DNS updating in communication network

• US 7,313,631 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2000
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Bristol
• Original Assignee: University of Bristol
• Inventors: Sesmun, Amardiya, Munro, Alistair Thomas Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone; Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swearingen; Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US10/070,326
• Time in Patent Office: 2,667 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/245, 370/338, 370/356, 370/389
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• 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 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

In a communication network in which terminals (11) are mobile in the network, the mobility must be managed, and in particular the location of the mobile terminal needs to be determined. Networks each have an associated name server (13) and the name server (13) stores a care-of-address for the terminal (11), as well as a permanent address. As the terminal moves from one subnet of the network to another the care-of-address is changed to reflect the current subnet. Therefore, the input of the name of the mobile terminal (11) identifies via the care-of-address the subnet in which the terminal is currently located. The network is divided with domains each with its own name server (13, 14) as the terminal (11) moves from its home domain to a foreign domain, the name server (14) of that foreign domain may be updated with details of the mobile terminal (11) so that any query to the terminal (11) originating in the foreign domain may be resolved within that foreign domain. A care-of-address may be stored in the name server (14) of that foreign domain. Then, the address of the name server (14) of that foreign domain may be used as the care-of-address in the name server of the home domain (13).

Claims

1. A method of operating a network, the network comprising a plurality of interlinked domains, each domain having a DNS name server associated therewith, each domain having a least one subnet, wherein:

a mobile terminal is associated with a first domain of said plurality of interlinked domains and a first subnet within said first domain, a DNS name server of said first domain storing a name for said mobile terminal and a first output address of said mobile terminal, which first output address includes an identifying identification of said first subnet, whereby the input to the network of said name for said mobile terminal causes said DNS name server of said first domain to output said first output address;

when said mobile terminal moves to a second subnet associated with a second domain of the plurality of interlinked domains, said DNS name server of said second domain stores said name for said mobile terminal and a second output address for said mobile terminal, said second output address including an identification of said second subnet, and said first output address stored in said DNS name server of said first domain is updated with an address of said DNS name server of said second domain, whereby an input to said network of said name for said mobile terminal causes said DNS name server of said first domain to output an address of said DNS name server of said second domain, and causes said DNS name server of said second domain to output said second output address; and

when said mobile terminal moves to a third subnet, also within said second domain, said second output address stored in said DNS name server of said second domain is updated with a third output address, said third output address including an identification of said third subnet.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein no signal is sent between said first domain and said second domain as a consequence of the mobile terminal moving from the second subnet to the third subnet.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said mobile terminal requests that an update be sent to said DNS name server of said second domain upon moving to said third subnet.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said DNS name server of said second domain transmits updates to said DNS name server of said first domain regarding status of said mobile terminal.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein when said mobile terminal moves to a location within a third domain of said plurality of interlinked domains, a DNS name server of said third domain is configured to notify said DNS name server of said first domain to update said address of said DNS name server of said second domain with an address of said DNS name server of said third domain.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein when said mobile terminal moves to a location within a third domain of said plurality of interlinked domains, said mobile terminal is configured to notify said DNS name server of said first domain to update said address of said DNS name server of said second domain with an address of said DNS name server of said third domain.

7. A network comprising a plurality of mobile terminals and communication means for permitting communication between said plurality of mobile terminals, said communication means comprising a plurality of interlinked domains, each domain having a DNS name server associated therewith, wherein,

a first mobile terminal of the plurality of mobile terminals is associated with a first domain of the plurality of interlinked domains and a first subnet within said first domain, said DNS name server of said first domain being arranged to store a name and a first output address for said first mobile terminal, said first output address including an identification of said first subnet, whereby an input to said communication means of said name for said first mobile terminal is arranged to cause said DNS name server of said first domain to output said first output address;

when said first mobile terminal moves to a second subnet within a second domain of the plurality of interlinked domains, a DNS name server of said second domain is arranged to store said name for said first mobile terminal and a second output address for said first mobile terminal, said second output address including an identification of said second subnet, and said DNS name server of said first domain is arranged to update said first output address with an address of said DNS name server of said second domain, whereby an input to said communication means of said name for said first mobile terminal is arranged to cause said DNS name server of said first domain to output an address of said DNS name server of said second domain, and to cause said DNS name server of said second domain to output said second output address; and

when said first mobile terminal moves to a third subnet also within said second domain, said DNS name server of said second domain is arranged to update said second output address with a third output address for the first mobile terminal, said third output address including an identification of said third subnet.

8. A network according to claim 7, wherein no signal is sent between said first domain and said second domain as a consequence of the mobile terminal moving from said second subnet to said third subnet.

9. A network according to claim 7, wherein said mobile terminal requests that an update be sent to said DNS name server of said second domain upon moving to said third subnet.

10. A network according to claim 7, wherein said DNS name server of said second domain updates said DNS name server of said first domain regarding status of the mobile terminal.

11. A network according to claim 7, wherein when said mobile terminal moves to a location within a third domain of said plurality of interlinked domains, a DNS name server of said third domain is configured to notify said DNS name server of said first domain to update said address of said DNS name server of said second domain with an address of said DNS name server of said third domain.

12. A network according to claim 7, wherein when said mobile terminal moves to a location within a third domain of said plurality of interlinked domains, said mobile terminal is configured to notify said DNS name server of said first domain to update said address of said DNS name server of said second domain with an address of said name server of said third domain.