SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING NETWORK MOBILITY

• US 20100246545A1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Berzin, Oleg
• Granted Patent: US 8,514,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/50 using label swapping, e.g. multi-protocol label switch [MPLS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/742 Route cache; Operation thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

An approach is provided for extending private enterprise networking to wireless interconnecting domains. A home agent maintains a first routing table for a first wireless router configured to route according to a first address space. The home agent also maintains a second routing table for a second wireless router configured to route according to a second address space. The first address space and the second address space are overlapping.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

maintaining, within a home agent, a first routing table for a first wireless router configured to route according to a first address space; and

maintaining, within the home agent, a second routing table for a second wireless router configured to route according to a second address space,

wherein the first address space and the second address space are overlapping.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the first address space is assigned to a first subscriber, and the second address space is assigned to a second subscriber, further comprising:

correlating the first wireless router to a data record of the first subscriber; and

correlating the second wireless router to a data record of the second subscriber.

3. A method of claim 2, further comprising:

establishing a plurality of tunnels with a foreign agent to communicate with, respectively, a first data network associated with the first subscriber and a second data network associated with the second subscriber.

4. A method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, from the first wireless router, a registration request specifying a network mobility address of the first wireless router; and

disregarding the network mobility address of the first wireless router.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the first address space and the second address space include one or more identical addresses.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the first address space and the second address space correspond, respectively, to a first virtual private network and a second virtual private network.

7. A method of claim 6, wherein the first virtual private network and the second virtual private network operate according to a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) protocol.

8. A method of claim 7, wherein the wireless routers are mobile and configured to operate according to a mobile Internet Protocol addressing protocol and a network mobility protocol.

9. A network device comprising:

a processor configured to operate as a home agent for a first wireless router configured to route according to a first address space and a second wireless router configured to route according to a second address space; and

a memory configured to store a first routing table for the first wireless router and a second routing table for the second wireless router,

wherein the first address space and the second address space are overlapping.

10. A device of claim 9, wherein the first address space is assigned to a first subscriber, and the second address space is assigned to a second subscriber, the process being further configured to correlate the first wireless router to a data record of the first subscriber, and to correlate the second wireless router to a data record of the second subscriber.

11. A device of claim 10, further comprising:

a communication interface configured to establish a plurality of tunnels with a foreign agent to communicate with, respectively, a first data network associated with the first subscriber and a second data network associated with the second subscriber.

12. A device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to receive, from the first wireless router, a registration request specifying a network mobility address of the first wireless router, and to disregard the network mobility address of the first wireless router.

13. A device of claim 9, wherein the first address space and the second address space include one or more identical addresses.

14. A device of claim 9, wherein the first address space and the second address space correspond, respectively, to a first virtual private network and a second virtual private network.

15. A device of claim 14, wherein the first virtual private network and the second virtual private network operate according to a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) protocol.

16. A device of claim 15, wherein the wireless routers are mobile and configured to operate according to a mobile Internet Protocol addressing protocol and a network mobility protocol.

17. A method comprising:

establishing a first tunnel to a foreign agent for communicating with a first wireless router configured to route according to a first address space in support of a first virtual private network; and

establishing second first tunnel to the foreign agent for communicating with a second wireless router configured to route according to a second address space in support of a second virtual private network,

wherein the first address space and the second address space are overlapping.

18. A method of claim 17, wherein the first address space is assigned to a first subscriber, and the second address space is assigned to a second subscriber, further comprising:

correlating a modem of the first wireless router to a data record of the first subscriber; and

correlating a modem of the second wireless router to a data record of the second subscriber.

19. A method of claim 17, wherein the first virtual private network and the second virtual private network operate according to a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) protocol.

20. A method of claim 19, wherein the wireless routers are mobile and configured to operate according to a mobile Internet Protocol addressing protocol and a network mobility protocol.