Methods and systems for transitioning a communication session from a source base station to a target base station without terminating the session

摘要

Methods and systems are provided for transitioning an active communication session of a mobile station from being conducted over a communication path that includes a source base station to being conducted over a communication path that includes a target base station, without terminating the communication session. A wireless communication device situated within a source coverage area of a source base station operates as a clone of the mobile station that is situated within a source coverage area of the source base station and also within a target coverage area of the target base station. The transition involves the clone relaying the communication session between the source base station and the mobile station; meanwhile, the target base station (i) establishes an air-interface connection with the mobile station and (ii) detects a handoff-completion trigger, and responsively serves the mobile station over the air-interface connection with respect to the communication session.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
making a determination that a mobile station is (i) situated within a target coverage area of a target base station, (ii) situated within a source coverage area of a source base station, and (iii) actively conducting a communication session with an endpoint via the source base station, wherein conducting the communication session comprises operating using an identifier that uniquely identifies at least the communication session to the source base station; cloning the mobile station in response to the determination being made, wherein cloning the mobile station comprises configuring a wireless communication device other than the mobile station to begin operating in the source coverage area using the identifier, wherein operating in the source coverage area using the identifier comprises relaying the communication session between the source base station and the mobile station, wherein the wireless communication device relaying the communication session between the source base station and the mobile station involves the communication session passing along a communication path that includes the wireless communication device; and while the wireless communication device is operating in the source coverage area using the identifier, the target base station (i) establishing an air-interface connection with the mobile station, (ii) detecting a handoff-completion trigger, and (iii) responsive to detecting the handoff-completion trigger, serving the mobile station over the air-interface connection with respect to the communication session.