Apparatus and method of handoff between wireless networks

An apparatus for performing a handover in a communications network, comprising:

• a network gateway component configured to:
• maintain call parameters of an active call of a user terminal communicating on a first communications network having a first access technology type,
• initiate a handover of the active call to a second communications network having a second access technology type different from the first access technology type, comprising obtaining a resource allocation on the second communications network to continue the active call on the second communications network based at least partially on at least a portion of the call parameters, wherein the call parameters further comprise a first identifier of the user terminal on the first communications network and a second identifier of the user terminal on the second communications network,
• obtain a mobile originated call status or a mobile terminated call status of the active call of the user terminal communicating on the first communications network, and
• maintain the mobile originated call status or the mobile terminated call status of the active call on the second communications network.

An apparatus for performing a handover in a communications network, comprising:

• means for maintaining, at a network gateway component, call parameters of an active call of a user terminal communicating on a first communications network having a first access technology type;
• means for initiating a handover of the active call to a second communications network having a second access technology type different from the first access technology type, comprising means for obtaining a resource allocation on the second communications network to continue the active call on the second communications network based at least partially on at least a portion of the call parameters, wherein the means for maintaining of the call parameters further comprises means for maintaining a first identifier of the user terminal on the first communications network and a second identifier of the user terminal on the second communications network;
• means for obtaining a mobile originated call status or a mobile terminated call status of the active call of the user terminal communicating on the first communications network;
• and
• means for maintaining the mobile originated call status or the mobile terminated call status of the active call on the second communications network.

A method at a user terminal for performing a handover in a communications network, comprising:

• engaging in an active call by the user terminal communicating on a first communications network having a first access technology type, wherein the active call includes corresponding call parameters maintained at the first communications network, and at least a portion of the call parameters are maintained at a second communications network, wherein the call parameters further comprise a first identifier of the user terminal on the first communications network and a second identifier of the user terminal on the second communications network;
• performing a handover of the active call to the second communications network having a second access technology type different from the first access technology type, comprising sending a call handoff from the user terminal, wherein the call handoff is configured to cause a network gateway component to obtain a mobile originated call status or a mobile terminated call status of the active call of the user terminal communicating on the first communications network, and to maintain the mobile originated call status or the mobile terminated call status of the active call on the second communications network;
• and
• obtaining a resource allocation on the second communications network to continue the active call on the second communications network via the handover based at least partially on at least the portion of the call parameters.

A computer program product operable on a user terminal for performing a handover in a communications network, comprising:

• a non-transitory memory, comprising at least one instruction for causing the user terminal to:
• engage in an active call by the user terminal communicating on a first communications network having a first access technology type, wherein the active call includes corresponding call parameters maintained at the first communications network, and at least a portion of the call parameters are maintained at a second communications network, wherein the call parameters further comprise a first identifier of the user terminal on the first communications network and a second identifier of the user terminal on the second communications network;
• perform a handover of the active call to the second communications network having a second access technology type different from the first access technology type, comprising sending a call handoff from the user terminal, wherein the call handoff is configured to cause a network gateway component to obtain a mobile originated call status or a mobile terminated call status of the active call of the user terminal communicating on the first communications network, and to maintain the mobile originated call status or the mobile terminated call status of the active call on the second communications network;
• and
• obtain a resource allocation on the second communications network to continue the active call on the second communications network based at least partially on at least the portion of the call parameters.

A user terminal for performing a handover in a communications network, comprising:

• means for engaging in an active call by the user terminal communicating on a first communications network having a first access technology type, wherein the active call includes corresponding call parameters maintained at the first communications network, and at least a portion of the call parameters are maintained at a second communications network, wherein the call parameters further comprise a first identifier of the user terminal on the first communications network and a second identifier of the user terminal on the second communications network;
• means for performing a handover of the active call to the second communications network having a second access technology type different from the first access technology type, comprising means for sending a call handoff from the user terminal, wherein the call handoff is configured to cause a network gateway component to obtain a mobile originated call status or a mobile terminated call status of the active call of the user terminal communicating on the first communications network, and to maintain the mobile originated call status or the mobile terminated call status of the active call on the second communications network;
• and
• means for obtaining a resource allocation on the second communications network to continue the active call on the second communications network based at least partially on at least the portion of the call parameters.

A user terminal for performing a handover in a communications network, comprising:

• a first subsystem engaging in an active call by the user terminal communicating on a first communications network having a first access technology type, wherein the active call includes corresponding call parameters maintained at the first communications network, and at least a portion of the call parameters are maintained at a second communications network, wherein the call parameters further comprise a first identifier of the user terminal on the first communications network and a second identifier of the user terminal on the second communications network;
• circuitry to perform a handover of the active call to the second communications network having a second access technology type different from the first access technology type, comprising sending a call handoff from the user terminal, wherein the call handoff is configured to cause a network gateway component to obtain a mobile originated call status or a mobile terminated call status of the active call of the user terminal communicating on the first communications network, and to maintain the mobile originated call status or the mobile terminated call status of the active call on the second communications network;
• and
• a second subsystem to obtain a resource allocation on the second communications network, based at least partially on at least the portion of the call parameters, to continue the active call with the second communications network.

A computer program product operable on a network gateway component in a communications network, comprising:

• a non-transitory memory, comprising at least one instruction for causing the network gateway component to:
• maintain call parameters of an active call of a user terminal communicating on a first communications network having a first access technology type;
• initiate a handover of the active call to a second communications network having a second access technology type different from the first access technology type, comprising obtaining a resource allocation on the second communications network to continue the active call on the second communications network based at least partially on at least a portion of the call parameters, wherein the call parameters further comprise a first identifier of the user terminal on the first communications network and a second identifier of the user terminal on the second communications network;
• obtain a mobile originated call status or a mobile terminated call status of the active call of the user terminal communicating on the first communications network;
• and
• maintain the mobile originated call status or the mobile terminated call status of the active call on the second communications network.