Patent ID: 8942708
Filing Date: 2015-01-27
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: a mobile station maintaining correlation data that correlates a particular geographic region with a cellular coverage area that is at least partially within the geographic region; when the mobile station is on a call and is not currently detecting signaling from the cellular coverage area, the mobile station detecting an advanced-handoff trigger, wherein detecting the advanced-handoff trigger comprises determining (i) that the mobile station is at or approaching the geographic region, (ii) that the correlation data correlates the geographic region with the cellular coverage area, and (iii) that the mobile station does not yet have a radio connection in the cellular coverage area; and responsive to detecting the advanced-handoff trigger, (a) the mobile station transmitting to a radio access network (RAN) that provides the cellular coverage area a handoff request that causes the RAN to assign to the mobile station a radio connection in the cellular coverage area and (b) the mobile station including with the handoff request an advanced-handoff indication that causes the RAN to maintain assignment of the radio connection to the mobile station for longer than normal before the RAN receives a communication from the mobile station over that radio connection, wherein normally when the RAN assigns a given radio connection, the RAN releases the given radio connection in response to the RAN not receiving communication over the given radio connection within a threshold period of time after first assigning the given radio connection, and wherein the advanced-handoff indication causes the RAN to maintain assignment of the radio connection to the mobile station for longer than the threshold period of time.