Patent ID: 8891450

Claim:
A method comprising: allocating an Internet Protocol (IP) address to a wireless device with a service provider network for accessing services by a cellular access network of the service provider network, wherein the service provider network includes a mobile virtual private network (VPN) that defines routes that are distinct and separate from a default routing space of the service provider network; determining, by a control unit of a downstream router, a route programming time for programming a forwarding component of the downstream router with a new route; when the wireless device attaches to a wireless alternate access network other than the cellular access network, dynamically extending the mobile VPN from the service provider network toward the alternate access network by atomically installing a host route for the IP address into a VPN routing and forwarding (VRF) instance associated with the mobile VPN within a downstream router and within an upstream router to enable the wireless device to exchange network traffic via the alternate access network with the service provider network using the IP address allocated by the service provider network, wherein atomically installing the host route comprises sending, from the downstream router to the upstream router and prior to the downstream router completing programming of the host route to the forwarding component of the downstream router, a host route advertisement that includes the host route for the IP address and also includes timing information to delay the upstream router from installing the host route based on the route programming time for programming the forwarding component of the downstream router, and wherein, subsequent to atomically installing the host route, network traffic destined for the wireless device proceeds from the upstream router toward the downstream router.