Abstract: A femto gateway maintains information about the location of femto cells and areas served by mobile switching centers. The gateway maintains a mapping so that it selects a desired mobile switching center (MSC) and SGSN that is likely to be used if the user equipment leaves the coverage area of the femto cell and enters a macro cell or vice versa.

Abstract: A femto gateway enables local routing of voice calls for users communicating through the same femto gateway, without passing through a mobile switching center. Local routing reduces costly switching of calls, and can provide better quality of service and more innovative service plans to subscribers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hierarchical redundancy for a distributed control plane. In one embodiment of the invention, control plane processes are distributed among a plurality of processing entities including an active primary control processing entity and multiple secondary processing entities. Each of the secondary processing entities performs a dual role; an active role and a standby role. An application redundancy manager (ARM) instantiated on the active primary control processing entity manages the redundancy services for the secondary processing entities. For each secondary processing entity, the ARM selects one of the secondary processing entities to act as a backup for another one of the secondary processing entities. Upon a failure of one of the secondary processing entities, the ARM causes the secondary processing entity backing up the failed secondary processing entity to transition its standby role to an active role regarding the services provided by the failed secondary processing entity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a distributed control plane. In one embodiment of the invention, a primary control card distributes control plane process instances among one or more secondary cards, including a secondary control card and/or one or more Advanced Service Engine (ASE) cards. The primary control card associates particular control messages with particular control plane process instances. Upon a line card receiving a control message that is associated with a particular control plane instance, the line card forwards the control message directly to that particular control plane instance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a distributed control plane. In one embodiment of the invention, a primary control card distributes control plane process instances among one or more secondary cards, including a secondary control card and/or one or more Advanced Service Engine (ASE) cards. The primary control card associates particular control messages with particular control plane process instances. Upon a line card receiving a control message that is associated with a particular control plane instance, the line card forwards the control message directly to that particular control plane instance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hierarchical redundancy for a distributed control plane. In one embodiment of the invention, control plane processes are distributed among a plurality of processing entities including an active primary control processing entity and multiple secondary processing entities. Each of the secondary processing entities performs a dual role; an active role and a standby role. An application redundancy manager (ARM) instantiated on the active primary control processing entity manages the redundancy services for the secondary processing entities. For each secondary processing entity, the ARM selects one of the secondary processing entities to act as a backup for another one of the secondary processing entities. Upon a failure of one of the secondary processing entities, the ARM causes the secondary processing entity backing up the failed secondary processing entity to transition its standby role to an active role regarding the services provided by the failed secondary processing entity.

Abstract: Synchronizing mobility messaging includes receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) address at a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. The IP address is sent by a home agent of a mobile client, where the home agent has a mobility binding for the mobile client. A DHCP request requesting an IP address for the mobile client is received from the mobile client. The DHCP server assigns the IP address to the mobile client. A DHCP acknowledgement comprising the assigned IP address is sent to the mobile client.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an anchor access gateway receives packets from a home agent. The packets are destined for an access terminal, and the anchor access gateway serves the access terminal. The packets are forwarded to the access terminal. The anchor access gateway receives a handoff request from a target access gateway. The handoff request requests a handover from the anchor access gateway to the target access gateway. The packets are forwarded to the target access gateway in accordance with the handoff request.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, providing network redundancy includes configuring a session registrant database to have one or more virtual standby states. Each virtual standby state corresponds to an active router. The session registrant database receives session information from the active router(s) and determines that an active router has failed. A virtual standby state corresponding to the failed router is set to a virtual active state. A second router is configured to have a standby state associated with the set virtual active state. The session information received from the failed router is transferred to the second router, and the second router is configured to have an active state.

Abstract: Assigning an access terminal identifier to a mobile node includes receiving a request at an access terminal home agent of a radio access network. The request requests an access terminal identifier for the mobile node. An access terminal identifier is assigned to the mobile node. The access terminal identifier identifies a communication session of the mobile node, and is assigned according to an Internet Protocol procedure for assigning an address. The access terminal identifier is provided to the mobile node.

