Media independent handover for mobility

Abstract

A method and apparatus for establishing a wireless communication link using a radio access technology selected from a plurality of radio access technologies are provided. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may include a plurality of network devices, each configured to communicate via a different radio access technology. The WTRU may transmit measurement information including measurement reports for the plurality of radio access technologies to a network device. The WTRU may receive a link selection decision from the network device and may establish a wireless communication link in response to the decision. The link may be established for handover of a communication session from another radio access technology.

1 . A method for use in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:
 transmitting measurement information to a network device, wherein the measurement information includes a first measurement report associated with a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second measurement report associated with a second RAT;   receiving, from the network device, a link selection decision indicating a selected RAT, wherein the selected RAT is the first RAT or the second RAT; and   establishing a first wireless communication link using the selected RAT.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a first measurement report from a first network interface device associated with the first RAT; and   receiving a second measurement report from a second network interface device associated with the second RAT.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first network interface device includes a Link Layer Control (LLC) unit, a Medium Access Control (MAC) unit, and a physical access (PHY) unit. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second network interface device includes a Link Layer Control (LLC) unit, a Medium Access Control (MAC) unit, and a physical access (PHY) unit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first RAT is an 802.11 RAT and the second RAT is an 802.16 RAT. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting includes transmitting the measurement information via the first RAT or the second RAT. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting and receiving are performed by a media independent device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving a link selection decision includes receiving a handover decision and the establishing the first wireless communication link includes performing an inter-technology handover for a communication session in response to the handover decision. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the inter-technology handover includes:
 performing the communication session via a second wireless communication link;   discontinuing the communication session on the second wireless communication link; and   continuing the communication session via the first wireless communication link.   
     
     
         10 . A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:
 a first network interface configured to communicate using a first radio access technology (RAT);   a second network interface configured to communicate using a second RAT; and   a media independent device configured to:
 transmit measurement information to a network device, wherein the measurement information includes a first measurement report associated with the first RAT and a second measurement report associated with the second RAT; 
 receive, from the network device, a link selection decision indicating a selected RAT, wherein the selected RAT is the first RAT or the second RAT; and 
 establish a first wireless communication link using the selected RAT. 
   
     
     
         11 . The WTRU of  claim 10 , wherein the media independent device is configured to:
 receive the first measurement report from the first network interface device; and   receive the second measurement report from the second network interface device.   
     
     
         12 . The WTRU of  claim 10 , wherein the first network interface device includes a Link Layer Control (LLC) unit, a Medium Access Control (MAC) unit, and a physical access (PHY) unit. 
     
     
         13 . The WTRU of  claim 10 , wherein the second network interface device includes a Link Layer Control (LLC) unit, a Medium Access Control (MAC) unit, and a physical access (PHY) unit. 
     
     
         14 . The WTRU of  claim 10 , wherein the first RAT is an 802.11 RAT and the second RAT is an 802.16 RAT. 
     
     
         15 . The WTRU of  claim 10 , wherein the media independent device is configured to transmit the measurement information via the first RAT or the second RAT. 
     
     
         16 . The WTRU of  claim 10 , wherein the link selection decision includes a handover decision and the media independent device includes an inter-technology handover device configured to perform an inter-technology handover of a communication session in response to the handover decision. 
     
     
         17 . The WTRU of  claim 16 , wherein the second network interface device is configured to perform the communication session via a second wireless communication link and the inter-technology handover device is configured to perform the handover by:
 controlling the second network interface to discontinue the communication session on the second wireless communication link; and   controlling the first network interface to continue the communication session via the first wireless communication link.