Mobility management for a multimedia mobile network

• US 6,747,961 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2000
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Dravida, Subrahmanyam, Jiang, Hong, Rege, Kiran M., Ahmed, Walid, Doshi, Bharat Tarachand
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, DUC CHI
• Application Number:
  US09/547,262
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 370/331, 370/328, 370/310, 370/349, 370/389, 370/400, 370/401, 370/392, 370/393, 370/338, 370/469, 455/422, 455/432, 455/433, 455/435, 455/456, 455/442, 455/440
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• 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 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/164 Adaptation or special uses of UDP protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/082 for traffic bypassing of mobility servers, e.g. location registers, home PLMNs or home agents
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

Various methodologies and related apparatus associated with mobility management issues within a packet-based multiaccess mobile communications system, which includes a plurality of mobile user stations and a plurality of network nodes, are provided. Location management techniques include tracking and/or locating mobile stations within the system. The invention makes use of home and visiting location registers in which information such as mobile station addresses and/or host names associated with mobile stations are stored. Mobile access methodologies include a complete mobile access method and a direct mobile access method. The former allows a mobile station to preferably include a unique address in the packets being transmitted, while the latter allows the station to merely use the host name of the destination station. The invention also includes various in-call mobility management techniques, including handoffs, which make use of the concept of an anchor.

Claims

1. Apparatus for tracking locations of wireless mobile user stations in a packet-based multiaccess communications system, comprising:

a network node configured for wireless connection with the mobile user stations and for storing a database including information pertaining to the mobile user stations associated with the network node, the information including entries for each mobile user station, each entry including at least a host name, an identifier, and an address associated with the mobile user station, the address being a combination of an identifier associated with a network node with which the mobile user station is associated and the identifier associated with the mobile user station, wherein the network node does not employ additional address information to direct a packet from one mobile user station to another mobile user station.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each entry in the database for each mobile user station further includes a time at which the entry is created.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each entry in the database for each mobile user station further includes a time at which the entry is to expire.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network node is further configured to search the database according to the entries to determine with which network node a specific mobile user station is currently associated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network node is further configured to receive at least one update message from at least another network node, the message containing information related to a change in location with respect to at least one specific mobile user station, the network node then updating the database according to the update message.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network node is further configured for mapping mobile user stations in the system to network nodes with which the stations are intended to be associated.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network node is further configured for storing another database including records of mobile user stations that are temporarily present in a coverage area associated with the network node.

8. Apparatus for tracking locations of wireless mobile user stations in a packet-based multiaccess communications system, comprising:

a network node configured for wireless connection with the mobile user stations and for storing a database including information pertaining to the mobile user stations associated with the network node, the information including entries for each mobile user station, each entry including at least a host name, an identifier, and an address associated with the mobile user station, the address being a combination of an identifier associated with a network node with which the mobile user station is associated and the identifier associated with the mobile user station;

wherein the network node is further configured for storing addresses associated with packets of mobile user stations routed through the network node over a predetermined time period.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the network node is further configured for receiving a search message from another network node attempting to locate a particular mobile user station, searching to determine if information relating to the station is stored therein, and if so, transmitting a portion of the information to the other network node.

10. A method for use in a network node for tracking locations of wireless mobile user stations in a packet-based multiaccess communications system, comprising the steps of:

storing a database including information pertaining to the mobile user stations associated with the network node, the information including entries for each mobile user station, each entry including at least a host name, an identifier, and an address associated with the mobile user station, the address being a combination of an identifier associated with a network node with which the mobile user station is associated and the identifier associated with the mobile user station, wherein the network node does not employ additional address information to direct a packet from one mobile user station to another mobile user station; and

updating the database when a mobile user station becomes associated with another network node or a new mobile user station becomes associated with the network node.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein each entry in the database for each mobile user station further includes a time at which the entry is created.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein each entry in the database for each mobile user station further includes a time at which the entry is to expire.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the network node searches the database according to the entries to determine with which network node a specific mobile user station is currently associated.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the network node receives at least one update message from at least another network node, the message containing information related to a change in location with respect to at least one specific mobile user station, the network node then updating the database according to the update message.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the network node maps mobile user stations in the system to network nodes with which the stations are intended to be associated.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the network node stores another database including records of mobile user stations that are temporarily present in a coverage area associated with the network node.

17. A method for use in a network node for tracking locations of wireless mobile user stations in a packet-based multiaccess communications system, comprising the steps of:

storing a database including information pertaining to the mobile user stations associated with the network node, the information including entries for each mobile user station, each entry including at least a host name, an identifier, and an address associated with the mobile user station, the address being a combination of an identifier associated with a network node with which the mobile user station is associated and the identifier associated with the mobile user station; and

updating the database when a mobile user station becomes associated with another network node or a new mobile user station becomes associated with the network node;

wherein the network node stores addresses associated with packets of mobile user stations routed through the network node over a predetermined time period.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the network node receives a search message from another network node attempting to locate a particular mobile user station, searches to determine if information relating to the station is stored therein, and if so, transmits a portion of the information to the other network node.