Handover between legacy and non-legacy wimax networks

A method for communication performed by a base station, the method comprising:

• receiving a mobile station handover request from a mobile station at a serving base station;
• sending a base station handover request to a target base station;
• receiving a base station handover response from the target base station, the handover response including a fast ranging IE allocation corresponding to a dedicated allocation for ranging of the mobile station with the target base station;
• and
• sending a message to the mobile station, the message notifying the mobile station of the dedicated allocation for ranging with the target base station.

A wireless device comprising:

• an RF transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals from a base station;
• processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the RF transceiver and configured to:
• send a handover request to a serving base station for the mobile station;
• receive a dedicated allocation from the serving base station for performing ranging with a target base station;
• send a ranging request to the target base station within the dedicated allocation;
• and
• receive a ranging response from the target base.

A base station for providing wireless communication with a plurality of mobile stations, the base station comprising:

• an RF transceiver for transmitting to and receiving signals from a plurality of mobile stations;
• and
• processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the base station, the processing circuitry configured to:
• receive a mobile station handover request from a mobile station;
• send a base station handover request to a second base station;
• receive a base station handover response from the second base station, the handover response including a fast ranging IE allocation corresponding to a grant for ranging of the mobile station with the second base station;
• and
• send a message to the mobile station, the message notifying the mobile station of the dedicated allocation for ranging with the second base station.

A method for wireless communication performed by a mobile station, the method comprising:

• sending a zone switching request to a serving base station for the mobile station in a first zone of the base station;
• receiving a dedicated allocation from the serving base station for performing ranging with a second zone of the base station;
• sending a ranging request to the target base station within the dedicated allocation;
• and
• receiving a ranging response from the target base station.