Patent ID: 7542447

Claim:
A pool of functional server nodes in a packet data network for controlling a number of radio network control nodes to which mobile terminals are connected, wherein each functional server node forms part of a packet data support node when combined with a media gateway, and wherein control responsibility for connections from a given mobile terminal is assigned to a current functional server node selected from the pool of functional server nodes, said pool of functional server nodes comprising: an interface enabling each functional server node to control any, or a number of, the radio network control nodes; means for initiating by the pool of functional server nodes, a transfer of the control responsibility for the given mobile terminal's connections from the current functional server node to a selected target functional server node in the pool; and means for transferring the control responsibility for the given mobile terminal's connections to the selected target functional server node without interrupting service to the given mobile terminal, said means for transferring comprising: means for generating and at least temporarily storing in the target functional server node, address information for a node where context information for the given mobile terminal is stored; means for sending a response including a pre-allocated TMSI/P-TMSI to the current functional server node; means for receiving in the current functional server node, a predetermined relevant action message from the given mobile terminal; means for sending a response message from the current functional server node to the mobile terminal with the pre-allocated TMSI/P-TMSI; means for sending from the given mobile terminal to the target functional server node, a new relevant action message; means for sending an information request from the target functional server node to the current functional server node; means for sending an information response from the current functional server node to the target functional server node; and means for sending a transfer acceptance from the target functional server node to the mobile terminal.