Method and apparatus for effecting a handoff between two IP connections for time critical communications

摘要

A method 900 of and wireless communications unit 800 for effecting a handoff from a first Internet Protocol (IP) connection 221 to a second IP connection 331 for a time critical communication is disclosed. The method includes communicating 905 between a first wireless station 219 and a second station 331 using the first IP connection and a first IP address 223 for the first wireless station; setting up 907 the second IP connection with a second IP address for the first wireless station, the first IP connection being a primary connection and the second IP connection being a secondary connection, both existing concurrently; determining 915 that the second IP connection should be the primary connection; and changing 917 the second IP connection to the primary connection by informing the second station that the second IP address is the primary address using stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) messages, wherein the time critical communication is immediately switched over to the second IP connection.