Dynamic allocation of wireless mobile nodes over an internet protocol (IP) network

• US 6,272,129 B1
• Filed: 01/19/1999
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: UTStarcom Incorporated (UTStarcom Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Cichosz, Wayne A., Dynarski, Richard J., Xu, Yingchun, Bezaitis, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BRIAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/233,381
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 370/356, 370/351, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/400, 370/401, 370/402, 370/392, 370/389, 370/403, 370/404, 370/405, 370/467
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/106 across networks, e.g. mapping telephone numbers to data network addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• 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]

Abstract

A method is described of automatically locating and connecting a mobile wireless communications device to a packet-switched network such as the Internet. An Internet Protocol (IP) packet from a terminal on the network, destined for receipt by the mobile device, is received at a home agent acting as a gateway or router linking the packet switched network to a second network, such as LAN, coupled to a wireless communications network. The home agent transmits an access-request message to an authentication server. The access-request message includes a destination IP address associated with the mobile device found in the IP packet. The authentication server responsively issues an access-accept message to the home agent if the mobile device is authorized to receive the IP packet. The access-accept message comprises (a) information uniquely identifying said device, such as the IMSI/ESN number for the device, and (b) information identifying a network to use to locate said device. The home agent issues a message containing the information uniquely identifying the device to a mobile node location server. The mobile node location server maintains a table mapping IP addresses for a plurality of mobile communication devices to information uniquely identifying the devices. In the event that the mobile node location server does not find an IP address for the device in the table, the device is paged via the wireless communications network. In response to the page, the mobile device dials into the wireless communications network and second network and initiates a connection to the packet switched network whereby the IP packet is transmitted to the device.

Claims

1. A method of automatically locating and connecting a wireless communications device to an Internet Protocol (IP) network, comprising the steps of:

receiving an IP packet from a terminal on said network at a home agent;

said home agent transmitting an access-request message to an authentication server, said access-request message comprising a destination IP address found in said IP packet;

said authentication server responsively issuing an access-accept message to said home agent if said device is authorized to receive said IP packet, said access-accept message comprising information uniquely identifying said device;

said home agent transmitting an Address Resolution Protocol packet containing said information uniquely identifying said device on said network to a mobile node location server, said mobile node location server maintaining a table mapping IP addresses for a plurality of mobile communication devices to information uniquely identifying said devices;

in the event that an IP address for said device is not found by said mobile node location server in said table, responsively paging said device via a wireless communication network, and

said device responding to said page and thereby initiating a connection via said wireless communication network to a network access server connected to said IP network, said network access server notifying said mobile node location server that it has said connection with said device and providing an IP address for said device to said mobile node location server, said IP address forwarded to said home agent, whereby said IP packet is transmitted to said device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said mobile node location server comprises a network access server coupling said wireless communication network to said IP network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said device initiates a connection with said IP network via said network access server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said access-accept message specifies a local area network as the network to use to locate said device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of paging comprises the step of sending a call set-up message to an element in said wireless communications network to page said device.