Abstract: In the present technique of a communication system (100), an address of a forwarding agent (114) linked to a receiver node (112) is detected to provide a discovered address. The discovered address is then used to establish a direct route with the forwarding agent of the receiver node for subsequent communications between a sender node (104) and the receiver node.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described for facilitating network mobility in communication networks with an aim toward enhancing the scalability of MIP. Generally, in most of these embodiments, a network node (121) sends a message to a network device (131) to establish a data path for a remote unit (101) served by the network node. This message comprises a source link layer address which is associated with the remote unit. The message may or may not be sent in response to receiving signaling to facilitate wireless connectivity of a remote unit via the network node. In addition, the network device to which the message is sent may be an access router (AR) or a foreign agent (FA) of the remote unit.

Abstract: In a wireless communication system, a method includes assigning an initial portion of a list of resource block group for each of a plurality of cells such that the resource block groups are spread across the plurality of cells in a non-contiguous order spaced out in frequency. In addition, the method assigns a secondary portion of the list of resource block groups for each of a plurality of cells wherein the secondary portion is assigned in a reverse order and alternating from the initial portion of the list of resource block groups of each of the other plurality of cells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating an available backhaul bandwidth in a femto-cell communication network includes a step (204, 304) of sending at least one defined data stream to at least one femto-cell. A next step (206, 306) includes measuring a delay of the at least one defined data stream at the at least one femto-cell. A next step (208, 308) includes estimating, from the delay of the at least one defined data stream, a backhaul bandwidth availability.

Abstract: A first base station communicates (102) with a second base station (wherein an ongoing communication cannot be handed over from the first base station to the second base station and wherein the first and second base station each employ, at least in part, a same set of carrier resources) to prevent interference by usage of the second base station with a user of the first base station. By one approach, this activity can be based, at least in part, upon receipt (101) of a message from an end user platform indicating that a carrier resource that is presently being used by the end user platform is being interfered with by the second base station. By another approach, this activity can take place prior to any actual such interference.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting packets in a wireless communication system (100). The method and apparatus determining a delay period from among the various delay times at each of a plurality of access nodes (106-110) wherein the delay time is the time it takes for a node to receive a data packet from a source (102) through a network (104). During transmission of data from the source, the nodes receive data packets and from the data packets, the wall clock time is determined. The packets are transmitted from the nodes at a time equivalent to the wall clock time and the delay period so that the packets are synchronously transmitted from the multiple nodes.

Abstract: Timing synchronization between base stations of uncoordinated communication networks includes obtaining timing synchronization information from one base station, and adjusting a clock of the other station in response to the synchronization information. The timing synchronization information can be identified from a strongest synchronization signal from nearby uncoordinated base stations. The timing synchronization can accommodate clock offsets and frequency offsets.

Abstract: A method (500) and a system (300) for implementing point-to-point communications. The method can include identifying at least a first portion (348, 350) of a prefix (344, 346) of a network address, the prefix corresponding to a particular topological region (326, 328) of a communications network (302). The method further can include generating a unique prefix (360, 362) by updating the prefix with an identifier (356, 358) that is unique within the topological region of the communications network, and assigning the unique prefix to a node (304-314) of the communications network.

Abstract: A method and information processing system for wirelessly transmitting at least one of a downlink channel descriptor and an uplink channel descriptor for reception by at least one wireless device (104). The method comprises selecting at least one transmission time for transmitting a pointer that indicates a transmission time for a DCD and/or a UCD. The pointer is transmitted at a time between a first transmission and a second transmission of the at least one of downlink channel descriptor and uplink channel descriptor. The transmission time is selected to reduce a time interval for the at least one wireless device (104) to search for the at least one of the DCD and UCD. Also, a message that includes DCD information and/or UCD information associated with at least one neighboring cell can also be chosen to transmit at specifically chosen times to the at least one wireless device (104).

Abstract: A method for prioritizing Mobile IP between PMIP and CMIP includes the steps of connecting a mobile device (118) to a communication network (102) and determining (308) if the network provides mobility control, such as the network being PMIP-enabled. When it is determined that the network provide mobility control, the mobility function is assigned (312) to the network and is therefore given priority over the mobility function provided by the mobile device. It can be determined (304) that the mobile station also includes a mobility control so that when the network is not PMIP-enabled the mobile station controls (314) layer 3 mobility and the Mobile IP function.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described to enable improved inter-network/inter-technology handover of mobile devices. A network device (131, 132) collects dynamic information corresponding to mobile devices (101, 102), such as wireless measurement information at the device's location, and/or information corresponding to wireless network nodes (121-124), such loading levels/loading distributions. The network device then sends some or all of the dynamic information collected and/or statistical information generated from the dynamic information collected to a neighboring network information server (150) for access by other communication networks. By maintaining dynamic and/or statistical information in a neighboring network information server, such information can be made available to all the communication networks in a given region. One potential benefit to making this information available is improved inter-network handoff decision-making.

