Patent ID: 8830964

Claim:
A method, comprising: accessing a network from a mobile wireless system through a first wireless access point (AP); periodically determining if a signal strength of the first wireless AP is below a first threshold, at a first periodic rate; determining whether a second wireless AP of the network is available if the signal strength of the first wireless AP is determined to be below the first threshold; comparing the signal strength of the first wireless AP to a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold and comparing the signal strength of the second wireless AP to a third threshold, if the second wireless AP is determined to be available; determining to initiate a handover to access the network through the second wireless AP if the signal strength of the first wireless AP is determined to be below the second threshold and the signal strength of the second wireless AP is determined to be above the third threshold; notifying a network system of a potential handover of the mobile wireless system from the first wireless AP to the second wireless AP if the second wireless AP is determined to be available, prior to determining to initiate a handover; and allocating memory at the network system to store a network address associated with the second wireless AP and assigned to the mobile wireless system, upon receipt of notification of the potential handover; wherein the network system includes one or more of, a home agent of the mobile wireless system, a router associated with the mobile wireless system, and a correspondent node of the mobile wireless system.