Abstract: A system and methods are shown for providing Internet Protocol communication services to a mobile client. One method includes sending a registration request from a radio node to a control node responsive to detecting a mobile client in a service area of the radio node. When the control node receives the request from the radio node, the control node determines a foreign agent to provide communication services to the mobile client. In one embodiment, the control node determines the foreign agent based on a mobile client information record, a radio node record, and a plurality of foreign agent records associated with the radio node. In one embodiment, the control node may select a last serving foreign agent associated with the mobile client.

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.