RESUMING COMMUNICATION OF CONTENT DATA ON THE INITIAL CHANNEL WHEN THE INITIAL AND THE NEW ACCESS POINT PERFORM HANDOVER STEPS

摘要

A method of, and apparatus for, changing access points for a mobile node (6) in a wireless access network (1), for example a wireless local area -network, WLAN, comprising: the mobile node (6) communicating content data on an initial channel (14) via an initial access point (4) of the wireless access network (1); the mobile node (6) sending a handover request (s34) on a new channel (15) to a new access point (5) of the wireless access network (1); the mobile node (6) resuming communication (s35, s35b, s35c, s51a, s51b, s51c) of content data on the initial channel (14) via the initial access point (4); elements of the wireless access network (1), including the initial access point (4) and the new access point (5), performing handover steps (s36-s48) while the mobile node (6) performs the resumed communication of content; and when the handover steps are completed, the mobile node (6) communicating content data on the new channel (15) via the new access point (5). In an embodiment, responsive to a change command as handoff completion message (s50), the mobile station ends the resumed communication on the initial channel and, after a predetermined or calculated time, starts communication on the new channel (s58a, s58b, s58c).