Abstract: Authenticating a registration request from a mobile node includes an authenticator operable to facilitate a communication session for the mobile node. Access authentication to provide the mobile node access to an Internet Protocol (IP) network is facilitated. A mobility key is obtained from the access authentication. A registration request is received from the mobile node, and is authenticated using the mobility key.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for server farm load balancing and resource allocation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of load balancing can include: arranging servers into service groups; receiving an access request with information related to a differentiation between the service groups; selecting one of the service groups based on a mapping comparison to the information; and selecting one of the servers within the selected service group based on a hardware utilization comparison. The servers can include GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Gateway Support Node (GGSN) or Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) servers, for example. The information can include an Access Point Name (APN) or Calling Station ID, for example.

Abstract: A system for efficiently reauthenticating a client of a network. In a specific embodiment, the system includes an authentication server and a Security GateWay (SGW) in communication with the client. The SGW includes reauthentication information associated with the client. In a more specific embodiment, the authentication server includes an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) server. The SGW further includes one or more routines for employing the reauthentication information to reauthenticate the client. The AAA server performs initial authentication of the client to enable client access to the network, which yields the reauthentication information. The reauthentication information includes one or more keys and/or counters, such as an authorization key, an encryption key, and a master key, which is/are predetermined by the AAA server.

Abstract: Facilitating a graceful restart operation includes initiating the graceful restart operation at a gateway of an access service network. A graceful restart request is sent to a helper device. The graceful restart request requests that the helper device recognize the gateway as adjacent during a specified grace period. If the helper device supports the graceful restart operation, information is received from the helper device in response to the graceful restart request. The graceful restart operation is terminated.

Abstract: Facilitating discovery of a device in a communication network comprising a WiMax network includes the device entering the communication network. An announcement message is sent to one or more multicast groups. The announcement message announces the presence of the device to the members of the multicast groups. An operation may be performed with at least one member of the multicast groups.

Abstract: Particular embodiments provide an access gateway that facilitates communication between a plurality of access technologies. The access gateway facilitates data communication with an access terminal through a bearer path. A radio resource manager is configured to provide radio resource management functions for the communications. The radio resource manager is decoupled from the bearer path and provides control of radio transmission characteristics for the bearer path to the gateway. Because the radio resource manager is not in the bearer path, the access gateway may be access technology agnostic. Thus, the access gateway does not need to have access-specific modules based on the radio technology for each bearer path.

Abstract: Facilitating mobile node mobility includes facilitating at a current access location a communication session for a mobile node. Context information for the communication session is managed, where the context information comprises information for supporting the communication session. A predictive set comprising one or more predicted next access locations is established for the communication session. The context information is transferred to the predicted next access locations prior to the communication session moving to an actual next access location.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for authenticating access in a mobile wireless network. The system and method comprise exchanging an extensible authentication protocol (EAP) packet with an access terminal over a high rate packet data radio link and a signaling interface through a radio access network, encapsulating the EAP packet in an authentication authorization and accounting (AAA) packet, and sending the AAA packet to an authentication server for authentication.

Abstract: In one embodiment according to the present disclosure, a system for implementing handover of a mobile IP session in a cellular communication network generally includes a processor and a memory for storing one or more context information rules associated with an access terminal. The processor is operable to receive a registration request message from the target radio network controller and in response to receipt of the registration request message, transmit a context information request message to query context information from an anchor IP gateway. The processor is also operable to receive a context information response message from the anchor IP gateway and apply the context information response message to the mobile IP connection. The context information response message including at least one context information rule that is associated with the access terminal.

Abstract: Communicating packets along a bearer path includes receiving a home network address and a visited network address at an access terminal. The home network address corresponds to a home anchored bearer path anchored at a home network of the access terminal. The visited network address corresponds to a visited anchored bearer path anchored at a visited network. The access terminal determines whether to use the home anchored bearer path or the visited anchored bearer path, and communicates packets using the home network address or the visited network address in accordance with the determination.