Method and system for providing a mobile node proxy service to a traveling mobile node

• US 20040242233A1
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Navini Networks, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lutgen, Craig
• Application Number:
  US10/453,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20040242233A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy

Abstract

A method and system for servicing a mobile node by a proxy when it joins a foreign network is disclosed. When the mobile node connects to a first point-of-attachment in the foreign network, the foreign network detects the existence of this mobile node. Then, a first mobile node proxy is established that is in communication with the foreign network. The proxy acquires the home network based IP address associated with the mobile node and IP addresss associated with a mobile agent servicing the mobile node through the proxy pretending that the proxy is the mobile node. On behalf of the mobile node, the proxy establishes a communication route between the mobile node proxy to the home network through the foreign network using the acquired IP addresses. As such, the proxy shields the mobile node from conducting at least one control signaling process when the mobile node joins the foreign network so as to eliminate the need for the mobile node to be cognizant of the control signaling process, thereby further eliminating the need for the mobile node to consume resources for participating in the control signaling process.

Claims

1. A method for servicing a mobile node using Mobile Internet Protocol (Mobile IP) when it joins a foreign network, the mobile node intending to connect to a home network through the foreign network, the method comprising:

detecting the mobile node when it connects to a first point-of-attachment in the foreign network;

establishing a first mobile node proxy communicating with the foreign network;

acquiring a first IP address associated with the mobile node in the home network through the first mobile node proxy pretending that the first mobile node proxy is the mobile node;

acquiring a second IP address of a first mobile agent associated with the mobile node on the home network through the first mobile node proxy pretending that the first mobile node proxy is the mobile node; and

establishing a first communication route between the first mobile node proxy and the first mobile agent on the home network through the foreign network using the acquired first and second IP addresses,

wherein the first mobile node proxy shields the mobile node from conducting at least one control signaling process conforming to the Mobile IP when the mobile node joins the foreign network so as to eliminate the need for the mobile node to consume resources for participating in the control signaling process.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising acquiring security information associated with the mobile node and its home network through the first mobile node proxy so that communication sessions conducted can be protected with a predetermined security mechanism.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mobile node proxy is built on a communication management device of the foreign network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mobile node proxy is built on a wireless communication access device working in conjunction with the mobile node.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the acquiring a first IP address further includes retrieving the IP address from a central repository in which the mobile node has registered the IP address.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the acquiring a first IP address further includes obtaining IP address using a dynamic host configuration protocol.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the acquiring a first IP address further includes obtaining IP address from the mobile node.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising servicing the mobile node by the first mobile node proxy when it moves to a second point-of-attachment in the foreign network.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

establishing a second mobile node proxy when the mobile node moves to a second point-of-attachment;

sharing the first and second IP addresses acquired by the first mobile node proxy with the second mobile node proxy; and

establishing a second communication route between the mobile node and the home network through the second mobile node proxy.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the second mobile node proxy is built on a communication management device of the foreign network.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the second mobile node proxy is built on a wireless communication access device working in conjunction with the mobile node at the second point-of-attachment.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the sharing further comprising obtaining the first and second IP addresses from a first communication management device by a second communication management device of the foreign network when the first and second mobile node proxies are built on the first and second communication management devices respectively.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising servicing the mobile node when it moves to a second point-of-attachment.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the second point-of-attachment is in the first foreign network.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

establishing a second mobile node proxy for the mobile node moving to the second point-of-attachment;

sharing the IP address acquired by the first mobile node proxy with the second mobile node proxy; and

establishing a second communication route between the mobile node and the home network through the second mobile node proxy.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the second point-of-attachment is in a second foreign network.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

establishing a second mobile node proxy for the mobile node in a second base station located in the second foreign network;

sharing the IP address acquired by the first mobile node proxy with the second mobile node proxy; and

establishing a second communication route between the mobile node and the home network through the second mobile node proxy.

13. A method for servicing a mobile node using Mobile Internet Protocol (Mobile IP) when it joins a first foreign network, the mobile node intending to connect to a home network through the first foreign network, the method comprising:

detecting the mobile node when it connects to a first point-of-attachment in the first foreign network;

establishing a first mobile node proxy on a first base station of the first foreign network servicing the first point-of-attachment;

acquiring a home network based IP address associated with the mobile node from the home network through the first mobile node proxy pretending that the first mobile node proxy is the mobile node;

conducting at least one control signaling process by the mobile node proxy for establishing a first communication route between the mobile node and the home network through the first mobile node proxy using the acquired IP address,

wherein the mobile node does not consume communication resources for participating in the control signaling process.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the acquiring further includes retrieving the IP address from a central repository in which the mobile node has registered the IP address therein.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the acquiring further includes obtaining IP address from the mobile node.

21. The method of claim 13 further comprising conveying datagrams between the mobile node and a home agent of its home network through the first mobile node proxy and a foreign agent of the first foreign network using packet tunneling.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the foreign agent is on the first base station.

23. A system for servicing a mobile node using Mobile Internet Protocol (Mobile IP) when it joins a foreign network, the mobile node intending to connect to a home network through the foreign network, the system comprising:

a foreign agent detecting the mobile node when it connects to a first point-of-attachment in the foreign network;

a first mobile node proxy communicating with the foreign network;

a home agent servicing the mobile node from the home network,

wherein an IP address of the mobile node in the home network is acquired by the first mobile node proxy pretending that the first mobile node proxy is the mobile node, and an IP address of the home agent is acquired through the first mobile node proxy pretending that the first mobile node proxy is the mobile node,

wherein a first communication route is established between the first mobile node proxy and the home agent through the foreign agent using the acquired IP addresses, and

wherein the first mobile node proxy shields the mobile node from conducting at least one control signaling process conforming to the Mobile IP when the mobile node joins the foreign network so as to eliminate the need for the mobile node to consume resources for participating in the control signaling process.

24. The system of claim 23 further comprising means for acquiring security information associated with the mobile node and its home network through the first mobile node proxy so that communication sessions conducted can be protected by a predetermined security mechanism.

25. The system of claim 23 further comprising a communication management device of the foreign network hosting the first mobile node proxy.

26. The system of claim 23 further comprising a wireless communication access device hosting the first mobile node proxy and working in conjunction with the mobile node.

27. The system of claim 23 further comprising means for retrieving the IP address of the mobile node from a central repository in which the mobile node has registered the IP address.

28. The system of claim 23 further comprising means for retrieving the IP address of the mobile node from the mobile node.

29. The system of claim 23 further comprising:

a second mobile node proxy established when the mobile node moves to a second point-of-attachment; and

means for sharing the first and second IP addresses acquired by the first mobile node proxy with the second mobile node proxy,

wherein a second communication route is established between the mobile node and the home network through the second mobile node proxy.

30. The system of claim 29 further comprising a communication management device of the foreign network hosting the second mobile node proxy.

31. The system of claim 29 further comprising a wireless communication access device hosting the second mobile node proxy and working in conjunction with the mobile node at the second point-of-attachment.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein the means for sharing further comprising means for obtaining the IP address of the home agent and the IP address of the mobile node from a first communication management device by a second communication management device of the foreign network when the first and second mobile node proxies are built on the first and second communication management devices respectively.