A method for performing a handover of a mobile terminal between a 3G cell
and a WLAN cell when the mobile terminal moves within a 3G cell into the
coverage area of the WLAN cell. The present invention proposes that the
handover be performed when there are no active calls. If there are
ongoing calls, method proposes to wait until the calls are terminated
before the handover is performed. After the ongoing calls are terminated,
the handover is performed by disassociating from the radio access network
of the 3G cell and associating with the access point of the WLAN, using
the relatively straightforward disassociation and association procedures.
The handover method according to the present invention obviates the need
for complex and expensive protocols to ensure a seamless and error free
handover of calls when moving from the coverage of the 3G cell to the
coverage of the WLAN cell. This method can be used with either the loose
coupling arrangement or the tight coupling arrangement.