Abstract: A system and method for transmitting a packet in a network is described. The method includes establishing a session with a flow identifier between a mobile station and a roaming wireless access gateway via a radio access network. A communication link is established between a home wireless access gateway and the roaming wireless access gateway. A filter is maintained at the home wireless access gateway for packet flow between the home wireless access gateway and the mobile station. The flow identifier is identified for a packet received by the home wireless access gateway from the network. The packet is transmitted with the flow identifier from the home wireless access gateway to the roaming wireless access gateway. The session for the packet is identified the via the flow identifier. Systems and method for establishing a call are also described.

Abstract: In mobile IP wireless data networking, methods are described for correctly routing packets through a foreign agent to or from wireless nodes where the wireless nodes have the same home network IP address. Instead of using normal IP routing, the foreign agent uniquely identifies the wireless node's home network IP address and home agent IP address with a PPP link address associated with a PPP link between the foreign agent and the wireless node. This association between PPP link addresses, home agent IP addresses, and home network IP addresses, is preferably implemented in software as a table stored in the foreign agent. The routing of packets through the foreign agent to the mobile nodes is performed by reference to the table. The table allows the foreign agent to correctly and efficiently route packets in the situation where multiple wireless nodes are registered with the foreign agent, but more than one of the wireless nodes have the same home network IP address.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for implementing direct routing. An Internet Protocol (IP) packet sent from a first mobile node to a second mobile node is received at a foreign agent for a foreign network, wherein both the first and second mobile nodes are visiting the foreign network. It is determined that the second mobile node is visiting the foreign network. The packet is routed to the second mobile node over a communication path that does not include a home agent associated with the second mobile node.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for routing data packet connection pathways. A pathway controller monitors all of the packet data service nodes available for the transmission of data packets to mobile nodes in order to allocate the service nodes appropriately. A main call processing node selects an available packet data service node for use for a mobile node based upon the availability of the service nodes. A mobile node may have its data packet pathway deactivated if the network infrastructure determines the need to free-up resources for other mobile nodes. The data packet pathway may be reactivated upon the event of a new data packet arriving for the mobile node. The methods of deactivation and reactivation may be used to solve data packet pathway serving faults. The data packet connection pathways that may be reactivated may be done in a load balanced fashion.

Abstract: One detects (101) (for example, via a wireless control node (600)) the handing off of a call session for a mobile station from either a CDMA wireless environment to an 802.16(e)-compatible wireless environment or vice versa. In either case, one then maintains (102) a substantially uninterrupted Internet Protocol data session portion of that call session notwithstanding the handing off of the call session for the mobile station.

Abstract: A method and system for call monitoring in a wireless network by querying various network components for information about a call path through the wireless network. The network components in the wireless network may include foreign agent control nodes, home agent control nodes, packet data serving nodes, home agents, and/or authentication, authorization, and accounting servers. These network components may be queried to determine the foreign agent and the home agent to which a call is assigned. The foreign agent and the home agent may also define information about a call on the wireless network, i.e., the state of the call. Advantageously, the information provided by the foreign agent and the home agent may allow for monitoring a call path through the wireless network.

Abstract: A first and a second, different wireless access technology are supported (101 and 102) via an access gateway (200). The first wireless access technology, for example, can serve to facilitate provision of a wireless communication session with a given mobile station (104). Using (105) a received first identifier that correlates the mobile station to the first wireless access technology and a received second identifier that correlates the mobile station to the second wireless access technology, this access gateway can then, when appropriate, effect (106) a handover of that wireless communication session for that mobile station from the first wireless access technology to the second wireless access technology.

Abstract: A method of establishing a Point-to-Point (PPP) session over an air interface is described. In order to provide access to a Circuit Switched Data (CSD) server on a CSD network, a Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) establishes a PPP session on behalf of an InterWorking Function (IWF). This establishment of the PPP session allows a mobile 3G device to setup a TCP session with the IWF. The mobile 3G device may communicate modem emulation data to the IWF and thereby use a modem in the IWF to communicate over the CSD network with the CSD server.

Abstract: An Internet Protocol access gateway (200) characterized by having automatically and dynamically maintained end user profile information can receive (101) information (subsequent to otherwise authenticating an end user's ability to engage in a communication session) regarding content being sought by the end user via a communication session. That access gateway can then facilitate determination (102) regarding whether this end user is authorized to receive such content.

Abstract: A method and system of transferring data rate and state information of mobile nodes between access and home networks is provided. A mobile node may register with a foreign agent on a foreign network, by sending mobile node information, such as a data rate at which the mobile node operates and a dormancy status of the mobile node, to a radio access network, which forwards the information to the foreign agent. The foreign agent may then contact a home agent on the mobile node's home network to setup a call. The foreign agent may send the mobile node information, such as the data rate or the dormancy state, to the home agent during call-setup or during the call as well.

Abstract: A method and system for providing prepaid billing for two concurrent communication sessions is accomplished by a first-network-access device, such as a WIN SCP, receiving from a prepaid-user account prepaid services for a first-communication session. During the first-communication session, a second-network-access device, e.g., an AAA server, requests from the prepaid-user account additional prepaid services for a second- communication session that is to occur on a data network. In response to the request, the first-network-access device receives from a prepaid-billing system a status-update request. Responsive to the update request, the first-network-access device sends to the prepaid-billing system the prepaid-service usage for the first communication session. The prepaid billing system updates the prepaid user account by debiting the prepaid services usage from the prepaid-user account.

