METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DATA TRANSFER IN A PACKET-SWITCHED DATA NETWORK

• US 20090245174A1
• Filed: 02/23/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Chen, Xiaobao
• Granted Patent: US 8,345,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/659 Internet protocol version 6 [IPv6] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/741 Routing in networks with a plurality of addressing schemes, e.g. with both IPv4 and IPv6
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• 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 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/167 Adaptation for transition between two IP versions, e.g. between IPv4 and IPv6 translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses H04L61/2503
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/085 involving hierarchical organized mobility servers, e.g. hierarchical mobile IP [HMIP]
• 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 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Apparatus for and methods of enabling a gateway node of a first packet-switched data network to select a first channel for transferring a data packet to a destination packet data protocol address of a correspondent node provided service in the first network are disclosed. The gateway node is configured to select the first channel from a plurality of channels configured to transfer data packets to the destination packet data protocol address of the correspondent node, wherein the data packet is sent from a mobile node of a second packet-switched data network external to the first network, and wherein the mobile node has been in a communication session with the correspondent node while provided service in a third packet-switched data network different to the second network.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a gateway node of a first packet-switched data network to select a first channel for transferring a data packet to a destination packet data protocol address of a correspondent node provided service in the first network, wherein the gateway node is configured to select the first channel from a plurality of channels configured to transfer data packets to the destination packet data protocol address of the correspondent node, wherein the data packet has been sent from a mobile node of a second packet-switched data network external to the first network, wherein the mobile node has been in a communication session with the correspondent node while provided service in a third packet-switched data network different to the second network, the method comprising:

a) the mobile node associating, with the data packet, a first packet data protocol address which it used in the communication session with the correspondent node;

b) the gateway node selecting the first channel by matching the first packet data protocol address associated with the data packet received by the gateway node to a first data packet filter associated with the first channel.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data packet is an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) data packet and the first packet data protocol address of the mobile node is associated with the data packet by being included in a Hop-by-Hop extension header of the data packet.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first packet data protocol address of the mobile node is associated with the data packet by being included in a Destination Option extension header of the data packet.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the mobile node addresses the data packet to the packet data protocol address of the gateway node, and wherein the destination packet data protocol address of the correspondent node is associated with the data packet.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the data packet is an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) data packet and the destination packet data protocol address of the correspondent node is associated with the data packet sent to the gateway node by being included in a Routing Header Type 0 Option header of the data packet.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein mobility of the mobile node between networks or subnetworks is supported using the Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP) standards, a current packet data protocol address of mobile node is the Care Of Address (CoA, CoCoA) of the mobile node, and the first packet data protocol address of the mobile node is the Home Address (HAddr) of the mobile node.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the data packet is a MIP correspondent binding update sent from the mobile node to the correspondent node.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first network conforms to the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) standards and the plurality of channels correspond to a plurality of packet data protocol contexts in the first network.

9. A gateway node of a first packet-switched data network arranged to select a first channel configured to transfer a data packet to a destination packet data protocol address of a correspondent node provided service in the first network, from a plurality of channels each configured to transfer data packets to the destination packet data protocol address of the correspondent node, wherein the data packet has been sent from a mobile node of a second packet-switched data network external to the first network, wherein the mobile node has been in a communication session with the correspondent node while provided service in a third packet-switched data network different to the second network, wherein:

the gateway node selects the first channel by matching a first packet data protocol address, associated with the data packet received by the gateway node, to a first data packet filter associated with the first channel, wherein the first packet data protocol address has been used by the mobile node in the communication session with the correspondent node.

10. The gateway node according to claim 9, wherein the data packet is an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) data packet and the first packet data protocol address of the mobile node is associated with the data packet by being included in a Hop-by-Hop extension header of the data packet.

11. The gateway node according to claim 9, wherein the first packet data protocol address of the mobile node is associated with the data packet by being included in a Destination Option extension header of the data packet.

12. The gateway node according to claim 11, wherein the data packet is addressed to the packet data protocol address of the gateway node, and the destination packet data protocol address of the correspondent node is associated with the data packet.

13. The gateway node according to claim 12, wherein the data packet is an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) data packet and the destination packet data protocol address of the correspondent node is associated with the data packet sent to the gateway node by being included in a Routing Header Type 0 Option header of the data packet.

14. The gateway node according to claim 9, wherein mobility of the mobile node between networks or subnetworks is supported using the Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP) standards, the current packet data protocol address of mobile node is the Care Of Address (CoA, CoCoA) of the mobile node, and the first packet data protocol address of the mobile node is the Home Address (HAaddr) of the mobile node.

15. The gateway node according to claim 14, wherein the data packet is a MIP correspondent binding update sent from the mobile node to the correspondent node.

16. The gateway node according to claim 9, wherein the first network conforms to the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) standards and the plurality of channels correspond to a plurality of packet data protocol contexts in the first network.

17. A mobile node of a second packet-switched data network arranged to enable a gateway node of first packet-switched data network, different to the second network, to select a first channel for transferring a data packet sent from the mobile node to a destination packet data protocol address of a correspondent node provided service in the first network, wherein the gateway node is configured to select the first channel from a plurality of channels each configured to transfer data packets to the destination packet data protocol address of the correspondent node, wherein the mobile node has been in a communication session with the correspondent node while provided service in a third packet-switched data network different to the second network, wherein:

the mobile node associates, with the data packet, a first packet data protocol address which it used in the communication session with the correspondent node, the first packet data protocol address being for use by the gateway node in selecting the first channel by matching the first packet data protocol address associated with the data packet received by the gateway node to a first data packet filter associated with the first channel.

