Method for carrying out a qos-oriented handoff between a first and a second ip-based especially mobile ipv6-based communication path between a mobile node (mn) and a correspondent node (cn)

• US 20040240414A1
• Filed: 06/28/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks GmbH & Company KG (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks GmbH & Company KG (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Fu, Xiaoming, Festag, Andreas, Schramm, Mirko, Fan, Changpeng, Karl, Holger, Kappler, Cornelia, Schafer, Gunter
• Application Number:
  US10/483,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20040240414A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/332
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/167 Adaptation for transition between two IP versions, e.g. between IPv4 and IPv6 translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses H04L61/2503
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0005 Control or signalling for completing the hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/26 by agreed or negotiated communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for carrying out a QoS-oriented handoff between a first and a second IP-based, especially mobile IPv6-based, communication path, between a mobile node (MN) and a correspondent node (CN), the second communication path being part of a number of communication paths which can be accessed by the mobile node, with no, one, or a plurality of intermediate instances. The inventive method comprises at least the following steps: (a) a communication path is selected from the communication paths which can be accessed by the mobile node, as a second communication path; (b) a message (BU) is generated by the mobile node, said message containing at least one IP address which is associated with the mobile node on the basis of the selected communication path, and containing minimum quality of service requirements (QoS) in terms of the selected communication path; (c) the ability to meet at least the minimum quality of service requirements is controlled and optionally ensured by the individual intermediate instances through which the message passes successively, on the selected communication path and/or through the correspondent node. The message contains the minimum quality of service requirements for a communication from the mobile node to the correspondent node and/or vice versa. A handoff is automatically carried out between the first communication path and the second selected communication path, when at least the minimum quality of service-requirements are met or the message is stopped. A notice is generated in an intermediate instance and/or in the correspondent node and is sent to the mobile node if the ability to meet the minimum quality of service requirements is, not ensured.

Claims

1. A method for carrying out a QoS-oriented handoff between a first and a second IP-based, especially mobile IPv6-based communication path between a mobile node (MN) and a correspondent mode (CN) is provided, the second communication path belonging to a number of communication paths accessible to the mobile node, with no, one or a number of intermediate entities and the method exhibiting at least the following steps:

a. selecting a communication path from the number of communication paths accessible to the mobile node as second communication path,

b. generating a message (BU) by the mobile node, which contains at least one IP address allocated to the mobile node on the basis of the selected communication path, and minimum quality-of-service requirements (QoS) with respect to the selected communication path,

c. checking and possibly securing the capability of meeting at least the minimum quality-of-service requirements by the individual intermediate entities successively to be passed by the message on the selected communication path and/or by the correspondent node,

characterized in that

the message contains minimum quality-of-service requirements on a communication from mobile node to correspondent node and/or conversely, and in that a handoff is automatically carried out between the first communication path and the communication path selected as the second one if at least the minimum quality-of-service requirements are met or in that the message is stopped and a message is generated in an intermediate entity and/or in the correspondent node and sent to the mobile node if the capability of meeting at least the minimum quality-of-service requirements is not given.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the message generated in step b. contains a range of quality-of-service requirements which extends from the minimum quality-of-service requirements up to the desired quality-of-service requirements.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that when a handoff is carried out, a message which provides information about what quality-of-service requirements can be met is generated in an intermediate entity and/or the correspondent node and is sent to the mobile node at the same time or after the handoff has been carried out.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate entities are network elements, especially routers, base stations, controllers or mobility anchor points (MAP).

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that by combination with hierarchical mobile IP, a nearest suitable intermediate entity stops the message generated in step b. as quickly as possible, generates a message and sends it to the mobile node if the capability of meeting at least the minimum quality-of-service requirements is not given or carries out the handoff if at least the minimum quality-of-service requirements are met.

6. Intermediate entity, particularly a network element, on an IP-based, especially an IPv6-based, communication path between a mobile node and a corresponding node, characterized in that the intermediate entity can be used as intermediate entity in the sense of the method as claimed in claim 1.