Patent ID: 8498255

Claim:
A method for path switching between an evolved Node B (eNB) and a Mobile Management Entity (MME) comprising steps of: transmitting, by the eNB, a Path Switching Request message informing a User Equipment (UE) has changed cells, the Path Switching Request message comprising an eNB UE S1AP ID and a Tracking Area Identifier (TAI) to a Mobile Management Entity (MME); and receiving, by the eNB, a Path Switching Completed message comprising an MME UE S1AP ID and the eNB UE S1AP ID from the MME, wherein the MME UE S1AP ID uniquely identifies the UE association over an S1 interface within the MME, and wherein the eNB UE S1AP ID uniquely identifies the UE association over an S1 interface within the eNB.