Patent ID: 9642177
Date: 2017-05-02
CPC Classifications: H04L,H04W

Claim:
1. A method, comprising: establishing a circuit-switched connection between a terminal and an access network node of a wireless access network, wherein the terminal is capable of only circuit-switched operation between the terminal and the wireless access network; receiving, at the access network node of the wireless access network and via the circuit-switched connection, a first initiation signal from the terminal, and in response to the first initiation signal, causing a first packet-switched connection for the terminal to be opened between the access network node and a core network node, wherein the first packet-switched connection is a signaling connection, wherein the first packet-switched connection is maintained as long as the terminal is attached to the wireless access network; causing transmission, from the access network node, of an activation request including an access point name and a packet data protocol (PDP) type in order to activate a PDP context and to cause a tunnel to the core network node to be created; while the first packet-switched connection is active, receiving, at the access network node, a second initiation signal comprising a request to establish a call to or from the terminal, and in response to the second initiation signal, causing a second packet-switched connection for the terminal to be opened between the access network node and the core network node, wherein the second packet-switched connection comprises a real-time connection carrying data to or from the terminal, and wherein the second packet-switched connection is maintained for a duration of the call; and relaying the data to or from the terminal via the circuit-switched connection.