Handover method and apparatus for multi-mode mobile station

#The present application claims priority to an application entitled “HANDOVER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MULTI-MODE MOBILE STATION” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jul. 13, 2007 and assigned Serial No. 2007-0070529, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

#The present invention relates to a multi-mode mobile station and, in particular, to an improved handover method and apparatus for an Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology-enabled multi-mode mobile station.

#Typically, licensed wireless systems such as Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and unlicensed wireless systems such as Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) and Bluetooth are deployed in overlapping coverage areas individually. With its relatively high data rate and low maintenance cost, the popularity of unlicensed wireless systems has increased dramatically over recent years. However, the unlicensed wireless systems are limited in small service area and low mobility. In the meantime, the licensed wireless systems are advantageous in broad service areas and high mobility, in spite of low data rate and high usage cost.

#For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts:

#FIG. 1 is a message flow diagram illustrating a handover procedure of a handover method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of a dual mode mobile station (MS) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

#FIGS. 1 through 4, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged electronic communication system.

#In the following, a handover method and apparatus is described with a multi-mode mobile station. Particularly in the following description, the multi-mode mobile station is provided with licensed and unlicensed wireless access network interfaces.

#The multi-mode mobile station is configured to perform a handover in a UMA system including licensed and unlicensed infrastructures.