Abstract: A novel method and apparatus is disclosed for performing seamless handoff of a mobile station (MS) between Radio Access Networks (RANs) that use different types of wireless interfaces. The described embodiments enable an MS to handoff between different RANs without causing routing ambiguity, and without substantial loss of network data. Upon moving from the coverage area of a first RAN using a first wireless interface to the coverage area of a second RAN using a second wireless interface, an MS determines whether routing ambiguity may result from the change of RAN and, based on the determination, triggers a re-registration of its network address. A foreign agent (FA) within a packet data serving node (PDSN) monitors network address re-registrations in order to determine whether multiple RAN-PDSN (R-P) connections are being created for the same MS. Based on this determination, the PDSN terminates redundant R-P network connections resulting from movement of the MS between different RANs.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus is disclosed for performing seamless handoff of a mobile station (MS) between Radio Access Networks (RANs) that use different types of wireless interfaces. The described embodiments enable an MS to handoff between different RANs without causing routing ambiguity, and without substantial loss of network data. Upon moving from the coverage area of a first RAN using a first wireless interface to the coverage area of a second RAN using a second wireless interface, an MS determines whether routing ambiguity may result from the change of RAN and, based on the determination, triggers a re-registration of its network address. A foreign agent (FA) within a packet data serving node (PDSN) monitors network address re-registrations in order to determine whether multiple RAN-PDSN (R-P) connections are being created for the same MS. Based on this determination, the PDSN terminates redundant R-P network connections resulting from movement of the MS between different RANs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conserving home agent resources in mobile Internet Protocol (IP) deployment is disclosed. In a wireless communication system supporting mobile IP, a registration request message is sent by a mobile node to a home agent. The registration request includes a care-of address. A home address is provided for the mobile node and is associated with the care-of address. The home agent provides an inactivity timer for the mobile node to monitor the communication activity of the mobile node. In addition, the home agent monitors a condition of a resource. When the condition satisfies an overload condition, the home agent starts a reclaiming resources process that utilizes the inactivity timer for the mobile node.

Abstract: Techniques to maintain an IP session established via a first (e.g., HDR) radio network while being tuned to a second (e.g., cdma2000) radio network. During registration, configuration, and session establishment with the first and second radio networks, an access terminal may be respectively assigned first and second IP addresses for use during these sessions. If the access terminal leaves the first radio network, it can request that the IP session be maintained and provides a forwarding address. Thereafter, if the first radio network has data for the access terminal, it sends a “spoof” packet to the access terminal using the forwarding address. The spoof packet can indicate that there is data available for the access terminal. Upon receiving a communication (e.g., a page) from the second radio network in response to the spoof packet, the access terminal establishes a connection with the first radio network and receives the data.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments are a novel and improved method and system that prevents RLP3 from generating unnecessary NAKs, thus preventing unnecessary data frame retransmissions. The disclosed embodiments are efficient, neither delaying the delivery of data frames to the higher data services layer nor delaying the delivery of necessary NAKs to the multiplex sublayer. The disclosed embodiments are implemented with minimal changes to existing RLP3 implementation. The disclosed embodiments utilize a buffering scheme for all incoming traffic. The purpose of this buffering scheme is to reorder the received packets into the order that they were transmitted prior to delivering them to the PPP layer. Received frames are reordered by determining the order that physical layer frames were transmitted by a peer, and by buffering each received frame until all frames transmitted prior to it have been received. The frame reordering is accomplished using timers and a memory buffering mechanism.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to techniques for video call setup in a mobile video telephony network. In general, the call setup techniques reduce call setup delays by preemptively retransmitting NSRP packets before expiration of the timeout period ordinarily required for receipt of an NSRP ACK packet from the remote terminal. The retransmitted NSRP packets may be retransmitted during idle periods in which the modem layer in the sending mobile terminal has received no other data for transmission of the remote mobile terminal, thereby taking advantage of idle bandwidth. Multiplex data received by the modem can be locally buffered at the modem layer for retransmission. In this manner, retransmission does not require regeneration of the original call setup messages nor multiplexing. Instead, the previously generated and multiplexed data is buffered at the modem layer for retransmission to reduce processing overhead within the mobile terminal.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for establishing a PPP data session between a user terminal (UT) and an Interworking Function (IWF). The process involves establishing a PPP2 link with the IWF in response to detecting a mobile IP data session request from the UT, detecting a PPP1 link with the UT in response to the PPP2 link being established, detecting that a PPP2 link failure has occurred, and reconfiguring at least one of the WCD and the UT to an initial state.

Abstract: The packets generated by each of multiple packet data applications are provided to a single Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) stack and a single High-level Data Link Control (HDLC) framing layer to convert data packets into byte streams suitable for transmission through Radio Link Protocol (RLP) connections. Each of the resultant multiple byte streams is then provided to one of multiple RLP connections having different retransmission and delay properties. The RLP connection selected for sending data from each application is based on the grade of service most appropriate for the application. At the receiver, the data from the multiple RLP connections is provided to a single PPP stack.

Abstract: A method and system that detects protocol and configuration messages in a PPP packet without having to unframe the entire packet. The method includes a communication device that receives a plurality data frames, wherein the communication device is capable of ascertaining the beginning of an information portion within the received frames. The communications device detects whether the information portion contains configuration information, such as protocol and configuration messages of a predetermined type. In a first embodiment, the detection is achieved by the communication device unescaping the contents of a plurality of bytes and determining whether the escaped bytes contains the desired configuration information.

Abstract: A technique is described for determining configuration options negotiated for a wireless communications link employing a network model. The technique receives an input data stream from a wireless communications link employing a network model. The input data stream includes one or more framed data packets containing information. The wireless communications link employing the network model is based on configuration options negotiated. The framed data packet(s) from the input data stream are detected and at least a portion of the information of the detected framed data packet(s) is examined when the configuration options of the wireless communications link employing the network model have been negotiated.

