Apparatus and method for personality modification during handoff

1. A method to facilitate access terminal handoff between access networks, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first access network (AN), a handoff request and an access channel message from an access terminal (AT), wherein the access channel message includes information corresponding to a communication session between a second AN and the AT, wherein the communication session includes at least an active personality negotiated with the second AN;

obtaining multiple personalities, associated with the AT, previously negotiated by the first AN;

determining if one of the multiple obtained personalities is substantially similar to the active personality;

upon a determination that one of the multiple obtained personalities is substantially similar to the active personality, transferring the communication session to the first AN with the obtained personality substantially similar to the active personality, wherein transferring the communication session comprises determining if the transferred communication session and the communication session between the second AN and the AT have the same index for the active personality;

receiving, from the second AN, session information corresponding to one or more inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT;

determining if any of the one or more inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT are substantially similar to any of the multiple obtained personalities previously negotiated by the first AN;

upon a determination that at least one of the one or more inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT is substantially similar to at least one of the multiple obtained personalities, transmitting instructions to the AT to reindex the at least one inactive personality that is substantially similar to the at least one obtained personality; and

receiving acknowledgement of any inactive personality index changes from the AT.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

upon the determination that the at least one inactive personality indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT is substantially similar to the at least one obtained personality, generating a new communication session index populated with the at least one obtained personality that is substantially similar to the at least one inactive personality indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT and associating the transferred communication session with the new communication session index.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

transmitting, from the first AN, a session information request to the second AN, wherein the session information request includes a request for information corresponding to the communication session between the second AN and the AT and any inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein generating the new communication session index includes hardlink streaming the at least one inactive personality indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT to the at least one substantially similar obtained personality in the transferred communication session.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining if the new communication session index includes any personalities not corresponding to personalities negotiated with the second AN;

upon a determination that the new communication session index includes any personalities not corresponding to personalities negotiated with the second AN, transmitting instructions to the access terminal to perform a session negotiation with the first AN to populate the new communication session index with additional personalities, wherein the additional personalities do not include the active personality or any reindexed inactive personalities, and to remove any personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT that are not substantially similar to any of the multiple obtained personalities previously negotiated by the first AN.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining if the new communication session index is configured to index less personalities than the communication session between the second AN and the AT;

upon a determination that the new communication session index is configured to index less personalities than the communication session between the second AN and the AT, transmitting instructions to the access terminal to perform a session negotiation with the first AN to populate the new communication session index with additional personalities that are not substantially similar to any personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT, and to remove any personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT that are not substantially similar to any of the multiple obtained personalities previously negotiated by the first AN.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication session further comprises a 1×EV-DO communication session.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access channel message includes at least one of a unicast access terminal identifier or a session configuration token that includes information identifying the AT.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein transferring the communication session to the first AN further comprises,

upon a determination that the communication sessions do not have the same index for the active personality, transmitting instructions to the AT to maintain the active personality by switching to a new communication session index that the transferred communication session has for the active personality.

10. At least one processor configured to facilitate access terminal handoff between access networks, wherein the at least one processor comprises:

a first module for receiving, at a first access network (AN), a handoff request and an access channel message from an access terminal (AT), wherein the access channel message includes information corresponding to a communication session between a second AN and the AT, wherein the communication session includes at least an active personality negotiated with the second AN;

a second module for obtaining multiple personalities, associated with the AT, previously negotiated by the first AN;

a third module for determining if one of the multiple obtained personalities is substantially similar to the active personality;

a fourth module for transferring the communication session to the first AN with the obtained personality substantially similar to the active personality, upon a determination that one of the multiple obtained personalities is substantially similar to the active personality, wherein transferring the communication session comprises determining if the transferred communication session and the communication session between the second AN and the AT have the same index for the active personality;

a fifth module for receiving, from the second AN, session information corresponding to one or more inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT;

a sixth module for determining if any of the one or more inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT are substantially similar to any of the multiple obtained personalities previously negotiated by the first AN;

a seventh module for transmitting, upon a determination that at least one of the one or more inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT is substantially similar to at least one of the multiple obtained personalities, instructions to the AT to reindex the at least one inactive personality that is substantially similar to the at least one obtained personality; and

an eighth module for receiving acknowledgement of any inactive personality index changes from the AT.

11. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising:

a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive, at a first access network (AN), a handoff request and an access channel message from an access terminal (AT), wherein the access channel message includes information corresponding to a communication session between a second AN and the AT, wherein the communication session includes at least an active personality negotiated with the second AN;

a second set of codes for causing the computer to obtain multiple personalities, associated with the AT, previously negotiated by the first AN;

a third set of codes for causing the computer to determine if one of the multiple obtained personalities is substantially similar to the active personality;

a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to transfer the communication session to the first AN with the obtained personality substantially similar to the active personality, upon a determination that one of the multiple obtained personalities is substantially similar to the active personality, wherein transferring the communication session comprises determining if the transferred communication session and the communication session between the second AN and the AT have the same index for the active personality;

a fifth set of codes for receiving, from the second AN, session information corresponding to one or more inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT;

a sixth set of codes for determining if any of the one or more inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT are substantially similar to any of the multiple obtained personalities previously negotiated by the first AN;

a seventh set of codes for transmitting, upon a determination that at least one of the one or more inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT is substantially similar to at least one of the multiple obtained personalities, instructions to the AT to reindex the at least one inactive personality that is substantially similar to the at least one obtained personality; and

an eighth set of codes for receiving acknowledgement of any inactive personality index changes from the AT.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving, at a first access network (AN), a handoff request and an access channel message from an access terminal (AT), wherein the access channel message includes information corresponding to a communication session between a second AN and the AT, wherein the communication session includes at least an active personality negotiated with the second AN;

means for obtaining multiple personalities, associated with the AT, previously negotiated by the first AN;

means for determining if one of the multiple obtained personalities is substantially similar to the active personality;

means for transferring the communication session to the first AN with the obtained personality substantially similar to the active personality, upon a determination that one of the multiple obtained personalities is substantially similar to the active personality, wherein transferring the communication session comprises determining if the transferred communication session and the communication session between the second AN and the AT have the same index for the active personality;

means for receiving, from the second AN, session information corresponding to one or more inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT;

means for determining if any of the one or more inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT are substantially similar to any of the multiple obtained personalities previously negotiated by the first AN;

means for transmitting, upon a determination that at least one of the one or more inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT is substantially similar to at least one of the multiple obtained personalities, instructions to the AT to reindex the at least one inactive personality that is substantially similar to the at least one obtained personality; and

means for receiving acknowledgement of any inactive personality index changes from the AT.

13. An apparatus for facilitating access terminal handoff between access networks, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver operable for:

receiving, at a first access network (AN), a handoff request and an access channel message from an access terminal (AT), wherein the access channel message includes information corresponding to a communication session between a second AN and the AT, wherein the communication session includes at least an active personality negotiated with the second AN;

receiving, from the second AN, session information corresponding to one or more inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT; and

receiving acknowledgement of any inactive personality index changes from the AT; a personality manager operable for:

obtaining multiple personalities, associated with the AT, previously negotiated by the first AN;

determining if one of the multiple obtained personalities is substantially similar to the active personality;

upon a determination that one of the multiple obtained personalities is substantially similar to the active personality, transferring the communication session to the first AN with the obtained personality substantially similar to the active personality, wherein transferring the communication session comprises determining if the transferred communication session and the communication session between the second AN and the AT have the same index for the active personality; and

determining if any of the one or more inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT are substantially similar to any of the multiple obtained personalities previously negotiated by the first AN; and

a transmitter operable for, upon a determination that at least one of the one or more inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT is substantially similar to at least one of the multiple obtained personalities, transmitting instructions to the AT to reindex the at least one inactive personality that is substantially similar to the at least one obtained personality.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:

the personality manager is further operable for:

upon the determination that the at least one inactive personality indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT is substantially similar to the at least one obtained personality, generating a new communication session index populated with the at least one obtained personality that is substantially similar to the at least one inactive personality indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT and associating the transferred communication session with the new communication session index.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:

the transmitter is further operable for transmitting, from the first AN, a session information request to the second AN, wherein the session information request includes a request for information corresponding to the communication session between the second AN and the AT and any inactive personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein generating the new communication session index includes hardlink streaming the at least one inactive personality indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT to the at least one substantially similar obtained personality in the transferred communication session.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the personality manager is further operable for:

determining if the new communication session index includes any personalities not corresponding to personalities negotiated with the second AN;

upon a determination that the new communication session index includes any personalities not corresponding to personalities negotiated with the second AN, transmitting instructions to the access terminal to perform a session negotiation with the first AN to populate the new communication session index with additional personalities, wherein the additional personalities do not include the active personality or any reindexed inactive personalities, and to remove any personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT that are not substantially similar to any of the multiple obtained personalities previously negotiated by the first AN.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the personality manager is further operable for:

determining if the new communication session index is configured to index less personalities than the communication session between the second AN and the AT;

upon a determination that the new communication session index is configured to index less personalities than the communication session between the second AN and the AT, transmitting instructions to the access terminal to perform a session negotiation with the first AN to populate the new communication session index with additional personalities that are not substantially similar to any personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT, and to remove any personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT that are not substantially similar to any of the multiple obtained personalities previously negotiated by the first AN.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the communication session further comprises a 1×EV-DO communication session.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the access channel message includes at least one of a unicast access terminal identifier or a session configuration token that includes information identifying the AT.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein

the transmitter is further operable for transmitting instructions to the access terminal to maintain the active personality by switching to a new communication session index that the transferred communication session has for the active personality upon a determination that the communication sessions do not have the same index for the active personality.

