Relocation of content sources during IP-level handoffs

• US 7,525,940 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HMD Global Oy
• Original Assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Trossen, Dirk, Chaskar, Hemant M.
• Primary Examiner(s): WON, MICHAEL YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/144,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20030212764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,545 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/205, 709/228, 709/238, 709/239, 709/242, 709/202, 709/217, 709/232, 709/230, 709/231, 709/219, 709/243, 455/436, 455/439, 455/432.1, 455/435.1, 455/437, 455/442, 370/331
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0019 adapted for mobile IP [MIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/005 Data network PoA devices

Abstract

The present invention provides a relocation of content sources that provide media content to a mobile terminal (mobile node) when a network layer-level handoff occurs. The relocation of content sources enables the mobile terminal to seamlessly execute an application that utilizes the media content from a current content source before the handoff and from a new content source after the handoff. The mobile terminal registers with a current access router in order to inform the access router about application context information. The current access router informs a new access router about the impending handoff. The new access router consequently discovers the new content source.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a mobile terminal communications interface; and

a processor configured to communicate through the communications interface, the processor configured to perform;

initiating an application supported by the apparatus

receiving, from a current content source, a packet data stream that is associated with the application;

forwarding application context information that is associated with the application to an access router for registration thereon, the application context information including a content profile and a media description, the application context information configured to be used in establishing a connection with a new content source; and

receiving the packet data stream from the new content source in response to the apparatus completing a network layer-level handoff.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

sending a first trigger that indicates to transfer the application context information; and

sending a handoff trigger that causes the apparatus to be served by the new content source.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the media description comprises a pointer to a media content that is sent by the current content source and the new content source.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

receiving a modified media description; and

processing the packet data stream in accordance with the modified media description.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

sending an acknowledgement in response to receiving the modified media description.

6. A method comprising:

initiating an application with a mobile terminal;

receiving from a current content source, a packet data stream that supports the application;

forwarding application context information that is associated with the application to an access router for registration thereon, the application context information including a content profile and a media description, the application context information configured to be used in establishing a connection with a new content source; and

receiving the packet data stream from the new content source in response to the mobile terminal completing a network layer-level handoff.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

sending a first trigger that indicates to transfer the application context information; and

sending a handoff trigger that causes the mobile terminal to be served by the new content source.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a modified media description; and

processing the packet data stream in accordance with the modified media description.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

sending an acknowledgement in response to receiving the modified media description.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a mobile terminal communications interface; and

a processor configured to communicate through the communications interface, the processor configured to perform;

initiating an application supported by the apparatus;

receiving, from a current content source, a packet data stream that is associated with the application;

forwarding application context information that is associated with the application to an access router for registration thereon, the application context information including a content profile and a media description, the application context information configured to be used in establishing a connection with a new content source;

sending a first trigger that indicates to transfer the application context information;

sending a handoff trigger that causes the apparatus to be served by the new content source; and

receiving the packet data stream from the new content source in response to the apparatus completing a network layer-level handoff.