Data transfer from a host server via a tunnel server to a wireless device, and associating a temporary ipv6 address with a temporary ipv4 address for communicating in an ipv4 wireless network with the device

• US 20040264465A1
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Dunk, Craig A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,710,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/52 Multiprotocol routers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/251 between different IP versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2528 Translation at a proxy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/166 at the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• 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: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/045 : involving different protocol versions, e.g. MIPv4 and MIPv6
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 : Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 : between backbone network devices

Abstract

A front end of an IPv6 communication network includes a network entry point device and a plurality of tunnel servers which facilitate the communication of user information between a host computer of an IPv4 communication network and an IPv6 wireless communication device. The network entry point device is configured to direct a tunnel request from the host computer to a selected tunnel server, which establishes a tunnel connection with the host computer. The tunnel server facilitates the communication of user information between the host and the wireless device through the tunnel connection. The tunnel server also performs a dynamic routing protocol (DRP). In accordance with the DRP, the tunnel server updates a local routing table to reflect the newly established tunnel connection and broadcasts updated routing table information to the other tunnel servers. In another related technical aspect, a back end of the IPv6 communication network facilitates communication with the IPv6 wireless device when it operates in an IPv4 wireless communication network.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating a communication of user information between a host computer and at least one wireless communication device comprising the acts of:

receiving, at a tunnel server, a tunnel request from a host computer through a network entry point device;

establishing a tunnel connection with the host computer in response to the tunnel request;

updating a local routing table to reflect the newly established tunnel connection;

broadcasting updated routing table information which reflects the newly established tunnel connection; and

facilitating a communication of user information between the host computer and a wireless communication device through the tunnel connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tunnel server is coupled within an IPv6 communication network and receives communications from the host computer through an IPv4 communication network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of facilitating a communication of user information comprises e-mail information being pushed from the host computer to the at least one wireless communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a dynamic routing protocol is used in performing the acts of updating the local routing table and broadcasting the updated routing table information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a dynamic routing protocol based on an Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) standard is used in performing the acts of updating the local routing table and broadcasting the updated routing table information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of facilitating a communication of user information comprises providing for secure communications over the tunnel connection based on a virtual private network (VPN) standard.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of facilitating a communication of user information comprises providing for secure communications over the tunnel connection based on a Secure Shell (SSH) standard.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

receiving a new tunnel request from the host computer, after the host computer detects a communication failure with the tunnel connection.

9. A method of pushing e-mail information from a plurality of host computers to a plurality of wireless communication devices comprising the acts of:

providing a communication network which includes a front end subnetwork and a core network, the front end subnetwork including a plurality of tunnel servers coupled to a network entry point device and a router coupled to the core network;

receiving, at the network entry point device, a plurality of tunnel requests from the host computers;

distributively sending, by the network entry point device, the plurality of tunnel requests to the tunnel servers;

establishing, by the tunnel servers, a plurality of tunnel connections with the host computers in response to the tunnel requests;

performing, by each tunnel server and the router, a dynamic routing protocol (DRP);

updating, by each tunnel server according to the DRP, a local routing table to reflect newly established tunnel connections;

broadcasting, by each tunnel server according to the DRP, updated routing table information which reflects newly established tunnel connections to other tunnel servers and the router; and

facilitating the pushing of e-mail information between the host computers and the wireless communication devices through the tunnel connections.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, by the network entry point device, a new tunnel request from one of the host computers which has detected a communication failure with one of the tunnel servers;

selecting and directing, by the network entry point device, the new tunnel request to a new one of the tunnel servers;

establishing, by the newly selected tunnel server, a new tunnel connection with the host computer; and

performing, by the newly selected tunnel server, the DRP for updating the local routing table and for broadcasting updated routing table information.

