Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating routing of data in a radio communication system having a mobile node capable of roaming movement

• US 8,351,902 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2011
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Patterson, Ian M., Betel, Richard, Rogobete, Adrian, Axtmann, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US13/228,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20110317618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration

Abstract

Apparatus, and an associated method, for providing routing information to a mobile node operable in a radio communication system. The routing information is used by the mobile node to address data messages that are to be communicated to a relay host, or other, device. The routing information that is provided to the mobile node includes a plurality of separate routing sequences. Different ones of the routing sequences are used by the mobile node, depending upon at what location that the mobile node is positioned when the data message is sent. A registration server is used by which to create the routing information, responsive to indications of a home network associated with the mobile node and a current location of the mobile node.

Claims

1. Apparatus for a network part of a communication system, said apparatus comprising:

a relay that routes mobile-node originated data and mobile-node terminated data; and

a server that sends mobile-node-terminated relay host routing information including a first routing sequence associated with a first network provider code and a second routing sequence associated with a second network provider code in response to a mobile node communication system registration,

wherein routing of a mobile-node-originated message to said relay uses the first routing sequence sent in the mobile-node-terminated relay host routing information when mobile-node positioning causes origination of the mobile-node-originated message via said first radio access network identified by the first network provider code and uses the second routing sequence when mobile-node positioning causes origination of the mobile-node-originated via a second radio access network identifiable by the second network provider code.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said server that sends the mobile-node-terminated relay host routing information further provides a selected Internet protocol address, port, and access point at least based upon the first network provider code.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said server further provides a quality of service value.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mobile-node-originated message further comprises a header portion including one of the first routing sequence and the second routing sequence.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said server is further configured to extract a home network provider code and a serving network provider code from the mobile node communication system registration.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said server is further configured to form a response message in response to the mobile node communication system registration, the response message populated with the first routing sequence associated with the first network provider code and the second routing sequence associated with the second network provider code.

7. A method of operation for a network part of a communication system, said method comprising:

accepting a communication system registration from a mobile node;

sending by a registration server to said mobile node, in response to said communication system registration, mobile-node-terminated host routing information including a first routing sequence associated with a first network provider code and a second routing sequence associated with a second network provider code; and

routing a first data message from said mobile node to a relay using the first routing sequence sent to the mobile node during said sending when the mobile node is positioned for wireless service to be provided via a first radio access network and using the second routing sequence sent to the mobile node during said sending when the mobile node is positioned for wireless service to be provided via a second radio access network identifiable by the second network provider code.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said accepting communication system registration from a mobile node comprises accepting communication system registration at a home network.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said sending further comprises sending a selected Internet protocol address, port, and access point at least based upon said first network provider code.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said sending further comprises sending a quality of service value.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving the first data message from the mobile node and extracting one of the first routing sequence and the second routing sequence from a header portion of the second message.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising extracting at a registration server a home network provider code and a serving network provider code from said communication system registration of said mobile node.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising forming a response message to said mobile node said response message populated with said first routing sequence associated with said first network provider code and said second routing sequence associated with said second network provider code.

14. Apparatus for a network part of a communication system, comprising:

a first server that accepts a first data message to be delivered to a mobile node;

a relay that routes said first data message from said first server to said mobile node via a first radio access network identifiable by a first network provider code; and

a second server that provides a first routing sequence associated with said first network provider code, a second routing sequence associated with a second network provider code, a selected internet protocol address, port, and access point at least based upon the first network provider code, and a quality of service value to said mobile node in response to a mobile node communication system registration,

wherein said mobile node routes a second data message to said relay using said first routing sequence when said mobile node is positioned for wireless service to be provided via said first radio access network and using said second routing sequence when said mobile node is positioned for wireless service to be provided via a second radio access network identifiable by said second network provider code.

15. A method of operation for a network part of a communication system, comprising:

accepting a communication system registration from a mobile node;

providing from a registration server to said mobile node, in response to said communication system registration, a first routing sequence associated with a first network provider code, a second routing sequence associated with a second network provider code, a selected internet protocol address, port, and access point at least based upon the first network provider code, and a quality of service value;

accepting a first data message to be delivered to a mobile node at an enterprise server;

routing said first data message from said enterprise server to said mobile node via a relay and a first radio access network identifiable by said first network provider code; and

routing a second data message from said mobile node to said relay using said first routing sequence when said mobile node is positioned for wireless service to be provided via said first radio access network and using said second routing sequence when said mobile node is positioned for wireless service to be provided via a second radio access network identifiable by said second network provider code.