Patent ID: 7596121

Claim:
A method for managing communications at a multi-mode mobile communication device having a protocol stack stored at a memory sub-system thereof, and the multi-mode mobile communication device also having a communication sub-system operable to communicate with a plurality of core-network connected wireless access networks, said method comprising the operations of: interfacing a non-access stratum of the protocol stack with a first access stratum and a second access stratum; activating the first access stratum to establish a communication link between the non-access stratum and a core network over a first core-network-connected wireless access network of the plurality of wireless access networks; transferring control of the communication link, established during said operation of activating the first access stratum to establish the communication link, from the first access stratum to the second access stratum; maintaining the communication link between the non-access stratum and the core network while transferring, during said operation of transferring the control of the communication link to the second access stratum.