This standard specifies IEEE 802^reg media access-independent mechanisms that optimize handovers between heterogeneous IEEE 802 systems and between IEEE 802 systems and cellular systems.

This standard defines extensible IEEE 802® media access independent mechanisms that enable the optimization of handover between heterogeneous IEEE 802 networks and facilitates handover between IEEE 802 networks and cellular networks.

The purpose is to improve the user experience of mobile devices by facilitating handover between IEEE 802 networks whether or not they are of different media types, including both wired and wireless, where handover is not otherwise defined; and to make it possible for mobile devices to perform seamless handover where the network environment supports it. These mechanisms are also usable for handovers between IEEE 802 networks and non IEEE 802 networks.