Network address management for a wired network supporting wireless communication to a plurality of mobile users
First Claim
1. A method for transmitting information in a network that includes a wireless network and a wired network, the network having at least one mobile communication unit in wireless communication with the wired network over the wireless network, the network being characterized in that users of the network are each assigned a unique network address, comprising the steps of:
- establishing, through the wireless network, communication between the wired network and a mobile communication unit;
requesting an assignment of a network address for the mobile communication unit, the request being made to a network gateway by the mobile communication unit through the wireless network, the network gateway being bidirectionally coupled to the wired network for providing communications to remote users of the network;
in response to the request, assigning, with the network gateway, a network address to the mobile communication unit, the assigned address being transmitted from the network gateway to the wired network;
receiving the assigned network address with the mobile communication unit, the assigned address being received through the wireless network; and
in response to the received network address, the mobile communication unit thereafter communicating with the network by employing the assigned network address.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for managing bidirectional transmission of information between a wired network and at least one mobile communication unit (10) in wireless communication with the wired network. The wired network is of the type wherein users of the network are each assigned a unique network address such as in, for example, a TCP/IP network. In accordance with the invention there is provided a local gateway (16) coupled between a wireless LAN and the wired network for communication with a mobile communication unit. There is also provided a global gateway (18) coupled to the local gateway and to remote users of the network. The global gateway functions to maintain a plurality of network addresses and, in response to a request for an assignment of a network address from the mobile communication unit, assigns one of the plurality of network addresses to the requesting mobile communication unit. The global gateway also buffers and routes data received from a remote user, the data being directed to an addresss corresponding to the assigned network address, to the mobile communication unit having the assigned address.
863 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for transmitting information in a network that includes a wireless network and a wired network, the network having at least one mobile communication unit in wireless communication with the wired network over the wireless network, the network being characterized in that users of the network are each assigned a unique network address, comprising the steps of:
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establishing, through the wireless network, communication between the wired network and a mobile communication unit; requesting an assignment of a network address for the mobile communication unit, the request being made to a network gateway by the mobile communication unit through the wireless network, the network gateway being bidirectionally coupled to the wired network for providing communications to remote users of the network; in response to the request, assigning, with the network gateway, a network address to the mobile communication unit, the assigned address being transmitted from the network gateway to the wired network; receiving the assigned network address with the mobile communication unit, the assigned address being received through the wireless network; and in response to the received network address, the mobile communication unit thereafter communicating with the network by employing the assigned network address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a data communications network comprised of a wired network and a wireless network, apparatus for managing the bidirectional transmission of information between the wired network and at least one mobile communication unit in wireless communications with the wired network over the wireless network, the data communications network being characterized in that users of the data communications network are each assigned a unique network address, comprising:
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local gateway means, coupled between a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) and the wired network, for communicating with a mobile communication unit; and global gateway means coupled to the local gateway means and to remote users of the data communications network, the global gateway means including means for maintaining a plurality of network addresses, means for receiving a request for an assignment of a network address from the mobile communication unit, means for assigning one of the plurality of network addresses to the requesting mobile communication unit; and
means for routing data received from a remote user, the data having an address corresponding to the assigned network address, to the mobile communication unit having the assigned address. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a data communications network comprised of a wired network and a wireless network, a method for managing the bidirectional transmission of information between the wired network and at least one mobile communication unit in wireless communication with the wired network over the wireless network, the data communications network being characterized in that users of the data communications network are each assigned a unique network address, comprising the steps of:
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maintaining a plurality of the unique network addresses with a global gateway means, the global gateway means being bidirectionally coupled to a local gateway means, through the wired network, and also to remote users of the data communications network, the local gateway means being coupled between the wireless and the wired network; receiving, at the global gateway means, a request for an assignment of the network address from a mobile communication unit; in response to the received request, assigning one of the plurality of network addresses to the requesting mobile communication unit; and in response to a message received from a remote user, the message having an address that corresponds to the assigned network address, routing the message from the global gateway to the local gateway means, and from the local gateway means to the wireless network for reception by the mobile communications unit having the assigned network address. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification