Methods and apparatus for separating home agent functionality

• US 8,077,695 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: O'Neill, Alan William
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Faragalla, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/750,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20100254401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 370/349, 370/328, 370/331, 370/352, 370/355, 370/356, 370/357, 370/360, 370/395.31, 370/395.32
• US Class Current: 370/349
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/58 Association of routers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

MIP Home Agent (HA) architectures are described that decompose, e.g., split, packet forwarding control functionality from actual data packet forwarding operations performed by a conventional MIP HA. This places MIP routing control in a node which is distinct from the tunnel end-points which perform packet forwarding operations to direct packets including a mobile'"'"'s Home Address. Tunneling establishment and control functionality is implemented by what is referred to herein as decomposed HA (DHA) while data packet forwarding and redirection is performed, under the control of the DHA, by a tunneling agent (TA) node. The tunneling agent node serves as the data packet redirection node for a mobile as it moves from one location to another and may be located outside of a firewall used to protect the DHA. Tunnel endpoint nodes (Mobile Nodes and/or Access Nodes) send tunnel packets to the tunnel agent whilst directing control signaling packets to the DHA.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting mobility in a communications system, comprising:

means for operating a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, said forwarding control message being communicated from a mobile node to the routing control node via an access node, the access node serving as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, said forwarding control message being forwarded to said routing control node over a control path which does not traverse a data packet forwarding node, the access node comprising a foreign agent;

means for operating the routing control node to establish a data packet forwarding path between the data packet forwarding node and one of said access node and said mobile node, said routing control node being outside said data packet forwarding path;

means for operating the routing control node to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path;

means for operating the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

means for operating said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message to the routing control node includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

wherein said forwarding control message and said response message are Internet Protocol signals used for mobility signaling;

wherein the first identifier is a home address of the mobile node;

wherein the routing control node is a home agent which performs packet routing control functions used to support mobile node mobility;

wherein the second identifier is one of a colocated care of address of said mobile node and a care of address of a mobility agent located at said access node; and

wherein the data packet forwarding node is a tunnel agent.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mobile node has a home address associated with said data packet forwarding node, wherein packets that are intended for said mobile node and that include said home address are routed to said data packet forwarding node, the apparatus further comprising means for operating the data packet forwarding node to redirect packets including said home address of said mobile node along said established data packet forwarding path.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for operating the data packet forwarding node to transmit a signal to the routing control node indicating installation of a tunnel state entry for the packet forwarding path.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for operating the mobile node to notify the routing control node when it changes the access node to which it is attached to a new access node.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for operating the routing control node to direct packets including said home address of said mobile node to said new access node, at least some of said directed packets including data corresponding to a communications session between said mobile node and another mobile node, said data being one of voice and text data.

4. An apparatus for supporting mobility in a communications system, comprising:

means for operating a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, said forwarding control message being communicated from a mobile node to the routing control node via an access node, the access node serving as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, said forwarding control message being forwarded to said routing control node over a control path which does not traverse a data packet forwarding node, the access node comprising a foreign agent;

means for operating the routing control node to establish a data packet forwarding path between the data packet forwarding node and one of said access node and said mobile node, said routing control node being outside said data packet forwarding path;

means for operating the routing control node to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path;

means for operating the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

means for operating said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message to the routing control node includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

wherein said system further includes another data packet forwarding node and a third identifier being associated with said another data packet forwarding node, the apparatus further comprising;

means for operating said another data packet forwarding node to transmit an additional routing advertisement for the address associated with the first identifier;

means for operating the data packet forwarding node to receive a signal further indicating the third identifier; and

means for operating said data packet forwarding node to store said third identifier and associate it with a tunnel state entry for the first and second identifiers.

