Robust and fast inter-ebs handoff mechanism

A base station server comprising:

• a network communication device configured to exchange data communications through a first type of network, the first type of network including at least one database accessible to the network communication device;
• a processor coupled to the network communication device;
• a storage device accessible to the processor;
• and
• an application program in the storage device, the application program including a plurality of functions, wherein execution of the application program by the processor configures the application server to exchange data communications related to the plurality of functions with a mobile device through the first type of network,
• wherein the processor is configured to perform functions, including functions to:
• identify a plurality of possible target base stations for a handoff of the mobile device;
• send a handoff request including context information of the mobile device to each of the identified plurality of possible target base stations, the context information including an identification of the mobile device;
• receive from each of the plurality of possible target base stations an acknowledgment in response to the handoff request, the acknowledgement indicating that at least a portion of the context information has been stored at the plurality of possible target base stations and that resources have been reserved at the plurality of possible target base stations for the mobile device;
• responsive to the received acknowledgements, prioritize the plurality of possible target base stations for the handoff based on predetermined parameters with respect to the plurality of possible target base stations;
• initiate the handoff of the mobile device based on the prioritized plurality of possible target base stations;
• and
• release resources reserved for the mobile device, in response to an indication, received from one of the prioritized plurality of possible target base stations, of a successfully established connection for the initiated handoff of the mobile device.

An article of manufacture, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a computer program for enabling a base station server to access a first type of network, the computer program being embodied on the computer-readable storage medium and including instructions that, when executed, cause the base station server to implement functions comprising:

• identifying a plurality of possible target base stations for a handoff of a mobile device connected to the base station server;
• sending a handoff request including context information of the mobile device from the serving base station to each of the identified plurality of possible target base stations, the context information including an identification of the mobile device;
• receiving from each of the plurality of possible target base stations an acknowledgment in response to the handoff request, the acknowledgement indicating that at least a portion of the context information has been stored at the plurality of possible target base stations and that resources have been reserved at the plurality of possible target base stations for the mobile device;
• responsive to the received acknowledgements, prioritizing the plurality of possible target base stations for the handoff based on predetermined parameters with respect to the plurality of possible target base stations;
• initiating the handoff of the mobile device based on the prioritized plurality of possible target base stations;
• and
• upon receiving, from one of the prioritized plurality of possible target base stations, an indication of a successfully established connection for the mobile device in response to the initiated handoff, releasing resources of the serving base station reserved for the mobile device.