Patent ID: 8737999
Filing Date: 2014-05-27
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling switching of an access terminal between coverage areas of an access network, the method comprising: a first base transceiver station (BTS) receiving, from an access terminal operating in a first coverage area, one or more consecutive requests for current service in the first coverage area, wherein the first BTS begins serving the access terminal in the first coverage area in response to receiving a first such request; while the first BTS is receiving the one or more consecutive requests for current service in the first coverage area, a second BTS receiving from the access terminal a request for future service in a second coverage area and responsively beginning to receive data addressed to the access terminal; a radio network controller (RNC) determining that the second BTS has received a threshold amount of data addressed to the access terminal and in response to the determining, the RNC sending to the first BTS an indication that the second BTS has received the threshold amount of data addressed to the access terminal; the first BTS thereafter receiving the indication that the second BTS has received the threshold amount of data addressed to the access terminal and in response to receiving the indication, the first BTS sending to the access terminal an instruction to stop sending requests for current service in the first coverage area; and after the first BTS sends the instruction, the second BTS receiving from the access terminal one or more consecutive requests for current service in the second coverage area, wherein the second BTS begins sending the data addressed to the access terminal in the second coverage area in response to a first such request.