Abstract:
A method of supporting mobility in an Internet Protocol (IP)-based data network. The method comprises the steps of generating a first stateful IP autoconfiguration message at a mobile node, whereby the message includes an address capable of use for routing maintenance. The mobile node transmits the generated message to a first access node, which incorporates its address and forwards the message to a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) Server. The DHCP Server and access node analyze the message to determine a route to deliver data to and/or from the mobile node. One or more route update message are triggered from said access node and said DHCP server to a number of network elements between said access node and said DHCP server in the IP based data network to support mobility in an IP domain with minimum bandwidth use and minimum tunneling required.
Abstract:
A mobile communication network comprises a home agent supporting mobility of a mobile entity by generating bindings between a home address of the mobile entity and a care of address of the mobile entity. A mapping processor provides at least one set of mappings between a potential future care of address for a mobile entity and a real time characteristic criterion. The mappings may for example be determined in response to previous movements of the mobile entity in the communication network. A processor determines a real time characteristic and the home agent is arranged to change a binding between the home address and a current care of address in response to the at least one set of mappings and the real time characteristic, and without receiving binding updates from the mobile entity. The approach may allow support for mobility of a mobile entity while reducing signalling in support of mobility.
Abstract:
A method of validated communication The present invention provides a method of validated communication between a mobile network node (MNN) and a correspondent node (CN) via at least a first mobile router (MR). The method is characterized by employing an extended return routability checking procedure (XRRP) wherein an MNN test initiation (MNNTI) message is sent by the MR, and a MNN test (MNNT) message is sent by the CN. This adds to the security of requiring the home and care-of addresses being consistent as noted previously in standard RRPs, by enabling the generation of binding update validation keys based on receipt on any or all of the three HoT, CoT and MNNT test messages. The method is further characterized by sending from the MR an extended binding update (XBU), comprising the MNN's address (MNNA). By extending the binding update to include the MNNA in this manner, validated CN/MNN route optimization can be achieved.
Abstract:
A mobile communication network comprises a home agent supporting mobility of a mobile entity by generating bindings between a home address of the mobile entity and a care of address of the mobile entity. A mapping processor provides at least one set of mappings between a potential future care of address for a mobile entity and a real time characteristic criterion. The mappings may for example be determined in response to previous movements of the mobile entity in the communication network. A processor determines a real time characteristic and the home agent is arranged to change a binding between the home address and a current care of address in response to the at least one set of mappings and the real time characteristic, and without receiving binding updates from the mobile entity. The approach may allow support for mobility of a mobile entity while reducing signalling in support of mobility.
Abstract:
A method of transmitting a data packet on a communication path from a first communication node (CN1, CN2) to a second communication node (LFN1, LFN2) in a mobile network (115). The method includes receiving a route message (1010, 1020) from the second communication node, wherein the route message includes a list of intermediary addresses ({MR1-COA}, {MR1-COA, MR2-COA}) between the first communication node and the second communication node. A preferred communication path is generated in response to the list of intermediary addresses; and at least one data packet is transmitted from the first communication node to the second communication node via this preferred communication path. In this matter, an optimized data path is determined in order to send at least one data packet to an intended recipient (LFN1, LFN2), for example in a nested mobile network scenario.
Abstract:
A method of transmitting at least one data packet from a communication node in a data communication network. The method includes receiving (920) a request at a communication node, to transmit at least one data packet to a first destination address and searching (930) for the (first) destination address in a cache of the communication node. A determination (960) of an intermediary address of the destination address is made. The destination address is then replaced with the intermediary address and the steps of searching, determining and replacing are repeated, until no new intermediary address is found. The at least one data packet is then transmit (970) to the destination address via the identified intermediary address(es). A communication unit (corresponding node) communication message and method for building a linked binding cache are also described. In this manner, an optimised data path is determined in order to send at least one data packet to an intended recipient, for example in a nested mobile network scenario.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method and apparatus for building a linked binding cache. The method includes storing mobile router entries in a binding cache. The mobile router entries include a first mobile router entry having a prefix and an indication of the prefix's length along with an associated intermediate address. The method also includes linking a second mobile router entry to the first mobile router entry for delivering at least one data packet via the first mobile router. The method further includes adding a pointer in the binding cache from the entry of the second mobile router to the first mobile router entry when the intermediate address of the second mobile router matches the first mobile router's prefix in order to create a linked binding cache.
Abstract:
A method (200, 300, 400) of communicating an IPv6 packet (120) over an IPv4 based network (102). The method can include receiving the IPv6 packet to be communicated to a remote unit (104), encapsulating the IPv6 packet in an IPv4 transition packet (122), and communicating the IPv4 transition packet to an IPv4 MVPN (114) server configured to communicate the packet to the remote unit via infrastructure of an IPv4 radio access network. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of processing an IPv6 packet received over an IPv4 based network. The method can include receiving from an MVPN server an IPv4 formatted packet that is being communicated to a remote unit, and removing from the packet at least one IPv4 header to result in the packet being formatted in accordance with IPv6.
Abstract:
A method for enabling autonomous mode routing between mobile entities in a plurality of nested mobile networks includes the steps of: announcing (305) a root mobile entity address; in response to the announcing, receiving (310) a registration request comprising routing information from each mobile entity in at least a portion of a plurality of mobile entities comprising a plurality of nested mobile networks, wherein at least one of the registration requests is received while in an autonomous mode; and generating (315) a root mobile entity binding cache using the routing information from the registration requests, for enabling routing within the plurality of nested mobile networks.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for facilitating handoff for a mobile entity in a wireless communication network is provided (100). The method comprising obtaining a first internet protocol (IP) address for the mobile entity (105) when the mobile entity is attached to a first access node, identifying at least one target access node (110), the target access node being a potential access node for handoff for the mobile entity, sending a trigger message corresponding to the mobile entity to the identified target access node (115) and acquiring a second IP addresses for the mobile entity at the target access node (120). The invention also proposes a method for creating a tunnel for facilitating the handoff for a mobile entity from the first access node to the target access node (205, 210, 215, 220).