Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for implementing direct routing. An Internet Protocol (IP) packet sent from a first mobile node to a second mobile node is received at a foreign agent for a foreign network, wherein both the first and second mobile nodes are visiting the foreign network. It is determined that the second mobile node is visiting the foreign network. The packet is routed to the second mobile node over a communication path that does not include a home agent associated with the second mobile node.

Abstract: A system and method of transmitting information between a mobile node and a home agent of the mobile node. The mobile node has an associated home AAA server. The address of the HAAA is determined. The HAAA is contacted and, responsively, receives information indicating a methodology of determining the home address of the mobile node. A proxy server determines the address of the home agent using information received from the PDSN. The information is routed from the mobile node to the home agent having the address.

Abstract: A system and method of transmitting information between a mobile node and a home agent of the mobile node. The mobile node has an associated home AAA server. The address of the HAAA is determined. The HAAA is contacted and, responsively, receives information indicating a methodology of determining the home address of the mobile node. A proxy server determines the address of the home agent using information received from the PDSN. The information is routed from the mobile node to the home agent having the address.

Abstract: A method and system for re-direction and handoff for pre-paid mobile services in third generation (“3G”) networks. A handoff marker is created and used for wireless mobile nodes such as Mobile Internet Protocol (“Mobile IP”) nodes. The handoff markers allow the wireless mobile nodes to use pre-paid mobile services, have active communications sessions suspended and re-directed to a registration server when purchased pre-paid mobile services run-out. The registration server allows the wireless mobile node to electronically purchase additional pre-paid mobile services and immediately resume a suspended communications session. The handoff markers also allows network devices in a mobile network to determine between initiation of a new communications session or a hard handoff of an existing communication session, without adversely affecting pre-paid billing services.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing roaming and hand-off support for prepaid billing for wireless prepaid services on a data network may be provided by a first-network-access device carrying on session activity of a wireless communication session with a wireless-mobile node within a first coverage area. The first-network-access device receives blocks of credits drawn from a user account having a cache of available credits for the prepaid-services. The first-network-access device periodically measures usage of the session activity in terms of a first of a plurality of measurement-method parameters. The first-network-access device debits the usage of the session activity from the blocks of credits. After entering its coverage area, the second-network-access device establishes connectivity with the wireless-mobile node. The first-network-access device tunnels to the second-network-access device the session activity and any unused credits.

Abstract: A system for providing redundant home agents comprises a plurality of home agents, the home agents create mobility binding registrations with outside PDSNs. The system also includes a redundant home agent, the redundant home agent is coupled to said plurality of home agents. A home agent control node is coupled to the plurality of home agents and sends registration requests to the home agents. The home agent control node contains a detector for determining a failure in any of the plurality of home agents. The home agent control node also contains a mobility binding registration and downloads the mobility binding registration to the redundant home agent upon the detection of a failure in one of the plurality of home agents.

Abstract: In mobile IP wireless data networking, methods are described for correctly routing packets through a foreign agent to or from wireless nodes where the wireless nodes have the same home network IP address. Instead of using normal IP routing, the foreign agent uniquely identifies the wireless node's home network IP address and home agent IP address with a PPP link address associated with a PPP link between the foreign agent and the wireless node. This association between PPP link addresses, home agent IP addresses, and home network IP addresses, is preferably implemented in software as a table stored in the foreign agent. The routing of packets through the foreign agent to the mobile nodes is performed by reference to the table. The table allows the foreign agent to correctly and efficiently route packets in the situation where multiple wireless nodes are registered with the foreign agent, but more than one of the wireless nodes have the same home network IP address.

Abstract: A system and methods are shown for providing packet data serving node (PDSN) redundancy. One exemplary method includes providing an access node with a plurality of packet data serving nodes and at least one system manager, establishing an N to 1 redundancy of active to standby PDSNs. Upon establishing a communications session with a mobile node, each active PDSN provides state updates to the standby PDSN including only non-recoverable data. Upon failure of any active PDSN, the standby PDSN reassigned as an active PDSN replacing the failed unit and assuming the communications session with the mobile node. The remaining active PDSNs are notified of the reassignment and transmission of updated state data is discontinued.

