Mobile IP notification

• US 7,440,433 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Rink, Fred, Currin, Steven, Mizell, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer, Temica M
• Application Number:
  US10/741,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20050147069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/352, 370/355, 370/395.52, 455/414.1, 455/426.2, 455/552.1, 455/557
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

A home agent and a mobile terminal communicate to facilitate the home agent becoming aware of whether the mobile terminal is notification capable meaning the mobile terminal is able to receive notifications of specified events without an open browser window. If the mobile terminal is notification capable, the home agent provides notifications based upon specified events and conditions. The mobile terminal then provides an indication of the notification to the user even though a browser window is not open for displaying user messages. More specifically, the mobile IP registration process according to a mobile IP protocol is modified to add parameter extensions that allow the mobile terminal to provide this indication that it is notification capable. The home agent is notification capable as well and provides specified notifications to the mobile terminal upon the occurrence of a specified event either in a registration reply or during a data session or call.

Claims

1. A mobile IP network;

comprising;

a mobile terminal that provides an indication, within a registration request signal for a non-browser based application, of having a notification capability;

a home agent (HA) that receives and processes a registration request with the indication of notification capability wherein the HA provides one of a redirect notification or a service notification if a specified service request cannot be provided; and

wherein the mobile terminal stores the redirect notification or service notification in a specified manner without using a browser window.

2. A home agent (HA) for serving a mobile terminal in a mobile IP network, comprising:

a processor for executing computer instructions that define operational logic of the HA;

a bus coupled to the processor for transmitting computer instructions and control signals to and from the processor within the HA;

a bus controller for controlling communications and timing of communications thereon;

a network port for coupling the HA to a wireless communication network to enable the HA to communicate with the mobile terminal;

memory coupled to the bus, the memory including the computer instructions that define operational logic for routing data packets between the mobile terminal, the defined HA and a web server;

the memory further including computer instructions that define logic for communicating with the mobile terminal;

wherein the HA receives a registration request from the mobile terminal including an indication that the mobile terminal is capable of receiving and processing a specified indication which specified indication includes one of a redirect notification or a service notification if a specified service request cannot be provided; and

wherein the HA provides one of the redirect notification or the service notification if the specified service request cannot be provided.

3. The HA of claim 2 wherein the redirect notification is provided to the mobile terminal even though a browser page is not activated on the mobile terminal.

4. The HA of claim 3 wherein the redirect notification is provided to the mobile terminal along with an indication of a web site address to which the mobile terminal is being redirected.

5. The HA of claim 4 wherein the mobile terminal is redirected in response to the registration request.

6. The HA of claim 4 wherein the mobile terminal is redirected while in a mobile IP data session.

7. The HA of claim 2 wherein the HA sends an empty notification message to the mobile terminal to prompt the mobile terminal to clear out a previously received notification message.

8. A mobile terminal for use in a mobile IP network, comprising:

a processor for executing computer instructions that define operational logic of a home agent (HA);

a bus coupled to the processor for transmitting computer instructions and control signals to and from the processor within the HA;

a bus controller for controlling communications and timing of communications thereon;

transceiver circuitry for enabling the mobile terminal to communicate with the HA by way of a communication network;

memory coupled to the bus, the memory including the computer instructions that define operational logic for establishing a communication link with the HA; and

wherein the mobile terminal produces a registration request including an indication that the mobile terminal is capable of receiving and processing a specified indication which specified indication includes one of a redirect notification or a service notification if a specified service request cannot be provided.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 8 wherein the mobile terminal receives and processes the redirect notification even though a browser page is not activated on the mobile terminal.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9 wherein the mobile terminal receives the redirect notification along with an indication of a web site address to which the mobile terminal is being redirected and wherein the mobile terminal displays at least a portion of the web address provided with the redirect notification.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10 wherein the mobile terminal receives and processes the redirect notification in response to the registration request.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 10 wherein the mobile terminal receives and processes the redirect notification in a mobile IP data session.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 8 wherein the mobile terminal receives and processes the redirect notification with an empty notification message and further wherein the mobile terminal clears a previously received notification message.

14. A method by one of a mobile terminal and a home agent in a mobile IP network, comprising:

the mobile terminal transmitting a registration request, the registration request indicating that the mobile terminal is notification capable for receiving redirect notification even though a browser window is not open;

the mobile terminal receiving a notification, without having an open browser window, indicating one of a service notification or a redirect notification reflecting that the mobile terminal is being redirected to a web site not requested by the mobile terminal; and

the mobile terminal providing an indication of the notification to a user of the mobile terminal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the mobile terminal receives the notification in response to a registration request message generated by the mobile terminal.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the mobile terminal receives the notification in a mobile IP data session.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the home agent receives an indication that the mobile terminal is notification capable.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the home agent determines that a notification is to be provided to the mobile terminal.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the home agent provides notification to the mobile terminal in response to the registration request message.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the home agent provides notification to the mobile terminal during an established mobile IP data session.