Method and apparatus for registering a mobile device

• US 6,957,066 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2001
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Malcolm M., Stammers, Timothy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US09/859,269
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/410, 455/411, 455/422.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/432.1, 455/433, 455/432.2, 455/445, 455/466, 455/517, 455/414.1, 455/500, 455/560, 455/561, 455/403, 455/550.1, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/551, 455/553, 455/73, 370/314, 370/338, 370/352, 370/349, 370/351, 370/355, 370/401, 370/467
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A communication system includes a radio access network (RAN) and a core packet network that allows registration of mobile devices. A temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI) assigned to the mobile device includes, at least in part, an address of a mobility control function (MCF) currently serving the mobile device. Components in the system use the TMDI to direct messages to the appropriate MCF.

Claims

1. A method for registering a mobile device, comprising:

receiving a registration request from a mobile device;

assigning a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI), wherein the TMDI comprises at least a portion of an address of a mobility control function (MCF) serving the mobile device; and

communicating the TMDI to the mobile device;

wherein the TMDI further comprises;

a first part designating a selected one of a plurality of pools within a core packet network, each pool comprising a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs);

a second part designating a selected one of the MCFs in the selected pool of the core packet network to service the mobile device; and

a third part designating the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving comprises:

receiving, at a router, a registration request from a mobile device; and

communicating the registration request to a selected one of a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs) based on the loading characteristics of the MCFs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the TMDI comprises:

a first part designating a selected one of a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs) to service the mobile device; and

a second part designating a local identifier of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving subscriber information from the mobile device;

storing the subscriber information at the MCF;

receiving a message from the mobile device, the message identifying the MCF and the mobile device; and

retrieving the subscriber information to process the message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the following steps performed before assigning a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI):

communicating an authentication request to a remote location; and

receiving a positive authentication response from the remote location.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the remote location comprises a home location register of the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the TMDI comprises at least a portion of a 128-bit Internet protocol address.

8. A system for providing a distributed mobility control function to a plurality of mobile devices, comprising:

a router operable to receive a plurality of registration requests from a plurality of mobile devices and to route the registration requests to a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs) based on the loading characteristics of the MCFs; and

the MCFs operable to receive the registration requests, each MCF further operable to assign a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI) that includes at least a portion of an address of the MCF;

wherein the TMDI further comprises;

a first part designating a selected one of a plurality of pools within a core packet network, each pool comprising the plurality of MCFs;

a second part designating a selected one of the MCFs in the selected pool of the core packet network to service the mobile device; and

a third part designating the mobile device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein each MCF is further operable to:

communicate an authentication request to a remote location;

receive a positive authentication response from the remote location; and

communicate the TMDI to the mobile device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the TMDI comprises:

a first part designating a selected one of a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs) to service the mobile device; and

a second part designating a local identifier of the mobile device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the TMDI comprises at least a portion of a 128-bit Internet protocol address.

12. An apparatus for registering a mobile device, comprising:

an interface operable to receive a registration request from a mobile device; and

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to assign a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI), wherein the TMDI comprises at least a portion of an address of a mobility control function (MCF) serving the mobile device;

wherein the interface is further operable to communicate the TMDI to the mobile device in response to the registration request;

wherein the TMDI further comprises;

a first part designating a selected one of a plurality of pools within a core packet network, each pool comprising a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs);

a second part designating a selected one of the MCFs in the selected pool of the core packet network to service the mobile device; and

a third part designating the mobile device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the TMDI comprises:

a first part designating a selected one of a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs) to service the mobile device; and

a second part designating a local identifier of the mobile device.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a memory operable to store subscriber information received from the mobile device, wherein the processor retrieves the subscriber information from the memory to process a message received from the mobile device.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the interface is further operable to communicate an authentication request to a remote location and to receive an authentication response from the remote location.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the TMDI comprises at least a portion of a 128-bit Internet protocol address.

17. An apparatus for registering a mobile device, comprising:

means for receiving a registration request from a mobile device;

means for assigning a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI), wherein the TMDI comprises at least a portion of an address of a mobility control function (MCF) and a local identifier of the mobile device; and

means for communicating the TMDI to the mobile device;

wherein the TMDI further comprises;

a first part designating a selected one of a plurality of pools within a core packet network, each pool comprising a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs);

a second part designating a selected one of the MCFs in the selected pool of the core packet network to service the mobile device; and

a third part designating the mobile device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the TMDI comprises at least a portion of a 128-bit Internet protocol address.

19. Logic encoded in media for registering a mobile device, the logic operable to:

receive a registration request from a mobile device;

assign a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI), wherein the TMDI comprises at least a portion of an address of a mobility control function (MCF) and a local identifier of the mobile device; and

communicate the TMDI to the mobile device;

wherein the TMDI further comprises;

a first part designating a selected one of a plurality of pools within a core packet network, each pool comprising a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs);

a second part designating a selected one of the MCFs in the selected pool of the core packet network to service the mobile device; and

a third part designating the mobile device.

20. The logic of claim 19, wherein the TMDI comprises at least a portion of a 128-bit Internet protocol address.