Methods and Apparatuses for IP Address Allocation

• US 20110047289A1
• Filed: 06/09/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Taaghol, Pouya, Venkatachalam, Muthaiah
• Granted Patent: US 8,949,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/237
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• 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 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method for IP address allocation is presented. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) information by a driver module operable on a mobile station prior to the mobile station sending a DHCP discovery message. The method includes storing, by the driver module, the DHCP information and redirecting the DHCP discovery message from an operating system DHCP process to the driver module. The method also includes performing DHCP hand-shaking in response to the DHCP discovery message.

Claims

1. A method for a wireless communication network comprising:

receiving, by a driver module operable on a mobile station, DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) information prior to the mobile station sending a DHCP discovery message;

storing, by a driver module, the DHCP information;

redirecting the DHCP discovery message from an operating system DHCP process to the driver module; and

performing DHCP hand-shaking in response to the DHCP discovery message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCP information comprises an IP address to be assigned to the mobile station and configuration data about a default gateway, a subnet mask, and a lease time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the DHCP hand-shaking further comprises:

generating, by the driver module, a response to the DHCP discovery message without sending out a request to a remote DHCP gateway;

communicating the DHCP information to the operating system DHCP process; and

communicating an DHCP acknowledgment to the operating system DHCP process.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the driver module is associated with a transceiver in accordance with 802.16m and is operable to perform part of IP allocation procedures without modification to operating system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the driver module is operable to generate a REG-REQ message indicating that the mobile station is capable of receiving the DHCP information in conjunction with a REG-RSP message.

6. A method for a wireless communication network comprising:

generating by an ASN (access service network), in response to network entry associated with a mobile station, DHCP information without receiving a DHCP discovery message from the mobile station; and

propagating the DCHP information to the mobile station.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the ASN comprises:

a gateway operable to allocate a DHCP IP to the mobile station; and

a plurality of base stations including a first base station to communicate with the mobile station and the gateway.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the DHCP information comprises an IP address to be assigned to the mobile station and configuration data.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising propagating, by a base station, the DHCP information to the mobile station in conjunction with a message during a registration process after an authentication process.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

sending, by the gateway in conjunction with a MAC negotiation message, the DHCP information to a base station; and

propagating, by the base station in conjunction with a registration message, the DHCP information to the mobile station.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the MAC negotiation message is an MS attachment response and the registration message is an REG-RSP message.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

sending, by the gateway in conjunction with a path registration message, the DHCP information to a base station; and

propagating, by the base station in conjunction with a service flow configuration message, the DHCP information to the mobile station.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the path registration message is a PATH-REG response and the service flow configuration message is a DSA-RSP message.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

requesting, by the base station in conjunction with DHCP messaging, the DHCP information from the gateway; and

propagating, by the base station in conjunction with a service flow change message, the DHCP information to the mobile station.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the DHCP messaging includes a DHCP discovery message, a DHCP offer message, a DHCP request message, and a DHCP ACK message, wherein the service flow change message is a DSC-RSP message.

16. A network system comprising:

a gateway to manage and to allocate IP addresses; and

a base station to communicate with the gateway and to communicate wirelessly with a mobile station, wherein the gateway is operable to generate, in response to network entry by the mobile station, DHCP information prior to receiving a DHCP message by the mobile station.

17. The network system of claim 16, wherein the base station is operable to communicate the DCHP information to the mobile station in conjunction with one or more messages during a registration process, after an authentication process has completed but prior to a DHCP process by the mobile station.

18. The network system of claim 16, wherein the base station is operable to communicate the DCHP information to the mobile station in conjunction with one or more messages during a service flow configuration process prior to a DHCP process by the mobile station.

19. The network system of claim 16, wherein the DHCP information is to be redirected and processed by a driver module rather than an operating system DHCP process.

20. The network system of claim 16, wherein the base station is operable to receive an indication from the mobile station that the mobile station is capable of receiving the DHCP information in conjunction with a registration response message.