Abstract: Methods and apparatus for establishing communication between a Mobile Node and a Home Agent are disclosed. The Home Agent receives a registration request packet from the Mobile Node, the registration request packet including an IP source address and a Home Agent address. The Home Agent then detects from the registration request packet when network address translation has been performed. When it has been detected that network address translation has been performed, a tunnel is set up between the Home Agent address and the IP source address.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting the management of mobility and addresses by a Customer Premises Edge (CPE) router in a Mobile IP environment are disclosed. When a network prefix is allocated by a DHCP router to the CPE router, the CPE router divides the network prefix among its interfaces, and allocates home addresses to Mobile Nodes connected to its interfaces, as appropriate. The CPE router also assists in performing Duplicate Address Detection (DAD) to ensure that a home address that has been allocated has not already been assigned to another node. Upon completion of registration of a Mobile Node that is connected to one of the interfaces of the CPE router with its Home Agent, the CPE router assists in routing traffic to the Mobile Node. In addition, the CPE router assists in notifying nodes when one of the Mobile Nodes has moved, as well as when one of the Mobile Nodes has de-registered with the Home Agent.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dynamically generating authentication keys are disclosed. Specifically, a Mobile-Foreign authentication key is separately generated by both the Mobile Node and Foreign Agent. Similarly, a Foreign-Home authentication key is separately generated by the Foreign Agent and the Home Agent. In accordance with one embodiment, generation of the Mobile-Foreign authentication key and Foreign-Home authentication key are accomplished via the Diffie-Hellman key generation scheme.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enabling a Mobile Node supporting mobile IP to roam without an assigned IP address and receive lookups indicating that a Corresponding Node wants to send information to the Mobile Node are disclosed. A name lookup may be sent from a Corresponding Node to a Home Agent that has previously registered the Mobile Node. The name lookup may be sent through an intermediate device, including a Domain Name Server, such that the intermediate device contacts the Home Agent. During the name lookup process, an IP address is allocated to the Mobile Node and a data path is established between the Home Agent and the Mobile Node via a Foreign Agent. When the lookup is completed successfully, the Home Agent sends the IP address allocated to the Mobile Node in the name lookup process to the device requesting the lookup. The IP address of the Mobile Node may then be used by the Corresponding Node to “push” information to the Mobile Node.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing proxy registration on behalf of a node with a Home Agent supporting Mobile IP are disclosed. A first registration request is composed on behalf of the node and transmitted to the Home Agent via a first Local Mobility Anchor, wherein the first Local Mobility Anchor is a regional controller via which registration is performed when the node moves within a region associated with the first Local Mobility Anchor. When the node moves within a region or between regions, the node is re-registered. Specifically, a second registration request is composed and transmitted to the first Local Mobility Anchor when the node moves within the region associated with the first Local Mobility Anchor.

Abstract: A method for communicating in a loadbalancing environment is provided that in a particular embodiment includes receiving a request packet from a network access server (NAS) to initiate a communication session. The request packet is then communicated to a tunneling protocol network server (TPNS) and a response packet is received in response to the request packet. The response packet establishes a tunnel that facilitates the communication session and that includes an identification element associated with the TPNS such that a data transfer associated with the communication session is executed between the NAS and the TPNS.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a centralized source of session keys to be shared by a Home Agent and a Mobile Node are disclosed. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a Mobile Node registers with a Home Agent supporting Mobile IP by sending a registration request to the Home Agent. The Home Agent sends a request message (e.g., access-request message) to a AAA server, the request message identifying the Mobile Node. The AAA server then derives key information from a key or password associated with the Mobile Node. The AAA server then sends a reply message (e.g., access-reply message) to the Home Agent, the reply message including the key information associated with the Mobile Node, thereby enabling the Home Agent to derive a shared key to be shared between the Mobile Node and the Home Agent from the key information. The Home Agent derives a key from the key information, the key being a shared key between the Mobile Node and the Home Agent. A registration reply is then sent to the Mobile Node.

Abstract: An optical cross-connect switch employing pallets of mirror assemblies configured as an array, wherein each mirror assembly includes a mirror that is rotatable in a two-axis system to steer a beam in 2-dimensional space. Each mirror assembly includes a mirror module that can be rotated in relation to a first axis as well as in relation to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The mirror modules are suspended by wires in a manner that allows the pitch and roll of the mirror module to be controlled. Coils and magnets are employed to generate magnetic fields which create a rotating torque in each of the two rotational axes. By controlling the magnetic fields that are generated, the degree of rotation can in turn be controlled. The configuration provides for a practical, area efficient, bidirectional, randomly addressable optical cross-connect switch design that can employ conventional materials and processes.