Patent ID: 7136641

Claim:
A method in a communication system for providing an access by a communication device to a first communication network through a second communication network, the communication device having a first identification and supporting a cellular core network signaling protocol of the first communication network, the method comprising: assigning a second identification to the communication device; enabling the communication device through the second communication network to access an alternative network controller, including enabling access to a default alternative network controller of a plurality of alternative network controllers, wherein each of the plurality of alternative network controllers is operably coupled to a corresponding communication network of a plurality of communication networks, and the default alternative network controller is operably coupled to the first communication network; establishing communication between the communication device and the first communication network through the alternative network controller; associating the first identification of the communication device with the second identification of the communication device; selecting a preferred alternative network controller from the plurality of alternative network controllers based upon a predetermined condition by the default alternative network controller; establishing communication between the communication device and a preferred communication network operably coupled to the preferred alternative network controller through the preferred alternative network controller; and providing services directed to the first identification of the communication device to the second identification of the communication device.