The 3GPP2 standard defines two types of handoff between the E-UTRAN and eHRPD network: Non-Optimized Handoff and Optimized Handoff.
Non-optimized handoff involves the movement of the UE from E-UTRAN to
eHRPD or vice-versa without the use of tunneled signaling (i.e., S101 signaling) between the source access network and the target access network. The UE leaves the radio environment of the source access network and performs a radio-level attachment to the target access network (e.g., creates an eHRPD session for the case of the UE moving from E-UTRAN to eHRPD), and then performs a handover attach procedure to the Packet Data Network(s) it had been communicating with over the source access network. Optimized handoff involves the movement of the UE from E-UTRAN to eHRPD or vice-versa using tunneled signaling (i.e., S101 signaling) between the source access network and the target access network. While still on the source access network, the UE tunnels signaling to the target access network to pre-register through the source access network, i.e., to create both a radio and an IP context on the target system. After pre-registration, the UE performs a radiolevel handoff/handover to the target technology per specified procedures.