Patent ID: 8582528

Claim:
A method of an apparatus for managing a Media Independent Handover (MIH) service, the method comprising: setting state information of a Media Independent Handover Function (MIHF), based on the state of the MIHF, to one of a first state, a second state, and a third state; configuring at least one instance in the MIHF to comprise sessions, wherein each session is configured to comprise operations to be performed between a mobile terminal and a network; and managing MIH services based on the set state information of the MIHF, wherein the managing comprises conserving power by preventing an MIH user corresponding to an upper layer of the MIHF from attempting to remotely perform MIH command services while the MIHF is in the first state, preventing the MIH user from attempting to remotely perform the MIH command services and allowing tile MIH user to attempt to remotely perform an MIH information service and an MIH event service while the MIHF is in the second state, and allowing the MIH user to attempt to remotely perform the MIH command services while the MIHF is in the third state.