11. A communication network for facilitating communications between a plurality of host computers and a plurality of wireless communication devices, the communication network comprising:

a network entry point device;

a plurality of tunnel servers;

the network entry point device being operative to direct a plurality of tunnel requests from a plurality of host computers to the plurality of tunnel servers in a distributed manner;

each tunnel server being operative to establish and maintain a plurality of tunnel connections with host computers in response to tunnel requests received therefrom;

each tunnel server being operative to facilitate a communication of user information between each host computer having a tunnel connection established therewith and at least one wireless communication device; and

each tunnel server being operative to perform a dynamic routing protocol for updating a local routing table to reflect newly established tunnel connections and for broadcasting updated routing table information to the other tunnel servers.

12. The communication network of claim 11, wherein the communication network comprises an IPv6 communication network and at least one host computer communicates through an IPv4 communication network.

13. The communication network of claim 11, wherein each tunnel server is operative to facilitate a communication of user information comprising e-mail information being pushed to a wireless communication device.

14. The communication network of claim 11, wherein the network entry point device comprises a local director.

15. The communication network of claim 11, wherein the network entry point device comprises a round-robin domain name server (DNS).

16. The communication network of claim 11, wherein each tunnel server is operative to perform a dynamic routing protocol in accordance with an Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) standard.

17. The communication network of claim 11, wherein each tunnel server is operative to perform a dynamic routing protocol in accordance with an Routing Information Protocol (RIP) standard.

18. The communication network of claim 11, wherein each tunnel server is operative to provide secure communications with host computers over the tunnel connections.

19. The communication network of claim 11, wherein each tunnel server is operative to provide secure communications with host computers over the tunnel connections in accordance with a Secure Shell (SSH) standard.

20. The communication network of claim 11, further comprising:

each host computer being operative to detect a communication failure with a tunnel server; and

each host computer being operative to send a tunnel request for a new tunnel connection through the network entry point device in response to detecting the communication failure.

21. The communication network of claim 11, further comprising:

a router;

the router being operative to route communications to the tunnel servers; and

the router being operative to perform the dynamic routing protocol with the plurality of tunnel servers.

22. The communication network of claim 11, further comprising:

a router;

a front end subnetwork which includes the plurality of tunnel servers and the router;

a core network;

the router coupled to the core network;

the router being operative to perform the dynamic routing protocol with the plurality of tunnel servers.

23. A method of establishing communications for an IPv6 wireless communication device located in an IPv4 wireless communication network comprising the acts of:

creating a temporary IPv6 address for the wireless communication device based on an IPv4 address assigned to the wireless communication device through the IPv4 wireless network; and

causing the temporary IPv6 address to be stored in association with a permanent IPv6 address of the wireless communication device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the acts of:

receiving a request for the temporary IPv6 address from the wireless communication device, the request including the temporary IPv6 address; and

creating the temporary IPv6 address in response to the request, the temporary IPv6 address including the temporary IPv4 address.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the acts of:

receiving a Binding Update message from the wireless communication device, the Binding Update message including the temporary IPv6 address; and

causing the temporary IPv6 to be stored in response to the Binding Update message.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of causing the temporary IPv6 address to be stored comprises the further act of assigning the temporary IPv6 address a Care-Of Address for the wireless communication device.

27. In a wireless communication device having a permanent IPv6 address, a method of establishing communications for the wireless communication device within an IPv4 wireless communication network comprising the acts of:

receiving, through the IPv4 wireless network, a temporary IPv4 address which is assigned to the wireless device;

receiving, through the IPv4 wireless network, a temporary IPv6 address which is assigned to the wireless device; and

transmitting, through the IPv4 wireless network, a message which includes the temporary IPv6 address for association with the permanent IPv6 address of the wireless device.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the act of:

transmitting, through the IPv4 wireless network, a temporary IPv6 address request; and

receiving the temporary IPv6 address in response to transmitting the temporary IPv6 address request.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the temporary IPv6 address includes the temporary IPv4 address.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

transmitting, through the IPv4 wireless network, a temporary IPv6 address request which includes the temporary IPv4 address; and

wherein the temporary IPv6 address assigned to the wireless device includes the temporary IPv4 address.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the temporary IPv6 address has a format according to an Intra-Site Access Tunneling Protocol (ISATAP) standard.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the act of transmitting the message comprises transmitting the message to a home agent to establish the temporary IPv6 address as a Care-Of Address.

