Patent ID: 8078175
Filing Date: 2011-12-13
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for facilitating a handover of a communication device active on a first radio access network to a second radio access network, the method comprising: whilst the communication device is active on the first radio access network, detecting a target access node in the second radio access network for communication with the communication device; deciding to handover the communication device from the first radio access network to the detected target access node in the second radio access network; in response to a decision to handover and prior to handing over, initiating by the communication device an access control process to authenticate and authorise the communication device for access to the second radio access network, initiating an access control process including sending by the communication device a handover request message via the first radio access network to an application server communicably coupled to the first and second radio access networks to initiate the access control process, the handover request message including identity information of the detected target access node for use in the access control process; and after the communication device is authenticated and authorised to access the second radio access network whilst the communication device is still active on the first radio access network, initiating communication between the communication device and the detected target access node in the second radio access network and handing over the communication device from the first radio access network to the detected target access node in the second radio access network.