Maintaining communication sessions

• US 20060039279A1
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ip Ot Sub Ulc
• Original Assignee: weComm Limited (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Wentford, Timothy John, Sturrock, Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 7,505,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• 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 69/163 In-band adaptation of TCP data exchange; In-band control procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/169 Special adaptations of TCP, UDP or IP for interworking of IP based networks with other networks protocols for interworking, protocol conversion H04L69/08
• 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 88/14 Backbone network devices

Abstract

Communication occurs between a server and a terminal. The terminal establishes a first communication path with the server via a first allocated address. The server allocates an identification reference to a communication session upon initiation of said communication session. During the communication session the first communication path is closed and replaced by a second communication path with said server via a second allocated address. The server maintains said communication session after replacement of the first communication path with the second communication path by identifying said identification reference and communicating with said remote station via said second allocated address.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between a server and a terminal, wherein

said terminal establishes a first communication path with said server via a first allocated address;

the server allocates an identification reference to a communication session upon initiation of said communication session, wherein

during said communication session said first communication path is closed and replaced by a second communication path with said server via a second allocated address; and

the server maintains said communication session after replacement of the first communication path with the second communication path by identifying said identification reference and communicating with said remote station via said second allocated address.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said communication path includes a first radio network, and said first communication path is closed and replaced by said second communication path when said terminal stops using said first radio network and starts using a second radio network.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said communication path includes a mobile telephony network, and said first communication path is closed and replaced by said second communication path when said second terminal moves between cells of said mobile telephony network.

4. A method of communicating between a server and a terminal, wherein

said terminal establishes a first communication path with said server via a first allocated address;

the server allocates an identification reference to a communication session upon initiation of said communication session; and

during said communication session said first communication path is closed and replaced by a second communication path with said server via a second allocated address;

wherein

the server maintains said communication session after replacement of the first communication path with the second communication path by identifying said identification reference and communicating with said remote station via said second allocated address; and

said communication path includes a first radio network, and said first communication path is closed and replaced by said second communication path when said terminal stops using said first radio network and starts using a second radio network.

5. A server configured to transmit data packets to at least one terminal, wherein

said terminal establishes a first communication path with said server via a first allocated address;

the server allocates an identification reference to a communication session upon initiation of said communication session;

during said communication session said first communication path is closed and replaced by a second communication path with said server via a second allocated address; and

the server maintains said communication session after replacement of the first communication path with the second communication path by identifying said identification reference and communicating with said remote station via said second allocated address.

6. A server according to claim 5, wherein said communication path includes a first radio network, and said first communication path is closed and replaced by said second communication path when said terminal starts using a second radio network.

7. A server according to claim 5, wherein said communication path includes a mobile telephony network, and said first communication path is closed and replaced by said second communication path when said terminal moves between cells of said mobile telephony network.

8. A server according to claim 5, configured to transmit data packets to and receive data packets from a plurality of terminals.

9. Instructions executable by a network of computers and/or programmable data processing devices such that when executing said instructions stations connected to said network will transmit data packets over said network and said network will perform the steps of

establishing a first communication path between a first station and a second station via a first allocated address;

allocating an identification reference to a communication session upon initiation of said communication session, wherein

during said communication session said first communication path is closed and replaced by a second communication path via a second allocated address; and

maintaining said communication session after replacement of the first communication path with the identification reference and communicating with said remote station via said second allocated address.

10. Instructions according to claim 9, wherein said communication path includes a first radio network, and said first communication path is closed and replaced by said second communication path when said terminal stops using said first radio network and starts using a second radio network.

11. Instructions according to claim 9, wherein said communication path includes a mobile telephony network, and said first communication path is closed and replaced by said second communication path when said terminal moves between cells of said mobile telephony network.

12. Instructions executable by a combination of a server and mobile terminal connected to a said server by a radio network such that when executing said instructions said combination performs the steps of

at a terminal, establishing a first communication path with the server via a first allocated address;

at the server, allocating an identification reference to a communication session upon initiation of said communication session;

wherein

during said communication session said first communication path is closed and replaced by a second communication path with said server via a second allocated address; and

the server maintains said communication session after replacement of the first communication path with the second communication path by identifying said identification reference and communicating said identification reference and communicating with said remote station via said second allocated address.

13. Instructions according to claim 12, wherein said communication path includes a first radio network, and said first communication path is closed and replaced by said second communication path when said terminal stops using said first radio network and starts using a second radio network.

14. Instructions according to claim 12, wherein said communication path includes a mobile telephony network, and said first communication path is closed and replaced by said second communication path when said terminal moves between cells of said mobile telephony network.

15. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions executable by a computer such that when executing said instructions a computer will perform the steps of:

responding to a first communication path established by a networked device via a first allocated address;

allocating an identification reference to a communication session upon initiation of said communication session, wherein

during said communication session said first communication path is closed and replaced by a second communication path via a second allocated address; and

maintaining said communication session after replacement of the first communication path with the second communication path by identifying said identification reference and communicating with said remote station via said second allocated address.

16. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions according to claim 15, such that when executing said instructions a computer will perform the step of using a second radio network wherein said first communication path includes a first radio network, and said first communication path is closed and replaced by said second communication path when said terminal stops using said first radio network and starts using a second radio network.

17. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions according to claim 15, such that when executing said instructions a computer will perform the step of responding to movement of a terminal, wherein said communication path includes a mobile telephony network, and said first communication path is closed and replaced by said second communication path when said terminal moves between cells of said mobile telephony network.