Method and system for hard handoff in HRPD
First Claim
1. A method for facilitating handoff of an access terminal (AT) between a source access network (AN) and a target AN in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
- supporting an active packet data session between the AT and the source AN, the active packet data session comprising an active, non-dormant traffic data transfer session;
receiving a message during the active packet data session from the AT operable for initiating handoff of the AT;
during the active data packet session, initiating establishment of a communications path between the target AN and a packet data node for carrying user data packets;
sending a setup request from the target AN to the packet data node requesting establishment of the communications path between the target AN and the packet data node;
receiving a setup reply at the target AN from the packet data node; and
generating a tunnel between the source AN and the target AN operable for carrying user data packets unicast from the packet data node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments are described to assist in reducing handoff delays and the blackout period(s) associated with inter AN (access network) hard handoffs. The hard handoff procedure of method disclosed herein establishes or initiates a connection (A10-type connection) between a target AN and a packet data serving node (PDSN), unlike known hard handoff approaches that wait until traffic channel assignment to establish or initiate such connection. The PDSN may optionally bicast data packets to both the source and target ANs since each is communicatively coupled to the PDSN during a given time period. In the event bicasting is unavailable or unused, a communication tunnel between the source and target ANs may be created and used to transmit data packets between them.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating handoff of an access terminal (AT) between a source access network (AN) and a target AN in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
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supporting an active packet data session between the AT and the source AN, the active packet data session comprising an active, non-dormant traffic data transfer session; receiving a message during the active packet data session from the AT operable for initiating handoff of the AT; during the active data packet session, initiating establishment of a communications path between the target AN and a packet data node for carrying user data packets; sending a setup request from the target AN to the packet data node requesting establishment of the communications path between the target AN and the packet data node; receiving a setup reply at the target AN from the packet data node; and generating a tunnel between the source AN and the target AN operable for carrying user data packets unicast from the packet data node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for facilitating handoff of an access terminal (AT) between a source access network (AN) and a target AN in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
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supporting a first communications path having an active packet data session between the AT, the source AN and a packet data node; receiving a message during the active packet data session from the AT operable for initiating handoff of the AT; sending a setup request from a target AN to the packet data node requesting establishment of a second communications path between the target AN and the packet data node; receiving a setup reply at the target AN from the packet data node; generating a tunnel between the source AN and the target AN operable for carrying user data packets unicast from the packet data node; and receiving user data packets unicast from the packet data node that are forwarded through the generated tunnel from a packet control function (PCF) in the source AN to a PCF in the target AN. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification