Mobile IP registration supporting port identification

• US 7,707,310 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thubert, Pascal, Levy-Abegnoli, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Dhairya A
• Application Number:
  US10/301,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20040098507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,715 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/228, 709/229, 709/245, 370/913, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.3
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/663 Transport layer addresses, e.g. aspects of transmission control protocol [TCP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• 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: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/005 Multiple registrations, e.g. multihoming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/913 Wireless or radio

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for registering with a Home Agent are disclosed. The network device sends a registration request having a home address field including an IP address to a Home Agent associated with the IP address. The registration request indicates one or more ports of the network device via which data packets or server requests addressed to the IP address are to be received. The ports may be specified in a port extension to the registration request. In addition, the registration request may indicate a priority to be associated with the registration. The Home Agent updates its mobility binding table with the IP address and care-of address, as well as other information specified in the registration request, such as port and/or priority information. The Home Agent then sends a registration reply to the network device. When the registration request is not sent directly by the network device (e.g., via a collocated care-of address), the Foreign Agent updates its visitor table upon receipt of the registration reply with the Home Agent address and IP address, as well as port and/or priority information. The registration reply is then sent to the network device. In this manner, multiple registrations for a single device or user may be established according to specified port(s), thereby enabiling various applications and/or devices to be prioritized.

Claims

1. In a network device having a plurality of ports and supporting Mobile IP, a method of registering with a Home Agent, comprising:

composing at least one Mobile IP registration request having a home address field including a home address, the Mobile IP registration request identifying two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device via which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be received via a Home Agent associated with the home address, wherein the Mobile IP registration request further includes a priority associated with each of the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, the priority being a priority with which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be sent to the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device;

sending the Mobile IP registration request to the Home Agent associated with the home address, thereby enabling the two or more of the plurality of ports to be registered with the Home Agent in association with the same home address; and

receiving a Mobile IP registration reply from the Home Agent;

wherein the Mobile IP registration reply identifies the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, wherein the home address is registered for each of the two or more of the plurality of ports such that multiple registrations are established for the home address, wherein a different tunnel is established between the Home Agent and each of the two or more of the plurality of ports, wherein the network device is a Mobile Node supporting Mobile IP.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

appending a priority extension indicating the priority to the Mobile IP registration request.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the Mobile IP registration reply includes the priority.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the Mobile IP registration reply includes a priority extension including the priority.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein an identifier of each of the plurality of ports has not been allocated to the network device by the Home Agent.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the two or more of the plurality of ports are configured for performing one or more of a set of applications.

7. A network device having a plurality of ports, the network device supporting Mobile IP and being adapted for registering with a Home Agent, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, at least one of the processor or the memory being adapted for;

composing a Mobile IP registration request having a home address field including a home address, the Mobile IP registration request identifying two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device via which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be received via a Home Agent associated with the home address, wherein the Mobile IP registration request further includes a priority via which data packets or server requests are to be sent to the home address via the two or more of the plurality of ports;

sending the Mobile IP registration request to the Home Agent associated with the home address, thereby enabling the two or more of the plurality of ports to be registered with the Home Agent in association with the same home address; and

receiving a Mobile IP registration reply from the Home Agent;

wherein the Mobile IP registration reply identifies the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, wherein the home address is registered for each of the two or more of the plurality of ports such that multiple registrations are established for the home address.

8. The network device as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

appending a priority extension indicating the priority.

9. The network device as recited in claim 7, wherein the network device is a server dedicated to performing a set of applications, wherein each of the two or more of the plurality of ports are configured for performing one or more of the set of applications.

10. The network device as recited in claim 7, wherein the Mobile IP registration reply includes a port number extension identifying the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device.

11. The network device as recited in claim 7, wherein the home address is associated with a user of the network device.

12. The network device as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

appending a port number extension to the Mobile IP registration request, the port number extension identifying the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device via which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be received.