5. An apparatus for supporting mobility in a communications system, comprising:

means for operating a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, said forwarding control message being communicated from a mobile node to the routing control node via an access node, the access node serving as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, said forwarding control message being forwarded to said routing control node over a control path which does not traverse a data packet forwarding node, the access node comprising a foreign agent;

means for operating the routing control node to establish a data packet forwarding path between the data packet forwarding node and one of said access node and said mobile node, said routing control node being outside said data packet forwarding path;

means for operating the routing control node to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path;

means for operating the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

means for operating said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message to the routing control node includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

means for operating the data packet forwarding node to redirect packets, comprising;

means for operating the data packet forwarding node to receive a redirected packet from one of the mobile node and the access node acting as a tunnel endpoint node, said redirected packet including a source address that includes said address associated with the second identifier;

means for operating the data packet forwarding node to compare an additional source address included in the received redirected packet to tunnel state entries stored at the data packet forwarding node, wherein said additional source address includes said address associated with the first identifier; and

means for operating the data packet forwarding node to verify that the tunnel state entry that includes said address associated with first identifier maps said address associated with the first identifier to said address associated with the second identifier.

6. An apparatus for supporting mobility in a communications system, comprising:

means for operating a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, said forwarding control message being communicated from a mobile node to the routing control node via an access node, the access node serving as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, said forwarding control message being forwarded to said routing control node over a control path which does not traverse a data packet forwarding node, the access node comprising a foreign agent;

means for operating the routing control node to establish a data packet forwarding path between the data packet forwarding node and one of said access node and said mobile node, said routing control node being outside said data packet forwarding path;

means for operating the routing control node to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path;

means for operating the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

means for operating said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message to the routing control node includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

means for operating the routing control node to transmit a first signal to the data packet forwarding node, said first signal requesting the installation of a tunnel state entry in the packet forwarding node, said first signal including the first and second identifiers;

means for operating the data packet forwarding node to receive the first signal from the routing control node;

means for operating the data packet forwarding node to install said address associated with the first identifier and said address associated with the second identifier in a tunnel state entry in the data packet forwarding node; and

means for operating the data packet forwarding node to transmit a second signal toward the routing control node, said second signal indicating installation of the tunnel state entry in the data packet forwarding node associated with the first identifier;

wherein transmitting the second signal toward the routing control node follows the successful installation of the tunnel state entry in the data packet forwarding node.

7. An apparatus for supporting mobility in a communications system, comprising:

means for operating a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, said forwarding control message being communicated from a mobile node to the routing control node via an access node, the access node serving as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, said forwarding control message being forwarded to said routing control node over a control path which does not traverse a data packet forwarding node, the access node comprising a foreign agent;

means for operating the routing control node to establish a data packet forwarding path between the data packet forwarding node and one of said access node and said mobile node, said routing control node being outside said data packet forwarding path;

means for operating the routing control node to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path;

means for operating the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

means for operating said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message to the routing control node includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

wherein the data packet forwarding node includes a security routine and a security association that is also known to the routing control node, the apparatus further comprising means for operating the data packet forwarding node to determine a security parameter to be included in a first signal to be transmitted to the routing control node using the second identifier included in said transmitted signal, wherein said security parameter is used by the routing control node to perform one of a decryption operation, an authentication operation and an integrity checking operation using the second identifier included in said first signal transmitted from the data packet forwarding node to the routing control node.

10. An apparatus for supporting mobility in a communications system, comprising:

circuitry configured to operate a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, to establish a data packet forwarding path between a data packet forwarding node and one of an access node and a mobile node, and to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path, wherein the access node serves as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, wherein the forwarding control message is communicated from the mobile node to the routing control node via the access node, wherein the forwarding control message is forwarded to the routing control node over a control path which does not traverse the data packet forwarding node, wherein the routing control node is outside the data packet forwarding path, and wherein the access node comprises a foreign agent, wherein the circuitry is further configured to;

operate the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

operate said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message to the routing control node includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

wherein said forwarding control message and said response message are Internet Protocol signals used for mobility signaling;

wherein the first identifier is a home address of the mobile node;

wherein the routing control node is a home agent which performs packet routing control functions used to support mobile node mobility;

wherein the second identifier is one of a colocated care of address of said mobile node and a care of address of a mobility agent located at said access node; and

wherein the data packet forwarding node is a tunnel agent.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said mobile node has a home address associated with said data packet forwarding node, wherein packets that are intended for said mobile node and that include said home address are routed to said data packet forwarding node, and wherein the circuitry is further configured to operate the data packet forwarding node to redirect packets including said home address of said mobile node along said established data packet forwarding path.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the circuitry is further configured to operate the data packet forwarding node to transmit a signal to the routing control node indicating installation of a tunnel state entry for the packet forwarding path.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the circuitry is further configured to operate the mobile node to notify the routing control node when it changes the access node to which it is attached to a new access node.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the circuitry is further configured to operate the routing control node to direct packets including said home address of said mobile node to said new access node, at least some of said directed packets including data corresponding to a communications session between said mobile node and another mobile node, said data being one of voice and text data.