Abstract: In a communication network (400), wireless access points (300) utilize one or more agents (302, 306) to support the operating needs of corresponding mobile stations. Pursuant to one approach, the agent supports translation of the mobile station's end-to-end protocol-based messages to Internet Protocol-based messages that are readily ported through an Internet Protocol-friendly communication system infrastructure that preferably eschews the use of network elements that rely upon unique and/or proprietary non-Internet Protocol interfaces. Pursuant to another approach the wireless access point is able to interact on a peer-to-peer basis with other wireless access points in order to facilitate, for example, handovers and other mobility management tasks.

Abstract: A wireless access point (300A, 300B, 300C) provides (101) a surrogate Internet Protocol address to use on behalf of a mobile station (401). That wireless access point then uses (102) that surrogate Internet Protocol address along with its own Internet Protocol address to facilitate establishing one or more data tunnels as necessary to support the communication needs of the mobile station.

Abstract: A wireless access point (200), upon determining (101) that a need exists to support a communication need of a mobile station, acquires (102) a first Internet Protocol (IP) address and automatically transmits (103) a gratuitous Address Resolution Protocol message to a local router to thereby cause the latter to correlate the first IP address to a Medium Access Control address for the wireless access point. In a preferred embodiment the wireless access point can also automatically transmit a registration request to a remote network element (such as a Home Agent) that presents this first IP address as a care-of address to use in conjunction with another IP address that serves as a home address for the mobile station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing delivery of information in a wireless network (100) includes bearer plane information handlers (110, 111), each of which maintains a database of paging controller associations (200). Each paging controller association is an association of an idle mobile device to a last known paging controller of that idle mobile device. The apparatus also includes paging controllers (115-118), each of which is associated with at least one paging area (130-133). For each paging area, the paging controller maintains a database of all base transmitters of the paging area that are associated with the paging controller (310) and maintains a database of other selected paging controllers that control base transmitters in the paging area (315). Using these resources, the method uses location notification messages and paging responses to deliver bearer plane information to a mobile device (125) that has been idle.

Abstract: A secured message indicates that a node (104) in a network (102) is operating correctly and detecting that the node is compromised such that a device (106) should not communicate with the node. When the node is detected to be compromised, the secured message ceases to be transmitted to the node and the device. The secured message may include a time stamp portion and a security portion. A secured timestamp server (110) includes a transceiver (202) that receives notifications from a network management server (108) and transmits secured messages for use by the device. A processor (204) provides the secured message with a time stamp portion and a security portion when notifications indicate a node in the network is properly operating and ceases the transmission of the secured message when notifications indicate that the node is compromised.

Abstract: An indication is received from the mobile station (114) indicating that the mobile station (114) is moving from an originating mobility agent (106) to a destination mobility agent (108). An identity of the destination mobility agent (108) is determined using the indication. Routing information is sent from the originating mobility agent (106) to the destination mobility agent (108) using the identity. Incoming data is routed to the mobile station (114) using the routing information.

Abstract: Mobile station information is exchanged between a plurality of distributed mobility agents (106, 108). The exchange is initiated by a mobility agent (106) associated with a last known network access point (110) that has communicated with the mobile station (114). The mobile station (114) is paged from at least one network access point using an available air interface technology to interface with the mobile station (114) and using the mobile station information. No centralized controller is used in the paging.

Abstract: In the present technique of a communication system (100), an address of a forwarding agent (114) linked to a receiver node (112) is detected to provide a discovered address. The discovered address is then used to establish a direct route with the forwarding agent of the receiver node for subsequent communications between a sender node (104) and the receiver node.

Abstract: A wireless access point (102) detects an indicia of a change in wireless connectivity of a mobile station (101) with respect to itself and another wireless access point (103). The wireless access point then automatically effects at least one of establishing a communication between itself and the second wireless access point regarding the change in wireless connectivity and/or establishing a temporary data tunnel as between itself and the second wireless access point. These network elements can also act to automatically establish a data flow path for the mobile station as between the second wireless access point and a network element (such as a mobility management agent (105)) that is external to the common subnet. In a preferred approach this comprises, at least in part, automatically sending a registration request to the network element other than in response to a specific request from the mobile station to send such a registration request.