Abstract: For Mobile IP supporting inter-technology handoffs, a logical interface is provided at an abstraction layer, which resides between a network layer and a link layer. The logical interface performs processing to provide an interface between the network layer and the link layer, but communicates with physical interfaces instead of directly with the link layer. One physical interface is provided for each communication network (e.g., each radio network of a different wireless technology). Each physical interface performs technology-dependent processing for the associated communication network and communicates with a respective link layer module. Each link layer module performs link layer processing for the associated communication network. The logical interface is associated with one physical interface at any given moment. The logical interface is also associated with an IP address that does not change and is used by IP in the network layer for communication with the multiple communication networks.

Abstract: An improved method and system for determining round-trip time (RTT) during a radio link protocol (RLP) wireless communication link. The RTT estimate is negotiated by both sides of the RLP communication link without the need for the 3-way handshake generally required for RLP synchronization. The method includes techniques used by both sides of the RLP communication link to dynamically update and refine their initial, negotiated RTT estimates.

Abstract: Techniques for minimizing dormant reactivations to receive IPv6 Router Advertisements are described. In a first scheme, a timer is used to trigger a wireless terminal to solicit a Router Advertisement. The timer is set to a threshold time period computed based on the current prefix lifetime. When the timer expires, a Router Solicitation is sent. In a second scheme, after the timer expires, a Router Solicitation is sent whenever the terminal is active. In a third scheme, a Router Solicitation is sent when the timer expires if solicitation is triggered and at any time thereafter whenever the terminal is active. In a fourth scheme, two timers are set to two threshold time periods. After the first timer expires, a Router Solicitation is sent whenever the terminal is active. When the second timer expires, a Router Solicitation is sent if solicitation is triggered by a predefined event or condition regardless of the terminals state.

Abstract: Method for communication buffer management communicates messages between local and remote hosts. Socket, process buffer and reserve buffers allocated. Process and reserve buffers differentiated for transmit and receive. Global memory pool partitioned into process and reserve buffer pools; reserve buffer pool partitioned into transmit and receive pools. Messages stored in process buffer, but reserve buffer stores messages if low memory (POS). Communication system and mobile device include communication manager storing messages in process buffers; if POS exists, in reserve buffers. Communication buffer manager used for memory management, allocation, reclamation. Both adapt for static and dynamic memory management.

Abstract: Communication methods, buffer management methods, communication systems, and communication devices for mobile communications using acknowledgement-based protocols, such as TCP. Communication buffer memory includes free and committed memory, with copies of transmitted messages awaiting acknowledgement stored in committed memory of transmit buffer. Memory controller monitors communication buffer state and, if free memory is less than a memory threshold, controller extracts TCP ACKNUM from a received host message. The TCP ACKNUM acknowledges transmitted message copies having ACKNUMs of lesser ordinality, and memory controller identifies and denominates the committed memory storing acknowledged messages as free memory, potentially avoiding deadlock.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for a mobile station application to receive and transmit raw packetized data in a wireless communication system. The present invention includes a mobile station application that creates at least one socket. At least one of mobile station protocol layers of a communication protocol stack receives encapsulated raw packetized data from a communication network. The raw packetized data lacks destination port information. At least one of the mobile station protocol layers transmits unencapsulated raw packetized data to the created sockets. In turn, the created sockets transmit the raw packetized data to the mobile station application. In another implementation, the created sockets transmit raw packetized data of the mobile station application to at least one of the mobile station protocol layers. In turn, at least one of the mobile station protocol layers transmits encapsulated raw packetized data to the communication network.

Abstract: A majority of the IP packets sent from an IP network over a wireless network to a mobile station which is tethered to an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, are destined for applications running on the electronic device. The embodiments are for snooping and filtering incoming IP packets to delineate only those packets destined for mobile station applications, which greatly improves the processing efficiency of the mobile station. In particular, the CID fields of TCP/IP packets utilizing Van Jacobson compression techniques are snooped and filtered.

Abstract: Techniques for maintaining packet data connectivity in a wireless communications network are presented. A mobile station detects a change from a first packet control function (PCF) to a second PCF. The first PCF is connected to a first packet data service node (PDSN). The second PCF is connected to a second PDSN. The mobile station consults a database configured to map at least one previously visited PCF to a servicing PDSN. Based at least in part on the consulting, the mobile station observes one from among a plurality of predetermined origination patterns, wherein an origination pattern defines origination functions to be performed by the mobile station. As such, zombie PPP and mobile IP instances may be detected and handled.

Abstract: A method for selectively maintaining compression state and applying a compression technique after a PPP renegotiation on a Um interface of a wireless communication network. A communication device receives packetized data transmitted from a terminal device, which is coupled to the communication device via an Rm interface. The communication device determines whether the received packetized data comprises compressed or uncompressed data. Upon determining that the received packetized data comprises compressed data, the communication device determines whether connection information identifying a compression slot is included in the compressed data. The communication device further determines whether the connection information exceeds a highest-numbered decompression slot from a plurality of decompression slots on said Um interface.

Abstract: Techniques for avoiding data loss and reducing registration overhead in a wireless packet data communication system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a mobile station adds each connection to a connection list following registration with the PCF. The mobile station need not reregister a connection included in the connection list when it again enters the PCF's coverage area. In another embodiment, a PDSN maintains a connection table, with one or more connections for each mobile station. The PDSN transmits data to the mobile station along one of the connections. In yet another embodiment, a PDSN transmits on an active connection, if one exists. In yet another embodiment, connections in a connection list or connection table are removed when a corresponding inactivity timer expires. Various other embodiments are also presented.