Patent ID: 9253629
Filing Date: 2016-02-02
CPC Classification: H04W

Claim Text:
1. A method of handling mobile station identifiers, comprising: programming at least one network element that used entire mobile station identifiers in performing packet data session handling functions between a control element on a first network and a control element on a second network to use less than the entire mobile station identifiers in communication between the control element on the first network and the control element on the second network, the second network being different from the first network; comparing, at the at least one network element, a partial portion of a mobile station identifier associated with the control element on the first network with a partial portion of a mobile station identifier associated with the control element on the second network; and performing, at the at least one network element, the packet data session handling functions based on the comparing such that the at least one network element transfers a current data session of a mobile station established with the control element on the first network to the control element on the second network without performing a new signaling operation if the partial portion of the mobile station identifier associated with the control element on the first network matches the partial portion of the mobile station identifier associated with the control element on the second network, wherein the programming programs a packet data service node or a packet control function unit, and wherein the packet data session handling functions include at least one of handoff, dormant closure, and border cell call delivery.