System and method for handoffs between technologies

A network communication method comprising:

• receiving a request from a mobile node at a gateway to begin a session in a first access technology;
• in response to the request, providing the mobile node with identification information used to identify the mobile node in a communication network and setting up a first access technology stack to manage packet processing in the first access technology and a session instance with an assigned session manager selected from among a plurality of session managers which reside at the gateway to manage identification information and communication with the communication network, the session managers each configured for communicating with the first access technology or a second access technology;
• receiving from the mobile node control information and data at the first access technology stack;
• while the mobile node is communicating in a session with the first access technology, determining to begin a session with the mobile node in response to a handover to the second access technology;
• and
• at the gateway, providing the same identification information and selecting the same session instance with the same assigned session manager to manage identification information and communication with the communication network and setting up a second access technology stack to manage packet processing in the second access technology to enable communication with the mobile node;
• wherein the second access technology stack is to communicate with the assigned session manager to enable communication over the second access technology with the mobile node, the second access technology stack to implement an access service network gateway (ASNGW).

Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor performs operations comprising:

• receiving a request from a mobile node at a gateway to begin a session in a first access technology;
• in response to the request, providing the mobile node with identification information used to identify the mobile node in a communication network and setting up a first access technology stack to manage packet processing in the first access technology and a session instance with an assigned session manager selected from among a plurality of session managers which reside at the gateway to manage identification information and communication with the communication network, the session managers each configured for communicating with the first access technology or a second access technology;
• receiving from the mobile node control information and data at the first access technology stack;
• determining to begin a session with the mobile node in response to a handover to the second access technology;
• and
• at the gateway, providing the same identification information and selecting the same assigned session manager from among the plurality of session managers to manage identification information and communication with the communication network and setting up a second access technology stack to manage packet processing in the second access technology to enable communication with the mobile node;
• wherein the second access technology stack is to communicate with the assigned session manager to enable communication over the second access technology with the mobile node, the second access technology stack to implement an access service network gateway (ASNGW).