Patent ID: 7848336
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for anchoring a communication session, comprising: intercepting at a signaling node a routing information request prior to setting up a communication session for a mobile node, the routing information request sent by a switching center of a first network subsequent to the switching center receiving an initial address message originating the communication session, the first network comprising a circuit-switched network, the routing information request requesting routing information for the communication session; retrieving subscription information associated with the mobile node from a subscriber database in a second network, the second network comprising a packet data network, the subscription information indicating whether the mobile node has access to a service of the packet-switched network; establishing whether the mobile node is eligible to be anchored in a packet-switched network in accordance with the subscription information of the mobile node; establishing whether the mobile node is within a coverage zone of an access node of the packet-switched network, the mobile node being within the coverage zone if the probability of the access node providing access to the mobile node during the communication session exceeds a percentage; and initiating anchoring of the communication session only in the packet-switched network if the mobile node is eligible to be anchored in the packet-switched network and is within the coverage zone, the anchoring initiated prior to setting up the communication session and independent of a handover procedure, the initiating comprising instructing the switching center to forward the initial address message to the packet-switched network.