22. A method to facilitate personality modification by an access terminal during handoff between access networks, the method comprising:

transmitting, from an access terminal (AT), a handoff request and an access channel message to a first access network (AN), wherein the access channel message includes information corresponding to a communication session between a second AN and the AT, wherein the communication session includes at least an active personality negotiated with the second AN;

receiving instructions from the first AN to maintain the active personality by switching to a new communication session index that the first AN has for the active personality when a transferred communication session and the communication session between the second AN and the AT do not have the same index for the active personality;

receiving instructions from the first AN to reindex, according to the new communication session index, at least one inactive personality indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT that is substantially similar to at least one personality previously negotiated by the first AN; and

transmitting acknowledgement of any inactive personality index changes to the first AN.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the communication session further comprises a 1×EV-DO communication session.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the access channel message includes at least one of a unicast access terminal identifier or a session configuration token that includes information identifying the AT.

25. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

receiving, at the AT, instructions to perform a session negotiation with the first AN to populate the new communication session index with additional personalities, wherein the additional personalities do not include the active personality or any reindexed inactive personalities, and to remove any personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT that are not substantially similar to any personalities indexed in the new communication session index; and

transmitting, to the first AN, a session request to negotiate the additional personalities and populate the new communication session index.

26. At least one processor configured to facilitate personality modification by an access terminal during handoff between access networks, wherein the at least one processor comprises:

a first module for transmitting, from an access terminal (AT), a handoff request and an access channel message to a first access network (AN), wherein the access channel message includes information corresponding to a communication session between a second AN and the AT, wherein the communication session includes at least an active personality negotiated with the second AN;

a second module for receiving instructions from the first AN to maintain the active personality by switching to a new communication session index that the first AN has for the active personality when a transferred communication session and the communication session between the second AN and the AT do not have the same index for the active personality;

a third module for receiving instructions from the first AN to reindex, according to the new communication session index, at least one inactive personality indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT that is substantially similar to at least one personality previously negotiated by the first AN; and

a fourth module for transmitting acknowledgement of any inactive personality index changes to the first AN.

27. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising:

a first set of codes for causing a computer to transmit, from an access terminal (AT), a handoff request and an access channel message to a first access network (AN), wherein the access channel message includes information corresponding to a communication session between a second AN and the AT, wherein the communication session includes at least an active personality negotiated with the second AN;

a second set of codes for causing the computer to receive instructions from the first AN to maintain the active personality by switching to a new communication session index that the first AN has for the active personality when a transferred communication session and the communication session between the second AN and the AT do not have the same index for the active personality;

a third set of codes for causing the computer to receive instructions from the first AN to reindex, according to the new communication session index, at least one inactive personality indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT that is substantially similar to at least one personality previously negotiated by the first AN; and

a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to transmit acknowledgement of any inactive personality index changes to the first AN.

28. An apparatus, comprising:

means for transmitting, from an access terminal (AT), a handoff request and an access channel message to a first access network (AN), wherein the access channel message includes information corresponding to a communication session between a second AN and the AT, wherein the communication session includes at least an active personality negotiated with the second AN;

means for receiving instructions from the first AN to maintain the active personality by switching to a new communication session index that the first AN has for the active personality when a transferred communication session and the communication session between the second AN and the AT do not have the same index for the active personality;

means for receiving instructions from the first AN to reindex, according to the new communication session index, at least one inactive personality indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT that is substantially similar to at least one personality previously negotiated by the first AN; and

means for transmitting acknowledgement of any inactive personality index changes to the first AN.

29. An apparatus for facilitating personality modification by an access terminal during handoff between access networks, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter operable for transmitting, from an access terminal (AT), a handoff request and an access channel message to a first access network (AN), wherein the access channel message includes information corresponding to a communication session between a second AN and the AT, wherein the communication session includes at least an active personality negotiated with the second AN, and for transmitting acknowledgement of any inactive personality index changes to the first AN; and

a receiver operable for receiving instructions from the first AN to maintain the active personality by switching to a new communication session index that the first AN has for the active personality when a transferred communication session and the communication session between the second AN and the AT do not have the same index for the active personality, and for receiving instructions from the first AN to reindex, according to the new communication session index, at least one inactive personality indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT that is substantially similar to at least one personality previously negotiated by the first AN.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the communication session further comprises a 1×EV-DO communication session.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the access channel message includes at least one of unicast access terminal identifier or a secession configuration token that includes information identifying the AT.

32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein

the receiver is further operable for receiving, at the AT, instructions to perform a session negotiation with the first AN to populate the new communication session index with additional personalities, wherein the additional personalities do not include the active personality or any reindexed inactive personalities, and to remove any personalities indexed in the communication session between the second AN and the AT that are not substantially similar to any personalities indexed in the new communication session index; and

the transmitter is further operable for transmitting, to the first AN, a session request to negotiate the additional personalities and populate the new communication session index.