Patent ID: 8504046

Claim:
A method implemented in a mobile station where a radio connection is supported between the mobile station and a source base station associated with a source cell, where uplink radio connection communications are performed using a shared uplink data communications channel shared by multiple mobile stations, the method comprising: transmitting information to the source base station over the shared uplink data communications channel; receiving a handover message from the source base station indicating that the source base station has initiated a handover of the radio connection over to a target base station for the target base station to support the radio connection; detecting that the attempted handover failed; determining that a predetermined time period has expired before a message requesting that the source base station continue to support the radio connection is sent; requesting the connection with the source base station be re-established; and before sending the message to the source base station, determining whether the mobile station is synchronized with the source base station, and if so, sending the message to the source base station requesting that the source base station continue to support the radio connection.