18. The mobile node according to claim 17, wherein the data packet is an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) data packet and the first packet data protocol address of the mobile node is associated with the data packet by being included in a Hop-by-Hop extension header of the data packet.

19. The mobile node according to claim 17, wherein the first packet data protocol address of the mobile node is associated with the data packet by being included in a Destination Option extension header of the data packet.

20. The mobile node according to claim 19, wherein the mobile node addresses the data packet to the packet data protocol address of the gateway node, and the destination packet data protocol address of the correspondent node is associated with the data packet.

21. The mobile node according to claim 20, wherein the data packet is an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) data packet and the destination packet data protocol address of the correspondent node is associated with the data packet sent to the gateway node by being included in a Routing Header Type 0 Option header of the data packet.

22. The mobile node according to claim 17, wherein mobility of the mobile node between networks or subnetworks is supported using the Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP) standards, the current packet data protocol address of mobile node is the Care Of Address (CoA, CoCoA) of the mobile node, and the first packet data protocol address of the mobile node is the Home Address (HAddr) of the mobile node.

23. The mobile node according to claim 22, wherein the data packet is a MIP correspondent binding update sent from the mobile node to the correspondent node.

24. The mobile node according to claim 17, wherein the first network conforms to the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) standards and the plurality of channels correspond to a plurality of packet data protocol contexts in the first network.

25. A method of enabling a gateway node of a first packet-switched data network to select a first channel for transferring a data packet to a destination packet data protocol address of a correspondent node provided service in the first network, wherein the gateway node is configured to select the first channel from a plurality of channels each configured to transfer data packets to the destination packet data protocol address of the correspondent node, wherein the data packet has been sent from a mobile node of a second packet-switched data network external to the first network, wherein the mobile node has been in a communication session with the correspondent node while provided service in a third packet-switched data network different to the second network, wherein mobility of the mobile node between networks or subnetworks is supported using the Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP) standards, the mobile node having a home packet data protocol address (HAddr) in the third network, the mobile node having moved to the second network and having been provided with a current packet data protocol address (CoA, CoCoA) in the second network, the method comprising:

a) the mobile node sending a MIP correspondent binding update packet addressed to the correspondent node, wherein the home packet data protocol address of the mobile node is associated with the MIP correspondent binding update packet;

b) the gateway node receiving the correspondent binding update packet and transferring it to the correspondent node using a second channel having no associated data packet filters;

c) the correspondent node matching the home packet data protocol address of the mobile node associated with the correspondent binding update packet to the communication session with the mobile node; and

d) in response to the matching, the correspondent node arranging for the current packet data protocol address of the mobile node to be included in the first data packet filter.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the home packet data protocol address of the mobile node is associated with the correspondent binding update data packet by being included in a Destination Option extension header of the correspondent binding update data packet.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the first packet filter was created, prior to step d), so as to enable the gateway node to select the first channel for transferring data packets sent by the mobile node while involved in the communication session, and, in step d), the first data packet filter is modified to include the current packet data protocol address of the mobile node.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the current packet data protocol address of the mobile node replaces the home packet data protocol address in the first data packet filter.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the current packet data protocol address is added to the first data packet filter which also comprises the home packet data protocol address of the mobile node.

30. The method according to claim 25, wherein the first packet filter is newly created in step d).

31. The method according to claim 25, wherein the first network conforms to the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) standards and the plurality of channels correspond to a plurality of packet data protocol contexts in the first network.

32. A correspondent node of a first packet-switched data network arranged to select a first channel for transferring a data packet to a destination packet data protocol address of a correspondent node provided service in the first network, from a plurality of channels each configured to transfer data packets to the destination packet data protocol address of the correspondent node, wherein the data packet has been sent from a mobile node of a second packet-switched data network external to the first network, wherein the mobile node has been in a communication session with the correspondent node while provided service in a third packet-switched data network different to the second network, wherein mobility of the mobile node between networks or subnetworks is supported using the Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP) standards, the mobile node having a home packet data protocol address (HAddr) in the third network, wherein the mobile node has moved to the second network and has been provided with a current packet data protocol address (CoA, CoCoA) in the second network, wherein:

a) the correspondent node receives a MIP correspondent binding update packet transferred from the gateway node through a second channel having no associated data packet filters, the MIP correspondent binding update packet having the home packet data protocol address of the mobile node associated with it;

b) the correspondent node matches the home packet data protocol address of the mobile node associated with the correspondent binding update packet to the communication session with the mobile node; and

c) in response to the matching, the correspondent node arranged for the current packet data protocol address of the mobile node to be included in the first data packet filter.

33. The correspondent node according to claim 32, wherein the home packet data protocol address of the mobile node is associated with the correspondent binding update data packet by being included in a Destination Option extension header of the correspondent binding update data packet.

34. The correspondent node according to claim 32, wherein the first packet filter was created to enable the gateway node to select the first channel for transferring data packets sent by the mobile node while involved in the communication session, and the first data packet filter is modified to include the current packet data protocol address of the mobile node.

35. The correspondent node according to claim 34, wherein the current packet data protocol address of the mobile node replaces the home packet data protocol address in the first data packet filter.

36. The correspondent node to claim 34, wherein the current packet data protocol address is added to the first data packet filter which also comprises the home packet data protocol address of the mobile node.

37. The correspondent node according to claim 32, wherein the first packet filter is newly created.

38. The correspondent node according to claim 32, wherein the first network conforms to the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) standards and the plurality of channels correspond to a plurality of packet data protocol contexts in the first network.