Supporting mobile hosts on an internet protocol network
First Claim
1. A method of supporting a mobile host on an information network configured for multicast routing, comprising:
- defining a subnet (U1) of the network that includes one or more mobile hosts and a first interface of a home router in the network, and identifying the first interface and the mobile hosts with corresponding unicast network addresses (U1.x);
identifying a second interface of the home router with a corresponding unicast network address (U2.x);
assigning the first interface of the home router and the mobile hosts corresponding group addresses (Mx) according to a defined relation with respect to said unicast network addresses;
mapping, at the second interface of the home router, unicast addresses of packets received at the second interface and destined to members of the subnet (U1), to the group addresses (Mx) assigned to the members of the subnet;
linking the mobile hosts with the network at corresponding points of attachment; and
sending a request from a given mobile host to join a group corresponding to a group address assigned to the given mobile host each time the mobile host links with the network at a new point of attachment, thereby enabling routers in the network to track the mobile host as it moves its link with the network from one point of attachment to another, and to route unicast packets originating from a host outside the subnet and destined to a given mobile host, by way of a virtual link defined between the home router and the given mobile host.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A subnet of an information network includes one or more mobile hosts, and a first interface of a home router. The first interface and the mobile hosts are assigned corresponding group addresses. Unicast addresses of packets received at a second interface of the home router and destined to members of the subnet, are mapped to the member'"'"'s group addresses. Each mobile host sends a request to join a group corresponding to the group address assigned to the host, whenever the host links with the network at a new point of attachment. Thus, network routers can track the host as it moves its link with the network from one point of attachment to another, and unicast packets destined to the mobile host from a host outside the subnet are routed to the mobile host over the virtual link created between the home router and the mobile host.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of supporting a mobile host on an information network configured for multicast routing, comprising:
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defining a subnet (U1) of the network that includes one or more mobile hosts and a first interface of a home router in the network, and identifying the first interface and the mobile hosts with corresponding unicast network addresses (U1.x);
identifying a second interface of the home router with a corresponding unicast network address (U2.x);
assigning the first interface of the home router and the mobile hosts corresponding group addresses (Mx) according to a defined relation with respect to said unicast network addresses;
mapping, at the second interface of the home router, unicast addresses of packets received at the second interface and destined to members of the subnet (U1), to the group addresses (Mx) assigned to the members of the subnet;
linking the mobile hosts with the network at corresponding points of attachment; and
sending a request from a given mobile host to join a group corresponding to a group address assigned to the given mobile host each time the mobile host links with the network at a new point of attachment, thereby enabling routers in the network to track the mobile host as it moves its link with the network from one point of attachment to another, and to route unicast packets originating from a host outside the subnet and destined to a given mobile host, by way of a virtual link defined between the home router and the given mobile host. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 12)
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- 4. The method of claim 4, including assigning the mobile hosts unique local addresses (Lx) corresponding to the current points of attachment of the mobile hosts with the information network.
Specification