Patent ID: 8447349

Claim:
A method performed by a multi-mode mobile station for an inter-technology handoff of a communication session from a first network associated with a first radio frequency (RF) technology to a second network associated with a second RF technology, the method comprising: exchanging bearer data with the first network via the first RF technology; detecting an availability of the second network associated with the second RF technology in response to receiving a system overhead message via the second RF technology; intercepting and encapsulating signaling of the second RF technology; tunneling the encapsulated signaling to the second network via the first RF technology and first network; establishing a registration state in the second network via the tunnel, without directing bearer data to the second RF technology, without creating a binding at a Home Agent of a home address of the mobile station, and while continuing to exchange bearer data with the first network via the first RF technology; subsequently determining whether to hand off service from the first network associated with the first RF technology to the second network associated with the second RF technology; and in response to determining to hand off service from the first network to the second network, and subsequent to establishing the registration state in the second network, handing off to the second network associated with the second RF technology and ceasing tunneling the encapsulated signaling to the second network via the first RF technology.