Supporting communication sessions at a mobile node

• US 20070049284A1
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Iyer, Jayaraman, Oswal, Anand, Lindert, David, Malaviya, Viren, Waclawsky, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,536,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/452.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Supporting communication sessions at a mobile node includes determining at a mobile node an address for one or more interior network elements of a network system. A interior network element is distinct from an edge network element of the network system, and is operable to establish a communication session. An address for an interior network element is inserted into packets. The packets are sent from the mobile node to the interior network element to communicate directly with the interior network element. The communication session is established using the interior network element.

Claims

1. A method for supporting one or more communication sessions at a mobile node, comprising:

determining at a mobile node an address for a first interior network element of a network system, the first interior network element distinct from an edge network element of the network system, the first interior network element operable to establish a first communication session for the mobile node;

inserting the address into a plurality of packets;

sending the plurality of packets from the mobile node to the first interior network element to communicate directly with the first interior network element; and

establishing the first communication session using the first interior network element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the first communication session using the first interior network element further comprises:

sending shared information from the mobile node to the interior network element, the first interior network element operable to use the shared information to establish the first communication session.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a plurality of available communication sessions; and

executing a decision procedure to select the first communication session from the plurality of available communication sessions.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a second communication session using a second interior network element of the network system, the second communication session distinct from the first communication session; and

communicating a first plurality of packets using the first communication session while communicating a second plurality of packets using the second communication session.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a second communication session using a second interior network element of the network system, the second communication session distinct from the first communication session; and

communicating a first plurality of packets using the first communication session while communicating a second plurality of packets using the second communication session, the first plurality of packets communicating a first type of information, the second plurality of packets communicating a second type of information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a second communication session using a second interior network element of the network system, the second communication session distinct from the first communication session; and

terminating the first communication session to perform a handover procedure.

7. A mobile node operable to support one or more communication sessions, comprising:

a memory operable to store information; and

a processor coupled to the memory and operable to;

determine an address for a first interior network element of a network system, the first interior network element distinct from an edge network element of the network system, the first interior network element operable to establish a first communication session;

insert the address into a plurality of packets;

send the plurality of packets to the first interior network element to communicate directly with the first interior network element; and

facilitate initiation of the first communication session using the first interior network element.

8. The mobile node of claim 7, the processor further operable to facilitate initiation of the first communication session using the first interior network element by:

sending shared information to the interior network element, the first interior network element operable to use the shared information to establish the first communication session.

9. The mobile node of claim 7, the processor further operable to:

identify a plurality of available communication sessions; and

execute a decision procedure to select the first communication session from the plurality of available communication sessions.

10. The mobile node of claim 7, the processor further operable to:

establish a second communication session using a second interior network element of the network system, the second communication session distinct from the first communication session; and

communicate a first plurality of packets using the first communication session while communicating a second plurality of packets using the second communication session.

11. The mobile node of claim 7, the processor further operable to:

establish a second communication session using a second interior network element of the network system, the second communication session distinct from the first communication session; and

communicate a first plurality of packets using the first communication session while communicating a second plurality of packets using the second communication session, the first plurality of packets communicating a first type of information, the second plurality of packets communicating a second type of information.

12. The mobile node of claim 7, the processor further operable to:

establish a second communication session using a second interior network element of the network system, the second communication session distinct from the first communication session; and

terminate the first communication session to perform a handover procedure.

13. The mobile node of claim 7, the processor further operable to:

facilitate initiation of the first communication session using the first interior network element by;

sending shared information to the interior network element, the first interior network element operable to use the shared information to establish the first communication session;

identify a plurality of available communication sessions;

execute a decision procedure to select the first communication session from the plurality of available communication sessions;

establish a second communication session using a second interior network element of the network system, the second communication session distinct from the first communication session;

communicate a first plurality of packets using the first communication session while communicating a second plurality of packets using the second communication session, the first plurality of packets communicating a first type of information, the second plurality of packets communicating a second type of information; and

terminate the first communication session to perform a handover procedure.

14. A system for supporting one or more communication sessions at a mobile node, comprising:

means for determining at a mobile node an address for a first interior network element of a network system, the first interior network element distinct from an edge network element of the network system, the first interior network element operable to facilitate a first communication session for the mobile node;

means for inserting the address into a plurality of packets;

means for sending the plurality of packets from the mobile node to the first interior network element to communicate directly with the first interior network element; and

means for establishing the first communication session using the first interior network element.

15. A network system for supporting one or more communication sessions at a mobile node, comprising:

a first interior network element of a network system, the first interior network element distinct from an edge network element of the network system, the first interior network element operable to establish a first communication session; and

a mobile node operable to;

determine an address for the first interior network element;

insert the address into a plurality of packets;

send the plurality of packets from the mobile node to the first interior network element to communicate directly with the first interior network element; and

facilitate initiation of the first communication session using the first interior network element.

16. The network system of claim 15, the mobile node further operable to facilitate initiation of the first communication session using the first interior network element by:

sending shared information from the mobile node to the interior network element, the first interior network element operable to use the shared information to establish the first communication session.

17. The network system of claim 15, the mobile node further operable to:

identify a plurality of available communication sessions; and

execute a decision procedure to select the first communication session from the plurality of available communication sessions.

18. The network system of claim 15, the mobile node further operable to:

establish a second communication session using a second interior network element of the network system, the second communication session distinct from the first communication session; and

communicate a first plurality of packets using the first communication session while communicating a second plurality of packets using the second communication session.

19. The network system of claim 15, the mobile node further operable to:

establish a second communication session using a second interior network element of the network system, the second communication session distinct from the first communication session; and

communicate a first plurality of packets using the first communication session while communicating a second plurality of packets using the second communication session, the first plurality of packets communicating a first type of information, the second plurality of packets communicating a second type of information.

20. The network system of claim 15, the mobile node further operable to:

establish a second communication session using a second interior network element of the network system, the second communication session distinct from the first communication session; and

terminate the first communication session to perform a handover procedure.

21. The network system of claim 15:

further comprising;

a translator operable to provide a communication procedure to the mobile node;

wherein;

the mobile node is further operable to communicate with the first interior network element by using the communication procedure.

22. A network system for supporting one or more communication sessions at a mobile node, comprising:

a first interior network element of a network system, the first interior network element distinct from an edge network element of the network system, the first interior network element operable to establish a first communication session;

a translator operable to provide a communication procedure; and

a mobile node operable to;

identify a plurality of available communication sessions;

execute a decision procedure to select the first communication session from the plurality of available communication sessions;

determine an address for the first interior network element;

communicate with the first interior network element by using the communication procedure from the translator;

insert the address into a plurality of packets;

send the plurality of packets from the mobile node to the first interior network element to communicate directly with the first interior network element;

facilitate initiation of the first communication session using the first interior network element by;

sending shared information from the mobile node to the interior network element, the first interior network element operable to use the shared information to establish the first communication session;

establish a second communication session using a second interior network element of the network system, the second communication session distinct from the first communication session;

communicate a first plurality of packets using the first communication session while communicating a second plurality of packets using the second communication session, the first plurality of packets communicating a first type of information, the second plurality of packets communicating a second type of information; and

terminate the first communication session to perform a handover procedure.