Method and apparatus for effecting a seamless handoff between IP connections
First Claim
1. A method of effecting a seamless handoff from a first Internet Protocol (IP) connection to a second IP connection, the method comprising:
- communicating a packet data communication between a first station and a gateway using the first IP connection and a first IP address for said first station, said gateway relaying said packet data communication with a second station;
setting up the second IP connection with a second IP address for said first station, the first IP connection being a primary connection and the second IP connection being a secondary connection between said first station and said gateway, said first and said second IP connection existing concurrently;
determining that the second IP connection should be said primary connection between said first station and said gateway; and
changing the second IP connection to said primary connection by informing said gateway that the second IP address is the primary address using stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) messages, wherein said packet data communication is immediately switched over to the second IP connection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method 900 of and apparatus for effecting a handoff from a first Internet Protocol (IP) connection 221 to a second IP connection 331 is disclosed. The method includes: communicating a packet data communication between a first station and a gateway (either acting as an application level gateway or as and endpoint for an SCTP tunnel) using the first IP connection and a first IP address for the first station, the gateway relaying the packet data communication with a second station; setting up the second IP connection with a second IP address for the first station, the first IP connection being a primary connection and the second IP connection being a secondary connection between the first station and the gateway, the first and the second IP connection existing concurrently; determining that the second IP connection should be the primary connection between the first station and the gateway; and changing the second IP connection to the primary connection by informing the gateway that the second IP address is the primary address using stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) messages, wherein the packet data communication is immediately switched over to the second IP connection.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of effecting a seamless handoff from a first Internet Protocol (IP) connection to a second IP connection, the method comprising:
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communicating a packet data communication between a first station and a gateway using the first IP connection and a first IP address for said first station, said gateway relaying said packet data communication with a second station;
setting up the second IP connection with a second IP address for said first station, the first IP connection being a primary connection and the second IP connection being a secondary connection between said first station and said gateway, said first and said second IP connection existing concurrently;
determining that the second IP connection should be said primary connection between said first station and said gateway; and
changing the second IP connection to said primary connection by informing said gateway that the second IP address is the primary address using stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) messages, wherein said packet data communication is immediately switched over to the second IP connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A wireless communications unit arranged and constructed to effect a handoff from a first Internet Protocol (IP) connection to a second IP connection, the wireless communications unit comprising:
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a wireless transceiver and a controller cooperatively arranged for communicating a packet data communication with a gateway using the first IP connection and a first IP address for the wireless communications unit, said gateway for relaying said packet data communication to a second station;
said controller further for;
setting up the second IP connection with a second IP address for the wireless communications unit, the first IP connection being a primary connection and the second IP connection being a secondary connection between the wireless communications unit and the gateway, the first and the second IP connection existing concurrently;
determining that the second IP connection should be said primary connection; and
changing the second IP connection to said primary connection by informing said gateway that said second IP address is said primary address using stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) messages, wherein said packet data communication is immediately switched over to the second IP connection. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A gateway arranged and configured to facilitate a seamless handoff from a first Internet Protocol (IP) connection to a second IP connection, the gateway operable for:
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communicating a packet data communication with a first station using the first IP connection and a first IP address for said first station and for relaying said packet data communication with a second station;
setting up the second IP connection with a second IP address for said first station, the first IP connection being a primary connection and the second EP connection being a secondary connection with said first station, said first and said second IP connection existing concurrently;
receiving a stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) message indicating that the second IP connection should be said primary connection with said first station; and
changing the second IP connection to said primary connection by using the second IP address as the primary address for said packet data communications, wherein said packet data communication is immediately switched over to the second IP connection. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification