Enhancement of packet transfer mode when circuit switched resources are requested

An apparatus for transitioning in a wireless communication system to a dual mode wherein a packet switched connection and circuit switched connection are used together, from a single mode wherein packets are transferred, comprising:

• a transceiver configured to use a packet associated control channel that conveys a radio link control or multiple access control message;
• and
• a processing unit configured to receive a dual transfer mode assignment message via the transceiver as a result of the radio link or multiple access control message,
• wherein the apparatus is configured to maintain the packet switched connection while the radio link or multiple access control message is conveyed and the dual transfer mode assignment message is received.

An apparatus for transitioning in a wireless communication system to a dual mode wherein a packet switched connection and circuit switched connection are used together, from a single mode wherein packets are transferred comprising:

• means for using a packet associated control channel that conveys a radio link control or multiple access control message;
• and
• means for receiving a dual transfer mode assignment message via the means for using the packet associate channel as a result of the radio link or multiple access control message,
• wherein the apparatus is also for maintaining packet switched connection while the radio link or multiple access control message is conveyed and the dual transfer mode assignment message is received.

A computer readable medium encoded with a software data structure sufficient to cause a processor to perform a method comprising:

• using a packet associated control channel to convey a radio link control or multiple access control message, while in a packet-transfer mode,
• maintaining packet switched resources in the packet-transfer mode, and
• receiving a dual transfer mode assignment message as a result of using the packet associated channel to convey the radio link control or multiple access control message,
• wherein in the dual transfer mode a packet switched connection and circuit switched connection may be used together.