Patent ID: 8638749

Claim:
A method performed by an access terminal for preparing a handoff from a first network to a second network, comprising: establishing communication with a first network using a first access method; identifying a required change in communication service from the first network to a second network that utilizes a second access method dissimilar from the first access method; transmitting to the second network, via the first network, instructions to initiate a handoff operation; preparing resources at the second network by communicating, to an interworking unit over a Layer 3 (L3) tunnel using a dedicated internet protocol (IP) address for the interworking unit stored on the first network, signaling of the second access method for subsequent forwarding to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) according to signaling of the first access method, wherein the second access method is performed according to a an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) protocol; and second access method via the interworking unit to the MME at the second network; communicating signaling of the second access method via the interworking unit to the MME at the second network.