Handover methods and apparatus for mobile communication devices

A mobile communication device, comprising:

• a wireless transceiver;
• one or more processors coupled to the wireless transceiver;
• the one or more processors being operative to:
• maintain a voice or data call over a traffic channel with use of the wireless transceiver;
• cause handover information of a handover procedure to be transmitted over a first control channel with use of the wireless transceiver during the voice or data call;
• and
• cause the same handover information of the handover procedure to be transmitted over a second control channel during the voice or data call.

A method for use in performing a handover procedure for a mobile communication device which operates in a wireless communication network, comprising:

• monitoring a first control channel for handover information of the handover procedure during a voice or data call;
• monitoring a second control channel for the same handover information of the handover procedure during the voice or data call;
• and
• when there is a failure in receiving the handover information of the handover procedure over the first control channel:
• processing the handover information of the handover procedure received over the second control channel for performing the handover procedure.

A mobile communication device, comprising:

• a wireless transceiver;
• one or more processors coupled to the wireless transceiver;
• the one or more processors being operative to:
• monitor a first control channel for handover information of the handover procedure with use of the wireless transceiver during a voice or data call;
• monitor a second control channel for the same handover information of the handover procedure with use of the wireless transceiver during the voice or data call;
• and
• process the handover information of the handover procedure received over the second control channel for performing the handover procedure when there is a failure in receiving the handover information of the handover procedure over the first control channel.

A method for use in performing a handover procedure between a first base station and a second base station for a mobile communication device, the method comprising the acts of:

• maintaining a voice or data call over a traffic channel;
• causing a message for the handover procedure to be transmitted in a frame during the voice or data call;
• and
• causing updated system information to be transmitted in the frame during the voice or data call.

A mobile communication device, comprising:

• a wireless transceiver;
• one or more processors coupled to the wireless transceiver;
• the one or more processors being operative to:
• maintain a voice or data call over a traffic channel with use of the wireless transceiver;
• cause a message for the handover procedure to be transmitted in a frame with use of the wireless transceiver during the voice or data call;
• and
• cause updated system information to be transmitted in the frame with use of the wireless transceiver during the voice or data call.