Patent ID: 7103662

Claim:
A telecommunications system for improved session management within a data cellular network, comprising: a gateway one of a plurality of access networks, each of the plurality of access networks being capable of being in wireless communication with a plurality of access terminals to provide data connectivity between a packet switched data network and the plurality of access terminals during respective data sessions associated with the plurality of access terminals, said gateway access network serving a first subnet of the plurality of access networks and further comprising: means for receiving a session information request message from a target one of the plurality of access networks within the first subnet, the session information request message being sent to complete a dormant handoff of an ongoing one of the data sessions to the target access network; means for determining a second subnet that contains a source one of the plurality of access networks associated with the ongoing data session; and means for routing session information associated with the ongoing data session from the source access network to the target access network; wherein the session information request message includes location data associated with the source access network, and wherein said means for determining further comprises: means for identifying an additional gateway access network within the second subnet based on the location data; and, wherein said means for identifying further comprises: means for associating subnet geographical areas and gateway access network identities; and means for mapping the location data to one of the subnet geographical areas.