33. A wireless communication device, comprising:

an antenna;

a receiver coupled to the antenna;

a transmitter coupled to the antenna;

one or more processors coupled to the receiver and the transmitter;

the receiver being operative to receive a temporary IPv4 address through an IPv4 wireless network;

the receiver being operative to receive a temporary IPv6 address through the IPv4 wireless network; and

the transmitter being operative to transmit a message which includes the temporary IPv6 address through the IPv4 wireless network for associating it with a permanent IPv6 address of the wireless device.

34. The wireless device of claim 33, wherein the transmitter is further operative to transmit a temporary IPv6 address request through the IPv4 wireless network, and wherein the receiver is further operative to receive the temporary IPv6 address in response to the temporary IPv6 address request.

35. The wireless device of claim 33, wherein the temporary IPv6 address includes the temporary IPv4 address.

36. The wireless device of claim 33, further comprising:

wherein the transmitter is further operative to transmit a temporary IPv6 address request which includes the temporary IPv4 address through the IPv4 wireless network;

wherein the temporary IPv6 address assigned to the wireless device includes the temporary IPv4 address; and

wherein the message comprises a Binding Update (BU) message.

37. The wireless device of claim 33, wherein the temporary IPv6 address has a format according to an Intra-Site Access Tunneling Protocol (ISATAP) standard.

38. A method of facilitating communications of information between an IPv6 communication network and an IPv6 wireless communication device located in an IPv4 wireless communication network, the wireless communication device being assigned a temporary IPv4 address in the IPv4 wireless communication network, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving, from the wireless communication device, a request for a temporary IPv6 address;

identifying, in response to the request, a temporary IPv6 address for the wireless communication device;

routing a message from the wireless communication device to a home agent, the message including the temporary IPv6 address which is stored by the home agent in association with a permanent IPv6 address of the wireless communication device;

receiving data packets addressed to the temporary IPv6 address of the wireless communication device; and

encapsulating the data packets with the temporary IPv4 address for receipt by the wireless communication device through the IPv4 wireless communication network.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the method is performed by a router.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the act of identifying the temporary IPv6 address comprises identifying a temporary IPv6 address having the temporary IPv4 address within it.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the act of routing the message comprises routing a Binding Update message.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the act of receiving the data packets comprise receiving data packets having e-mail information for the wireless communication device.

43. A communication system, comprising:

an IPv6 communication network;

a router for coupling between the IPv6 communication network and an IPv4 wireless communication network within which a wireless communication device may communicate;

the router being operative to identify a temporary IPv6 address which may be used to communicate to the wireless communication device;

a home agent;

the home agent being operative to;

receive the temporary IPv6 address;

store the temporary IPv6 address as a Care-Of Address associated with a permanent IPv6 address of the wireless communication device;

receive data packets addressed to the permanent IPv6 address of the wireless communication device;

readdress the data packets with the temporary IPv6 address;

the router being further operative to;

receive the data packets addressed to the temporary IPv6 address; and

encapsulate the data packets with the temporary IPv4 address for receipt by the wireless communication device through the IPv4 wireless communication network.

44. The communication system of claim 43, wherein the router is operative in accordance with an Intra-Site Automatic Tunnel Addressing Protocol (ISATAP) standard.

45. The communication system of claim 43, wherein the router is operative in accordance with a Non-Broadcast Multiple Access (NBMA) standard.

46. The communication system of claim 43, wherein the router is operative to identify a temporary IPv6 address which embeds the IPv4 address within it.

47. The communication system of claim 43, wherein the home agent is operative to receive the temporary IPv6 address in a Binding Update message from the wireless communication device.