Importance

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Abstract

A radio communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for providing packet data communications to a communication unit (e.g., 120). The communication system includes a system controller (102), a packet data router (101), and multiple base sites (103-109). Each base site serves a respective service coverage area (133-139) and the service coverage areas a grouped into multiple location areas (150-151). The packet data router receives a data packet intended for the communication unit and processes a transport protocol layer of the packet. The packet data router then determines whether the communication unit is presently involved in a packet data communication session based at least on information contained in the transport protocol layer of the packet. When the communication unit is presently involved in such a communication session, the packet data router provides the first data packet directly to the communication unit via a base site (104) serving a service coverage area (134) containing the communication unit. However, when the communication unit is not presently involved in such a communication session, the packet data router instructs the system controller to page the communication unit from the base sites (103-106) serving a location area (150) containing the communication unit.

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