13. In a Home Agent, a method of processing a registration request, comprising:

receiving at least one Mobile IP registration request from a network device having a plurality of ports, the Mobile IP registration request including a home address field identifying a home address and a care-of address, the Mobile IP registration request identifying two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device via which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be received from the Home Agent,

the Mobile IP registration request including a priority indicating a priority with which data packets or server requests are to be sent to the two or more of the plurality of ports;

updating a mobility binding table to include two or more entries for the home address, each of the two or more entries identifying a different one of the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, the home address, and the care-of address such that the two or more of the plurality of ports are registered with the Home Agent in association with the same home address, wherein a different tunnel is established between the Home Agent and each of the two or more of the plurality of ports, and wherein a different tunnel is established in association with each of the two or more entries; and

sending a Mobile IP registration reply to the network device;

wherein the Mobile IP registration reply identifies the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, wherein the home address is registered for each of the two or more of the plurality of ports such that multiple registrations are established for the home address, wherein the network device is a Mobile Node supporting Mobile IP.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein an identifier of each of the plurality of ports has not been allocated to the network device by the Home Agent.

15. A Home Agent adapted for processing a registration request, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, at least one of the processor or the memory being adapted for;

receiving a Mobile IP registration request from a network device having a plurality of ports. the Mobile IP registration request including a home address field identifying a home address and a care-of address, the Mobile IP registration request identifying two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device via which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be received via the Home Agent, the Mobile IP registration request further including a priority indicating a priority with which data packets or server requests are to be sent to the two or more of the plurality of ports;

updating a mobility binding table to include two or more entries for the home address, each of the two or more entries identifying a different one of the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, the home address, and the care-of address such that the two or more of the plurality of ports are registered with the Home Agent in association with the same home address; and

sending a Mobile IP registration reply to the network device;

wherein the Mobile IP registration reply identifies the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, wherein the home address is registered for each of the two or more of the p lurality of ports such that multiple registrations are established for the home address, wherein a different tunnel is established between the Home Agent and each of the two or more of the plurality of ports, wherein the network device is a Mobile Node supporting Mobile IP.

16. Home Agent as recited in claim 15, the Mobile IP registration request including a priority extension indicating the priority.

17. The Home Agent as recited in claim 15, wherein the Mobile IP registration reply includes the priority.

18. The Home Agent as recited in claim 17, wherein the Mobile IP registration reply includes a priority extension indicating the priority.

19. The Home Agent as recited in claim 15, at least one of the processor or the memory being further adapted for:

storing the priority in the two or more entries of the mobility binding table.

20. The Home Agent as recited in claim 19, at least one of the processor or the memory being further adapted for:

receiving a data packet or server request addressed to the home address;

determining the priority associated with the home address from the mobility binding table; and

forwarding the data packet or server request to at least one of the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device according to the priority.

21. The Home Agent as recited in claim 15, wherein the Mobile IP registration request identifies two or more of the plurality of ports, wherein the two or more entries of the mobility binding table identify a tunnel via which to send packets to the home address for each of the two or more of the plurality of ports such that the home address is registered with the Home Agent for each of the two or more of the plurality of ports.

22. The Home Agent as recited in claim 21, wherein the home address is associated with a user of the network device.

23. The Home Agent as recited in claim 21, the Mobile IP registration request having a port extension identifying the two or more of the plurality of ports.

24. The Home Agent as recited in claim 15, wherein the mobility binding table includes a plurality of entries associated with the home address, each of the entries identifying a different one of the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device such that each of the plurality of entries represents a different registration of the home address with the Home Agent.

25. The Home Agent as recited in claim 24, at least one of the processor or the memory being further adapted for:

repeating the receiving, updating and sending steps for a Mobile IP registration request identifying a second set of two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device.

26. The Home Agent as recited in claim 15, at least one of the processor or the memory being further adapted for:

receiving a data packet or server request addressed to the home address; and

forwarding the data packet or server request to at least one of the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device.

