Patent ID: 8438627

Claim:
A system for establishing connectivity over a plurality of access network technologies, the system comprising: a client device configured to communicate over a network by utilizing a first access technology and by utilizing a second access technology; and a gateway in communication with said client device via said network, said gateway comprising: a first access technology termination node configured to communicate with said client device over said first access technology, wherein said first access technology termination node is further configured to terminate a first tunnel initiated by said client device into a common network residing internally in said gateway; a second access technology termination node configured to communicate with said client device over said second access technology, wherein said second access technology termination node is further configured to terminate a second tunnel initiated by said client device into said common network; and a registration manager configured to assign said client device an address on said common network for identifying said client device, wherein said registration manager is further configured to maintain, without an IP handoff, the address assigned to said client device when said client device switches from utilizing said first access technology to utilizing said second access technology, wherein said address uniquely identifies said client device on said network and is utilized to route data packets over said common network and via said second tunnel to said client device before, during and after a transition by said client device between use of said first access technology and said second access technology.