Method and apparatus for supporting a network initiated handover in a wireless network

Abstract

Various embodiments are described to address some of the inefficiencies in present-day network initiated handovers. A serving node () sends a first message requesting a remote unit () to handover but does not indicate any network nodes to which to handover and then receives, in response, a second message indicating a target node (e.g.,) preferred for handover by the remote unit. The serving node then notifies the target node of a potential handover by the remote unit and sends a third message to indicate to the remote unit to proceed with a handover to the target node. By first obtaining a preferred handover target from the remote unit and then notifying that target node, a network initiated handover may be accomplished more efficiently than by using the known technique of notifying prospective nodes prior to obtaining any acceptance or preference from the remote unit.