Patent ID: 6934272

Claim:
A packet radio communication system having a mobile node selectably for communicating data pursuant to a packet communication service when positioned within a network coverage area of the communication system, the network coverage area formed of a first packet zone and at least a second packet zone, an improvement of apparatus for selectably facilitating initiation of registration of the mobile node at a selected one of the first packet zone and the at least the second packet zone, said apparatus comprising: a packet zone list maintenance timer embodied at the mobile node and exhibiting at least a first selected timer value, the first selected timer value comprising a fixed value, said packet zone list maintenance timer for timing a selected time period corresponding to the at least the first selected timer value commencing with occurrence of a packet-zone related event; and an identifier operable at least responsive to timing-out of the selected time period by said packet zone list maintenance timer, said identifier for identifying a packet-zone indicia when said packet zone list maintenance timer times out.