Patent ID: 7953376

Claim:
A method comprising: in response to a decision to connect a user equipment to a first network element of a communications network via a first radio link, transmitting a signal continuously from the user equipment to the first network element via the first radio link to permit synchronization of the first radio link; causing a switch of the user equipment from continuous transmission of the signal to discontinuous transmission of the signal after the first radio link is synchronized, in response to a decision to connect the user equipment to a second network element of the communications network via a second radio link, transmitting the signal continuously from the user equipment to the second network element via the second radio link to permit synchronization of the second radio link; and then causing a switch of the user equipment from continuous transmission of the signal to discontinuous transmission of the signal after the second radio link is synchronized, wherein the user equipment receives an active set update message via the first radio link to cause the user equipment to transmit a continuous burst of signal of configurable duration to the second network element.