Abstract: A mobile router and a correspondent router, each configured for routing services for nodes within their routing prefixes associated with their respective routing tables, establish a secure, bidirectional tunnel based on a messaging protocol between each other and a route server resource having a prescribed security relationship with the mobile router and correspondent router. The mobile router sends a query via its home agent to the route server resource to identify the correspondent router serving the correspondent node. The mobile router sends a binding update request, specifying a home address and care-of address for the mobile router, to the correspondent router for establishment of a bidirectional tunnel. The correspondent router, upon validating the home address is reachable via the care-of address, establishes the bidirectional tunnel, and updates its routing tables to specify that prescribed address prefixes are reachable via the mobile router home address.

Abstract: A router (e.g., a home agent for an IPv6 mobile router) is configured for determining a destination router (e.g., the IPv6 mobile router) for a received packet based on accessing a routing table having multiple routing entries, each routing entry including a routing key and a routing field that specifies one of a prescribed address specifying the destination router and a computation tag. The computation tag specifies a prescribed function to be executed to calculate a determined address for the destination router (e.g., the home address for the IPv6 mobile router). The router identifies, for each received packet, the matching routing entry based on the corresponding routing key, and in response to detecting the computation tag in the routing field, selectively executes the corresponding function to calculate the determined address for the destination router.

Abstract: A source IPv6 mobile router is configured for establishing an IPv4 tunnel with destination IPv6 mobile router using a synthetic tag address, specifying a forwarding protocol, and IPv4 source and destination addresses. If an optional transport header is used (e.g, UDP port), the source port and destination port also are added to the synthetic tag address. The IPv6 packet includes a reverse routing header that enables the destination IPv6 mobile router to recover routing information for reaching the source IPv6 mobile router via the IPv4 network. Hence, all IPv4 routing information that may be needed by the destination IPv6 mobile router in sending an IPv6 reply packet back to the source IPv6 mobile router is maintained in the routing header specified in the IPv6 reply packet.

Abstract: An IPv6 mobile node establishes an IPv4 connection with an IPv6 router having an IPv4 interface and configured as a Mobility Anchor Point (MAP) according to Hierarchical Mobile IPv6 Protocol. The MAP assigns a valid IPv6 care-of address to the IPv6 mobile node in response to receiving an IPv4 packet carrying an IPv6 packet requesting a valid care-of address. The IPv4 packet includes IPv4 source and destination addresses, a TCP/UDP source port and TCP/UDP destination port, and a synthetic tag address in the IPv6 source address field. The synthetic tag address includes a unique identifier that enables the MAP to associate the valid IPv6 care-of address with the IPv6 mobile node. Hence, the MAP forwards an IPv6 packet, carried via the IPv4 connection from the source IPv6 mobile node, onto an IPv6 network with an IPv6 source address field that specifies the assigned valid IPv6 care-of address.

Abstract: A source IPv6 mobile node is configured for forwarding an IPv6 packet via an IPv4 connection with a destination IPv6 router. The IPv4 packet includes IPv4 source and destination addresses, a UDP source port and UDP destination port, and a synthetic tag address in the IPv6 destination address field. The synthetic tag address, a valid (routable) IPv6 care of address, has an address prefix routed to the IPv6 router. The address prefix specifies a forwarding protocol, the IPv4 destination address for the IPv6 router, and a site-level aggregation identifier. An address suffix for the synthetic tag address specifies the IPv4 source address, the UDP source port and UDP destination port. Hence, the synthetic tag address enables the destination IPv6 router to send an IPv6 reply packet back to the source IPv6 mobile node via the IPv4 network.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing “invisibility” to the compulsory gateway of an IP network, comprising a clustered proxy-server including an inverse load balancer. When individual servers have to access, transparently, resources available on remote content-servers on behalf of a user, an inverse load balancer keeps track of which individual server is in charge of the user request and steers the response through the cluster to the user.

Abstract: Load balancing of client transactions, for the duration of a client session, in a Web site is implemented by a cluster of servers. An initial request in each client session is sent to the site load balancer, thus, greatly enhancing the capability of the site to accept new session requests. All subsequent requests from a client are forwarded directly to the server first selected so that the sessions cannot be later broken by the load balancer.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for dynamically assigning, on a Local Area Network, through a mediator, a plurality of active routers to a plurality of hosts so as to handle hosts data packets destined to remote users not connected on the LAN. Because hosts know only the address of the mediator they must first go through it for being assigned a particular router. When receiving the first request, mediator selects one router among those of the routers that are active and informs the host which may then forward the first packet and all subsequent ones to the selected router. The same is done for each host connected on the LAN. After which mediator is free to reassess the router to host assignment any time if significant changes are observed such as the failure of a router, the removing or the addition of a router to the pool of routers or a drastic modification of the host generated traffic.

