Utilization of the internet protocol to facilitate communication involving mobile devices

• US 20050141442A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morris, Martin, Kumar, Rajiv, Pham, Hiep, Nguyen, Lyn
• Granted Patent: US 7,697,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• 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 52/38 TPC being performed in particular situations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• 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

Abstract

A data communication system capable of forwarding IP-addressed data to devices as such devices move among networks having different IP addresses is disclosed herein. The system includes first and second networks containing first and second pluralities of nodes. At least one of the first plurality of nodes is adapted to receive data transmissions from an external IP-based network. Upon joining the first network, this device is assigned an IP address which remains with it irrespective of whether it moves beyond the range of the first network. When this device roams into the vicinity of the second network, data addressed to the device which is received at the first network is forwarded via at least one node of the second network to the roaming device.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A data communication system, comprising:

a first network comprising a first network access point and one or more first nodes; and

a second network comprising a second network access point and one or more second nodes,

wherein a first wireless node of the one or more first nodes establishes communication with the second network,

wherein message information received at the first network and addressed to the first wireless node is forwarded from the first network to the second network via a wireless internetwork path, and

wherein the wireless internetwork path comprises one or more wireless connections involving at least one of the one or more first nodes and at least one of the one or more second nodes to the exclusion of the first network access point and the second network access point.

10. The data communication system according to claim 9, wherein the wireless internetwork path comprises an internetworking node included within the one or more first nodes and within the one or more second nodes.

11. The data communication system according to claim 10, wherein the internetworking node receives a fist set of network information relating to the first network from the one or more first nodes, the first set of network information identifying the first network access point.

12. The data communication system according to claim 10, wherein the internetworking node transmits a first set of network information and an identity of the internetworking node to a particular second node of the one or more second nodes.

13. The data communication system according to claim 12,

wherein the particular second node broadcasts the first set of network information, and

wherein the first wireless node receives the first set of broadcasted network information.

14. The data communication system according to claim 13, wherein the first wireless node determines the wireless internetwork path based, at least in part, on a connectivity advertisement broadcast by a first node of the one or more first nodes and an additional connectivity advertisement broadcast by a second node of the one or more second nodes.

15. The data communication system according to claim 9, wherein the message information is transmitted over a wireless connection of the one or more wireless connections.

16. A data communication system, comprising:

a first network comprising one or more first wireless nodes, the first network comprising a first network access point that receives message information directed to the first network;

a second network comprising a second network access point and one or more second wireless nodes; and

an internetworking node,

wherein the internetworking node forwards portions of the message information addressed to one of the one or more first wireless nodes via a wireless interconnection path from the first network access point to the second network when the one of the one or more first wireless nodes establishes communication with the second network,

wherein the wireless internetwork path comprises a first wireless node of the one or more wireless nodes or a second wireless node of the one or more wireless nodes, and

wherein the wireless internetwork path excludes the first network access point and the second network access point.

17. A data communication system, comprising:

a first wireless network comprising a first network access point and one or more first wireless nodes, the first network access point providing a first Internet Protocol (IP) address to a first wireless node of the one or more first wireless nodes; and

a second wireless network comprising a second network access point and one or more second wireless nodes,

wherein message information received at the first wireless network and address to the first IP address is forwarded from the first wireless network to the second wireless network via a wireless internetwork path when the first wireless node establishes communication with the second wireless network,

wherein the wireless internetwork path comprises a wireless connection between at least one of the one or more first wireless nodes or at least one of the one or more second wireless nodes,

wherein the wireless internetwork path excludes the first network access point and the second network access point, and

wherein the wireless internetwork path is defined, at least in part, upon a connectivity advertisement broadcast by a second wireless node of the one or more second wireless nodes.

18. The data communication system according to claim 17, wherein the wireless internetwork path comprises an internetworking node included within the one or more first wireless nodes and within the one or more second wireless nodes.

19. The data communication system according to claim 17, wherein the first wireless node determines the wireless internetwork path based, at least in part, on the connectivity advertisement and an additional connectivity advertisement broadcast by a particular first wireless node of the one or more first wireless nodes.

20. A method of data communication, comprising:

broadcasting, from a first node of one or more fist nodes included within a first wireless network, a connectivity advertisement identifying its address and one or more additional addresses corresponding to at least one of the one or more first nodes;

determining a wireless internetwork path based, at least in part, on the connectivity advertisement, the wireless internetwork path comprising one or more wireless connections involving at least one of the one or more first nodes or at least one of one or more second nodes of a second wireless network;

excluding, from the wireless internetwork path, a first network access point associated with the first wireless network and a second network access point associated with the second wireless network; and

forwarding, from the first wireless network to the second wireless network via the wireless internetwork path, message information received at the first network and addressed to the first node.

21. The method according to claim 20, comprising:

receiving, at an internetworking node included within the one or more first nodes and the one or more second nodes, a first set of network information relating to the first network, the first set of network information identifying the first network access point and where the message information is available from the first wireless network.

22. The method according to claim 21, comprising:

transmitting, to a second node of the one of more second nodes, the first set of network information and an identity of the internetworking node.

23. The method according to claim 22, comprising:

broadcasting, from the second node of the one or more second nodes, the first set of network information.

24. The method according to claim 23, comprising:

receiving, at a particular first node of the one or more first nodes, the first set of network information broadcast by the second node of the one or more second nodes.

25. A method for data communication, comprising:

associating one or more first wireless nodes with a first wireless network;

receiving, at a first wireless node of the one or more first wireless nodes, a first IP address;

terminating, at the first wireless node, a first network connection with the first wireless network;

determining that a signal strength over the first network connection is below a minimum threshold;

establishing a second network connection with a second wireless network;

determining a wireless internetwork path comprising one or more wireless connections involving at least one of the one or more first wireless nodes and at least one of one or more second wireless nodes of the second wireless network;

excluding, from the wireless internetwork path, a first network access point of the first wireless network and a second network access point of the second wireless network; and

receiving, at the first wireless node, message information forwarded from the first wireless network to the second wireless network via the wireless internetwork path.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the fist wireless node determines the wireless internetwork path comprising the one or more wireless connections.

27. The method according to claim 25,

wherein the message information is received at the first wireless network before being received at the first wireless node, and

wherein the message information is addressed to the first IP address.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein the determination of the wireless internetwork path is based, at least in part, on a connectivity advertisement broadcast by a second wireless node of the one or mote second wireless nodes.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the determination of the wireless internetwork path is based, at least in part, on an additional connectivity advertisement broadcast by a particular wireless node of the one or more first wireless nodes.