Methods and apparatus for supporting session signaling and mobility management in a communications system
First Claim
1. A communications method for use in a communications system including a plurality of nodes, said plurality of nodes including first and second end nodes, the method including the steps of:
- providing an access node including a session signaling server module through which the first end node can establish a data communications session with the second end node, said access node being a base station; and
operating said access node to transmit data communications signals from said first end node to said second end node once a data communications session between said first and second end nodes is established.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile communications system that uses IP packets to transmit data between end nodes, such as mobile devices, is described. In order to facilitate session establishment, maintenance, security, and handoff operations, access nodes through which end nodes communicate with one another include a session signaling server module and a mobility agent module. The session signaling server module may be implemented as a SIP server while the mobility agent module may be implemented using Mobil IP signaling. The mobility agent and SIP server within an access node are identified using a single shared identifier, IP address. The same security method and common secret may be used to provide security with regard to both mobile IP messages and SIP messages. Sessions admission decisions and resource allocation for admitted sessions can also take place internally to the access node of this invention without need for signaling to external elements.
53 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A communications method for use in a communications system including a plurality of nodes, said plurality of nodes including first and second end nodes, the method including the steps of:
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providing an access node including a session signaling server module through which the first end node can establish a data communications session with the second end node, said access node being a base station; and operating said access node to transmit data communications signals from said first end node to said second end node once a data communications session between said first and second end nodes is established. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer readable medium including computer executable instructions for controlling an access node to implement a method in a communications system including a plurality of nodes, said plurality of nodes including first and second end nodes, said access node being a base station, said access node including a session signaling server module through which the first end node can establish a data communications session with the second end node, the method comprising:
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operating said session signaling server module to perform a session initiation operation; and controlling said access node to transmit data communications signals from said first end node to said second end node once a data communications session between said first and second end nodes is established.
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22. An apparatus comprising;
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a processor for use in an access node, said access node being included in communications system including a plurality of nodes, said plurality of nodes including first and second end nodes, said access node being a base station, said access nods including a session signaling server module through which the first end node can establish a data communications session with the second end node, the processor configured to; operate said session signaling server module to perform a session initiation operation; and control said access node to transmit data communications signals from said first end node to said second end node once a data communications session between said first and second end nodes is established.
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23. An access node for use in a communications system including a plurality of nodes, said plurality of nodes including first and second end nodes, the access node comprising:
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a session signaling server module for performing a session initiation operation through which the first end node can establish a data communications session with the second end node; an I/O interface module via which said access node can transmit data communications signals from said first end node to said second end node once a data communications session between said first and second end nodes is established; and wherein said access node is a base station.
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24. An access node for use in a communications system including a plurality of nodes, said plurality of nodes including first and second end nodes, the access node comprising:
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session signaling means for performing a session initiation operation through which the first end node can establish a data communications session with the second end node; I/O interface means via which said access node can transmit data communications signals from said first end node to said second end node once a data communications session between said first and second end nodes is established; and wherein said access node is a base station.
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Specification