Patent ID: 8509188

Claim:
A method of operating a communication system comprising: in a core network interface, receiving first user data from a core network for delivery to a wireless communication device and transferring the first user data to a first access network that wirelessly transfers the first user data to the wireless communication device; in a second access network, wirelessly receiving a service request from the wireless communication device, and in response, transferring a buffer initiation signal to the core network interface for the wireless communication device, establishing a wireless service link to the wireless communication device, and transferring a packet connection request to the core network interface for the wireless communication device; in the core network interface: a) receiving second user data for delivery to the wireless communication device and transferring the second user data to the first access network, b) buffering the second user data in response to the buffer initiation signal, c) establishing a packet connection to the wireless communication device in response to the packet connection request, and d) transferring the buffered second user data to the second access network over the packet connection; in the second access network, wirelessly transferring the second user data to the wireless communication device over the wireless service link and packet connection; and wherein transferring the buffer initiation signal comprises transferring an A11 initial packet connection request with a lifetime of zero as a dummy request.