METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING BI-DIRECTIONAL SOFT HANDOVERS BETWEEN WIRELESS NETWORKS VIA MEDIA GATEWAY CONTROL

摘要

The present invention provides a method and apparatus that enables handover of a mobile station between a cellular network and a wireless network without control intervention from the cellular network and independent of employed air interface technology. In particular, a call is connected (504) between a mobile station (202) and a remote station (204) through a media gateway (210). The media gateway is connected to the mobile station via a first connection line and to the remote station via a second connection line. Net, a communication directed to a predetermined number by the mobile station is received (520) or, in the alternative, a connection signal that includes a call header is sent to the mobile station. A third connection line between the media gateway and the mobile station is then established (524), and communication is handed-over (526, 528) from the first connection line to the third connection line.