Abstract: A method and system for communicating incident scene information between wireless devices in an ad hoc network is useful for providing an updated source of incident scene information. The method comprises providing an Incident Scene Services Database (ISSD) in a first wireless device (step 305). An update of the ISSD comprising a service advertisement from a second wireless device is then received at the first wireless device (step 315). An indication is then provided at the first wireless device of availability of a service described in the service advertisement received from the second wireless device (step 320).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multicast communication, wherein the apparatus is configured for performing the method that includes the steps of: communicating (210) a request to a server to join a first multicast group, the first multicast group associated with a first multicast address; determining (220) a second multicast group corresponding to the first multicast group, the second multicast group having a second multicast address; joining (230) the second multicast group to create a corresponding multicast tunnel; receiving (240) a first multicast packet from the server using the multicast tunnel, the first multicast packet comprising the first and second multicast addresses; removing (250) the second multicast address from the first multicast packet; and forwarding (260) the first multicast packet comprising the first multicast address to an entity.

Abstract: In a system (100) that includes at least one mobility server (40, 50), at least one edge mobility agent (60) and a plurality of mobile nodes (20, 30), a method for local routing between two mobile nodes that includes the steps of: receiving a first care-of address for a first mobile node; detecting an edge mobility agent having knowledge of the first care-of address; determining, based upon at least one condition, that the edge mobility agent can perform local routing of at least one datagram for the first mobile node; and instructing the edge mobility agent to perform local routing of at least one datagram between the first mobile node and a second mobile node that has a second care-of address that is known to the edge mobility agent.

Abstract: A method for improving the reliability of a low latency handoff is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a first message from a first device. Upon receipt of the first message, transmitting a registration request via the first device to a home agent for pre-registration of a co-located care-of address associated with a second device, wherein the registration request comprises the co-located care-of address associated with the second device. If the first message is received again from the first device prior to attaching to the second device, re-transmitting the registration request via the first device.

Abstract: A registration method in a system having a hierarchical structure (100) that includes a mobile node (20), at least one FA (42), at least one GFA (40) and an HA (30). The method includes the steps of: intercepting (210) a registration request (300) from a mobile node to its HA, the registration request including a first care of address (360) for the mobile node; determining (220) whether there is an existing entry in a visitor list for the mobile node; if the entry exists, updating (230) the entry; if no entry exists, creating an entry (250) in the list for the mobile node, adding (260) a second care of address as an extension to the registration request, and sending (270) the registration request with the address extension to the HA; and sending (240) a registration reply to the mobile node.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of authenticating an electronic device in a mobile network. A method of authenticating an electronic device comprises a first mobile network controller receiving an authentication request from the electronic device in a mobile network 105; searching for an authentication credential 110 at a first mobile network controller by searching in a local database of the first mobile network controller; and, searching for an alternate authentication server to fulfill the authentication request 115, if the authentication credential is not found in the local database of the first mobile network controller.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for performing handoff in a communication system of access points and a mobile station, where the mobile station is associated with a first access point. The first access point receives a first transmission at a first signal quality from the mobile station and receives a second transmission that indicates a second signal quality at which a second access point is receiving transmissions from the mobile station. The first access point compares the first signal quality with the second signal quality and when the second signal quality is greater than the first signal quality, the first access point signals the second access point to initiate a handoff with the mobile station. The second access point responds by sending a disassociation message to the mobile station to disassociate with the first access point, wherein the disassociation message is addressed as if it originated from the first access point.

Abstract: A first device (104) receives a first message from a second device (100). Upon receipt of the first message, the first device transmits a registration request to the second device for pre-registration with a third device (102). If the second device does not receive the registration request from the first device within a predetermined time period, the second device re-transmits the first message to the first device if a communication link with the first device is still operational. If the first device receives the first message again from the second device prior to attaching to the third device, the first device re-transmits the registration request to the second device. If registration with the third device is not pending when the first device attaches to the third device, the third device transmits a second message to the first device to solicit a registration request from the first device.

Abstract: Methods for managing bandwidth in a packet-based communication system are disclosed wherein the packet-based communication system includes one or more reservation proxy elements associated with a plurality of zones. Specifically, the methods comprise receiving a call request for a talkgroup call and identifying a multicast group address for the call. Then, determining locations of one or more participating devices for the call, thereby determining a number of participating zones of the plurality of zones, the reservation proxy elements associated with the participating zones defining participating reservation proxy elements and communicating the multicast group address to the participating reservation proxy elements. Finally, the methods comprise receiving, from the participating reservation proxy elements, indicia of availability of communication resources on one or more links between the participating zones.

