System and method for providing simultaneous handling of layer-2 and layer-3 mobility in an Internet protocol network environment

• US 20070201469A1
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Iyer, Jayaraman, Oswal, Anand
• Granted Patent: US 8,369,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/391
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/742 Route cache; Operation thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/103 across network layers, e.g. resolution of network layer into physical layer addresses or address resolution protocol [ARP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy

Abstract

An apparatus for providing mobility in an Internet protocol (IP) network environment is provided that includes a cell site element operable to receive an address resolution protocol (ARP) signal from a base station. The ARP signal is associated with a selected mobile station that can roam between networks. In response to the signal, the cell site element evaluates a table that identifies a plurality of mobile stations and if the selected mobile station is not present in the table, then a mobility registration request is generated and communicated to a next destination.

Claims

1. A method for providing mobility in an Internet protocol (IP) network environment, comprising:

receiving an address resolution protocol (ARP) signal from a base station, wherein the signal is associated with a selected mobile station that can roam between networks, and wherein the base station is also operable to provide an address that identifies the selected mobile station;

in response to the signal, evaluating a table that identifies a plurality of mobile stations; and

if the selected mobile station is not present in the table, then a mobility registration request is generated and communicated to a next destination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobility registration request is generated by using a WiMax protocol, a proxy mobile IP protocol, a GPRS tunneling protocol (GTP), or a wireless LAN context communication protocol (WLCCP) protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobility registration request identifies a VLAN on which the ARP signal was received and a MAC address associated with a request for the selected mobile station.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving the request; and

authorizing the request.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the authorization is based on the VLAN, the MAC address, or a network access identifier (NAI).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responding to the request by layer-2 switching a specific VLAN or by layer-3 terminating an IP address and adding an entry to the table, or by executing a policy determination to allow layer-2 switching a specific VLAN or layer-3 terminating of an IP address and adding an entry to the table.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responding to the request by implementing a redirection policy, by mapping the selected mobile station to a VPN routing and forwarding (VRF) element or to a VLAN, or by applying a pseudo-wire.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responding to the request by enabling layer-2 forwarding.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tagging the selected mobile station as layer-3; and

adding the selected mobile station to a visited table component.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responding to the request by communicating layer-3 packets from a home agent to a cell site element associated with the base station.

11. A system for providing mobility in an Internet protocol (IP) network environment, comprising:

means for receiving an address resolution protocol (ARP) signal from a base station, wherein the signal is associated with a selected mobile station that can roam between networks, and wherein the base station is also operable to provide an address that identifies the selected mobile station;

means for evaluating, in response to the signal, a table that identifies a plurality of mobile stations; and

if the selected mobile station is not present in the table, then a mobility registration request is generated and communicated to a next destination.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the mobility registration request is generated by using a WiMax protocol, a proxy mobile IP protocol, a GPRS tunneling protocol (GTP), or a wireless LAN context communication protocol (WLCCP) protocol.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the mobility registration request identifies a VLAN on which the ARP signal was received and a MAC address associated with a request for the selected mobile station.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for receiving the request; and

means for authorizing the request.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the authorization is based on the VLAN, the MAC address, or a network access identifier (NAI).

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for responding to the request by layer-2 switching a specific VLAN or by layer-3 terminating an IP address and adding an entry to the table.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for responding to the request by implementing a redirection policy, by mapping the selected mobile station to a VPN routing and forwarding (VRF) element or to a VLAN, or by applying a pseudo-wire.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for responding to the request by enabling layer-2 forwarding.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for tagging the selected mobile station as layer-3; and

means for adding the selected mobile station to a visited table component.

20. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for responding to the request by communicating layer-3 packets from a home agent to a cell site element associated with the base station.

21. Software for providing mobility in an Internet protocol (IP) network environment, the software being embodied in computer readable code such that when executed is operable to:

receive an address resolution protocol (ARP) signal from a base station, wherein the signal is associated with a selected mobile station that can roam between networks, and wherein the base station is also operable to provide an address that identifies the selected mobile station;

evaluate, in response to the signal, a table that identifies a plurality of mobile stations; and

if the selected mobile station is not present in the table, then a mobility registration request is generated and communicated to a next destination.

22. The medium of claim 21, wherein the mobility registration request is generated by using a WiMax protocol, a GPRS tunneling protocol (GTP), a proxy mobile IP protocol, or a wireless LAN context communication protocol (WLCCP) protocol.

23. The medium of claim 21, wherein the mobility registration request identifies a VLAN on which the ARP signal was received and a MAC address associated with a request for the selected mobile station.

24. The medium of claim 23, wherein the code is further operable to:

receive the request; and

authorize the request.

25. The medium of claim 24, wherein the authorization is based on the VLAN, the MAC address, or a network access identifier (NAI).

26. An apparatus for providing mobility in an Internet protocol (IP) network environment, comprising:

a cell site element operable to receive an address resolution protocol (ARP) signal from a base station, wherein the signal is associated with a selected mobile station that can roam between networks, wherein in response to the signal, the cell site element evaluates a table that identifies a plurality of mobile stations and if the selected mobile station is not present in the table, then a mobility registration request is generated and communicated to a next destination.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the mobility registration request is generated by using a WiMax protocol, a GPRS tunneling protocol (GTP), a proxy mobile IP protocol, or a wireless LAN context communication protocol (WLCCP) protocol.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the mobility registration request identifies a VLAN on which the ARP signal was received and a MAC address associated with a request for the selected mobile station.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

a home agent operable to receive the request and to authorize the request.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the authorization is based on the VLAN, the MAC address, or a network access identifier (NAI).

31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the cell site element is further operable to respond to the request by layer-2 switching a specific VLAN or by layer-3 terminating an IP address and adding an entry to the table.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the cell site element is further operable to respond to the request by implementing a redirection policy, by mapping the selected mobile station to a VPN routing and forwarding (VRF) element or to a VLAN, or by applying a pseudo-wire.

33. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the cell site element is further operable to respond to the request by enabling layer-2 forwarding.

34. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the cell site element is further operable to tag the selected mobile station as layer-3 and to add the selected mobile station to a visited table component.

35. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a home agent, wherein in response to the request layer-3 packets are communicated from the home agent to the cell site element.