating means is configured to generate a new request to the at least one target cell, in response to receiving said indication.

11. A radio access network node comprising:

a functional unit;

defining means for defining at least one target cell for at least one originating cell controlled by the functional unit;

generating means for generating a request for a packet switched communication address of a second radio access network node of the at least one target cell;

transmitting means for transmitting the request to the second radio access network node in an information container transparently to a core network;

receiving means for receiving the packet switched communication address of the second radio access network node in a first radio access network node;

storing means for storing the received packet switched communication address for facilitating delivery of data packets between the at least one originating cell and the at least one target cell.

12. A computer program product, embodied on a computer-readable medium, wherein execution of the computer program product in a user equipment causes a packet control unit to:

define at least one target cell for at least one originating cell controlled by a functional unit;

generate a request for a packet switched communication address of a second radio access network node of the at least one target cell;

transmit the request to the second radio access network node in an information container transparently to a core network;

receive the packet switched communication address of the second radio access network node in a first radio access network node;

store the received packet switched communication address for facilitating delivery of data packets between the at least one originating cell and the at least one target cell.

13. A functional unit of a radio access, said functional unit comprising:

a defining unit configured to define at least one target cell for at least one originating cell controlled by the functional unit, wherein the functional unit is included in a communication system comprising the radio access network and a core network;

a generating unit configured to generate a request for a packet switched communication address of a second radio access network node of the at least one target cell;

a transmitting unit configured to transmit the request to the second radio access network node in an information container transparently to the core network;

a receiving unit configured to receive the packet switched communication address of the second radio access network node in the first radio access network node;

a storing unit configured to store the received packet switched communication address for facilitating delivery of data packets between the at least one originating cell and the at least one target cell.

14. The functional unit of claim 13 , wherein said defining unit is configured to define the at least one target cell on the basis of a selection criterion.

15. The functional unit of claim 14 , wherein the selection criterion defines the at least one target cell to be a neighboring cell to a current cell.

16. The functional unit of claim 13 , wherein said generating unit is configured to include the request in the information container of a Radio access network Information Management (RIM) message.

17. The functional unit of claim 13 , wherein:

said receiving unit is configured to receive an indication of a change in the at least one target cell address information; and

said generating unit is configured to generate a new request to the at least one target cell, in response to receiving said indication.

18. A radio access network node comprising:

a functional unit;

a defining unit configured to define at least one target cell for at least one originating cell controlled by the functional unit;

a generating unit configured to generate a request for a packet switched communication address of a second radio access network node of the at least one target cell;

a transmitting unit configured to transmit the request to the second radio access network node in an information container transparently to a core network;

a receiving unit configured to receive the packet switched communication address of the second radio access network node in a first radio access network node;

a storing unit configured to store the received packet switched communication address for facilitating delivery of data packets between the at least one originating cell and the at least one target cell.