Abstract: In a system (100) including at least one mobility server (50), at least one mobile router (20) and a plurality of hosts (30,40), a method for network prefix allocation that includes the steps of: detecting a need for at least one network prefix for a mobile router (20); sending a registration request message to a mobility server (50) that includes a request to allocate the at least one network prefix to the mobile router (20); and receiving a registration reply responsive to the registration request that includes at least one allocated network prefix, wherein the at least one allocated network prefix is reserved for the mobile router (20) for a first time period.

Abstract: In a system (100) that includes at least one mobility server (40, 50), at least one edge mobility agent (60) and a plurality of mobile nodes (20, 30), a method for local routing between two mobile nodes that includes the steps of: receiving a first care-of address for a first mobile node; detecting an edge mobility agent having knowledge of the first care-of address; determining, based upon at least one condition, that the edge mobility agent can perform local routing of at least one datagram for the first mobile node; and instructing the edge mobility agent to perform local routing of at least one datagram between the first mobile node and a second mobile node that has a second care-of address that is known to the edge mobility agent.

Abstract: A method for use by middleware in a communication system (100) that includes the steps of: enabling a group of behavior sets (220) for use by the middleware; operating (330) in accordance with a first behavior set from the group (220); receiving at least one trigger (342, 346); selecting (350) a second behavior set from the group (220) based upon the at least one trigger (342, 346); and operating in accordance with the second behavior set (330).

Abstract: A registration method in a system having a hierarchical structure (100) that includes a mobile node (20), at least one FA (42), at least one GFA (40) and an HA (30). The method includes the steps of: intercepting (210) a registration request (300) from a mobile node to its HA, the registration request including a first care of address (360) for the mobile node; determining (220) whether there is an existing entry in a visitor list for the mobile node; if the entry exists, updating (230) the entry; if no entry exists, creating an entry (250) in the list for the mobile node, adding (260) a second care of address as an extension to the registration request, and sending (270) the registration request with the address extension to the HA; and sending (240) a registration reply to the mobile node.

Abstract: In a communication system, a mobile station (104) is currently associated with a first access point (AP1). AP1 (100) receives a transmission at a first signal quality from the mobile station. AP1 also receives a first message that indicates a second signal quality at which a second access point (AP2) is receiving transmissions from the mobile station. AP1 compares the first signal quality with the second signal quality, and when the second signal quality is greater than the first signal quality, AP1 signaling AP2 (102) to initiate a handoff with the mobile station. Alternatively, prior to AP1 signaling AP2 to initiate the handoff, AP1 may take into consideration the signal quality of transmissions received by the mobile station from the access points (100, 102).

Abstract: A first device (104) receives a first message from a second device (100). Upon receipt of the first message, the first device transmits a registration request to the second device for pre-registration with a third device (102). If the second device does not receive the registration request from the first device within a predetermined time period, the second device re-transmits the first message to the first device if a communication link with the first device is still operational. If the first device receives the first message again from the second device prior to attaching to the third device, the first device re-transmits the registration request to the second device. If registration with the third device is not pending when the first device attaches to the third device, the third device transmits a second message to the first device to solicit a registration request from the first device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for minimizing dense mode multicast flooding between a local area network (“LAN”) switch and a multicast capable router. The method includes the steps of detecting a prune message from the multicast capable router, identifying a multicast group from the prune message and setting a flag within the LAN switch to disable transfer of multicast datagrams of the determined multicast group to the multicast capable router. The apparatus can include a software interface, a control information processor, and an Internet switch-memory.

Abstract: A Packet Network for use in association with a wireless communication system employs packet distribution and call set-up methods optimized to select from a plurality of network routing devices, a single node (i.e., Rendezvous Point (VP) or.multicast core) as a function of attributes exhibited by the communication devices involved in the call or as a function of various communication system performance and/or quality of service (QOS) attributes, including but not limited to, bandwidth requirements, resource availability, network processing capacity, network response time, network traffic data, information technology and other knowledge and know-how regarding system equipment, system software, system integration, installation and/or deployment, bit error rate (BER), received signal strength indication (RSSI), quality of service (QOS) metrics, and any other measure of system performance or call quality.

Abstract: A packet delivery method employs redundant path definitions to improve reliability in a packet delivery system.

Abstract: Call control methods are disclosed for a multi-zone, packet-based communication system using certain host devices, termed reservation proxy elements, or RPEs to establish reservations of bandwidth for calls on behalf of other participating hosts. RPEs (132-138) receive and join a multicast group address to be used for a call, and exchange RSVP signaling messages across one or more inter-zone, packet network links (148, 150, 152, 154) to reserve communication resources for the call on behalf of participating devices in various zones. The RPEs receive the multicast group address from zone controller(s) (124-130) having received a call request for a talkgroup call. The zone controllers identify the multicast group address for the call and determine locations of participating devices and RPEs for the call.

Abstract: A packet delivery method employs redundant path definitions to improve reliability in a packet delivery system.