Patent ID: 8213394

Claim:
A method in a network entity, the method comprising: establishing, with a mobile station, a new connection, wherein said mobile station has an existing connection having an existing registration binding and an existing active session; receiving a request from said mobile station to move said existing registration binding from said existing connection to said new connection; moving said existing registration binding from said existing connection to said new connection in response to said request; determining that said existing connection is in an active state if any other registration binding remains associated with said existing connection and determining that said existing connection is in an inactive state if said existing registration binding was the only registration binding associated with said existing connection; determining whether any active sessions remain associated with said existing connection if said existing connection is in an inactive state; setting a timer for said existing connection if any active sessions remain; maintaining said existing connection in said inactive state for duration of said timer; and terminating said existing connection if no active sessions remain or if said timer expires.