Abstract: Two access gateways are informed about each other's presence and identity, in order to establish a data path between them, thereby shortening the overall data path of data packets exchanged between two mobile nodes (MN), that are located in different networks. In particular, each access gateway is provided with the other gateway's address and additionally with the other MN's address for forwarding by the access gateway those data packets destined to the other MN to the other access gateway. A combination of Session Initiation Protocol messages (Invite and Ringing) and route optimization messages are used, so as to confer the information on the gateway's ID and MN's address to the gateways.

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: A method for a handover of a mobile node from a non-3GPP to a 3GPP network, and of a mobile node, which is located in a non-3GPP/3GPP network. The handover is improved by discovering an appropriate MME and registering the mobile node at the discovered mobility management entity (MME), in advance. This includes to first determine the location of the mobile node in the non-3GPP network, so as to be able to detect an MME in the vicinity of the mobile node's location. The 3GPP contexts are then transmitted to the new MME before the handover is performed. Moreover, the Serving-Gateway in the 3GPP network is changed before performing a handover, thereby accelerating the handover. When a handover gets likely, the mobile node's location is determined and a new Serving-Gateway is selected. The data path is changed to go via the new Serving-Gateway.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for informing two access gateways about each other's presence and identity, in order to establish a data path between them, thereby shortening the overall data path of data packets exchanged between two mobile nodes (MN), that are located in different networks. In particular, each access gateway is provided with the other gateway's address and additionally with the other MN's address for forwarding by the access gateway those data packets destined to the other MN to the other access gateway. A combination of Session Initiation Protocol messages (Invite and Ringing) and route optimization messages are used, so as to confer the information on the gateway's ID and MN's address to the gateways.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for route optimisation of packet switched data transmissions between a first mobile node and a second mobile node in a mobile communication system comprising a plurality of access networks. The method comprises the step of transmitting return routability protocol packets and data packets. The return routability protocol packets and data packets are analysed, and at least part of an address comprised in headers of the return routability protocol packets and data packets is removed.

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: The invention provides a method for trust relationship detection between a core and access network for a user equipment. The gist is that a security tunnel establishment procedure is used so one entity, be it part of the core network or be it the user equipment itself, is provided with information to determine whether the access network is trusted or untrusted. The information may comprise a first IP address/prefix, which is initially assigned to the user equipment, upon attaching to the access network. The necessary information may further comprise a second IP address/prefix, which is an address/prefix that is allocated at a trusted entity of the core network. Depending which entity determines the trust relationship of the access network, it might be necessary to transmit either the first IP address/prefix or the second IP address/prefix or the first and the second IP address/prefix using the security tunnel establishment procedure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method performed by a home agent serving a mobile node in a home network upon attachment of a mobile node to the home network as well as to the home agent. 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 foreign network for communications the invention suggests the registration of the mobile node's home address or of a network node's address within its home network as a care-of address in the home network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for discovering a home agent serving a mobile node upon the mobile node changing its mobility management scheme in a packet-switched network and the implementation of such method in a mobile node or home agent. In order to propose a home agent discover scheme that maintains session continuity in a seamless manner upon a mobile node changing its mobility management scheme, a mobile node comprises information on its location prior to changing the mobility management scheme to one of the first signaling messages transmitted upon changing the mobility management scheme (home agent discovery message). The receiving node uses this information to identify the home agent serving the mobile node or to provide a hint to the home agent where the mobile node is registered in a response message to the mobile node.

Abstract: In node management in a packet-switched network, a first node acts as a proxy for a second node. Both nodes have network-layer addresses at the network layer and link-layer addresses at the link layer. The first node receives a request to receive and forward packets addressed to the second node's network-layer address. The same network-layer address is associated with the first and the second node, and the first 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; the second node does not advertise. The first node receives in response to advertising, packets destined to the second node's network-layer address having the first node's link-layer address and forwards packets addressed to the second node's network-layer address to the second node using its link-layer address.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for a handover of a mobile node from a non-3GPP to a 3GPP network, and of a mobile node, which is located in a non-3GPP/3GPP network. The handover is improved by discovering an appropriate MME and registering the mobile node at the discovered MME, in advance. This includes to first determine the location of the mobile node in the non-3GPP network, so as to be able to detect an MME in the vicinity of the mobile node's location. The 3GPP contexts are then transmitted to the new MME before the handover is performed. Moreover, the invention teaches to change the Serving-Gateway in the 3GPP network before performing a handover, thereby accelerating the handover. When a handover gets likely, the mobile node's location is determined and a new Serving-Gateway is selected. The data path is changed to go via the new Serving-Gateway.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method performed by a home agent serving a mobile node in a home network upon attachment of a mobile node to the home network as well as to the home agent. 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 foreign network for communications the invention suggests the registration of the mobile node's home address or of a network node's address within its home network as a care-of address in the home network.

