Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing the movement of a mobile node from a first router in a first network to a second router in a second network, wherein the mobile node communicates with a corresponding node. In order to enable seamless communication between the mobile node and the corresponding node, the second router is dynamically configured by the first router to transmit a router advertisement message to the mobile node, the router advertisement message comprising a subnet prefix of an IP address of the mobile node, said subnet prefix belonging to the first network. A layer 3 link change as observed by the mobile node can be postponed and a default router of the mobile node can be changed to the new access router immediately after the layer 2 handover, thus enabling very fast handovers without requiring modifications to the mobile node implementations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for node management in a packet-switched network, wherein a first node acts as a proxy for a second node, both nodes having network-layer addresses and link-layer addresses, the network-layer addresses at the network layer and the link-layer addresses at the link layer being used for communication in the packet-switched network. The method comprises the following steps performed by the first node: The first node receives from the second node a request to receive and forward packets addressed to the second node's network-layer address, whereby the same network-layer address is associated with the first node and the second node, and the first node and the second node have distinct link-layer addresses. The first node advertises to nodes attached to the packet-switched network the first node's link-layer address as a destination address for the second node's network-layer address, while the second node does not advertise.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for configuring a context for a connection delivering a packet data service to a mobile terminal via a target wireless access network. The mobile terminal is initially connected to an originating wireless access network and the packet data service may be provided to the mobile terminal via the originating wireless network. Moreover, the invention provides an authentication server, a packet data gateway and a packet data service support node which participate in the context configuration method. To provide a method that allows establishing connection for packet service delivery to a mobile terminal from a wireless access network, as for example a UMTS, as fast as possible the invention suggests to preconfigure service provision of the packet data service via the target wireless access network by establishing a context prior to the mobile terminal connecting to the target wireless access network.

Abstract: The invention relates to optimizing a data path between two communication nodes. A route optimization agent (ROA) is determined in the current network of the second communication node, preferably on the data path between the two communication nodes. Then, an IP tunnel is established between the first communication node and the ROA, the IP tunnel and the corresponding security association of said IP tunnel being based on the home address of the first communication node in its home network. The first communication node may have two IP tunnels based on the same home address, one to its home agent and one to the ROA. Corresponding routing entries and binding cache entries need to be established in the ROA and the first communication node so that all data packets between the two communication nodes are exchanged via the established IP tunnel over the ROA.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique in which when mobile terminal having multiple communication interfaces attaches to an access network, the mobile terminal can connect to a desired PGW quickly in a short time even if a PGW different from the desired PGW is allocated. According to the technique, when a mobile terminal (UE) 1 performs bootstrapping (BS) processing on an access network (N3G access (3)), the address of another communication interface (home prefix) already connected to the desired PGW (T-PGW?5b) is notified to a connection destination PGW (I-PGW 5a). If the I-PGW does not manage the address, processing is so performed that BS processing will be started from the T-PGW managing the address to the mobile terminal. Further, if the mobile terminal is connected to an I-PGW undesired on the N3G access, a request is made for reuse of a key exchanged with the I-PGW upon switching the connection from the I-PGW to the desired T-PGW.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and computer-readable medium for loop detection in data packet communication utilizing a tunnel in a network comprising a plurality of nodes. The method comprises the steps of, when a first node transmits a data packet, encoding an identification of the first node in at least two header fields of the data packet to be transmitted, and when the first node receives a data packet, analyzing the at least two header fields of the data packet, deciding if a loop exists by determining if the data packet was sent by the first node itself, based on the analysis of the at least two header fields of the data packet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method performed by a home agent serving a mobile node in a home network of the mobile node upon attachment of a mobile node to the home network as well as to the home agent. Further, the invention also relates to a method for enabling simultaneous use of a plurality of interfaces by a mobile node being attached to a home network through one of the plurality of interfaces and to at least one foreign network through at least another interface of the plurality of interfaces. Moreover, the invention provides a mobile node and a proxy acting on behalf of the mobile node. To enable a mobile node to use a home network and at least one further foreign network for communications the invention suggests the registration of the mobile node's home address or of a network node within its home network as a care-of address in the home network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for establishing by a mobile node an additional session via a connection to a packet data network in a mobile communication network and a mobile node and a packet data network gateway adapted to perform this method. In order to suggest optimized home link detection by a mobile node one aspect of the invention is to delay the decision on whether the mobile node is located on the home link or not. In conventional home link detection, the mobile node checks before sending any binding update on an access interface whether its prefix of the local IP address configured on that access interface is matching a home address prefix received during bootstrapping. According to one aspect of the invention, this home link detection is delayed in that home link detection is based on comparing a home address prefix received during bootstrapping and the advertised local prefix of a router advertisement received after bootstrapping.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, mobile node and computer-readable medium for establishing (or pre-establishing) a secure tunnel to an ePDG to prepare for a mobile node attachment or handover to another access network. To reduce the delay of a handover or upon attachment of a mobile node to an access network implied by mechanisms to discover a ePDG, the mobile node maintains a reachability list that can be consulted to identify an ePDG or ePDGs that are reachable in the target access network, i.e. to which the mobile node may establish a secure tunnel. If the mobile node can identify a reachable ePDG for a given access network from the reachability list, the mobile node (pre-)establishes a secure tunnel to the ePDG upon attaching to the given access network. In alternative solutions DNS, DHCP or other mechanism can be used to provide the mobile node with information on ePDGs in its vicinity.

