Method and system for mobile ip nodes in heterogeneous networks

• US 20040176023A1
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG (Government of Switzerland)
• Inventors: Linder, Jan, Danzeisen, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 7,356,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for mobile IP (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24) in which an interface administration module (134) of the mobile node (10) checks the mobile node (10) for available physical network interfaces (14-17), draws up a lookup table with the available and configurable physical network interfaces (14-17), and links itself to one of the available physical network interfaces (14-17). IP applications (11) of the mobile nodes (10) access the heterogeneous networks via a virtual IP network interface (133) generated in the mobile node (10), the permanent virtual IP network interface (133) being connected to the present network (21-24) via the interface administration module (134). During the change of physical network interfaces (14-17) of the mobile node (10), the linking of the permanent virtual IP network interface to the network (21-24) is updated by means of the interface administration module (134) based on the lookup table. In particular, the invention relates to a method for mobile nodes (10) with real-time applications in heterogeneous networks (21-24).

Claims

1. A method for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24), in which a home agent dynamically assigns a temporary IP care-of address to a static IP home address when the mobile node (10) is moved in the heterogeneous networks (21-24), the dynamic care-of address indicating the topologically current network location of the mobile node (10) and IP data packets having the IP home address of the mobile node (10) as destination address being redirected to the care-of address of the mobile node, wherein

an interface administration module (134) of the mobile node (10). checks the mobile node (10) for available physical network interfaces (14-17), draws up a lookup table with the available and configurable physical network interfaces (14-17), and links itself to one of the available physical network interfaces (14-17),

one or more IP applications (11) of the mobile node (10) access the heterogeneous networks (21-24) via a virtual IP network interface (133) generated in the mobile node (10), the generated permanent virtual IP network interface (133) comprising a generated virtual L3 layer and a generated virtual L2 layer and being linked to the current network (21-24) via the interface administration module (134), and

during a change of the physical network interface (14-17) of the mobile node (10), the link of the permanent virtual IP network interface (133) to the network (21-24) is updated based on the lookup table by means of the interface administration module (134).

2. The method for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24) according to claim 1, wherein the interface administration module (134) checks the mobile node (10) for available physical network interfaces (14-17) periodically.

3. The method for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24) according to claim 2, wherein the virtual IP interface (133) changes and updates the physical interfaces (14-17) automatically via the interface administration module (134) based on information of the lookup table.

4. The method for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24) according to claim 3, wherein the criteria for the automatic change of the physical interface (14-17) through the interface administration module (134) are determined by the user.

5. The method for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24) according to claim 1, wherein the available physical network interfaces (14-17) are dynamically configured.

6. The method for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24) according to claim 1, wherein the available physical network interfaces (14-17) are statically configured.

7. The method for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24) according to claim 1, wherein outgoing IP data packets are buffered in a data buffer (1331) of the mobile node (10)if the network link of the mobile node (10) is interrupted, so that the output data rate of the one or more IP applications (11) is maintained by means of the data buffer (1331) or is kept within a particular fluctuation tolerance.

8. The method for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24) according to claim 3, wherein outgoing IP data packets are buffered in a data buffer (1331) of the mobile node (10) if the network link of the mobile node (10) is interrupted, so that the output data rate of the one or more IP applications (11) is maintained by means of the data buffer (1331) or is kept within a particular fluctuation tolerance.

9. A system for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24), which system comprises a home agent for dynamic assignment of a temporary IP care-of address to a static IP home address when the mobile node (10) is moved in the heterogeneous networks (21-24), the dynamic care-of address indicating the topologically current network location of the mobile node (10) and for redirecting IP data packets with the IP home address of the mobile node (10) as destination address to the care-of address of the mobile node (10), wherein

the mobile node (10) comprises an interface administration module (134), the interface administration module (134) comprising a unit for checking the mobile node (10) for available physical network interfaces (14-17) and a unit for linking to one of the available physical network interfaces (14-17),

the network administration module (134) comprises a unit for drawing up a lookup table of the momentarily available and configurable physical network interfaces (14-17),

the mobile node (10) comprises a permanently generated, virtual IP network interface (133) which comprises a generated virtual L3 layer and a generated virtual L2 layer and is linked to the current network (21-24) via the interface administration module (134), the link of the permanent virtual IP network interface (133) to the network being updated by means of the interface administration module (134) based on the lookup table during a change of the physical network interface (14-17) of the mobile node (10).

10. The system for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24) according to claim 9, wherein the checking of the mobile node (10) for available physical network interfaces (14-17) by the interface administration module (134) is periodic.

11. The system for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24) according to claim 10, wherein the mobile node (10) includes criteria according to which the physical network interface (14-17) is changed and updated automatically based on information of the lookup table.

12. The system for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24) according to claim 11, wherein the criteria for the automatic change of the physical interface (14-17) are determined by the user.

13. The system for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24) according to claim 9, wherein the mobile node (10) comprises a unit for dynamic configuration of available physical network interfaces (14-17).

14. The system for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24) according to claim 9, wherein the mobile node (10) comprises a unit for static configuration of available physical network interfaces (14-17).

15. The system for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24) according to claim 9, wherein the mobile node (10) comprises a data buffer (1331) in which outgoing IP data packets are buffered if the network link of the mobile node (10) is interrupted, so that the output data rate of the one or more IP applications (11) is maintained by means of the data buffer (1331) or is kept within a fluctuation tolerance.

16. The system for mobile IP nodes (10) in heterogeneous networks (21-24) according to claim 11, wherein the mobile node (10) comprises a data buffer (1331) in which outgoing IP data packets are buffered if the network link of the mobile node (10) is interrupted, so that the output data rate of the one or more IP applications (11) is maintained by means of the data buffer (1331) or is kept within a fluctuation tolerance.