Abstract: A technology is disclosed for providing a handover processing method, and an access point and a mobile terminal used in the method, in which the handover processing method can prevent processing of a HO in a layer 2 and an HO in a layer 3 from occurring at same time simultaneously, and shorten waiting time caused by the HO. The technology includes a step of providing, by the access point, strength information held by the access point itself, the strength information that is information whether to promote a handover processing in the layer 3 or not to promote the handover processing in the layer 3, and a step of receiving, by the mobile node, the provided strength information, deciding whether to perform the handover in the layer 3 based on the received strength information, and performing the handover processing in the layer 3 based on the decision.

Abstract: A method, mobile node (MN), home agent and system for handover of a MN from a first access network supporting network-based mobility to a second access network not supporting network-based mobility in a packet switched communication network including at least the MN, a mobile access gateway (MAG), a correspondent node and a home agent. The method includes performing proxy route optimization towards the correspondent node by the MAG on behalf of the MN. Handover from the first access network to the second access network is performed when the MN moves out of the first access network. A determination is made as to whether the proxy route optimization is to be maintained after the handover, and if so, information regarding the proxy route optimization is sent to the MN by the home agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for tracking locations of mobile terminals in a communication network. Further, the invention relates to a communication network and apparatuses therein capable of performing individual steps of the method according to different embodiments of the invention. To decrease the signaling load imposed by mobility related signaling the invention suggests to group mobile terminals in so called mobility groups and to reduce the signaling overhead by performing a location update on a per-mobility group basis. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention this is realized by only one of the mobile terminals in a mobility group sending a group location update on behalf of the group to trigger the location update for the mobility group. Alternatively, in another embodiment of the invention, a network operator trusted or controlled entity sends a group location update on behalf of the group to trigger the location update for the mobility group.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for obtaining a home node address in a packet switched network comprising nodes. The method comprises the steps of a first node sending to a first home node of a home network a request containing information about a home address of a mobile node to determine whether a binding with said home address indicating a registration of said mobile node at the first home node exists; the first home node receiving the request, said first home node comprising a stored binding table; determining whether the binding with said home address exists in any home node of the home network; and if the home address of the mobile node is in the binding table of any of the home nodes in the home network, the first node receiving a reply comprising the address of the home node with said binding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for route optimisation of packet switched data transmissions between a first mobile node and a second mobile node in a mobile communication system comprising a plurality of access networks. The method comprises the step of transmitting return routability protocol packets and data packets. The return routability protocol packets and data packets are analysed, and at least part of an address comprised in headers of the return routability protocol packets and data packets is removed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the initiation of a service to a mobile terminal capable of communicating via at least a first and second access network. Further, the invention relates to a reduction of power consumption of mobile terminals supporting connectivity to at least two access networks. The invention also relates to mobile communication systems and in particular to mobile communications through heterogeneous access networks. In order to prove improved method for initiating services to mobile terminals and/or to reduce power consumption of mobile terminals, the invention introduces of a sleep state that can be entered by the terminal for an access system if same is not used. Upon requesting a service from/to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal starts service initiation through a second access system and transits back to active state for the first access system for service provision.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method performed by a home agent serving a mobile node in a home network upon attachment of a mobile node to the home network as well as to the home agent. 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 foreign network for communications the invention suggests the registration of the mobile node's home address or of a network node's address within its home network as a care-of address in the home network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for route optimization of packet switched data transmissions between a first mobile node and a second mobile node in a mobile communication system comprising a plurality of access networks. The method comprises the step of transmitting return routability protocol packets and data packets. The return routability protocol packets and data packets are analysed, and at least part of an address comprised in headers of the return routability protocol packets and data packets is removed.