Technique for providing multi-homing capability in data networks
First Claim
1. A method for implementing multi-homing capability in a data network, the data network including a wide area network and a plurality of network service providers, the data network further including at least one host, the at least one host including a first host, the first host having associated therewith a first home agent, the method comprising:
- obtaining a plurality of network addresses associated with the first host;
each of the plurality of network addresses representing a respective Care-of-Address associated with the first host, wherein each of the plurality of network addresses is topologically correct relative to one of the plurality of network service providers; and
registering two or more of the network addresses with the first home agent, thereby enabling packets to be forwarded to the first host via the two or more of the network addresses, wherein registering is performed via a single Foreign Agent.
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Abstract
Various aspects of the present invention are described herein for providing multi-homing capability to networks, subnetworks, and/or hosts through the use of a multiplicity of topologically correct IP addresses. For example, according to various embodiments of the present invention, extensions to Mobile IP (MIP) technology may be used as an alternative solution to the present-day problems associated with IP address multi-homing of a particular host, network, and/or subnet. According to one implementation, Specialized Home Agents may be deployed in a data network and configured to have the ability to register and manage multiple Care-of-Addresses (CoAs) for one or more multi-homed hosts (MHHs) to achieve ends similar to traditional “multi-homing” of hosts implemented via conventional routing protocols.
58 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for implementing multi-homing capability in a data network, the data network including a wide area network and a plurality of network service providers, the data network further including at least one host, the at least one host including a first host, the first host having associated therewith a first home agent, the method comprising:
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obtaining a plurality of network addresses associated with the first host; each of the plurality of network addresses representing a respective Care-of-Address associated with the first host, wherein each of the plurality of network addresses is topologically correct relative to one of the plurality of network service providers; and registering two or more of the network addresses with the first home agent, thereby enabling packets to be forwarded to the first host via the two or more of the network addresses, wherein registering is performed via a single Foreign Agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 23, 24)
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12. A system for implementing multi-homing capability in a data network, the data network including a wide area network and a plurality of network service provider the data network further including at least one host, including a first host, the first host having associated therewith a first home agent, the system comprising:
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at least one processor; at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the data network; and memory, the system being configured or designed to obtain a plurality of network addresses associated with the first host, wherein each of the plurality of network addresses is topologically correct with respect to one of the plurality of network service providers; each of the plurality of network addresses representing a respective Care-of-Address associated with the first host; and the system being further configured or designed to register two or more of the network addresses with the first home agent, thereby enabling data packets to be forwarded to the first host via the registered two or more of the network addresses, wherein registering is performed via a single Foreign Agent. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 25)
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20. A system for implementing multi-homing capability in a data network, the data network including a wide area network and a plurality of network service providers, the data network further including at least one host, including a first host, the first host having associated therewith a first home agent, the system comprising:
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means for obtaining a plurality of network addresses associated with the first host; each of the plurality of network addresses representing a respective Care-of-Address associated with the first host, wherein each of the plurality of network service providers has associated therewith one or more of the plurality of network addresses such that each of the plurality of network addresses is topologically correct with respect to one of the plurality of network service providers; and means for registering the plurality of network addresses with the first home agent, thereby enabling packets to be forwarded to the first host via the plurality of network service providers using the plurality of network addresses, wherein registering is performed via a single Foreign Agent. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification