Method and apparatus for supporting inter-technology handoffs with Mobile IP
First Claim
1. A method of supporting communication with a plurality of communication networks of different link-layer technologies, comprising:
- receiving a first Internet Protocol (IP) packet at a logical interface;
processing the first IP packet in accordance with a configuration for the logical interface;
determining a first physical interface as being associated with the logical interface, wherein the first physical interface is one of a plurality of physical interfaces for the plurality of communication networks, and wherein the logical interface is configurable for association with any one of the plurality of physical interfaces; and
passing the processed first IP packet to the first physical interface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
For Mobile IP supporting inter-technology handoffs, a logical interface is provided at an abstraction layer, which resides between a network layer and a link layer. The logical interface performs processing to provide an interface between the network layer and the link layer, but communicates with physical interfaces instead of directly with the link layer. One physical interface is provided for each communication network (e.g., each radio network of a different wireless technology). Each physical interface performs technology-dependent processing for the associated communication network and communicates with a respective link layer module. Each link layer module performs link layer processing for the associated communication network. The logical interface is associated with one physical interface at any given moment. The logical interface is also associated with an IP address that does not change and is used by IP in the network layer for communication with the multiple communication networks.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of supporting communication with a plurality of communication networks of different link-layer technologies, comprising:
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receiving a first Internet Protocol (IP) packet at a logical interface;
processing the first IP packet in accordance with a configuration for the logical interface;
determining a first physical interface as being associated with the logical interface, wherein the first physical interface is one of a plurality of physical interfaces for the plurality of communication networks, and wherein the logical interface is configurable for association with any one of the plurality of physical interfaces; and
passing the processed first IP packet to the first physical interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus operable to support communication with a plurality of communication networks of different link-layer technologies, comprising:
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a first physical interface operative to perform technology-dependent processing for a first communication network among the plurality of communication networks;
a second physical interface operative to perform technology-dependent processing for a second communication network among the plurality of communication networks; and
a logical interface operative to receive and process a first Internet Protocol (IP) packet in accordance with a configuration for the logical interface, determine that the first physical interface is associated with the logical interface, and pass the processed first IP packet to the first physical interface, wherein the logical interface is configurable for association with either the first or second physical interface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus operable to support communication with a plurality of communication networks of different link-layer technologies, comprising:
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means for receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) packet at a logical interface;
means for processing the IP packet in accordance with a configuration for the logical interface;
means for determining a physical interface associated with the logical interface, wherein the physical interface is one of a plurality of physical interfaces for the plurality of communication networks, and wherein the logical interface is configurable for association with any one of the plurality of physical interfaces; and
means for passing the processed IP packet to the physical interface.
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18. A processor readable media for storing instructions operable in a wireless device to:
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receive an Internet Protocol (IP) packet at a logical interface;
process the IP packet in accordance with a configuration for the logical interface;
determine a physical interface associated with the logical interface, wherein the physical interface is one of a plurality of physical interfaces for a plurality of communication networks with different link-layer technologies, and wherein the logical interface is configurable for association with any one of the plurality of physical interfaces; and
pass the processed IP packet to the physical interface.
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19. A method of supporting communication with a plurality of communication networks of different link-layer technologies, comprising:
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receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) packet at a physical interface, wherein the physical interface is one of a plurality of physical interfaces for the plurality of communication networks;
processing the IP packet in accordance with a configuration for the physical interface;
determining at least one logical interface associated with the physical interface, wherein each of the at least one logical interface is associated with a respective IP address and is configurable for association with any one of the plurality of physical interfaces;
querying the at least one logical interface; and
passing the processed IP packet to a selected logical interface among the at least one logical interface if a response to the query is received. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus operable to support communication with a plurality of communication networks of different link-layer technologies, comprising:
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a first physical interface operative to perform technology-dependent processing for a first communication network among the plurality of communication networks; and
a second physical interface operative to perform technology-dependent processing for a second communication network among the plurality of communication networks, and wherein each of the first and second physical interfaces is operative to receive and process Internet Protocol (IP) packets in accordance with a configuration for the physical interface, determine at least one logical interface associated with the physical interface, query the at least one logical interface, and pass the processed IP packets to a selected logical interface among the at least one logical interface, and wherein each of the at least one logical interface is associated with a respective IP address and is configurable for association with either the first or second physical interface.
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29. An apparatus operable to support communication with a plurality of communication networks of different link-layer technologies, comprising:
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means for receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) packet at a physical interface, wherein the physical interface is one of a plurality of physical interfaces for the plurality of communication networks;
means for processing the IP packet in accordance with a configuration for the physical interface;
means for determining at least one logical interface associated with the physical interface, wherein each of the at least one logical interface is associated with a respective IP address and is configurable for association with any one of the plurality of physical interfaces;
means for querying the at least one logical interface; and
means for passing the processed IP packet to a selected logical interface among the at least one logical interface if a response to the query is received.
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30. A method of supporting communication with a plurality of communication networks of different link-layer technologies, comprising:
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identifying a physical interface currently active and used for communication with a communication network among the plurality of communication network, wherein the physical interface is one of a plurality of physical interfaces for the plurality of communication networks;
determining capabilities of the physical interface;
configuring a logical interface to perform processing for Internet Protocol (IP) packets based on the determined capabilities of the physical interface; and
associating the logical interface with the physical interface. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. An apparatus operable to support communication with a plurality of communication networks of different link-layer technologies, comprising:
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means for identifying a physical interface currently active and used for communication with a communication network among the plurality of communication networks, wherein the physical interface is one of a plurality of physical interfaces for the plurality of communication networks;
means for determining capabilities of the physical interface;
means for configuring a logical interface to perform processing for Internet Protocol (IP) packets based on the determined capabilities of the physical interface; and
means for associating the logical interface with the physical interface.
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Specification