Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for forwarding multicast packets in a communication network using a physically scoped routing protocol. Each of a plurality of access routers maintains information concerning the addresses of physically neighboring access routers. Multicast packets received by each access router are evaluated to determine whether they should be routed using a conventional administratively scoped routing rule or using a physically scoped routing rule. Administratively scoped packets are routed to the multicast address using conventional administrative scoping rules. Physically scoped packets are “tunneled” by encapsulating them in a unicast packet, which is then transmitted to one or more physically neighboring access routers. An optional time-to-live parameter allows multiple levels of neighboring proximity to be specified.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling handover between a first technology network and a second technology network by detecting information about regions of an area of the first technology network, and deciding whether to initiate a handover procedure between the first and second technology networks based on the detected region information.

Abstract: A method and system for routing messages between hosts while maintaining end-to-end location privacy are disclosed. In order to make routing more efficient, while maintaining location privacy, an encapsulation cache may be created in access routers that have a trust relationship with the respective home networks of the hosts. The encapsulation cache can be used to store home-address to care-of-address correspondences so that the access router, when a host is roaming, can route a message directly to the message's intended recipient, yet still maintain location privacy for the sending host by replacing the host's care-of address at the roaming network with the host's home address.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for delivering media content. The system includes at least one recipient that may be associated with at least one recipient rule. The system also includes a sending entity capable of transmitting a multimedia message addressed to the recipients. The sending entity can also specify delivery rules in the message. In this regard, the multimedia message includes media content. The system further includes a network entity capable of receiving the multimedia message and identifying any recipient rules, sending entity rules and/or network rules associated with the multimedia message. The network entity can then deliver the media content to the recipients based upon respective rules. The network entity can also be capable of processing the media content based upon the rules before delivering the media content, such as by transcoding or truncating at least a portion of the media content prior to delivery.

Abstract: A line interface card apparatus includes: a packet queue memory for storing packets; a physical layer having first and second buffers, the physical layer being connected to the packet queue memory by a data bus and being connected to a plurality of links; and a queue manager connected to the packet queue memory and to the physical layer by a control bus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a relocation of an application-specific functionality for an application that a mobile terminal (mobile node) is executing. Entities that may provide application-specific functionalities that assist the application include a location-based server (that may be associated with a supplementary service provider functionality), a transcoder proxy, and a security gateway. The relocation of the application-specific functionality with a network layer-level handoff enables the mobile terminal to seamlessly execute an application that utilizes the media content from a content source that is supporting the mobile terminal before the handoff Subsequent to the handoff, the mobile terminal registers with a current access router in order to inform the current access router about application context information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a relocation of content sources that provide media content to a mobile terminal (mobile node) when a network layer-level handoff occurs. The relocation of content sources enables the mobile terminal to seamlessly execute an application that utilizes the media content from a current content source before the handoff and from a new content source after the handoff. The mobile terminal registers with a current access router in order to inform the access router about application context information. The current access router informs a new access router about the impending handoff. The new access router consequently discovers the new content source.

Abstract: Service provisioning in mobile terminals is provided through registering and transferring of application context, which permits substantially seamless transfer of application functionality across administrative service domains. An architecture for providing application context transfer may include access routers, transcoder proxy servers, and gateway routers. A mobile terminal served by a current access router creates an application context for a session and registers it with the current access router. Around the time of handoff, the current access router transfers the application context to a new access router associated with a new administrative domain and a new access network. The new access router evaluates the application context and takes steps to provide application functionality for the mobile terminal and current sessions.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for transmitting of multicast data over a wireless channel. At least one wireless terminal requests a multicast service corresponding to at least one requested layer. A wireless infrastructure comprising a base station and a node determines a data rate that the at least one wireless terminal can reliably receive and correspondingly configures a multicast session for at least one layer. The node utilizes measurements provided by the wireless terminal. The node through the base station signals the wireless terminal about a link-level multicast address corresponding to a time slot for which the wireless terminal shall process packets.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for transmitting muolticast data over a wireless channel. At least one wireless terminal requests a multicast service corresponding to at least one requested layer. A wireless infrastructure comprising a base station and a node determines a data rate that the at least one wireless terminal can receive reliably and correspondingly configures a multicast session for at least one layer. The node utilizes measurements provided by the wireless terminal. The node through the base station signals the wireless terminal about a link-level multicast address corresponding to a time slot for which the wireless terminal shall process packets. An associated point of attachment with a core data network controls a data flow from a multicast content source through the core data network in order to match the data rate over the wireless channel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for forwarding multicast packets in a communication network using a physically scoped routing protocol. Each of a plurality of access routers maintains information concerning the addresses of physically neighboring access routers. Multicast packets received by each access router are evaluated to determine whether they should be routed using a conventional administratively scoped routing rule or using a physically scoped routing rule. Administratively scoped packets are routed to the multicast address using conventional administrative scoping rules. Physically scoped packets are “tunneled” by encapsulating them in a unicast packet, which is then transmitted to one or more physically neighboring access routers. An optional time-to-live parameter allows multiple levels of neighboring proximity to be specified.

Abstract: In a GPRS core network, MPLS-based Label Switched Paths (LSPs) between Serving GPRS Support Nodes (SGSN) and Gateway GPRS Support Nodes (GGSN) are established for different types of traffic across the core network during a traffic engineering phase. The queuing and forwarding treatment offered to packets at internal nodes along these routes are based on DiffServ per-hop behavior (PHB) groups to which each packet is assigned at the edge of the core network, i.e., at SGSN or GGSN. In one embodiment of the invention, PDP messaging that occurs at the time of activation of PDP context can be used to assign the corresponding packet stream to particular LSP and PHB. When an MS changes serving SGSN due to mobility, it is only required to change the label mapping context at a GGSN, thereby allowing subsequent packets targeted to the MS to be routed to new SGSN.

Abstract: A shaper 201 and a scheduler 203 are combined to determine a target tree 203 and insert 207 a tag into a data structure, wherein the tag is associated with a packet that has reached the head of line (HOL) of a queue in a packet router. A tag may become an eligible tag and be placed in a set of tags to be searched. Such tags are searched for the smallest tag. A packet associated with the smallest tag is transmitted if the output link is available.