Patent ID: 8140073

Claim:
A method for providing wireless communication in a communication network that includes a first access device and a second access device that are both configured to provide wireless connectivity, the method comprising: detecting the second access device by a mobile device, the mobile device being wirelessly connected to the first access device using a first connection, the mobile device being connected to the communication network using a first address, the first address being associated with the first access device, the first connection being associated with a first priority level; determining whether to connect to the second access device based on a first condition; obtaining a second connection between the second access device and the mobile device; providing a second address, the second address being associated with the mobile device and the second access device; sending a registration message to a home agent, the registration message including at least the first address, the second address, and information associated with the first connection and the second connection; Once the second connection is obtained assigning a second priority level to the second connection, the second priority level being higher than the first priority level; setting a lifetime associated with the first connection; and routing packet data for the mobile device by the home agent to the second access device based on the second priority being higher than the first priority.