FIELD: radio engineering, communication.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to wireless communication. When handing over a multi-mode patient monitoring device (PMD) (28) between radio access technology (RAT) networks, a serving access point (AP) (12, 16, 72), with which a communication link is established by the PMD (28) over a first RAT network (RAT-1) to permit the PMD to communicate with a hospital IP network (18) via the serving AP (12, 16, 72), is used. A scanning interface (14, 54, 74, 104) collects information regarding other available RAT networks and candidate AP therein. If the RAT-1 communication quality of service falls below a predetermined threshold, the serving AP (12, 16, 72) delivers information regarding the candidate AP (22, 24, 26) and their RAT networks to the PMD (28). The PMD (28) selects a candidate AP (22, 24, 26) as a target AP, and initiates a handover to the target AP.
EFFECT: obtaining accurate information on neighbouring access networks without shortening PMD battery life.
20 cl, 5 dwg
