Address acquisition

• US RE44,592 E1
• Filed: 04/13/2012
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Asokan, Nadarajah, Soininen, Jonne, Rajaniemi, Jaakko, Hippelainen, Lassi, Hurtta, Tuija
• Primary Examiner(s): WILSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US13/446,749
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/395.54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 29/06 characterised by a protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 29/12216 Internet Protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 29/12264 involving the solving of address allocation conflicts; involving testing of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 29/12311 involving portability aspects mobility data transfer in wireless communication networks H04W8/26; mobile IP, network layer protocols in wireless communication networks H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 29/1232 by self assignment, e.g. pick address randomly and test if already in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 29/12801 about the structures and formats of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 29/12839 Layer 2 addresses, e.g. Medium Access Control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2015 using the dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or variants
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2046 involving the solving of address allocation conflicts or involving testing of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2084 involving portability aspects network addressing or numbering for mobility support H04W8/26; wireless network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2092 by self assignment, e.g. pick address randomly and test if already in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/6004 Structures or formats of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/6022 Layer 2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/167 Adaptation for transition between two IP versions, e.g. between IPv4 and IPv6 translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses H04L61/2503
• 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

Abstract

In a GPRS system, a method of a mobile station acquiring an IP network address. The method comprises the steps of:

the mobile station generating a link identifier and sending it to a gateway over a wireless link in a network address request together with a request to check if the link identifier is unique;

the gateway receiving the network address request and checking if the link identifier is unique;

the gateway responding with a network address request response including either the sending a unique link identifier confirmed as being unique or a different unique link identifier;

the gateway sending a network prefix to the mobile station;

the mobile station combining the interface identifier and the network prefix to generate the IP network address.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a node sending a network address request to a gateway over a wireless link requesting a unique interface identifier;

the node receiving the unique interface identifier and a confirmation from the gateway that the unique interface identifier is unique;

the node adopting the unique interface identifier;

the node receiving a network prefix from the gateway; and

the node combining the unique interface identifier and the network prefix to produce an internet protocol network address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the node is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the node produces the internet protocol network address which is an Internet Protocol version 6 address.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein the confirmation confirms the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the node and the gateway.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein the network address request sent by the node is a context activation request.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein the gateway is a general packet radio service gateway support node.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein the node is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system and the node produces the internet protocol network address which is an Internet Protocol version 6 address.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein:

the node is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system;

the node produces the internet protocol network address which is an Internet Protocol version 6 address; and

the confirmation confirms the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the node and the gateway.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein:

the node is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system;

the node produces the internet protocol network address which is an Internet Protocol version 6 address;

the confirmation confirms the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the node and the gateway; and

the network address request sent by the node is a context activation request.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein:

the node is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system;

the node produces the internet protocol network address which is an Internet Protocol version 6 address;

the confirmation confirms the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the node and the gateway;

the network address request sent by the node is a context activation request; and

the gateway is a general packet radio service gateway support node.

2. An apparatus comprising:

a transmitter configured to send a network address request to a gateway over a wireless link requesting a unique interface identifier;

a receiver configured to receive the unique interface identifier and a confirmation from the gateway that the unique interface identifier is unique; and

a processing unit configured to,

adopt the unique interface identifier;

receive a network prefix from the gateway; and

combine the unique interface identifier and the network prefix to produce an internet protocol network address.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein the apparatus is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system.

13. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein the internet protocol network address is an Internet Protocol version 6 address.

14. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein the receiver is configured to receive a confirmation from the gateway that the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the apparatus and the gateway.

15. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein the network address request sent by the apparatus is a context activation request.

16. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein the gateway is a general packet radio service gateway support node.

17. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein:

the apparatus is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system; and

the processing unit is configured to combine the unique interface identifier and the network prefix to produce an Internet Protocol version 6 address.

18. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein:

the apparatus is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system;

the processing unit is configured to combine the unique interface identifier and the network prefix to produce an Internet Protocol version 6 address; and

the receiver is configured to receive a confirmation from the gateway that the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the apparatus and the gateway.

19. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein:

the apparatus is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system;

the processing unit is configured to combine the unique interface identifier and the network prefix to produce an Internet Protocol version 6 address;

the receiver is configured to receive a confirmation from the gateway that the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the apparatus and the gateway; and

the network address request sent by the apparatus is a context activation request.

20. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein:

the apparatus is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system;

the processing unit is configured to combine the unique interface identifier and the network prefix to produce an Internet Protocol version 6 address;

the receiver is configured to receive a confirmation from the gateway that the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the apparatus and the gateway;

the network address request sent by the apparatus is a context activation request; and

the gateway is a general packet radio service gateway support node.