Patent ID: 8644280

Claim:
A signaling adaptation method for converting high rate packet data (HRPD) messages and HRPD data on to a generic container that can be transported over a non-HRPD access, comprising: providing a HRPD protocol including a Signal Adaptation Protocol (SAP) including an open state, set up state and a default closed state; requesting an alternate HRPD signaling link over a non-HRPD access to be opened; activating the alternate HRPD signaling link upon entering the open state; adapting the HRPD signaling messages and HRPD Radio Link Protocol (RLP) data on to a non-HRPD access; exchanging HRPD signaling messages and HRPD data between an access terminal and an HRPD access network via the alternate HRPD signaling link, free of establishing an HRPD traffic channel; and identifying the HRPD access network and the access terminal over non-HRPD access by inserting a header comprising sector identification and access terminal identification, wherein the alternate link is a data tunnel and the non-HRPD access is defined as at least one of a non-HRPD air interface, a non-HRPD access network and a non-HRPD core network.