METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTER-SYSTEM ACTIVE HANDOFF OF A HYBRID SUBSCRIBER UNIT

摘要

A communication system (100) provides for an active handoff of a voice call between a packet switched network (110) and a circuit switched network (120). An active handoff from the packet switched network to the circuit switched network is accomplished by multicasting the call over forward links of both networks during the handoff. An active handoff from the circuit switched network to the packet switched network is accomplished by multicasting the call over reverse links of both networks during the handoff. The former handoff further may be facilitated by routing the call for each network through a same packet data control switch (118), and the latter handoff further may be facilitated by routing the call for each network through a same mobile switching center (126). Further, a subscriber unit (102) operating concurrently in both networks may comprise multiple transceivers or a transceiver that is rapidly switched between the networks.