Utilization of the internet protocol to facilitate communication involving mobile devices

• US 7,697,470 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): Sheikh; Ayaz R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US11/024,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20050141442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,931 Days
• Field of Search: 370/465, 370/401, 370/400, 370/394, 370/293, 370/392, 370/256, 370/342, 370/338, 370/335, 370/331, 370/329, 370/287, 370/94.3, 370/94.1, 370/85.13, 455/432, 455/436
• US Class Current: 370/328
• 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. A data communication system, comprising:

a hard-wired network;

a first network comprising a first network access point and one or more first nodes, the first network access point being directly coupled to the hard-wired network, the one or more first nodes being in direct wireless communication with the first network access point; and

a second network comprising a second network access point and one or more second nodes, the second network access point being directly coupled to the hard-wired network, the one or more second nodes being in direct wireless communication with the second network access point,

wherein, when a mobile wireless communication device is within a wireless coverage area of the first network, the mobile wireless communication device establishes communication with the first network access point via the one or more first nodes,

wherein, when the mobile wireless communication device is not within the wireless coverage area of the first network, the mobile wireless communication device establishes communication with the second network via the one or more second nodes and the mobile wireless communication device determines a wireless internetwork path over which communications can be routed from the first network access point,

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 the 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.

2. The data communication system according to claim 1, 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.

3. The data communication system according to claim 2, wherein the internetworking node receives a first 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.

4. The data communication system according to claim 2, 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.

5. The data communication system according to claim 4,

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.

6. The data communication system according to claim 5, 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.

7. The data communication system according to claim 1, wherein the message information is transmitted over a wireless connection of the one or more wireless connections.

8. A data communication system, comprising:

a first network comprising one or more first wireless nodes, and a first network access point, the one or more first wireless nodes being in wireless communication with the first wireless access point, the first network access point being directly coupled to a hard-wired network, the first network access point receiving message information directed to the first network over the hard-wired network;

a second network comprising a second network access point and one or more second wireless nodes, the second network access point being directly coupled to the hard-wired network, the one or more second wireless nodes being in wireless communication with the second network access point; 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,

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

wherein a wireless mobile communication device roams out of a wireless coverage area of the first network and into a wireless coverage area of the second network, and

wherein the mobile wireless communication device determines a wireless internetwork path over which communications can be routed from the first network access point.

9. 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 being directly coupled to a wired network, the first network access providing access to the wired network for the 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, the second network access point being directly coupled to the wired network, the second network access providing access to the wired network for the 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,

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,

wherein a wireless mobile communication device roams out of a wireless coverage area of the first network and into a wireless coverage area of the second network, and

wherein the mobile wireless communication device determines the wireless internetwork path over which communications can be routed from the first 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 wireless nodes and within the one or more second wireless nodes.

11. The data communication system according to claim 9, 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.

12. A method of data communication, comprising:

broadcasting, from a first node of one or more first 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;

roaming, by a mobile wireless communication device, from a wireless coverage area of the first wireless network and into a wireless coverage area of a second wireless network;

determining, by the mobile wireless communication device, 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 mobile wireless communication device.

13. The method according to claim 12, 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.

14. The method according to claim 13, 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.

15. The method according to claim 14, comprising:

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

16. The method according to claim 15, 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.

17. A method for data communication, comprising:

associating an access point and one or more first wireless nodes with a first wireless network, the access point being directly coupled to a wired network, the access point and the one or more first wireless nodes being wirelessly coupled, the access point providing access to the wired network for the one or more first wireless nodes;

receiving, at a mobile wireless communication device disposed in a wireless coverage area of the first wireless network, a first IP address;

terminating, at the mobile wireless communication device, a first network connection with the first wireless network;

roaming, by the mobile wireless communication device, from the wireless coverage area of the first wireless network and into a wireless coverage area of a second 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, by the mobile wireless communication device, 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 mobile wireless communication device, message information forwarded from the access point to the mobile wireless communication device via the wireless internetwork path.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first wireless node determines the wireless internetwork path comprising the one or more wireless connections.

19. The method according to claim 17,

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.

20. The method according to claim 17, 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 more second wireless nodes.

21. The method according to claim 20, 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.