Abstract: Methods and apparatus for establishing communication links, used to support communications sessions with one or more end nodes, e.g., mobile devices, are described. Various features are directed to a mobile node controlling the establishment of initial links to a first access node and the establishment of new links from a first access node to a second access node during a handoff operation using highly efficient messages and signal.

Abstract: An access node, e.g., base station, determines a configuration of an end node, e.g., wireless terminal, intended to support a specific traffic flow and sends a configuration command to the wireless terminal. A base station may determine one or more parameters associated with classification, queue management, scheduling, and/or automatic repeat request, and then send a configuration command to the wireless terminal instructing it to implement a configuration operation. In some embodiments, a wireless terminal sets the value of an internal parameter to a value directly provided by the base station in a configuration command. In some embodiments, a wireless terminal determines and sets the value of an internal parameter as a function of information included in the configuration command from the base station.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving tunneling techniques and reducing packet loss in mobile communications systems are described. The methods and apparatus are well suited for use with Mobile IP and can facilitate handoff operations. A mobile node establishes multiple tunnels, representing downlinks, from the mobile node perspective. The different downlink tunnels are through different access nodes but terminate at the same home agent. The mobile node maintains, at most, a single uplink tunnel at any given time with the home agent. Tunnels representing uplinks and downlinks are managed independently. Thus, each of the uplink and downlink tunnels can have different lifetimes and can be created/removed independently allowing for flexibility in handoff operations.

Abstract: An access node, e.g., base station, determines a configuration of an end node, e.g., wireless terminal, intended to support a specific traffic flow and sends a configuration command to the wireless terminal. A base station may determine one or more parameters associated with classification, queue management, scheduling, and/or automatic repeat request, and then send a configuration command to the wireless terminal instructing it to implement a configuration operation. In some embodiments, a wireless terminal sets the value of an internal parameter to a value directly provided by the base station in a configuration command. In some embodiments, a wireless terminal determines and sets the value of an internal parameter as a function of information included in the configuration command from the base station.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving tunneling techniques and reducing packet loss in mobile communications systems are described. The methods and apparatus are well suited for use with Mobile IP and can facilitate handoff operations. A mobile node establishes multiple tunnels, representing downlinks, from the mobile node perspective. The different downlink tunnels are through different access nodes but terminate at the same home agent. The mobile node maintains, at most, a single uplink tunnel at any given time with the home agent. Tunnels representing uplinks and downlinks are managed independently. Thus, each of the uplink and downlink tunnels can have different lifetimes and can be created/removed independently allowing for flexibility in handoff operations.