Patent ID: 7738488

Claim:
A method for providing Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) gateway visitor location register (VLR) functionality for at least one access point in a Wi-Fi network, the method comprising: (a) providing a Wi-Fi gateway VLR for performing VLR functions for at least one access point in a Wi-Fi network, wherein performing VLR functions includes: (i) receiving a registration request from a subscriber located in a service area of an access point in the Wi-Fi network; (ii) authenticating the subscriber with a home location register (HLR) associated with the cellular network; (iii) receiving information associated with the subscriber from the HLR; (iv) storing the information associated with the subscriber in the Wi-Fi gateway VLR; and (v) maintaining, in the Wi-Fi gateway VLR, Wi-Fi reachability information for sending media packets to the subscriber in the Wi-Fi network; wherein maintaining Wi-Fi reachability information includes maintaining information regarding a Wi-Fi access point that is serving the subscriber, wherein maintaining information regarding a Wi-Fi access point that is serving the subscriber includes updating the reachability information when the subscriber moves from a first Wi-Fi access point to a second Wi-Fi access point served by the Wi-Fi gateway VLR.