Patent ID: 8472405

Claim:
A method for use in handover signaling in a communications network, wherein a user equipment (UE) is being handed over from a Packet-Switched network to a Circuit-Switched network, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving at a Generic Access Network Controller (GANC), a registration message from the UE in which the UE provides a temporary UE identity (GUTI) to the GANC; (b) utilizing the GUTI by the GANC to identify a Mobility Management Entity (MME) controlling a connection with the UE; (c) informing the MME by the GANC whether the UE is registered to use Circuit Switched over Long Term Evolution (CS over LTE) signaling using a Generic Access Network (GAN); (d) when the UE is registered to use CS over LTE using the GAN, selectively directing from the MME to the GANC, handover signaling relating to the handover of the UE; (e) when the UE is not registered to use CS over LTE using the GAN, selectively directing from the MME to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), the handover signaling relating to the handover of the UE; and (f) if the UE changes to a new MME, informing the new MME whether the UE is registered to use CS over LTE using the GAN.