Apparatus, method and computer program product providing auxiliary handover command

An apparatus comprising at least one processor;

• and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
• to store a context identifier that is established between the apparatus and a source network controlling device,
• where the context identifier further uniquely identifies the apparatus;
• to listen on a first channel for an original handover command from the source network controlling device;
• to receive on a second channel an auxiliary handover command from a target network controlling device, wherein the auxiliary handover command comprises the context identifier;
• to authenticate the auxiliary handover command using the stored context identifier;
• and
• to hand over the apparatus to the target network controlling device in response to authenticating the auxiliary handover command.

A method comprising:

• establishing a context identifier between a mobile communication device and a source network controlling device,
• where the context identifier further uniquely identifies the mobile communication device;
• sending to a target network controlling device the established context identifier;
• and
• sending on a first channel an original handover command to the mobile communication device to handover to the target network controlling device;
• receiving from the target network controlling device a cell radio network temporary identifier which is included with the handover command sent on the first channel to the mobile communication device, and wherein the established context identifier is sent to the target network controlling device with a copy of the original handover command;
• wherein the copy Of the original handover command is sent to the target network controlling device only if it is determined that the original handover command was not properly received by the mobile communication device.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
• to establish a context identifier between a mobile communication device and a source network controlling device,
• where the context identifier further uniquely identifies the mobile communication device;
• to send to a target network controlling device the established context identifier;
• to create an original handover message;
• and
• to send on a first channel the original handover command to the mobile communication device to handover to the target network controlling device;
• wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to cause the apparatus to receive from the target network controlling device a cell radio network temporary identifier which is included in the created original handover command that is sent on the first channel to the mobile communication device, and to send the established context identifier to the target network controlling device with a copy of the original handover command;
• and
• wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to cause the apparatus to send the copy of the original handover command to the target network controlling device only if it is determined that the original handover command was not properly received by the mobile communication device.

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a target radio network controlling device from a source radio network controlling device, a context identifier that is established between the source radio network controlling device and a mobile communication device,
• where the context identifier further uniquely identifies the mobile communication device;
• sending, from the target radio network controlling device to the source radio network controlling device, a cell radio network temporary identifier that is assigned by the target radio network controlling device to the mobile communication device;
• sending, from the target radio network controlling device to the mobile communication device, an auxiliary handover command that includes the context identifier;
• and
• establishing the mobile communication device with the target network controlling device in a handover from the source radio network controlling device.

An apparatus comprising at least one processor;

• and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
• to receive, from a source radio network controlling device, a context identifier that is established between the source radio network controlling device and a mobile communication device,
• where the context identifier further uniquely identifies the mobile communication device;
• to assign a cell radio network temporary identifier to the mobile communication device;
• to send, to the source radio network controlling device, the assigned cell radio network temporary identifier;
• to send, to the mobile communication device, an auxiliary handover command that includes the context identifier;
• and
• to receive, from the mobile communication device, a handover conform message that establishes the mobile communication device with the apparatus after handover from the source radio network controlling device.