Partner node migration control unit and method

• US 7,620,025 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Wada, Hiromi, Yozawa, Takashi, Ohnishi, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong; Frank
• Application Number:
  US11/451,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20060227755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/25 of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2503 Translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/255 Maintenance or indexing of mapping tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0019 adapted for mobile IP [MIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

Disclosed is a migration communication control device constructed to control a continuous communication between a mobile node and a node unaffected the mobile node'"'"'s migration. The migration communication control device comprises a first migration control unit, a second migration control unit on the mobile node, and a third migration control unit on the partner node. The first migration control unit comprises a packet transfer unit and an address post unit. The packet transfer unit receives a packet which was destined for an outdated address of the mobile node, generates a conversion packet which holds an updated address instead of the outdated address, and then transmits the conversion packet, while an address post unit transmits an address post message which indicates the updated address to the third migration control unit. The second migration control unit comprises a migration post unit and a packet resumption unit. The migration post unit transmits to the first migration control unit a migration post message which indicates the updated address when the mobile node migrates to another network while a packet resumption unit receives the conversion packet from both the first migration control unit and the third migration control unit and resumes an original packet from the conversion packet. The third migration control unit comprises a packet conversion unit which converts a destination address of a packet into the updated address, then transmits it to the mobile node.

Claims

1. A mobile communication method, enabled in a communication control device for networks, for performing a communication between a partner node and a mobile node that obtains a different temporary address assigned for a different network to which a temporary address is assigned for each network to which the mobile node migrates, wherein communications are consecutively performed between the partner node and the mobile node before and after the mobile node migrates, said method comprising:

a transmitting step for the mobile node to transmit the temporary address to a previous visitor packet transfer device which the mobile node connected before the mobile node migrates, wherein the previous visitor packet transfer device receives a data packet from the partner node, which is transmitted to the temporary address of the mobile node; and

a transferring step for the previous visitor packet transfer device to generate an encapsulated data packet and to transfer it to a new visitor packet transfer device which the mobile node connects after the mobile node migrates, wherein the new visitor packet transfer device transfers the data packet to an updated temporary address of the mobile node.

2. The mobile communication method of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitting step for the visitor packet transfer device to transmit a message if it provides the packet transfer service.

3. A mobile communication system comprising:

(a) a mobile node that obtains a different temporary address assigned for a different network to which the mobile node migrates, and the mobile node transmits the temporary address to a previous visitor packet transfer device which the mobile node connected before the mobile node migrates;

(b) the previous visitor packet transfer device that receives a data packet from the partner node, which is transmitted to the temporary address of the mobile node, and generates an encapsulated data packet and transfers it to a new visitor packet transfer device which the mobile node connects after the mobile node migrates; and

(c) the new visitor packet transfer device transfers the data packet to an updated temporary address of the mobile node.

4. The mobile communication system of claim 3, wherein the mobile node includes:

(a) an address obtaining unit that obtains a different temporary address that is assigned to the mobile node for a different network to which the mobile node migrates; and

(b) an autonomous support unit that transmits the temporary address to the previous visitor packet transfer device which the mobile node connected before the mobile node migrates.

5. The mobile communication system of claim 4, wherein the mobile node further includes:

(a) an autonomous support unit that receives a message if the previous visitor packet transfer device provides the packet transfer service from the previous visitor packet transfer device.

6. The mobile communication system of claim 3, wherein the visitor packet transfer device includes:

(a) a packet transfer unit that receives a data packet from the partner node, which is transmitted to the temporary address of the mobile node; and

generates the encapsulated the data packet and transfers it to a new visitor packet transfer device which the mobile node connects after migrates.

7. The mobile communication system of claim 6, wherein the visitor packet transfer device further includes:

(a) an autonomous support unit that transmits a message if it provides the packet transfer service.

8. A mobile node comprising:

(a) an address obtaining unit that obtains a temporary address that is assigned to the mobile node for each network to which the mobile node migrates;

(b) an autonomous support unit that transmits a message which includes the temporary address to the previous visitor packet transfer device which the mobile node connected before the mobile node migrates, and receives a response message if the previous visitor packet transfer device provides the packet transfer service from the previous visitor packet transfer device; and

(c) a migration unit that directs the address obtaining unit to obtain the temporary address, and that directs the autonomous support unit to transmit the message.

9. A visitor packet transfer device includes:

(a) a packet transfer unit that receives a data packet from the partner node, which is transmitted to a the temporary address of a mobile node, generates an encapsulated data packet and transfers it to the temporary address which the mobile node obtains after the mobile node migrates, and receives it when the visitor packet transfer device is a new visitor packet transfer device to which the mobile node connects after the mobile node migrates; and

(b) an autonomous support unit that transmits a message when the autonomous support unit provides packet transfer service.