DETECTION OF MOBILITY FUNCTIONS IMPLEMENTED IN A MOBILE NODE
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method for configuring an IP address of a mobile node attaching to a first access network during an inter-access technology handover from another, second access network. Moreover, the invention relates to a mobile access gateway and a mobile node that participate in this method. First and second access network belong to a network domain offering a network-based mobility function. In order to detect whether a mobile node implements a network-based mobility function a virtual interface discovery is performed by checking whether the mobile node also configures the address according to the home network prefix offered to the mobile node before the handover on its interface to the first access network. In parallel, an address configuration is performed. Based on the detection of whether a virtual interface is implemented at the mobile node, the mobile access gateway may decide whether to use network-based mobility or client-based mobility and change the address configuration.
112 Citations
81 Claims
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1-58. -58. (canceled)
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59. A method for configuring an IP address of a mobile node upon the mobile node attaching to a first access network of a mobile communication system during a handover of the mobile node from another, second access network utilizing an access technology different to the access technology used in the first access network, wherein the first and the second access network belong to a network domain offering a network-based mobility function and providing a home network prefix for the mobile node for configuring an IP address valid in the network domain, the method comprising:
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performing a virtual interface discovery between a mobile access gateway and the mobile node to facilitate the detection of whether the mobile node utilizes the network-based mobility function, performing a first address configuration procedure providing the mobile node with the IP address prefixes of the first access network and the mobile node'"'"'s home network prefix to enable the mobile node to provisionally configure a respective IP address according to a respective one of the IP address prefixes for communication via the interface to the first access network, deciding by the mobile access gateway whether the mobile node is to utilize a network-based mobility function for communication in the first access network based on the result of the virtual interface discovery, and performing based on the decision of the mobile access gateway a second address configuration procedure for causing the mobile node to utilize an IP address for communication via the mobile node'"'"'s interface to the first access network according to the IP address prefix of the first access network or the mobile node'"'"'s home network prefix. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A method for configuring an IP address of a mobile node upon the mobile node attaching to a first access network of a mobile communication system during a handover of the mobile node from another, second access network wherein the first and the second access network belong to a network domain offering a network-based mobility function, the method comprising:
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transmitting by the mobile node an unsolicited neighbor advertisement to a mobile access gateway of the first access network, wherein the target address of the neighbor advertisement is an IP address that has been configured by the mobile node on its interface to the second access network, and determining by the mobile access network whether the prefix of the target address has been advertised to the mobile node to thereby detect whether the mobile node implements network based mobility function, in case the mobile node implements a network based mobility function, deciding by the mobile access gateway whether to use the network based mobility function or a host-based mobility function for serving the mobile node, and transmitting from the mobile access gateway a router advertisement to the mobile node, wherein the router advertisement contains a prefix for IP address configuration selected by the mobile access gateway according to the on which mobility function to use for serving the mobile node. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76)
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77. A mobile access gateway for causing a mobile node to configure an IP address upon the mobile node attaching to a first access network of a mobile communication system during a handover of the mobile node from another, second access network utilizing an access technology different to the access technology used in the first access network, wherein the first and the second access network belong to a network domain offering a network-based mobility function and providing a home network prefix for the mobile node for configuring an IP address valid in the network domain, the mobile access gateway comprising:
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a communication unit that performs a virtual interface discovery between a mobile access gateway and the mobile node to facilitate the detection of whether the mobile node utilizes a network-based mobility function, wherein the communication unit is adapted to perform a first address configuration procedure providing the mobile node with the IP address prefix of the first access network and the mobile node'"'"'s home network prefix to enable the mobile node to provisionally configure a respective IP address according to the first access network'"'"'s IP address prefix and the mobile node'"'"'s home network prefix for communication via the interface to the first access network, and a processing unit that decides by the mobile access gateway whether the mobile node is to utilize a network-based mobility function for communication in the first access network based on the result of the virtual interface discovery, wherein the communication means is adapted to perform based on the decision of the mobile access gateway a second address configuration procedure for causing the mobile node to configure its IP address for communication via the mobile node'"'"'s interface to the first access network according to the first access network'"'"'s IP address prefix or the mobile node'"'"'s home network prefix. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80)
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81. A mobile node comprising:
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a communication unit that attaches to a first access network of a mobile communication system during a handover of the mobile node from another, second access network utilizing an access technology different to the access technology used in the first access network, wherein the first and the second access network belong to a network domain offering a network-based mobility function and providing a home network prefix for the mobile node for configuring an IP address valid in the network domain, wherein the communication unit comprises a receiver that receives as part of a virtual interface discovery a neighbor solicitation from a mobile access gateway in the first access network, wherein the neighbor solicitation message includes the IP address according to the mobile node'"'"'s home network prefix as the neighbor solicitation'"'"'s target, and wherein the communication unit further comprises a transmitter that sends as part of a virtual interface discovery an error message to the mobile access gateway in response to the neighbor solicitation, if the mobile node does not utilize the network-based mobility function.
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Specification