Heuristic algorithm/protocol to determine the nearest available gateway for a mobile client
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- in response to a mobile client having changed locations, automatically testing each of a plurality of gateways to determine an optimum gateway for the mobile client from the plurality of gateways, wherein said testing includes at least one of (a) determining a number of hops required for a request to travel between a foreign agent and a selected gateway, and (b) determining an elapsed time required for the request to travel between the foreign agent and the selected gateway; and
selecting the optimum gateway for the mobile client.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for selecting an optimum gateway for a mobile client are described. The mobile client receives an acknowledgement from a home agent, indicating that the mobile client has moved from the home agent to a foreign agent. An optimum gateway is then determined from several gateways and then selected for the mobile client.
40 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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in response to a mobile client having changed locations, automatically testing each of a plurality of gateways to determine an optimum gateway for the mobile client from the plurality of gateways, wherein said testing includes at least one of (a) determining a number of hops required for a request to travel between a foreign agent and a selected gateway, and (b) determining an elapsed time required for the request to travel between the foreign agent and the selected gateway; and selecting the optimum gateway for the mobile client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of selecting a gateway comprising:
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testing each of a plurality of gateways to produce a plurality of test results, wherein said testing includes; selecting a gateway from the plurality of gateways; sending a request from a primary gateway, through a selected router to the selected gateway; determining at least one of a group consisting of (a) a number of hops required for the request to travel between the selected router and the selected gateway, and (b) an elapsed time required for the request to travel between the selected router and the selected gateway, wherein the number of hops and the elapsed time are two of the plurality of test results; and recording the plurality of test results for the selected gateway; and automatically selecting an optimum gateway from the plurality of gateways, for use by a mobile client, based on results of said testing. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a processor; and a storage facility coupled to the processor and containing instructions executable by the processor which configure the system to; automatically test each of a plurality of gateways, including instructions to; select a gateway from the plurality of gateways; test the selected gateway, including instructions to (a) send a request from a primary gateway, through a foreign agent to the selected gateway, (b) determine a number of hops required for the request to travel between the foreign agent and the selected gateway, and (c) determine an elapsed time required for the request to travel between the foreign agent and the selected gateway, wherein the number of hops and the elapsed time are two of a plurality of test results; and record the plurality of test results for the selected gateway; and automatically select an optimum gateway from the plurality of gateways. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for determining an optimum gateway comprising:
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a processor; and a storage facility coupled to the processor and containing instructions executable by the processor which configure the system with; means for automatically testing each of a plurality of gateways by determining at least one of (a) a number of hops required for a request to travel between a foreign agent and a selected gateway, and (b) an elapsed time required for the request to travel between a foreign agent and a selected gateway; and means for automatically selecting an optimum gateway from the plurality of gateways.
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23. A wireless gateway comprising:
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a processor; a wireless network coupled to the processor; a storage facility coupled to the processor and containing instructions executable by the processor which configure the wireless gateway to automatically test each of a plurality of gateways, wherein testing each one of the plurality of gateways includes; selecting a gateway from the plurality of gateways; sending a request from a primary gateway, through a foreign agent to the selected gateway; recording a number of hops required for the request to travel between the foreign agent and the selected gateway; and recording an elapsed time required for the request to travel between the foreign agent and the selected gateway; and determine one of the plurality of gateways that has a combination of a least elapsed time and a least number of hops to be an optimum gateway. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method comprising:
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determining that a mobile client has moved from a home agent to a foreign agent; in response to the mobile client having moved from the home agent to the foreign agent, testing each of a plurality of gateways, wherein testing each of the plurality of gateways includes; selecting a gateway from the plurality of gateways; sending a request from a primary gateway, through the foreign agent to the selected gateway; recording a number of hops required for the request to travel between the foreign agent and the selected gateway; and recording an elapsed time required for the request to travel between the foreign agent and the selected gateway; and selecting one of the plurality of gateways that has a combination of a least elapsed time and a least number of hops as an optimum gateway. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification