Abstract: Method and apparatus for establishing a tunnel between a mobile node and a routing device. The method includes the steps of utilizing the mobile node to place a call over a cellular network and gaining access to a foreign agent of the cellular network. A Mobile IP link is established between the foreign agent and a home agent and the call is authenticated. A tunnel is initiated between the home agent and the routing device and call data is tunneled between the home agent and the routing device.

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 network element (300) having a mobile Internet Protocol call processor (301) is provisioned with at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. The first mode of operation causes the processor to require authentication information from an authentication server before supporting a mobile Internet Protocol call whereas the second mode of operation permits the processor to support a mobile Internet Protocol call notwithstanding an absence of authentication information. A mode of operation selector (305) selects the mode of operation to be utilized and can respond to, for example, present unavailability of authentication services and/or administrative preferences. Pursuant to one approach, information such as accounting information can be developed and maintained as corresponds to mobile Internet Protocol calls that are supported in the absence of authentication.

Abstract: A foreign agent (10) having a substantially static list (13) of one or more home agents determines (22) when a given home agent has become sufficiently nonresponsive with respect to an ability to support mobile Internet Protocol calls. Upon making such a determination, the foreign agent can optionally take (24) one or more predetermined actions. Such actions preferably serve to mitigate or ameliorate the consequences presented by a nonresponsive home agent with respect to support mobile Internet Protocol calls.

Abstract: A communications system is capable of knowing presence status of mobile communications devices such as cellular transceivers. An access gateway such as, for example, a PDSN access gateway or home agent access gateway, manages access to a mobile communications device. The access gateway knows the presence status of the mobile communications device and reports it to a presence server. The access gateway can know the presence status using attributes obtained during management of system operation by the access gateway.

Abstract: A reply address is determined from within a voice signal. Voice recognition is performed on at least a portion of the received voice signal to identify the reply address. A user is presented with at least one reply address and confirms a reply address to enable a reply communication such as a call back or text message. The inventions can provide a callback feature for a voice mail system.

Abstract: Provisioning of network wireless access gateways is provided through standard heartbeat communications between device management systems and the controlled devices. Security associations for use by the devices such as PDSNs in communication with other devices such as PCFs associated with the network is downloaded from the management system to the PDSNs in the heartbeat communication channel. Peer operation of the device management systems under a network management system allows input of the security authorizations at any of the management system levels with upload and download to peer components for transmission to their associated devices.

Abstract: One or more Internet Protocol version 4 addresses are selectively modified (for example, by logical movement of a subnet boundary) to thereby alter the number of characters as comprise the address. This permits logical modification of a corresponding Internet Protocol 6to4 address prefix. This permits expansion or contraction of the logical size of the Internet Protocol 6to4 address prefix and hence permits creation and subsequent manipulation and use of corresponding pools of such address prefixes.

Abstract: A Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy is dedicated, at least in part, to supporting routing of communications for a plurality of clients (such as push-to-talk mobile clients) in a given region. In a preferred embodiment, such support exists notwithstanding that at least some of the clients are able to present any of a plurality of differing user identifiers. In particular, differing user identifiers are nevertheless recognized and used by the SIP proxy(ies) to effect compatible provision of a service such as push-to-talk services.

Abstract: A network element, such as a Packet Data Serving Node, serves both as a traditional Packet Data Serving Node and as a Domain Name Server proxy. So configured, Internet Protocol version 6 mobile nodes can successfully source Domain Name Server requests and receive Domain Name Server replys from Internet Protocol version 4 Domain Name Servers. Pursuant to a preferred approach, Domain Name System identifiers as used by the mobile node are mapped to one or more items of information, such as a Point-to-Point Protocol context, a modified Domain Name System identifier, addressing, and the like.