27. In a Foreign Agent, a method of processing a registration request, comprising:

receiving at least one Mobile IP registration request from a network device having a plurality of ports, the Mobile IP registration request including a home address field identifying a home address, the Mobile IP registration request identifying two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device via which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be received from a Home Agent associated with the home address, the Mobile IP registration request including a priority indicating a priority with which data packets or server requests are to be sent to the two or more of the plurality of ports;

forwarding the Mobile IP registration request to a Home Agent address identifying the Home Agent associated with the home address, thereby enabling the two or more of the plurality of ports to be registered with the Home Agent in association with the same home address;

receiving a Mobile IP registration reply from the Home Agent;

updating a visitor table to include at least one entry for the home address, the at least one entry identifying the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, the home address, and the Home Agent address; and

forwarding the Mobile IP registration reply to the network device, wherein the network device is a Mobile Node supporting Mobile IP.

28. A Foreign Agent adapted for processing a registration request, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, at least one of the processor or the memory being adapted for;

receiving a Mobile IP registration request from a network device having a plurality of ports, the Mobile IP registration request including a home address field identifying a home address, the Mobile IP registration request identifying two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device via which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be received via a Home Agent associated with the home address, the Mobile IP registration request including a priority indicating a priority with which data packets or server requests are to be sent to the two or more of the plurality of ports;

forwarding the Mobile IP registration request to a Home Agent address identifying the Home Agent associated with the home address, thereby enabling the two or more of the plurality of ports to be registered with the Home Agent in association with the same home address;

receiving a Mobile IP registration reply from the Home Agent;

updating a visitor table to include at least one entry for the home address, the at least one entry identifying the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, the home address, and the Home Agent address; and

forwarding the Mobile IP registration reply to the network device, wherein the network device is a Mobile Node supporting Mobile IP.

29. Foreign Agent as recited in claim 28, the Mobile IP registration request including a priority extension indicating the priority.

30. The Foreign Agent as recited in claim 28, wherein the Mobile IP registration reply includes the priority.

31. The Foreign Agent as recited in claim 30, wherein the Mobile IP registration reply includes a priority extension indicating the priority.

32. The Foreign Agent as recited in claim 28, at least one of the processor or the memory being adapted for:

storing the priority in the at least one entry of the visitor table.

33. The Foreign Agent as recited in claim 28, wherein the at least one entry of the visitor table identifies a different tunnel via which to send packets to the home address for each of two or more of the plurality of ports, the two or more of the plurality of ports being identified in the registration request.

34. The Foreign Agent as recited in claim 33, the Mobile IP registration request having a port extension identifying the two or more of the plurality of ports.

35. The Foreign Agent as recited in claim 28, wherein the home address is associated with a user of the network device.

36. The Foreign Agent as recited in claim 28, wherein the visitor table includes a plurality of entries associated with the home address, each of the entries identifying a different set of two or more of the plurality of ports such that each of the plurality of entries represents a different registration of the home address with the Home Agent.

37. A computer-readable storage medium storing thereon computer-readable instructions for registering a network device supporting Mobile IP with a Home Agent, the network device having a plurality of ports, comprising:

instructions for composing a Mobile IP registration request having a home address field including a home address, the Mobile IP registration request identifying two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device via which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be received from a Home Agent associated with the home address, wherein the Mobile IP registration request further includes a priority associated with each of the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, the priority being a priority with which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be sent to the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device;

instructions for sending the Mobile IP registration request to the Home Agent associated with the home address, thereby enabling the two or more of the plurality of ports to be registered with the Home Agent in association with the same home address; and

instructions for processing a Mobile IP registration reply received from the Home Agent;

wherein the Mobile IP registration reply identifies the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, wherein the home address is registered for each of the two or more of the plurality of ports such that multiple registrations are established for the home address, wherein the network device is a Mobile Node supporting Mobile IP.

38. A network device having a plurality of ports, the network device supporting Mobile IP and being adapted for registering with a Home Agent, comprising:

means for composing by a processor a Mobile IP registration request having a home address field including a home address, the Mobile IP registration request identifying two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device via which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be received from a Home Agent associated with the home address, wherein the Mobile IP registration request further includes a priority associated with each of the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, the priority being a priority with which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be sent to the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device;

means for sending by a processor the Mobile IP registration request to the Home Agent associated with the home address, thereby enabling the two or more of the plurality of ports to be registered with the Home Agent in association with the same home address; and

means for receiving by a processor a Mobile IP registration reply from the Home Agent;

wherein the Mobile IP registration reply identifies the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, wherein the home address is registered for each of the two or more of the plurality of ports such that multiple registrations are established for the home address.

