Methods and apparatus for supporting proxy mobile IP registration in a wireless local area network
First Claim
1. In a first access point, a method of supporting mobility for a node that does not support Mobile IP, comprising:
- receiving access point information from a second access point;
storing the access point information received from the second access point such that a list of active access points is updated to include the access point information received from the second access point, the list of active access points including access point information associated with one or more active access points, the access point information received from the second access point including information identifying an access point subnet and a gateway associated with the second access point; and
sending the access point information received from the second access point to a third access point that supports Mobile IP to notify the third access point that the second access point is an active access point, thereby enabling the third access point to compare a received data packet with the access point subnet to determine whether to send a registration request on behalf of the node using the gateway as the node'"'"'s Home Agent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for enabling mobility of a node that does not support Mobile IP are disclosed. Access point information is maintained for all functioning access points. In accordance with one embodiment, an authoritative access point (AAP) maintains access point information for all functioning access points (APs) and sends updates for all additions or other modifications to the continually changing access point information to enable APs to store a local copy of the AP information. For instance, when an AP goes offline, the access point information for that AP will be removed from the set of access point information, and notification of this removal is sent to other APs so that the local copy of the AP information may be similarly updated. As another example, when an AP comes online, it will send its AP information to the AAP. The AAP will store the AP information and provide this new AP information to other “active” APs. The AP information preferably includes an AP subnet and a gateway. When an AP receives a data packet, the AP may compare the data packet (e.g., source address) with the AP information (e.g., AP subnet) for one or more APs to determine whether to send a registration request on behalf of the node. For instance, the registration request may specify the gateway as the node'"'"'s Home Agent.
127 Citations
32 Claims
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1. In a first access point, a method of supporting mobility for a node that does not support Mobile IP, comprising:
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receiving access point information from a second access point; storing the access point information received from the second access point such that a list of active access points is updated to include the access point information received from the second access point, the list of active access points including access point information associated with one or more active access points, the access point information received from the second access point including information identifying an access point subnet and a gateway associated with the second access point; and sending the access point information received from the second access point to a third access point that supports Mobile IP to notify the third access point that the second access point is an active access point, thereby enabling the third access point to compare a received data packet with the access point subnet to determine whether to send a registration request on behalf of the node using the gateway as the node'"'"'s Home Agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A first access point that supports mobility for a node that does not support Mobile IP, comprising:
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means for receiving access point information from a second access point; means for storing the access point information received from the second access point such that a list of active access points is updated to include the access point information information received from the second access point, the list of active access points including access point information associated with one or more active access points, the access point information received from the second access point including information identifying an access point subnet and a gateway associated with the second access point; and means for sending the access point information received from the second access point to a third access point that supports Mobile IP to notify the third access point that the second access point is an active access point, thereby enabling the third access point to compare a received data packet with the access point subnet to determine whether to send a registration request on behalf of the node using the gateway as the node'"'"'s Home Agent.
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19. A first access point that supports mobility for a node that does not support Mobile IP, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory, at least one of the processor and the memory being configured for; receiving access point information from a second access point; storing the access point information received from the second access point such that a list of active access points is updated to include the access point information received from the second access point, the list of active access points including access point information associated with one or more active access points, the access point information received from the second access point including information identifying an access point subnet and a gateway associated with the second access point; and sending the access point information received from the second access point to a third access point that supports Mobile IP to notify the third access point that the second access point is an active access point, thereby enabling the third access point to compare a received data packet with the access point subnet to determine whether to send a registration request on behalf of the node using the gateway as the node'"'"'s Home Agent. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A computer-readable medium storing thereon computer-readable instructions for supporting mobility for a node that does not support Mobile IP in a first access point, comprising:
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instructions for storing access point information received from a second access point such that a list of active access points is updated to include the access point information received from the second access point, the list of active access points including access point information associated with one or more active access points, the access point information received from the second access point including information identifying an access point subnet and a gateway associated with the second access point; and instructions for sending the access point information received from the second access point to a third access point that supports Mobile IP to notify the third access point that the second access point is an active access point, thereby enabling the third access point to compare a received data packet with the access point subnet to determine whether to send a registration request on behalf of the node using the gateway as the node'"'"'s Home Agent.
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Specification