Handover of multimode user equipment between radio access technologies for reduced call setup time

At least one processor for performing a handoff of a User Equipment (UE), comprising:

• a first module for serving the UE via an access node;
• a second module for determining that a handoff is warranted when the UE is in a first coverage area of a first node that provides a voice call Radio Access Technology (RAT) and in a second coverage area of a second node that provides a data call RAT;
• a third module for evaluating whether the UE has an active data session with the access node to determine whether to perform a simultaneous handoff to the first node and the second node that provide different RATs;
• a fourth module for performing the simultaneous handoff of the UE to the first node for a voice connection and to the second node for a packet data session in response to determining that the UE has the active data session with the access node;
• and
• a fifth module for performing a handoff of the UE to a selected one of the first node or the second node in response to determining that the UE does not have the active data session with the access node.

A computer program product for performing a handoff of a User Equipment (UE), comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing sets of code comprising:
• a first set of codes for causing a computer to serve the UE via an access node;
• a second set of codes for causing the computer to determine that a handoff is warranted when the UE is in a first coverage area of a first node that provides a voice call Radio Access Technology (RAT) and in a second coverage area of a second node that provides a data call RAT;
• a third set of codes for causing the computer to evaluate whether the UE has an active data session with the access node to determine whether to perform a simultaneous handoff to the first node and the second node that provide different RATs;
• a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to perform the simultaneous handoff of the UE to the first node for a voice connection and to the second node for a packet data session in response to determining that the UE has the active data session with the access node;
• and
• a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to perform a handoff of the UE to a selected one of the first node or the second node in response to determining that the UE does not have the active data session with the access node.

An apparatus for performing a handoff of a User Equipment (UE), comprising:

• means for serving the UE via an access node;
• means for determining that a handoff is warranted when the UE is in a first coverage area of a first node that provides a voice call Radio Access Technology (RAT) and in a second coverage area of a second node that provides a data call RAT;
• means for evaluating whether the UE has an active data session with the access node to determine whether to perform a simultaneous handoff to the first node and the second node that provide different RATs;
• means for performing the simultaneous handoff of the UE to the first node for a voice connection and to the second node for a packet data session in response to determining that the UE has the active data session with the access node;
• and
• means for performing a handoff of the UE to a selected one of the first node or the second node in response to determining that the UE does not have the active data session with the access node.

An apparatus for performing a handoff of a User Equipment (UE), comprising:

• a transceiver for serving the UE via an access node;
• a computing platform for determining that a handoff is warranted when the UE is in a first coverage area of a first node that provides a voice call Radio Access Technology (RAT) and in a second coverage area of a second node that provides a data call RAT;
• the computer platform further for evaluating whether the UE has an active data session with the access node to determine whether to perform a simultaneous handoff to the first node and the second node that provide different RATs;
• network interface for performing the simultaneous handoff of the UE to the first node for a voice connection and to the second node for a packet data session in response to determining that the UE has the active data session with the access node;
• and
• the network interface further for performing a handoff of the UE to a selected one of the first node or the second node in response to determining that the UE does not have the active data session with the access node.

A method for performing a handoff of a User Equipment (UE), comprising:

• receiving service from an access node at the UE using an initial radio access technology (RAT);
• pre-registering with a second node that provides a data call RAT different from the initial RAT over signaling with the access node;
• and
• performing simultaneous handoff by the access node of the UE to a first node providing a voice call RAT different from the initial RAT for a voice connection and to the second node for a packet data session following the pre-registering with the second node.

At least one processor for performing a handoff of a User Equipment (UE), comprising:

• a first module for receiving service from an access node at the UE using an initial radio access technology (RAT);
• a second module for pre-registering with a second node that provides a data call RAT different from the initial RAT over signaling with the access node;
• and
• a third module for performing simultaneous handoff by the access node of the UE to a first node providing a voice call RAT different from the initial RAT for a voice connection and to the second node for a packet data session following the pre-registering with the second node.

A computer program product for performing a handoff of a User Equipment (UE), comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing sets of codes:
• a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive service from an access node at the UE using an initial radio access technology (RAT);
• a second set of codes for causing the computer to pre-register with a second node that provides a data call RAT different from the initial RAT over signaling with the access node;
• and
• a third set of codes for causing the computer to perform simultaneous handoff by the access node of the UE to a first node providing a voice call RAT different from the initial RAT for a voice connection and to the second node for a packet data session following the pre-registering with the second node.

An apparatus for performing a handoff of a User Equipment (UE), comprising:

• means for receiving service from an access node at the UE using an initial radio access technology (RAT);
• means for pre-registering with a second node that provides a data call RAT different from the initial RAT over signaling with the access node;
• and
• means for performing simultaneous handoff by the access node of the UE to a first node providing a voice call RAT different from the initial RAT for a voice connection and to the second node for a packet data session following the pre-registering with the second node.