Access terminal session authentication

1. A method comprising:

a radio access network, authenticating the identity of an access terminal using a first session identifier and a first identifier, different from the first session identifier, wherein the first session identifier and the first identifier are provided by the access terminal and the first identifier is unique to the access terminal, and the first session identifier is for comparing to at least another session identifier, wherein the radio access network is configured to provide a session configuration identifier to the access terminal for re-establishing a terminated access terminal session between the access terminal and the radio access network, wherein the configuration identifier includes a random number and a predefined number, and represents parameter settings negotiated between the radio access network and the access terminal and one or more selected protocols.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the authentication is determined by a first radio node controller included in the radio access network.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first identifier represents an access terminal identifier for transferring an access terminal session from a second radio node controller to the first radio node controller.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the transferring includes an A13 dormant handoff.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first identifier includes a unicast access terminal identifier.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving a second session identifier and a second identifier from a second radio node controller.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

determining if the first session identifier matches the second session identifier and if the first identifier matches the second identifier.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

transferring an access terminal session from the second radio node controller to the first radio node controller, if a match is detected.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

re-establishing an access terminal session with the first radio node controller, if a match is detected.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

sending a confirmation message to the second radio node controller to transfer an access terminal session to first radio node controller and to initiate termination of the access terminal session at the second radio node controller, if a match is detected.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first identifier includes a thirty-two bit number.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first identifier includes a fifty-six bit number.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first identifier includes a thirty-two bit number unique to the access terminal.

14. A system comprising:

a radio access network to authenticate the identity of an access terminal using a first session identifier and a first identifier, different from the first session identifier, wherein the first session identifier and the first identifier are provided by the access terminal and the first identifier is unique to the access terminal, and the first session identifier is for comparing to at least another session identifier, wherein the radio access network is configured to provide a session configuration identifier to the access terminal for re-establishing a terminated access terminal session between the access terminal and the radio access network, wherein the configuration identifier includes a random number and a predefined number, and represents parameter settings negotiated between the radio access network and the access terminal and one or more selected protocols.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the radio access network includes a first radio node controller to authenticate the access terminal.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first identifier represents an access terminal identifier for transferring an access terminal session from a second radio node controller to the first radio node controller.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the transferring includes an A13 dormant handoff.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the first identifier includes a unicast access terminal identifier.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the first radio node controller is capable of receiving a second session identifier and a second identifier from a second radio node controller.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the first radio node controller is capable of determining if the first session identifier matches the second session identifier and if the first identifier matches the second identifier.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the second radio node controller transfers an access terminal session to the first radio node controller, if a match is detected.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the first radio node controller re-establishes an access terminal session with the access terminal, if a match is detected.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the first radio node controller is capable of sending a confirmation message to the second radio node controller to initiate transfer of the access terminal session to the first radio node controller and to initiate termination of the access terminal session at the second radio node controller, if a match is detected.

24. The system of claim 14 wherein the first identifier includes a thirty-two bit number.

25. The system of claim 14 wherein the first identifier includes a thirty-two bit number unique to the access terminal.

26. The system of claim 14 wherein the first identifier includes a fifty-six number.

27. A storage device bearing instructions to cause a machine to:

at a radio access network, authenticate the identity of an access terminal using a first session identifier and a first identifier, different from the first session identifier, wherein the first session identifier and the first identifier are provided by the access terminal and the first identifier is unique to the access terminal, and the first session identifier is for comparing to at least another session identifier, wherein the radio access network is configured to provide a session configuration identifier to the access terminal for re-establishing a terminated access terminal session between the access terminal and the radio access network, wherein the configuration identifier includes a random number and a predefined number, and represents parameter settings negotiated between the radio access network and the access terminal and one or more selected protocols.

28. The storage device of claim 27 wherein the authentication is determined by a first radio node controller included in the radio access network.

29. The storage device of claim 28 wherein the first identifier represents an access terminal identifier for transferring an access terminal session from a second radio node controller to the first node controller.

30. The storage device of claim 29 wherein the transferring includes an A13 dormant handoff.

31. The storage device of claim 27 wherein the first identifier includes a unicast access terminal identifier.

32. The storage device of claim 28 further comprising instructions to cause the machine to:

receive a second session identifier and a second identifier from the second radio node controller.

33. The storage device of claim 32 further comprising instructions to cause the machine to:

determine if the first session identifier matches the second session identifier and if the first identifier matches the second identifier.

34. The storage device of claim 33 further comprising instructions to cause the machine to:

transfer an access terminal session from the second radio node controller to the first radio node controller, if a match is detected.

35. The storage device of claim 33 further comprising instructions to cause the machine to:

re-establish an access terminal session with the first radio node controller, if a match is detected.

36. The storage device of claim 33 further comprising instructions to cause the machine to:

send a confirmation message to the second radio node controller to initiate transfer of an access terminal session to the first radio node controller and to initiate termination of the access terminal session at the second radio node controller, if a match is detected.

37. The storage device of claim 27 wherein the first identifier includes a thirty-two bit number.

38. The storage device of claim 27 wherein the first identifier includes a fifty-six bit number.

39. The storage device of claim 27 wherein the first identifier includes a thirty-two bit number unique to the access terminal.