Abstract: A method and system for a mobile station to identify to a wireless network agent, an access point into a wireless network. The mobile station obtains an indication of an access point into the wireless network and inserts the indication into a mobile registration message. The access point identifier identifies an access point into the wireless network. Then, the mobile station sends the mobile registration message to the wireless network agent via the access point identified by the access point identifier. The wireless network agent receives the mobile registration message and provides the access point identifier to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server. The AAA server uses the access point identifier to provide location-based services to the mobile station.

Abstract: Prepaid Internet Protocol-based services for a plurality of Internet Protocol-based services are provisioned by automatically and dynamically determining, for a given mobile node, the Internet Protocol-based services for which the mobile node has prepaid access, and then providing an authentication message (for example, to a supporting packet data serving node) that comprises, at least in part, identification of at least a first particular Internet Protocol-based service to which at least a first prepaid accounting quota attribute applies.

Abstract: A first presence server as comprises a part of a first communications domain and a second presence server as comprises a part of a second communications domain are configured and arranged to communicate presence information regarding the respective client devices of their respective communications domains. Pursuant to one approach, session initiation protocol messaging facilitates such an exchange of presence information. Pursuant to one embodiment, inter-domain presence information can be cached at a receiving presence server to permit subsequent use when responding to a local request for inter-domain presence information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for dynamic filtering of data packets at an access gateway in a communication network. According to the method, a policy server receives a request for registration with the network from a network node. The server verifies the network node identity and selects the corresponding security policy for the network node. The selected security policy is indicated by the server to a network access gateway. The network access gateway selects the indicted security policy. The selected security policy is applied for the communication between the network node and the network.

Abstract: While one node (such as a wireless mobile node) facilitates a point-to-multipoint communication via a communications network (10), communication requests from other nodes in the multipoint audience are queued in a node queue (17). At some point (in a preferred approach, at the conclusion of the transmission by the one node), and typically for a predetermined amount of time, communication requests are further noted. These more recent indicia of a desire to communicate are then utilized to modify the node queue. Subsequent communications are then arranged, at least in part, based upon the modified node queue.

Abstract: Upon detecting when a communication unit (12) becomes active in a network, and further upon determining that this communication unit became active without also simultaneously self-initiating a network presence update, another network entity (14) automatically sources a network presence update message on behalf of the communication unit. Such a message may be directed, for example, to a presence server (15). In a preferred approach, such presence updates are batched and provided to a subscribing mobile communication unit pursuant to a corresponding resource conservation strategy.

Abstract: Level of service information for a given user of a radio access network (10) is determined at a Packet Data Serving Node (18) and provided to the radio access network for use in determining a particular level of service to provide to the given user. The level of service can comprise an absolute level of service (such as a maximum data rate to be accorded the user) or a dynamic relative level of service (such as information that is used to compare competing users to determine a particular current apportioning of communications resources). In one embodiment, the level of service information is provided to the radio access network via a modified A11 registration update message.

Abstract: A mobile unit (14) that seeks to make use of near-real-time multicast communication services via a corresponding services server (13) can effect at least a measure of authentication with a session initiation protocol infrastructure via a RADIUS server (12) through intermediation of a mediation server (10). In addition, or in lieu thereof, billing for such services can be facilitated through the mediation server (10).

Abstract: Under at least some operating circumstances, when a temporary session parameter (such as, for example, a temporarily assigned Internet protocol address or a negotiated point-to-point protocol session parameter) is used during a first Internet protocol session for a given node, and that node initiates a new (or what appears to be a new) session within a limited period of time, that temporary session parameter is again used to facilitate the new session.

Abstract: While one node (such as a wireless mobile node) facilitates a point-to-multipoint communication via a communications network (10), communication requests from other nodes in the multipoint audience are queued in a node queue (17). At some point (in a preferred approach, at the conclusion of the transmission by the one node), and typically for a predetermined amount of time, communication requests are further noted. These more recent indicia of a desire to communicate are then utilized to modify the node queue. Subsequent communications are then arranged, at least in part, based upon the modified node queue.