Mobility management for a multimedia mobile network

• US 6,256,300 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2000
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Jiang, Hong, Rege, Kiran M., Dravida, Subrahmanyam, Ahmed, Walid, Doshi, Bharat Tarachand
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsu, Alpus H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, DUC CHI
• Application Number:
  US09/547,263
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 370/331, 370/351, 370/392, 370/400, 370/401, 340/825.52, 455/422, 455/436, 455/455, 455/433
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/164 Adaptation or special uses of UDP protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/082 for traffic bypassing of mobility servers, e.g. location registers, home PLMNs or home agents
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

Various methodologies and related apparatus associated with mobility management issues within a packet-based multiaccess mobile communications system, which includes a plurality of mobile user stations and a plurality of network nodes, are provided. Location management techniques include tracking and/or locating mobile stations within the system. The invention makes use of home and visiting location registers in which information such as mobile station addresses and/or host names associated with mobile stations are stored. Mobile access methodologies include a complete mobile access method and a direct mobile access method. The former allows a mobile station to preferably include a unique address in the packets being transmitted, while the latter allows the station to merely use the host name of the destination station. The invention also includes various in-call mobility management techniques, including handoffs, which make use of the concept of an anchor.

Claims

1. A method for use in a network node of a packet-based multiaccess communications system for substantially ensuring continuity of an existing connection between a first mobile user station and a second mobile user station, the system including a plurality of network nodes, comprising the steps of:

identifying the network node as an anchor for the first station, the network node having an address which includes an identifier, the first station having an address being a combination of the identifier of the network node and an identifier of the first station; and

receiving at least a packet from the second station during the existing connection containing the address of the first station such that the network node directs the packet to the first station via another network node which the first station has established communication with in association with a handoff, and wherein any network node in the communications system is not required to obtain additional address information to direct the packet to the first station.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of transmitting at least a packet from the first station to the second station via another network node identified as an anchor of the second station, the packet containing an address of the second station, the address being a combination of an identifier of the anchor of the second station and an identifier of the second station, and wherein any network node in the communications system is not required to obtain additional address information to direct the packet to the second station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein packets are transferred within the system according to one of source routing, connectionless routing, and tunneling.

4. A method for use in a mobile user station of a packet-based multiaccess communications system for substantially ensuring continuity of an existing connection between the first mobile user station and a second mobile user station, the system including a plurality of network nodes, comprising the steps of:

establishing a network node as an anchor for the first station, the network node having an address which includes an identifier, the first station having an address being a combination of the identifier of the network node and an identifier of the first station; and

receiving at the first station at least a packet sent by the second station during the existing connection from the network node via another network node which the first station has established communication with in association with a handoff, and wherein any network node in the communications system is not required to obtain additional address information to direct the packet to the first station.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein packets are transferred within the system according to one of source routing, connectionless routing, and tunneling.

6. Apparatus for substantially ensuring continuity of an existing connection between a first mobile user station and a second mobile user station in a packet-based multiaccess communications system, including a plurality of network nodes comprising:

a network node configured for being identified as an anchor for the first station, the network node having an address which includes an identifier, the first station having an address being a combination of the identifier of the network node and an identifier of the first station, and the network node also configured for receiving at least a packet from the second station during the existing connection containing the address of the first station such that the network node directs the packet to the first station via another network node which the first station has established communication with in association with a handoff, and wherein any network node in the communications system is not required to obtain additional address information to direct the packet to the first station.

7. Apparatus for substantially ensuring continuity of an existing connection in a packet-based multiaccess communications system, including a plurality of network nodes comprising:

a first mobile user station configured for establishing a network node as an anchor for the first station, the network node having an address which includes an identifier, the first station having an address being a combination of the identifier of the network node and an identifier of the first station, the first station also configured for receiving at least a packet, sent by a second station during an existing connection therewith, from the network node via another network node which the first station has established communication with in association with a handoff, and wherein any network node in the communications system is not required to obtain additional address information to direct the packet to the first station.