13. An apparatus for supporting mobility in a communications system, comprising:

circuitry configured to operate a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, to establish a data packet forwarding path between a data packet forwarding node and one of an access node and a mobile node, and to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path, wherein the access node serves as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, wherein the forwarding control message is communicated from the mobile node to the routing control node via the access node, wherein the forwarding control message is forwarded to the routing control node over a control path which does not traverse the data packet forwarding node, wherein the routing control node is outside the data packet forwarding path, and wherein the access node comprises a foreign agent, wherein the circuitry is further configured to;

operate the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

operate said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message to the routing control node includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

wherein said system further includes another data packet forwarding node and a third identifier being associated with said another data packet forwarding node, the circuitry being further configured to;

operate said another data packet forwarding node to transmit an additional routing advertisement for the address associated with the first identifier;

operate the data packet forwarding node to receive a signal further indicating the third identifier; and

operate said data packet forwarding node to store said third identifier and associate it with a tunnel state entry for the first and second identifiers.

14. An apparatus for supporting mobility in a communications system, comprising:

circuitry configured to operate a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, to establish a data packet forwarding path between a data packet forwarding node and one of an access node and a mobile node, and to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path, wherein the access node serves as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, wherein the forwarding control message is communicated from the mobile node to the routing control node via the access node, wherein the forwarding control message is forwarded to the routing control node over a control path which does not traverse the data packet forwarding node, wherein the routing control node is outside the data packet forwarding path, and wherein the access node comprises a foreign agent, wherein the circuitry is further configured to;

operate the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

operate said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message to the routing control node includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

wherein the circuitry is further configured to operate the data packet forwarding node to redirect packets by;

operating the data packet forwarding node to receive a redirected packet from one of the mobile node and the access node acting as a tunnel endpoint node, said redirected packet including a source address that includes said address associated with the second identifier;

operating the data packet forwarding node to compare an additional source address included in the received redirected packet to tunnel state entries stored at the data packet forwarding node, wherein said additional source address includes said address associated with the first identifier; and

operating the data packet forwarding node to verify that the tunnel state entry that includes said address associated with first identifier maps said address associated with the first identifier to said address associated with the second identifier.

15. An apparatus for supporting mobility in a communications system, comprising:

circuitry configured to operate a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, to establish a data packet forwarding path between a data packet forwarding node and one of an access node and a mobile node, and to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path, wherein the access node serves as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, wherein the forwarding control message is communicated from the mobile node to the routing control node via the access node, wherein the forwarding control message is forwarded to the routing control node over a control path which does not traverse the data packet forwarding node, wherein the routing control node is outside the data packet forwarding path, and wherein the access node comprises a foreign agent, wherein the circuitry is further configured to;

operate the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

operate said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message to the routing control node includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

wherein the circuitry is further configured to;

operate the routing control node to transmit a first signal to the data packet forwarding node, said first signal requesting the installation of a tunnel state entry in the packet forwarding node, said first signal including the first and second identifiers;

operate the data packet forwarding node to receive the first signal from the routing control node;

operate the data packet forwarding node to install said address associated with the first identifier and said address associated with the second identifier in a tunnel state entry in the data packet forwarding node; and

operate the data packet forwarding node to transmit a second signal toward the routing control node, said second signal indicating installation of the tunnel state entry in the data packet forwarding node associated with the first identifier;

wherein transmitting the second signal toward the routing control node follows the successful installation of the tunnel state entry in the data packet forwarding node.

