A method for operating a relay node during a handoff from a first controller to a second controller includes receiving a first instruction from the first controller to discontinue using a first set of wireless backhaul link resources allocated to the relay node by the first controller and to temporarily use a second set of wireless backhaul link resources dedicated by the second controller. The method also includes receiving a second instruction from the second controller to discontinue using the second set of wireless backhaul link resources and to begin using a third set of wireless backhaul link resources allocated to the relay node by the second controller.

A method for operating a relay node during a handoff from a first controller to a second controller includes receiving a first instruction from the first controller to discontinue using a first set of wireless backhaul link resources allocated to the relay node by the first controller and to temporarily use a second set of wireless backhaul link resources dedicated by the second controller. The method also includes receiving a second instruction from the second controller to discontinue using the second set of wireless backhaul link resources and to begin using a third set of wireless backhaul link resources allocated to the relay node by the second controller.

A broadband communication system provides broadband communication services onboard an aircraft. The broadband communication system includes a satellite communication transceiver, a direct air-to-ground communication (DA2GC) transceiver, and a controller. The satellite communication transceiver is configured to communicate directly with a target satellite providing a satellite communication data pathway with a satellite ground station connected to ground networks. The DA2GC transceiver is configured to communicate directly with a DA2GC ground station providing an DA2GC data pathway with the ground networks. The controller is configured to control handoff between the satellite communication transceiver and the DA2GC transceiver for data communications between the broadband communications system and the ground networks, based on performance of at least one of the satellite communication data pathway and the DA2GC data pathway.

A broadband communication system provides broadband communication services onboard an aircraft. The broadband communication system includes a satellite communication transceiver, a direct air-to-ground communication (DA2GC) transceiver, and a controller. The satellite communication transceiver is configured to communicate directly with a target satellite providing a satellite communication data pathway with a satellite ground station connected to ground networks. The DA2GC transceiver is configured to communicate directly with a DA2GC ground station providing an DA2GC data pathway with the ground networks. The controller is configured to control handoff between the satellite communication transceiver and the DA2GC transceiver for data communications between the broadband communications system and the ground networks, based on performance of at least one of the satellite communication data pathway and the DA2GC data pathway.

A communication apparatus that operates as an access point constructing a wireless LAN receives a selection instruction for operating as a controller configured to control another access point in a network including at least one or more access points and determines, based on comparison between a controller selection method used in the selection instruction and a controller selection method used in another communication apparatus already operating as a controller, whether to change an apparatus that is to operate as the controller from the other communication apparatus to the communication apparatus.

A communication apparatus that operates as an access point constructing a wireless LAN receives a selection instruction for operating as a controller configured to control another access point in a network including at least one or more access points and determines, based on comparison between a controller selection method used in the selection instruction and a controller selection method used in another communication apparatus already operating as a controller, whether to change an apparatus that is to operate as the controller from the other communication apparatus to the communication apparatus.

A method and apparatus for cell update while in a Cell_FACH state are disclosed. After selecting a target cell, system information is read from the target cell including high speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) common system information. A radio network temporary identity (RNTI) received in a source cell is cleared and a variable HS_DSCH_RECEPTION is set to TRUE. An HS-DSCH medium access control (MAC-hs) entity is configured based on the HS-DSCH common system information. High speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) transmission is then received in the target cell. A CELL UPDATE message is sent to notify of a cell change. The HSDPA transmission may be received using a common H-RNTI broadcast in the system information, a reserved H-RNTI as requested in a CELL UPDATE message, or a temporary identity which is a subset of a U-RNTI. The MAC-hs entity may be reset.

A method and apparatus for cell update while in a Cell_FACH state are disclosed. After selecting a target cell, system information is read from the target cell including high speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) common system information. A radio network temporary identity (RNTI) received in a source cell is cleared and a variable HS_DSCH_RECEPTION is set to TRUE. An HS-DSCH medium access control (MAC-hs) entity is configured based on the HS-DSCH common system information. High speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) transmission is then received in the target cell. A CELL UPDATE message is sent to notify of a cell change. The HSDPA transmission may be received using a common H-RNTI broadcast in the system information, a reserved H-RNTI as requested in a CELL UPDATE message, or a temporary identity which is a subset of a U-RNTI. The MAC-hs entity may be reset.

A source access and mobility management function (AMF) sends, to a target AMF, a first message indicating: a handover of a wireless device; and a source session management function (SMF). A second message causing a release of at least one second session of the wireless device is received from the target AMF. A request for the release of the at least one second session is sent to the source SMF. An indication of completion of the release is received from the source SMF. An indication of the completion of the release is sent to the target AMF.

A source access and mobility management function (AMF) sends, to a target AMF, a first message indicating: a handover of a wireless device; and a source session management function (SMF). A second message causing a release of at least one second session of the wireless device is received from the target AMF. A request for the release of the at least one second session is sent to the source SMF. An indication of completion of the release is received from the source SMF. An indication of the completion of the release is sent to the target AMF.