Terminal and method for switching between radio access technologies

Abstract

A method includes determining whether a packet switched (PS) signaling connection is released, the PS signaling connection being associated with a first network corresponding to a first radio access technology (RAT), controlling a switching timing to a second network corresponding to a second RAT according to a type of the PS signaling connection, and transmitting a request for switching to the second network. A terminal includes a controller to determine whether a packet switched (PS) signaling connection is released, the PS signaling connection being associated with a first network corresponding to a first radio access technology (RAT), and to control a switching timing to a second network corresponding to a second RAT according to a type of the PS signaling connection, and a transmitter to transmit a request for switching to the second network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for switching between radio access technologies (RATs) for a terminal, comprising:
 determining whether a packet switched (PS) signaling connection is released, the PS signaling connection being associated with a first network corresponding to a first radio access technology (RAT);   controlling a switching timing to a second network corresponding to a second RAT according to a type of the PS signaling connection; and   transmitting a request for switching to the second network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first network comprises a circuit switched network and a packet switched network, and the second network comprises a packet switched network. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: terminating a circuit switched fallback (CSFB) call processed with the first network,
 wherein the determination of whether the PS signaling connection is released is performed in response to the termination of the CSFB call.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the type of the PS signaling connection comprises a PS signaling connection for registering a location of the terminal, and the controlling of a switching timing comprises waiting for a completion of the PS signaling connection if the PS signaling connection corresponds to the PS signaling connection for registering a location of the terminal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the PS signaling connection for registering a location of the terminal comprises a Routing Area Update (RAU) initiated during a circuit switched fallback (CSFB) call processed with the first network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling of a switching timing comprises controlling a transmission time of a signaling connection release indication (SCRI) message for closing the PS signaling connection. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the transmitting of a request for switching to the second network is performed in response to a receipt of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection release message or in response to an expiration of a connection release timer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising receiving a Layer 2 Acknowledgement in response to the SCM,
 wherein the connection release timer starts after transmitting the SCM or receiving the Layer 2 Acknowledgement.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling of a switching timing comprises deferring an RRC connection release if a PS signaling connection for registering a location of the terminal is not released. 
     
     
         10 . A method for switching between radio access technologies (RATs) for a terminal, comprising:
 determining a status of a packet switched (PS) signaling connection associated with a first network corresponding to a first radio access technology (RAT);   controlling a transmission of a signaling connection release indication (SCM) message to the first network based on the status of the PS signaling connection; and   transmitting a request for switching to a second network corresponding to a second RAT depending upon the transmission of the SCM message.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the transmission of the SCM message is deferred if the PS signaling connection corresponds to a PS signaling connection for registering a location of the terminal and is not closed. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the PS signaling connection for registering a location of the terminal comprises a Routing Area Update (RAU) initiated during a CSFB call processed with the first network. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the transmitting of a request for switching to the second network is performed in response to a receipt of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection release message or in response to an expiration of a connection release timer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising receiving a Layer 2 Acknowledgement in response to the SCRI,
 wherein the connection release timer starts after transmitting the SCRI or receiving the Layer 2 Acknowledgement.   
     
     
         15 . A terminal for switching between radio access technologies (RATs), comprising:
 a controller to determine whether a packet switched (PS) signaling connection is released, the PS signaling connection being associated with a first network corresponding to a first radio access technology (RAT), and to control a switching timing to a second network corresponding to a second RAT according to a type of the PS signaling connection; and   a transmitter to transmit a request for switching to the second network.   
     
     
         16 . The terminal of  claim 15 , wherein the controller terminates a circuit switched fallback (CSFB) call processed with the first network, and
 wherein the determination of whether the PS signaling connection is released is performed in response to the termination of the CSFB call.   
     
     
         17 . The terminal of  claim 15 , wherein the controller waits a completion of the PS signaling connection if the type of the PS signaling connection corresponds to a PS signaling connection for registering a location of the terminal. 
     
     
         18 . The terminal of  claim 17 , wherein the PS signaling connection for registering a location of the terminal comprises a Routing Area Update (RAU) initiated during a CSFB call processed with the first network. 
     
     
         19 . The terminal of  claim 15 , wherein the controller controls a transmission time of a signaling connection release indication (SCM) message for closing the PS signaling connection to control the switching time. 
     
     
         20 . The terminal of  claim 15 , wherein the controller defers an RRC connection release if a PS signaling connection for registering a location of the terminal is not released.