Utilization of the internet protocol to facilitate communication involving mobile devices

• US 6,891,820 B1
• Filed: 07/06/1999
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/347,374
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/310.2, 370328-338, 370351- 3, 370389-402, 370431-437, 370/445, 370403-409, 370/475, 370/395.2
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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 device.

Claims

1. A data communication system comprising:

a first network including a first network access point and a first plurality of nodes;

a second network including a second network access point and a second plurality of nodes; and

means for forwarding, from said first network to said second network via a wireless internetwork path, message information received at said first network and addressed to a first wireless node of said first plurality of nodes when said first wireless node establishes communication with said second network wherein said wireless internetwork path includes one or more wireless connections involving at least one of said first plurality of nodes and at least one of said second plurality of nodes to the exclusion of said first network access point and said second network access point.

2. The data communication system of claim 1 wherein said wireless internetwork path includes an internetworking node included within said first plurality of nodes and within said second plurality of nodes.

3. The data communication system of claim 2 wherein said internetworking node includes:

means for receiving a first set of network information relating to said first network from said first plurality of nodes, said first set of network information identifying said first network access point wherein said message information is available from said first network access point; and

means for transmitting, to one of said second plurality of nodes, said first set of network information and an identity of said internetworking node.

4. The data communication system of claim 3 wherein said one of said second plurality of nodes includes means for broadcasting said first set of network information, said first wireless node including means for receiving said first set of network information broadcast by said one of said second plurality of nodes upon establishing communication with said second network.

5. The data communication system of claim 1 wherein said means for forwarding includes means for transmitting said message information over one of said wireless connections.

10. The data communication system of claim 1 wherein said first wireless node is configured to determine said wireless internetwork path based upon said connectivity advertisement and an additional connectivity advertisement broadcast by one of said second plurality of wireless nodes.

6. A data communication system comprising:

a first network including a first plurality of wireless nodes, said first network having a first network access point for receiving message information directed to said first network;

a second network including a second network access point and a second plurality of wireless nodes; and

an internetworking node configured to forward portions of said message information addressed to one of said first plurality of wireless nodes via a wireless interconnection path from said first network access point to said second network when said one of said first plurality of nodes establishes communication with said second network, said wireless internetwork path including one or more wireless connections involving at least one of said first plurality of wireless nodes and at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes to the exclusion of said first network access point and said second network access point.

7. A data communication system comprising:

a first wireless network including a first network access point and a first plurality of wireless nodes, said first network access point providing a first IP address to a first wireless node of said first plurality of wireless nodes upon said first node joining said first wireless network;

a second network including a second plurality of wireless nodes; and

means for forwarding, from said first wireless network to said second wireless network via a wireless internetwork path, message information received at said first wireless network and addressed to said first IP address when said first wireless node establishes communication with said second wireless network wherein said wireless internetwork path includes a wireless connection between at least one of said first plurality of wireless nodes and at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes to the exclusion of said first network access point and said second network access point and is defined based at least in part upon a connectivity advertisement broadcast by one of said second plurality of wireless nodes.

8. The data communication system of claim 7 wherein said wireless internetwork path includes an internetworking node included within said first plurality of wireless nodes and within said second plurality of wireless nodes.

9. The data communication system of claim 7 wherein said first wireless node is configured to determine said wireless internetwork path based upon said connectivity advertisement and an additional connectivity advertisement broadcast by one of said first plurality of wireless nodes.

11. A method of data communication comprising:

broadcasting, from a first node of a first plurality nodes included within a first wireless network, a connectivity advertisement identifying its address and one or more additional addresses corresponding to other of said first plurality of nodes;

determining a wireless internetwork path based at least in part upon said connectivity advertisement, said wireless internetwork path including one or more wireless connections involving at least one of said first plurality of nodes and at least one of a second plurality of nodes of a second wireless network wherein said one or more wireless connections are defined to the exclusion of a first network access point associated with said first wireless network and a second network access point associated with said second wireless network; and

forwarding, from said first wireless network to said second wireless network via said wireless internetwork path, message information received at said first network and addressed to said first node when said first node establishes communication with said second network.

12. The method of claim 11 further including:

receiving, at an internetworking nodes included within said first plurality of nodes and said one or more nodes of said second wireless network, a first set of network information relating to said first network from said first plurality of nodes, said first set of network information identifying said first network access point wherein said message information is available from said first network access point; and

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

13. The method of claim 12 further including broadcasting, from said one of said second plurality of nodes, said first set of network information and receiving, at said first node, said first set of network information broadcast by said one of said second plurality of nodes upon establishing communication with said second network.

14. A method for data communication comprising:

receiving, at a first wireless node of a first plurality of wireless nodes of a first wireless network, a first IP address upon association of said first wireless node with said first wireless network;

terminating, at said first wireless node, a first network connection with said first wireless network and establishing a second network connection with a second wireless network upon determining at said first wireless node that signal strength over said first network connection has become less than a minimum threshold;

defining, at said first wireless node, a wireless internetwork path including one or more wireless connections involving at least one of said first plurality of wireless nodes and at least one of a second plurality of wireless nodes of said second wireless network wherein said one or more wireless connections are defined to the exclusion of a first network access point of said first wireless network and a second network access point of said second wireless network; and

receiving, at said first wireless node, message information forwarded from said first wireless network to said second wireless network via said wireless internetwork path, said message information being previously received at said first wireless network and addressed to said first IP address.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said defining is based at least in part upon a connectivity advertisement broadcast by one of said second plurality of wireless nodes.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said defining is further based upon an additional connectivity advertisement broadcast by one of said first plurality of wireless nodes.