Abstract: A connection with a mobile node is established. A registration request is received and a tunnel identifier determined. The tunnel identifier is independent of (i) a home address of the mobile node and (ii) an address of a home agent for the mobile node. The registration request is transmitted to the home agent, and the registration request includes the tunnel identifier. A response to the request is received and, responsively, a connection is activated. Data packets are received from the home agent in response to transmitting the registration request. The data packets include the tunnel identifier. The connection is identified using the tunnel identifier and the packets are routed along the connection.

Abstract: Upon receiving (101) a user node request for communication services, which request requires system authentication, a network entity can initiate (104) provision of the requested services while intentionally delaying (105) any attempt to seek such authentication. Following that intentional delay, the network element can then transmit (106) an authentication request (for example, to an authentication entity such as an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting server) for that user node. When that authentication request is denied, the network entity can respond by terminating (108) the previously initiated communication service.

Abstract: When a network element detects (100) Point-to-Point Protocol renegotiation as corresponds to a client node, that network element then automatically accesses (102) context information as pertains to a previous Point-to-Point Protocol session for that client node. The network element then facilitates (103) that Point-to-Point Protocol renegotiation and determines (104) freshly presently context information as corresponds to that client node. These teachings then contemplate comparing (105) at least some of the freshly presented context information with the access context information to provide a comparison result. When this comparison result (106) corresponds to a least a first category of result (for example, when the comparison comprises a match between these corresponding categories of information) the network element then automatically processes (107) a registration as corresponds to the client node without also requesting revocation of a previously established registration state for the client node.

Abstract: A method and system of consolidating mobile IP messages within a network is provided. The method and system applies to the transfer of datagrams between home and foreign agents and mobile IP devices. The system provides for a temporary capture and storage of small non-real-time datagrams within a queue by a home agent or packet data serving node. Upon a queue full condition, the datagrams are consolidated into larger datagrams and transferred from the home agent to a packet data serving node or from a packet data serving node to a home agent. Real-time datagrams can be prioritized higher than non-real-time datagrams and transferred immediately to and from mobile IP devices without queuing. Optionally, a watchdog timer may be employed by the home agent and packet data serving nodes to prompt the assembling and sending of consolidated datagrams to limit latency encountered by a queued data.

Abstract: A mobile node using non-Mobile Internet Protocol version 6 is able to successfully communicate via Mobile Internet Protocol version 4 infrastructure via an encapsulating tunnel as is established between a first network element (such as a Packet Data Serving Node) and a second network element (such as a Home Agent). Extensions and/or codes can be conveyed via Mobile Internet Protocol version 4 Registration Requests/Responses that facilitate the automated establishment of, for example, a 6to4 tunnel for these purposes.

Abstract: A network access element (100) having an ability (11) of support communication sessions for a multi-stack Internet Protocol device is further preferably provided with an ability (12) to use a hang time in conjunction with at least one of the communication sessions. In a preferred approach, a network access element having an ability to support communication sessions for a multi-stack Internet Protocol device is further provided with an ability to update (38) corresponding accounting information.

Abstract: A system and methods are shown for providing packet data serving node (PDSN) redundancy. One exemplary method includes providing an access node with a plurality of packet data serving nodes and at least one system manager, establishing an N to 1 redundancy of active to standby PDSNs. Upon establishing a communications session with a mobile node, each active PDSN provides state updates to the standby PDSN including only non-recoverable data. Upon failure of any active PDSN, the standby PDSN reassigned as an active PDSN replacing the failed unit and assuming the communications session with the mobile node. The remaining active PDSNs are notified of the reassignment and transmission of updated state data is discontinued.

Abstract: A method and system for Mobile Internet Protocol (IP) device redundancy. As mobile devices roam away from a home network and change a connective status, mobility binding records are sent to a multicast network address on the home network. The multicast network address multicasts the mobility binding records to other active Mobile IP home agent control nodes, standby home agent control nodes and standby home agents on the home network. The method and system allows standby home agent control nodes or standby home agents to be transparently switched for active home agent control nodes or active home agents that fail without downloading or uploading large numbers of mobility binding records after a failure. The method and system may also help reduce failed calls (e.g., data sessions including Voice over IP (VoIP), H.323, etc.), network congestion and improve user satisfaction in Mobile IP systems.

Abstract: An exemplary system and method for using a network access system, such as a virtual private network (VPN), are provided. A user device may have a user session with a home agent. Additionally, an initiating security gateway may be in communication with the home agent, and a terminating security gateway may be in communication with the initiating security gateway via a tunnel (e.g., Internet Protocol in Internet Protocol (IP-in-IP) or Internet Protocol security (IPsec) tunnel). Further, a virtual local area network (VLAN) tag associated with the user session may map to a selector operable in a security policy database. The selector may be used to find a security policy defining an IPsec procedure, and the security policy may be applied to the tunnel. Also, the initiating security gateway may also include a Quality of Service (QoS) module that determines QoS markings for a packet traveling along the tunnel.