39. A computer-readable storage medium storing thereon computer-readable instructions for processing a registration request in a Home Agent, comprising:

instructions for processing a Mobile IP registration request received from a network device having a plurality of ports, the Mobile IP registration request including a home address field identifying a home address and a care-of address, the Mobile IP registration request identifying two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device via which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be received from the Home Agent,

the Mobile IP registration request including a priority indicating a priority with which data packets or server requests are to be sent to the two or more of the plurality of ports;

instructions for updating a mobility binding table to include two or more entries for the home address, each of the two or more entries identifying a different one of the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, the home-address, and the care-of address such that the two or more of the plurality of ports are registered with the Home Agent in association with the same home address, and wherein a different tunnel is established in association with each of the two or more entries such that a different tunnel is established between the Home Agent and each of the two or more of the plurality of ports; and

instructions for sending a Mobile IP registration reply to the network device;

wherein the Mobile IP registration reply identifies the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, wherein the home address is registered for each of the two or more of the plurality of ports such that multiple registrations are established for the home address, wherein a different tunnel is established between the Home Agent and each of the two or more of the plurality of ports, and wherein the network device is a Mobile Node supporting Mobile IP.

40. A Home Agent adapted for processing a registration request, comprising:

means for receiving by a processor a Mobile IP registration request from a network device having a plurality of ports, the Mobile IP registration request including a home address field identifying a home address and a care-of address, the Mobile IP registration request identifying two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device via which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be received by the network device from the Home Agent, the Mobile IP registration request including a priority indicating a priority with which data packets or server requests are to be sent to the two or more of the plurality of ports;

means for updating by a processor a mobility binding table to include two or more entries for the home address, the two or more entries identifying a different one of the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, the home address, and the care-of address such that the two or more of the plurality of ports are registered with the Home Agent in association with the same home address; and

means for sending by a processor a Mobile IP registration reply to the network device;

wherein the Mobile IP registration reply identifies the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, wherein the home address is registered for each of the two or more of the plurality of ports such that multiple registrations are established for the home address, wherein a different tunnel is established between the Home Agent and each of the two or more of the plurality of ports, and wherein the network device is a Mobile Node supporting Mobile IP.

41. A computer-readable storage medium storing thereon computer-readable instructions for processing a registration request in a Foreign Agent, comprising:

instructions for forwarding a Mobile IP registration request identifying a home address and received from a network device to a Home Agent associated with the home address, the Mobile IP registration request identifying two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device via which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be received from the Home Agent, the Mobile IP registration request further including a priority indicating a priority with which data packets or server requests are to be sent to the two or more of the plurality of ports thereby enabling the two or more of the plurality of ports to be registered with the Home Agent in association with the same home address;

instructions for updating a visitor table to include at least one entry for the home address, the at least one entry identifying the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, the home address, and the Home Agent address when a Mobile IP registration reply is received from the Home Agent; and

instructions for forwarding the Mobile IP registration reply to the network device, wherein the network device is a Mobile Node supporting Mobile IP.

42. A Foreign Agent adapted for processing a registration request, comprising:

means for receiving by a processor a Mobile IP registration request from a network device having a plurality of ports, the Mobile IP registration request including a home address field identifying a home address, the Mobile IP registration request identifying two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device via which data packets or server requests addressed to the home address are to be received via a Home Agent associated with the home address, the Mobile IP registration request including a priority indicating a priority with which data packets or server requests are to be sent to the two or more of the plurality of ports;

means for forwarding by a processor the Mobile IP registration request to a Home Agent address identifying the Home Agent associated with the home address, thereby enabling the two or more of the plurality of ports to be registered with the Home Agent in association with the same home address;

means for receiving by a processor a Mobile IP registration reply from the Home Agent;

means for updating by a processor a visitor table to include at least one entry for the home address, the at least one entry identifying the two or more of the plurality of ports of the network device, the home address, and the Home Agent address; and

means for forwarding by a processor the Mobile IP registration reply to the network device, wherein the network device is a Mobile Node supporting Mobile IP.