US Patent 7194267 Transport channel control in a UMTS network

A method of switching from a first to a second transport channel for User Equipment (UE) in a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) of a UMTS system. The method comprises initiating a channel switch, and initiating a synchronisation of the UE to the second channel. The first channel is maintained during the synchronisation phase such that data may be sent between the UE and UTRAN over the first channel during synchronisation. The first channel is terminated only after synchronisation of the UE to the second channel has been achieved.