Network based IP address assignment for static IP subscriber

• US 7,277,416 B1
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Li, Peter, Xu, Ce, Hu, Peter, King, William C., Tang, Jack, Chang, Patricia Ruey, Drumheller, Clarence E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zewdu; Meless
• Application Number:
  US10/652,559
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 4554321-4323, 455/439, 455/551, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455560-561, 455/556.2, 455/517, 455/403, 455/440, 455410-411, 455/422.1, 455/434, 455/437, 455418-419, 455/425, 455/461, 455/435.1, 455/466, 709/203, 709228-229, 380247-249, 713/155, 713161-162, 713168-171, 37039552-39553, 370/395.1, 370/395.5, 370912-913, 370/310, 370/902, 370312-313, 370328-338, 370378-379, 370381-386, 370389-393, 370/349, 370/908, 379/201.05, 379/218.01, 717/173, 717/178
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/912 Packet communications

Abstract

In existing standards for packet data communication over enhanced cellular networks, for a subscriber having a static address, the network relies on the terminal to provide the static address. Consequently, the terminal needs to know (be programmed with) its own static address and typically the address of a home agent element of the network. To eliminate the attendant need to provision such address data in the mobile station, the static address is stored in a node of the network, and the network assigns that one address to the mobile station, every time when the subscriber requests packet data service, for example, using a mobile IP (MIP) type address assignment procedure. The address assignment operation may also provide the home agent address to the station.

Claims

1. A method of providing a static address service for packet data communication through a wireless network, comprising:

receiving a request for packet data communication service through the wireless network, from a mobile station of a requesting subscriber;

accessing a profile record for the requesting subscriber, in a database of wireless service subscribers;

responsive to the accessed profile record indicating that the requesting subscriber subscribes to the static address service, obtaining a static packet communication address of the requesting subscriber from the accessed profile record; and

downloading the static packet communication address obtained from the accessed profile record through the wireless network, for use by the mobile station in packet data communication through the wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the static packet communication address comprises a statically assigned internet protocol (IP) address.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the accessed profile record indicating that the requesting subscriber subscribes to the static address service, obtaining a packet communication address of a node of the wireless network assigned to serve as a home agent for the requesting subscriber, from the accessed profile record; and

transmitting the packet communication address of the home agent obtained from the accessed profile record to a packet data serving node (PDSN) involved in establishment of the packet data communication service through the wireless network for the mobile station and to the mobile station.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the packet communication address of the home agent comprises an internet protocol (IP) address of the node assigned to serve as the home agent for the requesting subscriber.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of accessing the profile record for the requesting subscriber is associated with a step of validating authentication or authorization of the mobile station to receive the requested packet data communication service through the wireless network.

6. A method of providing a static address service for packet data communication through a wireless network, comprising:

receiving a request for packet data communication service at a packet data serving node (PDSN) of the wireless network, from a mobile station of a requesting subscriber;

sending a validation request message identifying the mobile station from the PSDN to an Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server;

in response to the validation request message, accessing a profile record for the requesting subscriber, in a database of profile records of wireless service subscribers;

responsive to the accessed profile record indicating that the requesting subscriber subscribes to a static address service, obtaining a packet communication address of a node of the wireless network assigned to serve as a home agent for the requesting subscriber, from the accessed profile record;

sending the packet communication address of the home agent to the PDSN;

sending a service request message identifying the mobile station from the PSDN to the home agent, using the packet communication address of the home agent;

in response to the service request message, obtaining a static packet communication address of the requesting subscriber from the accessed profile record;

sending the static packet communication address obtained from the accessed profile record to the PDSN;

downloading the static packet communication address and the packet communication address of the home agent obtained from the accessed profile record, from the PDSN through the wireless network to the mobile station; and

providing packet data communication service through the wireless network, for the mobile station, via the PDSN and the home agent, using the downloaded static packet communication address and the packet communication address of the home agent.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the static packet communication address comprises a statically assigned internet protocol (IP) address; and

the packet communication address of the home agent comprises an internet protocol (IP) address of the node of the wireless network that has be assigned to serve as the home agent for the mobile station.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

assigning a different node of the wireless network that to serve as the home agent for the mobile station; and

modifying the profile record of the requesting subscriber to provide an internet protocol (IP) address of the different node as the packet communication address of the home agent.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the sending steps and the downloading steps utilize messages transmissions of a mobile IP service protocol.

10. A programmed computer system having an interface for communication with elements of a network providing subscribers wireless packet data communication service and having access to a database of subscriber profile records, the computer system being programmed to perform the steps, comprising:

receiving a request for packet data communication service through the wireless network, from a mobile station of a requesting subscriber;

accessing a profile record for the requesting subscriber, in a database of wireless service subscribers;

responsive to the accessed profile record indicating that the requesting subscriber subscribes to a static address service, obtaining a static packet communication address of the requesting subscriber from the accessed profile record; and

downloading the static packet communication address obtained from the accessed profile record through the wireless network, for use by the mobile station for use in packet data communication through the wireless network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the static packet communication address comprises a statically assigned internet protocol (IP) address.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the steps performed by the programmed computer system further comprise:

responsive to the accessed profile record indicating that the requesting subscriber subscribes to a static address service, obtaining a packet communication address of a node of the wireless network assigned to serve as a home agent for the requesting subscriber, from the accessed profile record; and

transmitting the packet communication address of the home agent obtained from the accessed profile record to a packet data serving node (PDSN) involved in establishment of the packet data communication service through the wireless network for the mobile station and to the mobile station.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the packet communication address of the home agent comprises an internet protocol (IP) address of the home agent assigned to serve the requesting subscriber.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the programmed computer system is an Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server.

15. A software product comprising instructions executable by a computer, carried by at least one machine-readable medium, execution of the instructions by the computer causing the computer to perform a sequence of steps, comprising:

receiving a request for packet data communication service through a wireless network, from a mobile station of a requesting subscriber;

accessing a profile record for the requesting subscriber, in a database of wireless service subscribers;

responsive to the accessed profile record indicating that the requesting subscriber subscribes to a static address service, obtaining a static packet communication address of the requesting subscriber from the accessed profile record; and

downloading the static packet communication address obtained from the accessed profile record through the wireless network, for use by the mobile station for use in packet data communication through the wireless network.

16. The software product of claim 15, wherein the static packet communication address comprises a statically assigned internet protocol (IP) address.

17. The software product of claim 15, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the computer to perform steps comprising:

responsive to the accessed profile record indicating that the requesting subscriber subscribes to a static address service, obtaining a packet communication address of a node of the wireless network assigned to serve as a home agent for the requesting subscriber, from the accessed profile record; and

transmitting the packet communication address of the home agent obtained from the accessed profile record to a packet data serving node (PDSN) involved in establishment of the packet data communication service through the wireless network for the mobile station and to the mobile station.

18. The software product of claim 17, wherein the packet communication address of the home agent comprises an internet protocol (IP) address of the home agent assigned to serve the requesting subscriber.

19. The software product of claim 15, further comprising the database of wireless service subscribers.

20. The software product of claim 15, wherein the instructions comprise a program for performing Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) functions.