Patent ID: 6961774
Filing Date: 2005-11-01
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A system for performing a hand-off between two internet protocol (IP) core networks in a wireless domain, comprising: a source mobility control function (MCF) within a source IP core network, the source IP core network coupled to a source access network providing service to a mobile unit; the source MCF coupled to a source bearer path gateway (BPGW), the source BPGW being within the source IP core network and operable to communicate bearer traffic associated with the mobile unit between the source access network and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) gateway within the source IP core network, the PSTN gateway operable to communicate the bearer traffic between the source BPGW and a PSTN coupled to the source IP core network; the source MCF being functionally separate from a call agent (CA) within the source IP core network, the CA coupled to the source BPGW and operable to set up a first segment of a bearer path for the bearer traffic between the source BPGW and the PSTN gateway; the source MCF operable to set up a second segment of the bearer path for the bearer traffic between the source access network and the source BPGW; the source MCF further operable to take down the second segment and set up third and fourth segments of the bearer path for the bearer traffic in response to the mobile unit entering a service area of a target access network coupled to a target IP core network, the third segment being between the source BPGW and a target BPGW within the target IP core network, the fourth segment being between the target access network and the target BPGW, the target BPGW operable to communicate the bearer traffic between the target access network and the source BPGW, resulting in a hand-off between the source IP core network and the target IP core network in the wireless domain.