Patent ID: 8620321
Filing Date: 2013-12-31
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of selecting a handover target network in a terminal, the method comprising: transmitting a first query regarding a handover mode to an information server, and receiving a response to the first query from the information server, wherein the response to the first query from the information server comprises handover mode control information that indicates whether the terminal is a handover initiator; transmitting a handover mode notification message to a network point of service (PoS) that is currently connected to the terminal, when the handover mode control information indicates that the terminal is the handover initiator; requesting the information server for information regarding a candidate network that is subject to handover, and receiving the information regarding the candidate network that is subject to handover in response to the request; determining a signal strength of a current network link between the terminal and the network PoS that is currently connected to the terminal; determining a signal strength of the candidate network; determining that handover is required based on a first comparison of the signal strength of the current network link to a first threshold, and based on a second comparison of the signal strength of the candidate network to a second threshold; in response to the determining that handover is required, transmitting a second query to the candidate network regarding whether a resource of the candidate network is available to support the terminal's handover, and receiving a response to the second query from the candidate network; in response to the receiving the response to the second query from the candidate network, determining that the candidate network is a target network; and in response to the determining that the candidate network is the target network, requesting the target network to perform handover and receiving a response to the request to perform handover from the target network.