Patent ID: 7937498

Claim:
An apparatus within a first wireless system, the apparatus comprising: means for coupling to a mobile unit over a first air interface; means for determining that said mobile unit is within a communication coverage range to an access point of a second wireless system that uses a second air interface, wherein said first and second wireless systems are enabled to provide federated access services to said mobile unit; means for determining whether said mobile unit is capable of coupling to said access point in a manner to permit a handoff operation to switch an on-going communication session from being carried over said first air interface to being carried over said second air interface via said access point; means for transmitting, over said first air interface to said mobile unit, means for coupling said mobile unit to said second wireless system in said manner to permit said handoff operation, in response to a determination that said mobile unit is not capable of coupling to said access point in said manner to permit said handoff operation; and means for selectively initiating said handoff operation to operatively switch said on-going communication session from being carried over said first air interface to being carried over said second air interface in response to a determination that using said second air interface is preferable to using said first air interface.