Mobile networking method and apparatus
First Claim
1. For interconnecting devices in an internetwork comprising multiple networks, a system comprising:
- a router for receiving, transmitting, and directing data over a plurality of networks, and for providing a first signal uniquely corresponding to a network of the plurality of networks;
a plurality of nodes associated with the network and positioned to communicate data with the router;
a carrier structure operably positioned between the router and the plurality of nodes for transmitting and receiving data between the router and the plurality of nodes;
a network card operably associated with a node of the plurality of nodes for transmitting and receiving data between the node and the carrier structure, and for providing to the node a second signal unique to the network card;
the node operably connected to the router to automatically receive the first signal and the second signal and to form, in accordance with the first and second signals, a local address corresponding to the node;
a home router programmed to automatically maintain session level connectivity between the node and the home router after the node is disconnected and reconnected to the carrier structure.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An internetwork including a plurality of local area networks may include wireless and hard-wired local area networks. The internetwork may also include wide area network links between routers. The system includes routers between networks, which may be bridged networks. Certain routers are configured as home routers. Home routers bind two addresses for each mobile node on a given network when that node logs-in with a home router. Mobile nodes log-in with a home router that assigns a virtual address that does not change throughout a session. Each time, a mobile node roams to another network across a router boundary, the virtual address remains the same and all packets directed to the mobile node are received by the home router which advertises that it can reach the mobile node. As the mobile node roams, it reports back to the home router a local address to which the home router forwards all packets directed originally by correspondent nodes to the virtual address. Mobile nodes may log-in to a router many hops removed from a local area network of the situs. Mobile nodes may also roam across wide area links. The system is transparent to a user.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. For interconnecting devices in an internetwork comprising multiple networks, a system comprising:
-
a router for receiving, transmitting, and directing data over a plurality of networks, and for providing a first signal uniquely corresponding to a network of the plurality of networks; a plurality of nodes associated with the network and positioned to communicate data with the router; a carrier structure operably positioned between the router and the plurality of nodes for transmitting and receiving data between the router and the plurality of nodes; a network card operably associated with a node of the plurality of nodes for transmitting and receiving data between the node and the carrier structure, and for providing to the node a second signal unique to the network card; the node operably connected to the router to automatically receive the first signal and the second signal and to form, in accordance with the first and second signals, a local address corresponding to the node; a home router programmed to automatically maintain session level connectivity between the node and the home router after the node is disconnected and reconnected to the carrier structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An apparatus for providing automatic addressing and roaming across an internetwork, the apparatus comprising:
-
a first primary network; a router connectable to the first primary network; at least one second primary network operably connectable at a first location to the router to extend away from the first primary network; at least one second router connectable to a second location on the second primary network, the second location being spaced away from the first location and spaced away from the first primary network; a third primary network operably connected to a second router of the at least one second router to be extendible away from the second router and from a second network of the at least one second primary network; a mobile node connectable to the first primary network to transmit and receive data, and to automatically provide a local address uniquely associated with the mobile node and the first primary network; and a home router operably connected to the internetwork to provide a virtual network address uniquely corresponding to the mobile node to forward to the mobile node at the local address incoming data directed to the virtual address, and to provide continuous session level connectivity of the mobile node to the internetwork during roaming of the mobile node.
-
-
21. An apparatus for connecting a node to an internetwork, the apparatus comprising:
-
a network connected to an internetwork; a node comprising a processor effective to create a local address identifying the node in the network, and for communicating the address to the internetwork; a home router connected to the internetwork to communicate with the node, to provide a virtual address associated with the node, the node remaining continuously addressable at the virtual address during roaming by the node between the local address and a new local address, for maintaining session level connectivity of the node. - View Dependent Claims (22)
-
-
23. A method for addressing a node connected to an internetwork comprising:
-
connecting a node to a network in the internetwork in a session; acquiring a network number associated with the network; acquiring a number associated with the node; creating a local address uniquely associated with the node in the network; logging the node in to a home router connected to the internetwork; providing to the home router the local address; providing from the home router to the node a virtual address; binding the local address to the virtual address in a memory device of the home router; providing to another node connected to the internetwork the virtual address corresponding to the node; forwarding to the local address packets directed to the virtual address during the session; disconnecting the node from the network, and connecting the node to a new network in the internetwork, while maintaining session level connectivity of the node. - View Dependent Claims (24)
-
Specification