Inter-technology handovers for wireless networks

A method, comprising:

• receiving an attach request at a gateway from a mobile device at a first functionality for communicating with a first wireless network using a first access technology;
• establishing a session controlled by the first functionality at the gateway that routes packet flows to and from the mobile device;
• performing a handover of the mobile device from the first functionality to a second functionality at the gateway, the second functionality for communicating with a second wireless network using a second access technology different from the first access technology;
• receiving a mobile subscriber identifier at the second functionality from an authentication server during the handover without the second functionality querying the first functionality;
• the second functionality locating the session at the gateway by using the mobile subscriber identifier;
• and
• transferring control of the session at the gateway from the first functionality to the second functionality.

A system, comprising:

• providing means for providing packet connectivity for a radio access network to external packet data networks for both a source radio access network operating on a first technology and a target radio access network operating on a second technology different from the first technology;
• a first means for handling packet sessions for mobile devices associated with the source radio access network at the providing means;
• a second means for handling packet sessions for mobile devices associated with the target radio access network at the providing means, the second means receiving a mobile subscriber identifier in response to a handoff of a mobile device from the source radio access network to the target radio access network;
• processing means for processing packet flows directed to the mobile device;
• and
• means for forwarding the mobile subscriber identifier from the target radio access network to the providing means;
• wherein the providing means assigns control of the processing means from the first means to the second means using the mobile subscriber identifier.