Registration of a WLAN as a UMTS routing area for WLAN-UMTS interworking

1. A method for registering a wireless local area network as a wireless network routing area, comprising the steps of:

determining a location of a service request from a user within a wireless network, which comprises a packet-based support node;

determining whether the location is in or near a wireless local area network access point;

if at or near the wireless local area network access point, maintaining packet data protocol context while servicing the service request using the wireless local area network such that interworking between the wireless local area network and the wireless network is provided.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of maintaining packet data protocol context while servicing the service request using the wireless local area network includes restricting radio signaling between a user and the wireless network while using the wireless local area network.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of setting a periodic routing area update timer value while the user is in the wireless local area network to reduce signaling while a user is in the wireless local area network.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of establishing packet switched signaling connection through the packet data protocol context when exiting the wireless local area network.

5. The method us recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of controlling loading of wireless cells by shifting user traffic service to wireless local area networks.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the interworking between the wireless network and the wireless local area network is provided by:

uniquely identifying the wireless local area network as the wireless network routing area of the wireless network; and

once identified, setting a routing area update timer to reduce a number of routing area updates to the wireless network.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of maintaining the PDP context includes maintaining the packet data protocol context to reduce handoff delay when re-entering the wireless network.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of enabling wireless service providers to control the loading of cells by shifting users to wireless local area networks by changing routing area identifiers of the users to that of a wireless local area network coverage area.

9. A system for employing a wireless local area network as a wireless network routing area, comprising:

a wireless network, which is capable of determining a location where a service request is made;

the wireless network comprising a packet-based support node, which determines if the request can be serviced through a wireless local area network;

means for maintaining packet data protocol context while servicing the request using the wireless local area network to provide smooth handoff between the wireless local area network and the wireless network.

10. The system as recited iii claim 9 , wherein the means of maintaining packet data protocol context includes a preservation function provided in a mobile station.

11. The system as recited in claim 9 , further comprising a unique routing area identifier, which identifies the wireless local area network in the wireless network.

12. The system as recited in claim 9 , further comprising a wireless local area network coverage area to reduce signaling while a user is in the wireless local area network coverage area.

13. The system as recited in claim 9 , further comprising an interworking function for establishing and maintaining user services between the wireless local area network and the wireless network.

14. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the wireless network includes a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System.

15. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the means for maintaining packet data protocol context further comprises a radio access bearer setup procedure for establishing interworking between the wireless network and the wireless local area network.

16. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the cellular network learns if a user is in a wireless local area network coverage area via a routing area identifier update message.