Zone switching in mixed-zone air interface

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

• receiving an assignment of a first resource for a communication session, the first resource being provided from a first zone of a base station, wherein communications in the first zone use a first version of a communication standard;
• receiving a command in the first zone to switch the communication session to the second zone of the base station, wherein communications in the second zone use a second version of the communication standard;
• receiving system information for the second zone of the base station;
• and
• switching at least a portion of the communication session to the second zone of the base station using the system information for the second zone;
• entering into the second zone, wherein entering into the second zone includes:
• transmitting a signal in the first zone having a message type corresponding to the second zone;
• and
• receiving a signal in the first zone having a message type corresponding to the second zone;
• transmitting a signal in the first zone for the communication session concurrent with entering into the second zone;
• releasing the first resource for the communication session after initiation of entering into the second zone;
• and
• receiving an assignment of a second resource for the communication session after completion of entering into the second zone, the second resource being provided from the second zone.

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:
• receive an assignment of a first resource for a communication session, the first resource from a first zone of a multi-zone base station, wherein communications in the first zone use a first version of a communication standard;
• receive a command in the first zone to switch the communication session to the second zone of the multi-zone base station, wherein communications in the second zone use a second version of the communication standard, and wherein the first version of the communication standard and the second version of the communication standard are provided from a common standards family;
• receive system information for the second zone of the multi-zone base station;
• and
• switch at least a portion of the communication session to the second zone of the multi-zone base station.