Patent ID: 8073446

Claim:
A radio communication system that enables communication between a mobile communication network and a wireless local area network, comprising: a terminal configured to communicate with the mobile communication network and the wireless local area network; a base station configured to wirelessly communicate with the terminal through the mobile communication network; a radio network controller configured to connect to one or a plurality of the base stations and control wireless connection of the terminal; a WLAN access network configured to wirelessly connect to the terminal through the wireless local area network; a wireless access gateway configured to connect to the radio network controller and one or a plurality of the WLAN access networks and control connection of a WLAN access network; and a packet data gateway configured to connect to the wireless access gateway and relay data from the wireless access gateway to a public packet-switched network, wherein the radio network controller selects one of the WLAN access networks which the radio network controller predicts the terminal is likely to move to and connect to based on positional information of the terminal, and outputs an authentication process request signal and a connection setup process request signal to the wireless access gateway that controls the selected WLAN access network, the wireless access gateway performs an authentication process for determining whether the terminal is permitted to use the selected WLAN access network and, if permitted, performs a process for setting up connection within the wireless local area network and outputs to the radio network controller a context required for the terminal to communicate on the wireless local area network, the process for setting up connection being required for the terminal to use the WLAN access network and being completed before the terminal enters a coverage area of and establishes a connection with the WLAN access network; and the radio network controller outputs the context to the terminal.