Patent ID: 6385179
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
In a communication system having packet and circuit switched networks providing connection between at least a first and a second end users, a method comprising the steps of:establishing a call connection between said first user and a radio access network, wherein said radio access network is connected to said packet and circuit switched networks through a first packet switched and a first circuit switched connections respectively; establishing a control channel, associated with call control of said call connection, between said radio access network and said packet switched network through said first packet switched connection; selecting one of said packet and circuit switched networks for establishing a traffic channel associated with said call connection, wherein said selecting is based on a criteria comprising at least one of a first user service request type, a quality of service, a location of said second user connection, a time of day when said call connection is being established, a date of week when said call connection is being established, a first user subscription preference in said communication system, and a load balancing scheme implemented for managing traffic flows in said communication system; establishing said traffic channel; routing said traffic channel through said selected network; and when said selected network is said circuit switched network, routing said control channel from said packet switched network to said circuit switched network via a network gateway dedicated for interface between said circuit and packet switched networks.