Abstract: An exemplary system and method for using a network access system, such as a virtual private network (VPN), are provided. A user device may have a user session with a home agent. Additionally, an initiating security gateway may be in communication with the home agent, and a terminating security gateway may be in communication with the initiating security gateway via a tunnel (e.g., Internet Protocol in Internet Protocol (IP-in-IP) or Internet Protocol security (IPsec) tunnel). Further, a virtual local area network (VLAN) tag associated with the user session may map to a selector operable in a security policy database. The selector may be used to find a security policy defining an IPsec procedure, and the security policy may be applied to the tunnel. Also, the initiating security gateway may also include a Quality of Service (QoS) module that determines QoS markings for a packet traveling along the tunnel.

Abstract: A method and system of transferring data rate and state information of mobile nodes between access and home networks is provided. A mobile node may register with a foreign agent on a foreign network, by sending mobile node information, such as a data rate at which the mobile node operates and a dormancy status of the mobile node, to a radio access network, which forwards the information to the foreign agent. The foreign agent may then contact a home agent on the mobile node's home network to setup a call. The foreign agent may send the mobile node information, such as the data rate or the dormancy state, to the home agent during call-setup or during the call as well.

Abstract: Method for forwarding data from a source of the data to a mobile wireless node, such as a portable computing device, that undergoes a transition to an idle state. A home agent receives the data from the source. The home agent determines that there is no current or active mobility binding record for the mobile node, so it sends a data indication message to a home agent control node. The home agent control node looks up the mobile node in an idle mobility binding record database and identifies the last foreign agent that the idle mobile node was connected to. The home agent control node sends a page request to the identified foreign agent. If the mobile node responds to the page within a predetermined period of time, it will establish a connection with the foreign agent. Data is tunneled from the home agent to the foreign agent for delivery to the mobile node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing roaming and hand-off support for prepaid billing for wireless prepaid services on a data network may be provided by a first-network-access device carrying on session activity of a wireless communication session with a wireless-mobile node within a first coverage area. The first-network-access device receives blocks of credits drawn from a user account having a cache of available credits for the prepaid-services.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing prepaid billing on a data network for wireless prepaid services, which includes a network-access device, such as a network access server or PDSN, that requests from a network-access-control device, such as a AAA server, network access for one or more wireless communication sessions. In response to the request for network access, the network-access device receives from the network-access-control device a block of credits and at least one measurement-method parameter. After being granted network access, the network-access device establishes session activity for the wireless communication sessions. The network-access device periodically measures usage of the session activity for the wireless communication session and then debits the usage of the session activity from the block of credits.

Abstract: A method and system for providing prepaid billing for concurrent communication sessions may be accomplished by a first-network-access device, such as a WIN SCP, in a circuit-switched network receiving prepaid services drawn from a prepaid-user account associated with a prepaid-billing system that resides in a circuit-switched network. These prepaid service allow a mobile node to carry on a first-communication session. While the first communication is ongoing, Sometime a second-network-access device, such as a AAA server, in a data network may request from the prepaid-user account additional prepaid services for a second-communication session that is to occur on the data network. In response to the request, the first-network-access device receives from a prepaid-billing system a status-update request. This status-update request requests the current and possibly the future prepaid services usage for the first communication session.

Abstract: In mobile IP wireless data networking, methods are described for correctly routing packets through a foreign agent to or from wireless nodes where the wireless nodes have the same home network IP address. Instead of using normal IP routing, the foreign agent uniquely identifies the wireless node's home network IP address and home agent IP address with a PPP link address associated with a PPP link between the foreign agent and the wireless node. This association between PPP link addresses, home agent IP addresses, and home network IP addresses, is preferably implemented in software as a table stored in the foreign agent. The routing of packets through the foreign agent to the mobile nodes is performed by reference to the table. The table allows the foreign agent to correctly and efficiently route packets in the situation where multiple wireless nodes are registered with the foreign agent, but more than one of the wireless nodes have the same home network IP address.