Abstract: A first session is established for a first mobile access terminal on a first radio network controller via a first radio node. A first traffic channel is established between the first mobile access terminal and the first radio network controller. A first plurality of packets are sent and received over the first traffic channel. The first plurality of packets travel between a first radio node and the first radio network controller without passing through a second radio network controller. The first traffic channel is maintained as the first access terminal moves from a coverage area of the first radio node to a coverage area of a second radio node. A second plurality of packets travel between the second radio node and the first radio network controller without passing through another radio network controller.

Abstract: In connection with a mobile wireless subnetwork having multiple radio network controllers and multiple radio nodes, a session established for an access terminal is associated with a serving radio network controller. The association is maintained as the access terminal moves from the coverage area of one radio node to the coverage area of another radio node within the same subnetwork. Access channel packets are routed from an access terminal having an existing session to the serving radio network controller by determining the IP address of the serving radio network controller using a session identifier.