Methods and systems for maintaining the address of Internet Protocol compatible devices

• US 20070153804A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Richman, Steven, McGee, Andrew, Vasireddy, S.
• Application Number:
  US11/320,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20070153804A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.520
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5053 Lease time; Renewal aspects
• 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

Abstract

Disconnect and re-connect communication signals are used to initiate a process to determine the physical, logical and/or both addresses of an Internet Protocol compatible device may have changed when the device moves from one physical location to another.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining the address of an Internet Protocol (IP) compatible device comprising:

detecting a disconnect event signal associated with a disconnection of the IP compatible device from a network; and

forwarding a standby signal in response to the receipt of the disconnect event signal,

wherein the standby signal is used to inform an address storage device that a change to an existing address associated with the IP compatible device stored in the storage device may be imminent.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein the address is a physical address.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein the address is an IP address.

4. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a next connection event signal associated with a re-connection of the IP compatible device to the network at a next location; and

obtaining a next address of the IP compatible device associated with the next location.

5. The method as in claim 4 further comprising forwarding the next address on to the address storage device to ensure that the storage device maintains a most recent address of the IP compatible device.

6. The method as in claim 5 further comprising obtaining the next address of the IP compatible device to contact a user of the device during an emergency

7. The method as in claim 6 wherein a 911 emergency services network obtains the next address.

8. The method as in claim 4 further comprising obtaining the next address without initiating a request for such an address.

9. The method as in claim 4 further comprising forwarding an authorization request to the IP compatible device prior to obtaining the next address.

10. The method as in claim 9 further comprising:

receiving a response from the IP compatible device in response to the request; and

authenticating the IP compatible device based on information in the response.

12. The method as in claim 1 wherein the address is a physical address.

13. The method as in claim 1 wherein the address is an IP address.

15. The device as in claim 12 further operable to forward the next address on to the address storage device to ensure that the storage section maintains a most recent address of the IP compatible device.

16. The device as in claim 12 further operable to obtain the next address without initiating a request for such an address.

17. The device as in claim 12 further operable to forward an authorization request to the IP compatible device prior to obtaining the next address.

18. The device as in claim 17 further operable to:

receive a response from the IP compatible device in response to the request; and

authenticate the IP compatible device based on information in the response.

11. A device for maintaining the address of an Internet Protocol (IP) compatible device operable to:

detect a disconnect event signal associated with a disconnection of the IP compatible device from a network; and

forwarding a standby signal in response to the receipt of the disconnect event signal,

wherein the standby signal is used to inform an address storage device that a change to an existing address associated with the IP compatible device stored in the storage device may be imminent.

14. The device as in claim 11 further operable to:

detect a next connection event signal associated with a reconnection of the IP compatible device to the network at a next location; and

obtain a next address of the IP compatible device associated with the next location.

19. An emergency services network operable to obtain a next address of an IP compatible device after disconnect and next connection event signals associated with the device have been detected,

wherein the next address is used to contact a user of the device during an emergency.

20. The network as in claim 19 wherein the emergency services network comprises a 911 emergency services network.

21. A system for maintaining the address of an Internet Protocol (IP) compatible device comprising an applications device operable to:

detect a disconnect event signal associated with a disconnection of the IP compatible device from a network; and

forwarding a standby signal in response to the receipt of the disconnect event signal,

wherein the standby signal is used to inform an address storage device that a change to an existing address associated with the IP compatible device stored in the storage device may be imminent.

22. The method as in claim 21 wherein the address is a physical address.

23. The method as in claim 21 wherein the address is an IP address.

24. The system as in claim 23 wherein the applications device is further operable to:

detect a next connection event signal associated with a reconnection of the IP compatible device to the network at a next location; and

obtain a next address of the IP compatible device associated with the next location.

25. The system as in claim 24 wherein the applications device is further operable to forward the next address on to the address storage device to ensure that the storage section maintains a most recent address of the IP compatible device.

26. The system as in claim 25 further comprising:

an emergency services network operable to obtain the next address of the IP compatible device,

wherein the next address is used to contact a user of the device during an emergency.

27. The system as in claim 26 wherein the emergency services network comprises a 911 emergency services network.

28. The system as in claim 24 wherein the applications device is further operable to obtain the next address without initiating a request for such an address.

29. The system as in claim 24 wherein the applications device is further operable to forward an authorization request to the IP compatible device prior to obtaining the next address.

30. The system as in claim 29 wherein the applications device is further operable to:

receive a response from the IP compatible device in response to the request; and

authenticate the IP compatible device based on information in the response.