Application-level mobility support in communications network
First Claim
1. A communications network for bi-directional transmission of a data packet between a mobile host and a corresponding host each having a unique network address, the network comprising:
- an Internet backbone;
a first access network providing access to a corresponding host to the Internet backbone through a gateway;
a second access network having a gateway coupled to the Internet backbone, and a plurality of interconnected edge routers each having at least a radio access station to bi-directionally communicate data to the mobile host, each radio access station having a predetermined geographical radio coverage area associated therewith;
a mobility N-proxy in dialogue with the corresponding host through the access network, the N-proxy having means for communicating information to the corresponding host; and
a mobility M-proxy having means for intercepting and terminating within itself the flow of a data packet originating from the mobile host by changing the addressing information of the data packet, such that the mobile host is thereafter communicating with the network by using a network address associated with the M-proxy, the M-proxy configured and arranged to maintain an active transmission session with the N-proxy, the M-proxy further adapted to start a new transmission session with the N-proxy in response to the mobile host changing its physical location from a first radio coverage area associated with a first edge router to a second radio coverage area associated with a second edge router, whereby the migration of the mobile host from the first radio coverage area to the second radio coverage area is substantially transparent to a network application running on the mobile host.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for bi-directional transfer of information between a corresponding host and a mobile host in a communications network where each user is assigned a unique network address. In accordance with the teaching of the invention, mobility M- and N-proxies are provided for intercepting data incoming from the mobile host and redirecting it to the corresponding host via transitional transmission sessions established by the proxies, such that the migration of the mobile host from one coverage area to another is transparent to the network application running on the mobile host.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A communications network for bi-directional transmission of a data packet between a mobile host and a corresponding host each having a unique network address, the network comprising:
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an Internet backbone;
a first access network providing access to a corresponding host to the Internet backbone through a gateway;
a second access network having a gateway coupled to the Internet backbone, and a plurality of interconnected edge routers each having at least a radio access station to bi-directionally communicate data to the mobile host, each radio access station having a predetermined geographical radio coverage area associated therewith;
a mobility N-proxy in dialogue with the corresponding host through the access network, the N-proxy having means for communicating information to the corresponding host; and
a mobility M-proxy having means for intercepting and terminating within itself the flow of a data packet originating from the mobile host by changing the addressing information of the data packet, such that the mobile host is thereafter communicating with the network by using a network address associated with the M-proxy, the M-proxy configured and arranged to maintain an active transmission session with the N-proxy, the M-proxy further adapted to start a new transmission session with the N-proxy in response to the mobile host changing its physical location from a first radio coverage area associated with a first edge router to a second radio coverage area associated with a second edge router, whereby the migration of the mobile host from the first radio coverage area to the second radio coverage area is substantially transparent to a network application running on the mobile host. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of data communications between a mobile host and a corresponding host in a communications network, each host having a unique network address, the method comprising the steps of:
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initiating a transmission session between the mobile host and the corresponding host by sending a data packet to the corresponding host;
establishing a mobility M-proxy executing on the mobile host, the M-proxy baying a network capture layer associated therewith to intercept the data packet en route to the corresponding host;
configuring a first transmission session between the mobile host and the M-proxy;
configuring a second transmission session with a mobility N-proxy configured and arranged to communicate information to the corresponding host;
maintaining with the N-proxy the network address of the corresponding host;
capturing the data packet in flight from the mobile host to the corresponding boat using the first transmission session;
redirecting the data packet from the M-proxy to the N-proxy using the second;
transmission session;
receiving the data packet at the N-proxy using the second transmission session;
configuring a third transmission session between the N-proxy and the corresponding host by interpreting the network address of the corresponding host established during the second transmission session; and
delivering the data packet to the corresponding host using the third transmission session. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification