Patent ID: 7295511

Claim:
A method for packet data serving node selection in a mobile Internet Protocol network, the method comprising: providing an access node comprising a plurality of packet data serving nodes and at least one system manager, the system manager having a load information database including a plurality of load records of the plurality of packet data serving nodes on the access node; receiving from a radio node at a first packet data serving node of the plurality of packet data serving nodes a registration request to establish a communication session between the first packet data serving node and a mobile node; determining that the first packet data serving node is unable to provide communication services to the mobile node; sending a packet data serving node selection request from the first packet data serving node to a system manager on the access node; determining at the system manager an address of a second packet data serving node based at least in part on the plurality of load records, the system manager further including a plurality of selection rules, and the system manager using at least one of the plurality of selection rules to determine the second packet data serving node; generating a packet data serving node selection reply message at the system manager, wherein the packet data serving node selection reply message comprises the address of the second packet data serving node; receiving the packet data serving node selection reply message at the first packet data serving node; sending a registration reply message from the first packet data serving node to the radio node, wherein the registration reply message comprises a registration rejection and the address of the second packet data serving node; and establishing a communication session between the mobile node and the second packet data serving node.