16. An apparatus for supporting mobility in a communications system, comprising:

circuitry configured to operate a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, to establish a data packet forwarding path between a data packet forwarding node and one of an access node and a mobile node, and to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path, wherein the access node serves as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, wherein the forwarding control message is communicated from the mobile node to the routing control node via the access node, wherein the forwarding control message is forwarded to the routing control node over a control path which does not traverse the data packet forwarding node, wherein the routing control node is outside the data packet forwarding path, and wherein the access node comprises a foreign agent, wherein the circuitry is further configured to;

operate the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

operate said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message to the routing control node includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

wherein the data packet forwarding node includes a security routine and a security association that is also known to the routing control node, the circuitry being further configured to operate the data packet forwarding node to determine a security parameter to be included in a first signal to be transmitted to the routing control node using the second identifier included in said transmitted signal, wherein said security parameter is used by the routing control node to perform one of a decryption operation, an authentication operation and an integrity checking operation using the second identifier included in said first signal transmitted from the data packet forwarding node to the routing control node.

19. A method for supporting mobility in a communications system, comprising:

operating a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, said forwarding control message being communicated from a mobile node to the routing control node via an access node, the access node serving as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, said message being forwarded to said routing control node over a control path which does not traverse a data packet forwarding node, the access node comprising a foreign agent;

operating the routing control node to establish a data packet forwarding path between the data packet forwarding node and one of said access node and said mobile node, said routing control node being outside said data packet forwarding path; and

operating the routing control node to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path;

operating the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

operating said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

wherein said forwarding control message and said response message are Internet Protocol signals used for mobility signaling;

wherein the first identifier is a home address of the mobile node;

wherein the routing control node is a home agent which performs packet routing control functions used to support mobile node mobility;

wherein the second identifier is one of a colocated care of address of said mobile node and a care of address of a mobility agent located at said access node; and

wherein the data packet forwarding node is a tunnel agent.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said mobile node has a home address associated with said data packet forwarding node, wherein packets that are intended for said mobile node and that include said home address are routed to said data packet forwarding node, the method further comprising operating the data packet forwarding node to redirect packets including said home address of said mobile node along said established data packet forwarding path.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising operating the data packet forwarding node to transmit a signal to the routing control node indicating installation of a tunnel state entry for the packet forwarding path.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising operating the mobile node to notify the routing control node when it changes the access node to which it is attached to a new access node.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising operating the routing control node to direct packets including said home address of said mobile node to said new access node, at least some of said directed packets including data corresponding to a communications session between said mobile node and another mobile node, said data being one of voice and text data.

22. A method for supporting mobility in a communications system, comprising:

operating a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, said forwarding control message being communicated from a mobile node to the routing control node via an access node, the access node serving as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, said message being forwarded to said routing control node over a control path which does not traverse a data packet forwarding node, the access node comprising a foreign agent;

operating the routing control node to establish a data packet forwarding path between the data packet forwarding node and one of said access node and said mobile node, said routing control node being outside said data packet forwarding path; and

operating the routing control node to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path;

operating the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

operating said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

wherein said system further includes another data packet forwarding node and a third identifier being associated with said another data packet forwarding node, the method further comprising;

operating said another data packet forwarding node to transmit an additional routing advertisement for the address associated with the first identifier;

operating the data packet forwarding node to receive a signal further indicating the third identifier; and

operating said data packet forwarding node to store said third identifier and associate it with a tunnel state entry for the first and second identifiers.

23. A method for supporting mobility in a communications system, comprising:

operating a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, said forwarding control message being communicated from a mobile node to the routing control node via an access node, the access node serving as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, said message being forwarded to said routing control node over a control path which does not traverse a data packet forwarding node, the access node comprising a foreign agent;

operating the routing control node to establish a data packet forwarding path between the data packet forwarding node and one of said access node and said mobile node, said routing control node being outside said data packet forwarding path; and

operating the routing control node to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path;

operating the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

operating said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

further comprising operating the data packet forwarding node to redirect packets by;

operating the data packet forwarding node to receive a redirected packet from one of the mobile node and the access node acting as a tunnel endpoint node, said redirected packet including a source address that includes said address associated with the second identifier;

operating the data packet forwarding node to compare an additional source address included in the received redirected packet to tunnel state entries stored at the data packet forwarding node, wherein said additional source address includes said address associated with the first identifier; and

operating the data packet forwarding node to verify that the tunnel state entry that includes said address associated with first identifier maps said address associated with the first identifier to said address associated with the second identifier.