Abstract: A method and a server acting as a Home Agent are provided for packet switched data transmission between a first mobile node and a correspondent mobile node in a mobile communication system comprising a plurality of mobile networks. Each of the first mobile node and the correspondent mobile node are allocated to respective home networks, and a network server is provided as a home agent to each mobile node, respectively. Then, data packets are routed from the first mobile node to the correspondent mobile node, over a first data tunnel from the first mobile node to any first one of the home agents and over a second data tunnel from said first one of the home agents to the correspondent mobile node without passing the respective other home agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and mobile node capable of detecting whether or not the network to which the mobile node is attached is using a network-based mobility management function for the mobile node or not. In order to enable a mobile node to detect whether the network is using a network-based mobility function for the mobile node, upon establishment of a PDN connection or IP session, the mobile node sends a probe message to the network destined to itself and determines based on the modifications of the probe message returned to the mobile node whether the network is using a network-based mobility function for the mobile node or not.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for ensuring IP session continuity upon a handover of a mobile node to a non-3GPP network, wherein an ongoing IP session of the mobile node goes via a packet data network gateway. For non-3GPP networks it is necessary to discover a security gateway and to then establish the corresponding tunnels to the ePDG to form the new data path; a security tunnel between the mobile node and the security gateway, and an IP tunnel between the packet data network gateway and the security gateway. In order to prepare the handover to possible non-3GPP accesses, the two tunnels are pre-established, however maintained deactivated until their use is actually needed. Accordingly, when handing over to the non-3GPP network, the IP session may be continued without any significant interruption by activating the already established tunnels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for configuring a context for a connection delivering a packet data service to a mobile terminal via a target wireless access network. The mobile terminal is initially connected to an originating wireless access network and the packet data service may be provided to the mobile terminal via the originating wireless network. Moreover, the invention provides an authentication server, a packet data gateway and a packet data service support node which participate in the context configuration method. To provide a method that allows establishing connection for packet service delivery to a mobile terminal from a wireless access network, as for example a UMTS, as fast as possible the invention suggests to preconfigure service provision of the packet data service via the target wireless access network by establishing a context prior to the mobile terminal connecting to the target wireless access network.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a capacitor arrangement which includes at least three electrodes is described. The capacitor arrangement is fabricated using a number of lithography methods that is smaller than the number of electrodes. A capacitor arrangement extending over more than two or more interlayers between metallization layers has a high capacitance per unit area and can be fabricated in a simple way is also described. The circuit arrangement has a high capacitance per unit area and can be fabricated in a simple way. An electrode layer is first patterned using a dry-etching process and residues of the electrode layer are removed using a wet-chemical process, making it possible to fabricate capacitors with excellent electrical properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for configuring connection parameters of a connection between a mobile terminal and a target wireless access network in a handover between heterogeneous wireless access networks, wherein the mobile terminal is handed over from an originating wireless access network to a target wireless access network. Moreover, the invention provides a packet data gateway and an authentication server which are adapted to participate and execute a part of the steps of the configuration method. To provide a solution for establishing connection to a wireless access network, as for example a WLAN, as fast as possible, in particular in a handover, the invention proposed to pre-configure a tunnel to be established between a packet data gateway and the mobile terminal for packet data service provision via the target wireless access network based on context information already maintained for the packet data service.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for configuring a context for a connection delivering a packet data service to a mobile terminal via a target wireless access network. The mobile terminal is initially connected to an originating wireless access network and the packet data service may be provided to the mobile terminal via the originating wireless network. Moreover, the invention provides an authentication server, a packet data gateway and a packet data service support node which participate in the context configuration method. To provide a method that allows establishing connection for packet service delivery to a mobile terminal from a wireless access network, as for example a UMTS, as fast as possible the invention suggests to preconfigure service provision of the packet data service via the target wireless access network by establishing a context prior to the mobile terminal connecting to the target wireless access network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method performed by a home agent serving a mobile node in a home network of the mobile node upon attachment of a mobile node to the home network as well as to the home agent. Further, the invention also relates to a method for enabling simultaneous use of a plurality of interfaces by a mobile node being attached to a home network through one of the plurality of interfaces and to at least one foreign network through at least another interface of the plurality of interfaces. Moreover, the invention provides a mobile node and a proxy acting on behalf of the mobile node. To enable a mobile node to use a home network and at least one further foreign network for communications the invention suggests the registration of the mobile node's home address or of a network node within its home network as a care-of address in the home network.

Abstract: The current invention relates to a method for a network attachment procedure and a user equipment in a wireless mobile network, the wireless mobile network comprising a user equipment with a temporary identity and at least one mobility management entity. The method comprises the steps of providing an estimation whether the user equipment is unknown at the mobility management entity and sending the user equipment's temporary identity during the network attachment procedure. If the user equipment has been estimated to be unknown at the at least one mobility management entity, the user equipment's identity is sent during the network attachment procedure. These steps are carried out by the user equipment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved context transfer in heterogeneous networks is presented. Context information is collected from source entities in a first access network by a context transfer manager and transmitted to a context transfer manager of a second access network which forwards the context information to target entities therein. In one of the context transfer managers at least a part of the context information is translated from a format supported in the first access network to another format supported in the second access network. The method may be carried out proactively preceding a handover or reactively following a handover. In one embodiment, context transfer within one access domain is performed directly between access routers, whereas context transfer between different access domains is performed via the context managers. In another embodiment, beacons from access points are counted in order to determine candidates for a pending handover.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved context transfer in heterogeneous networks is presented. Context information is collected from source entities in a first access network by a context transfer manager and transmitted to a context transfer manager of a second access network which forwards the context information to target entities therein, in one of the context transfer managers at least a part of the context information is translated from a format supported in the first access network to another format supported in the second access network. The method may be carried out proactively preceding a handover or reactively following a handover. In one embodiment, context transfer within one access domain is performed directly between access routers, whereas context transfer between different access domains is performed via the context managers. In another embodiment, beacons from access points are counted in order to determine candidates for a pending handover.