Patent ID: 8280375

Claim:
A method for handover of a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) from a source base station to a target base station in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: configuring said WTRU to begin a radio link handover procedure responsive to receiving a handover (HO) command from said source base station over a first communications link; specifying a first time at said WTRU; reconfiguring said WTRU to begin a radio link interruption procedure responsive to an expiry of said first time prior to completion of said radio link handover procedure, said radio link interruption procedure first attempting to re-establish said first communications link; specifying a second time; commencing re-establishment of said first communications link between said WTRU and said source base station; identifying an alternate base station for communicating with said WTRU if said first communications link between said WTRU and said source base station is not re-established by an end of said second time; and initiating establishment of a third communications link with said alternate base station; wherein said commencing re-establishment of said second communications link comprises: synchronizing said WTRU and said source base station; and exchanging a pre-determined set of radio resource control messages between said WTRU and said source base station over said second communications link.