Patent ID: 8400931

Claim:
A method of initiating a circuit-switched service at a mobile station over a System Architecture Evolution (SAE) core network using packet-switched communications between the mobile station and the SAE core network, the method comprising: communicating service handling information between a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) and the mobile station through a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the SAE core network; sending instructions from the MSC for setting up the circuit-switched service through a Media Gateway, coupled to at least one network external to the SAE core network; providing packet-switched addressing information for the Media Gateway to the mobile station; initiating the circuit-switched service at the mobile station over the SAE core network and through the Media Gateway, wherein communicating the service handling information includes communicating an encapsulated connection setup message between the MSC and the MME over an SGs interface that provides for setup, using the SGs interface, of a voice connection over the SAE core network; and communicating from the MSC to a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) of the SAE core network, an instruction to ensure communication at a guaranteed bit rate between the mobile station and the Media Gateway.