Method for the transfer of information during handovers in a communication system

A system comprising:

• a first network node;
• a second network node, the first network node and the second network node being a same type of node;
• a first gateway;
• a second gateway;
• a remote node and
• a terminal configured to:
• cause a session between the terminal and said remote node to be established via said first network node, said session comprising at least one media component;
• cause said at least one media component to be transmitted via said first gateway using at least one first media component bearer;
• detect a handover condition;
• obtain, responsive to detection of the handover condition, information of said second network node to determine whether said first network node and said second network node are different nodes;
• cause information of the at least one media component to be provided to said second network node;
• cause establishment of a signaling connection between said terminal and said second gateway to be requested;
• and
• cause establishment of at least one second media component bearer between said terminal and said second gateway to be requested.

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, direct the apparatus at least to:

• cause a session to a remote node to be established via a first network node, said session comprising at least one media component;
• cause said at least one media component to be transmitted via a first gateway using at least one first media component bearer;
• detect a handover condition;
• obtain, responsive to detection of the handover condition, information of a second network node to determine whether said first network node and said second network node are different nodes, wherein the first network node and the second network node are of a same type;
• cause information of the at least one media component to be provided to said second network node;
• cause establishment of a signaling connection between a terminal and a second gateway to be requested;
• and
• cause establishment of at least one second media component bearer between said terminal and said second gateway to be requested.

A computer program product comprising a memory having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program configured to direct an apparatus to:

• cause a session between a terminal and a remote node to be established via a first network node, said session comprising at least one media component transmitted via a first gateway using at least one first media component bearer;
• cause said at least one media component to be transmitted via a first gateway using at least one first media component bearer;
• detect a handover condition;
• obtain, responsive to detection of the handover condition, information of a second network node to determine whether said first network node and said second network node are different nodes, wherein the first network node and the second network node are a same type of node;
• cause information of the at least one media component to be provided to said second network node;
• cause establishment of a signaling connection between the terminal and a second gateway to be requested;
• and
• cause establishment of at least one second media component bearer to said second gateway to be requested.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for causing a session between a terminal and a remote node to be established via a first network node, said session comprising at least one media component;
• means for causing said at least one media component to be transmitted via a first gateway using at least one first media component bearer;
• means for detecting a handover condition;
• means for obtaining, responsive to detection of the handover condition, information of a second network node to determine whether said first network node and said second network node are different nodes;
• means for causing information of the at least one media component to be provided to said second network node;
• means for causing the establishment of a signaling connection between said terminal and a second gateway to be requested;
• and
• means for causing establishment of at least one second media component bearer between said terminal and said second gateway to be requested.