Patent ID: 6937605

Claim:
Apparatus for a packet radio communication system having a first part operable pursuant to a first packet radio communication scheme having a first protocol and a second part operable pursuant to a second packet radio common scheme, the first part comprising a GPRS-based (General Packet Radio Service-based) network, the first protocol comprises a GPRS protocol, the second part comprising a cdma 2000-based network, and the second racket radio communication scheme comprising a cdma 2000-protocol that defines registration request messages and registration reply messages that each contain extension fields, said apparatus for facilitating communication of packet-formatted data with a mobile node operable pursuant to the second packet radio scheme while utilizing the first protocol, said apparatus comprising: a gateway coupled to both the first part and to the second part to receive messages generated selectably at the first part and selectably at the second part, said gateway selectably for initiating a GPRS attach procedure defined pursuant to the first protocol responsive to detection by said gateway of selected values contained in the extension field of the registration request message, the attach procedure, once completed, permitting routing of packet-formatted data formatted pursuant to the first protocol with the mobile station.