24. A method for supporting mobility in a communications system, comprising:

operating a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, said forwarding control message being communicated from a mobile node to the routing control node via an access node, the access node serving as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, said message being forwarded to said routing control node over a control path which does not traverse a data packet forwarding node, the access node comprising a foreign agent;

operating the routing control node to establish a data packet forwarding path between the data packet forwarding node and one of said access node and said mobile node, said routing control node being outside said data packet forwarding path;

operating the routing control node to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path;

operating the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

operating said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

operating the routing control node to transmit a first signal to the data packet forwarding node, said first signal requesting the installation of a tunnel state entry in the packet forwarding node, said first signal including the first and second identifiers;

operating the data packet forwarding node to receive the first signal from the routing control node;

operating the data packet forwarding node to install said address associated with the first identifier and said address associated with the second identifier in a tunnel state entry in the data packet forwarding node; and

operating the data packet forwarding node to transmit a second signal toward the routing control node, said second signal indicating installation of the tunnel state entry in the data packet forwarding node associated with the first identifier;

wherein transmitting the second signal toward the routing control node follows the successful installation of the tunnel state entry in the data packet forwarding node.

25. A method for supporting mobility in a communications system, comprising:

operating a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, said forwarding control message being communicated from a mobile node to the routing control node via an access node, the access node serving as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, said message being forwarded to said routing control node over a control path which does not traverse a data packet forwarding node, the access node comprising a foreign agent;

operating the routing control node to establish a data packet forwarding path between the data packet forwarding node and one of said access node and said mobile node, said routing control node being outside said data packet forwarding path;

operating the routing control node to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path;

operating the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

operating said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

wherein the data packet forwarding node includes a security routine and a security association that is also known to the routing control node, the method further comprising operating the data packet forwarding node to determine a security parameter to be included in a first signal to be transmitted to the routing control node using the second identifier included in said transmitted signal, wherein said security parameter is used by the routing control node to perform one of a decryption operation, an authentication operation and an integrity checking operation using the second identifier included in said first signal transmitted from the data packet forwarding node to the routing control node.

28. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions for supporting mobility in a communications system, the instructions being executable to:

operate a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, said forwarding control message being communicated from a mobile node to the routing control node via an access node, the access node serving as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, said forwarding control message being forwarded to said routing control node over a control path which does not traverse a data packet forwarding node, the access node comprising a foreign agent;

operate the routing control node to establish a data packet forwarding path between the data packet forwarding node and one of said access node and said mobile node, said routing control node being outside said data packet forwarding path;

operate the routing control node to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path;

operate the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

operate said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message to the routing control node includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

wherein said forwarding control message and said response message are Internet Protocol signals used for mobility signaling;

wherein the first identifier is a home address of the mobile node;

wherein the routing control node is a home agent which performs packet routing control functions used to support mobile node mobility;

wherein the second identifier is one of a colocated care of address of said mobile node and a care of address of a mobility agent located at said access node; and

wherein the data packet forwarding node is a tunnel agent.

29. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, wherein said mobile node has a home address associated with said data packet forwarding node, wherein packets that are intended for said mobile node and that include said home address are routed to said data packet forwarding node, the instructions being further executable to operate the data packet forwarding node to redirect packets including said home address of said mobile node along said established data packet forwarding path.

30. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, the instructions being further executable to operate the data packet forwarding node to transmit a signal to the routing control node indicating installation of a tunnel state entry for the packet forwarding path.

35. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, the instructions being further executable to operate the mobile node to notify the routing control node when it changes the access node to which it is attached to a new access node.

36. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, the instructions being further executable to operate the routing control node to direct packets including said home address of said mobile node to said new access node, at least some of said directed packets including data corresponding to a communications session between said mobile node and another mobile node, said data being one of voice and text data.

31. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions for supporting mobility in a communications system, the instructions being executable to:

operate a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, said forwarding control message being communicated from a mobile node to the routing control node via an access node, the access node serving as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, said forwarding control message being forwarded to said routing control node over a control path which does not traverse a data packet forwarding node, the access node comprising a foreign agent;

operate the routing control node to establish a data packet forwarding path between the data packet forwarding node and one of said access node and said mobile node, said routing control node being outside said data packet forwarding path;

operate the routing control node to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path;

operate the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

operate said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message to the routing control node includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

wherein said system further includes another data packet forwarding node and a third identifier being associated with said another data packet forwarding node, the instructions being further executable to;

operate said another data packet forwarding node to transmit an additional routing advertisement for the address associated with the first identifier;

operate the data packet forwarding node to receive a signal further indicating the third identifier; and

operate said data packet forwarding node to store said third identifier and associate it with a tunnel state entry for the first and second identifiers.

32. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions for supporting mobility in a communications system, the instructions being executable to:

operate a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, said forwarding control message being communicated from a mobile node to the routing control node via an access node, the access node serving as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, said forwarding control message being forwarded to said routing control node over a control path which does not traverse a data packet forwarding node, the access node comprising a foreign agent;

operate the routing control node to establish a data packet forwarding path between the data packet forwarding node and one of said access node and said mobile node, said routing control node being outside said data packet forwarding path;

operate the routing control node to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path;

operate the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

operate said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message to the routing control node includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

the instructions being further executable to operate the data packet forwarding node to redirect packets by;

operating the data packet forwarding node to receive a redirected packet from one of the mobile node and the access node acting as a tunnel endpoint node, said redirected packet including a source address that includes said address associated with the second identifier;

operating the data packet forwarding node to compare an additional source address included in the received redirected packet to tunnel state entries stored at the data packet forwarding node, wherein said additional source address includes said address associated with the first identifier; and

operating the data packet forwarding node to verify that the tunnel state entry that includes said address associated with first identifier maps said address associated with the first identifier to said address associated with the second identifier.

33. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions for supporting mobility in a communications system, the instructions being executable to:

operate a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, said forwarding control message being communicated from a mobile node to the routing control node via an access node, the access node serving as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, said forwarding control message being forwarded to said routing control node over a control path which does not traverse a data packet forwarding node, the access node comprising a foreign agent;

operate the routing control node to establish a data packet forwarding path between the data packet forwarding node and one of said access node and said mobile node, said routing control node being outside said data packet forwarding path;

operate the routing control node to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path;

operate the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

operate said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message to the routing control node includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

operate the routing control node to transmit a first signal to the data packet forwarding node, said first signal requesting the installation of a tunnel state entry in the packet forwarding node, said first signal including the first and second identifiers;

operate the data packet forwarding node to receive the first signal from the routing control node;

operate the data packet forwarding node to install said address associated with the first identifier and said address associated with the second identifier in a tunnel state entry in the data packet forwarding node; and

operate the data packet forwarding node to transmit a second signal toward the routing control node, said second signal indicating installation of the tunnel state entry in the data packet forwarding node associated with the first identifier;

wherein transmitting the second signal toward the routing control node follows the successful installation of the tunnel state entry in the data packet forwarding node.

34. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions for supporting mobility in a communications system, the instructions being executable to:

operate a routing control node to receive a forwarding control message, said forwarding control message being communicated from a mobile node to the routing control node via an access node, the access node serving as the mobile node'"'"'s point of attachment to a network via a wireless link, said forwarding control message being forwarded to said routing control node over a control path which does not traverse a data packet forwarding node, the access node comprising a foreign agent;

operate the routing control node to establish a data packet forwarding path between the data packet forwarding node and one of said access node and said mobile node, said routing control node being outside said data packet forwarding path;

operate the routing control node to transmit a response message to said mobile node indicating acceptance of a request for establishment of said data packet forwarding path;

operate the data packet forwarding node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a first identifier; and

operate said access node to transmit a routing advertisement for an address associated with a second identifier;

wherein said forwarding control message to the routing control node includes a request for installation in a table in said routing control node of a tunnel state entry associating the first and second identifiers;

wherein the data packet forwarding node includes a security routine and a security association that is also known to the routing control node, the instructions being further executable to operate the data packet forwarding node to determine a security parameter to be included in a first signal to be transmitted to the routing control node, using the second identifier included in said transmitted signal, and wherein said security parameter is used by the routing control node to perform one of a decryption operation, an authentication operation and an integrity checking operation using the second identifier included in said first signal transmitted from the data packet forwarding node to the routing control node.