Patent ID: 8908639

Claim:
A method for performing a handoff of an active communication connection for a mobile user station from a macrocell to a femtocell, the method comprising: (a) receiving, at a radio access control function (RACF) subsystem of a mobile switching center corresponding to the macrocell, a first message transmitted from a base station controller corresponding to the macrocell, the first message including an indication that the active communication connection should be handed off to a femtocell access point corresponding to the femtocell; (b) generating and transmitting a second message from the RACF subsystem to a target convergence server, the second message including instructions for initiating the handoff; (c) receiving a third message at the RACF subsystem from the target convergence server, the third message including an indication that the handoff has been successfully initiated; (d) generating and transmitting a fourth message from the RACF subsystem to the base station controller, the fourth message including a direction to the base station controller to commence the handoff; (e) receiving a fifth message at the RACF subsystem from the base station controller after the base station controller receives an acknowledgement message to a Universal Handoff Direction message sent to the mobile user station, the fifth message including a handoff commencement acknowledgement; (f) receiving a sixth message at the RACF subsystem from the target convergence server, the sixth message including an indication of a completion of a successful handoff; and (g) upon completion of the successful handoff, a trunking subsystem of the mobile switching center provides a connection between a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and the femtocell access point, the RACF subsystem transmitting a seventh message to a call control function (CCF) subsystem of the mobile switching center, the seventh message including an indication that the mobile user station is communicating with the mobile switching center via a nailed-up trunk.