Cross-technology session continuity

A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:

• establishing a first communication session with a mobile station using a wireless network of a first type, the first communication session using a mobile internet protocol address, the first communication session associated with a first network access identifier, wherein the mobile station initiates an application session during the first communication session;
• receiving, by a wireless network of a second type, a request for network entry from the mobile station;
• sending a service continuity query to a service node to determine if the mobile station is subscribed to a session continuity service, wherein the service node stores an attribute that indicates that the mobile station is entitled to utilize the session continuity service between the wireless network of the first type and the wireless network of the second type;
• in the service node, responsive to the service continuity query, determining that the mobile station is subscribed to the session continuity service based on the attribute that indicates that the mobile station is entitled to utilize the session continuity service and transmitting a service continuity response comprising an indicator associated with the first network access identifier that indicates the mobile station is subscribed to the session continuity service;
• receiving from the service node the service continuity response comprising the indicator associated with the first network access identifier that indicates the mobile station is subscribed to the session continuity service, the service continuity response including the mobile internet protocol address;
• and
• in response to receiving the service continuity response comprising the indicator associated with the first network access identifier that indicates the mobile station is subscribed to the session continuity service, determining that the first network access identifier is associated with the first communication session active on the wireless network of the first type and establishing a second communication session with the mobile station using the wireless network of the second type, the second communication session using the mobile internet protocol address, the second communication session associated with a second network access identifier, wherein the application session continues uninterrupted on the second communication session.

A communication system comprising:

• a first wireless network of a first type configured to communicate with a wireless device using a mobile internet protocol address and a first network access identifier, the wireless device being associated with the first network access identifier by the first wireless network, wherein the wireless device initiates an application session using the first wireless network;
• a second wireless network of a second type configured to receive an access request from the wireless device and transmit a service continuity query to a service node with a second network access identifier to determine if the mobile station is subscribed to a session continuity service, wherein the service node stores an attribute that indicates that the wireless device is entitled to utilize the session continuity service between the first wireless network of the first type and the second wireless network of the second type, and wherein the service node is configured to, responsive to the service continuity query, determine that the wireless device is subscribed to the session continuity service based on the attribute that indicates that the wireless device is entitled to utilize the session continuity service, and transmit a service continuity response comprising an indicator that indicates the wireless device is subscribed to the session continuity service;
• and
• the second wireless network of the second type configured to receive from the service node the service continuity response comprising the indicator that indicates the wireless device is subscribed to the session continuity service, the service continuity response associating the first network access identifier, the second network access identifier and the mobile internet protocol address, and in response to the service continuity response comprising the indicator that indicates the wireless device is subscribed to the session continuity service, communicate with the wireless device using the second network access identifier and the mobile internet protocol address, wherein the application session continues uninterrupted on the second wireless network.