Abstract: A mobile router is configured for optimized utilization of reverse routing headers, to specify a path between an originating mobile router and a home agent. Reverse routing headers enable each mobile router within the path to the home agent to specify its care of address, enabling the home agent to establish a bidirectional tunnel to the originating mobile router via the corresponding mobile router. The mobile router selectively updates the reverse routing header in a received packet by inserting the source address value of the received packet into the reverse routing header and inserting its corresponding care of address into the source address field, based on whether the mobile router lacks a routing table entry that specifies reachability of a most recent entry in the reverse routing header via the source address value. The mobile router also may request the originating mobile router to increase the reverse routing header size.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for registering with a Home Agent are disclosed. The network device sends a registration request having a home address field including an IP address to a Home Agent associated with the IP address. The IP address may be an IP address that has been statically assigned to the network device or an IP address that is a personal IP address that is associated with the user (e.g., username or NAI). The registration request indicating one or more ports of the network device via which data packets or server requests addressed to the IP address are to be received. The ports may be specified in a port extension to the registration request. In addition, the registration request may indicate a priority to be associated with the registration. The Home Agent updates its mobility binding table with the IP address and care-of address, as well as other information specified in the registration request, such as port and/or priority information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing registration requests by a Home Agent supporting Mobile IP are disclosed. A registration request is received from each of a plurality of Mobile Nodes, the registration request specifying a care-of address. A binding is established between each of the plurality of Mobile Nodes and the associated care-of address, each of the plurality of Mobile Nodes being associated with one another. For instance, the plurality of Mobile Nodes may be statically or dynamically assigned the same Home Address. A tunnel is then created between the Home Agent and the care-of address for each of the plurality of Mobile Nodes, thereby enabling a server request to be distributed by the Home Agent to one of the plurality of Mobile Nodes via the associated tunnel. For instance, a server request addressed to the Home Address may be forwarded to one of the Mobile Nodes assigned that Home Address.

Abstract: A mobile router is configured for attaching to a selected router in a clustered network (e.g., a mobile ad hoc network) based on identifying a network topology model of the clustered network from received router advertisement messages that include tree information option fields specifying attributes of the network topology model. The mobile router selects which router advertisement originator to attach to based on correlating the attributes of the router advertisement originators relative to identified priorities, and orders the router advertisement originators within a default router list based on the identified priorities. If the mobile router detects a router from a second clustered network, the mobile router advertises to the attachment router that the second clustered network is reachable, enabling the two clustered networks to communicate using a point-to-point link between the respective attachment routers.

Abstract: A wireless station having a wireless network device capable of providing a link-layer interface to a wireless network, a method operating at the link layer (L2) in the wireless station, and a carrier medium carrying computer readable code segments that when executed on a processor in the wireless station implement the method. The method includes, prior to the station being associated with a wireless network, wirelessly receiving L2 frames transmitted from one or more wireless access point of one or more wireless networks that the station can hear. The method further includes gathering information about the received L2 frames, including L2 information and L3 information. The L3 information includes whether an AP is sending an IP packet from a mobility agent, such that the station may associate with a wireless network that is in communication with the mobility agent. The method further includes storing information about the wireless networks that the station can hear in a database.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing registration requests by a Home Agent supporting Mobile IP are disclosed. A registration request is received from each of a plurality of Mobile Nodes, the registration request specifying a care-of address, which may be allocated by the Foreign Agent. A binding is established between each of the plurality of Mobile Nodes and the associated care-of address, each of the plurality of Mobile Nodes being associated with one another. For instance, the plurality of Mobile Nodes may be statically or dynamically assigned the same Home Address. A tunnel is then created between the Home Agent and the care-of address for each of the plurality of Mobile Nodes, thereby enabling a server request to be distributed by the Home Agent to one of the plurality of Mobile Nodes or to a cluster of Mobile Nodes (e.g., associated with the care-of address) via the associated tunnel.

Abstract: A gateway, configured for providing connectivity between a wide area network and mobile routers within a mobile ad hoc network, is configured for registering the mobile routers with their respective home agents using a prescribed mobile IP protocol. The gateway identifies the mobile routers using a prescribed proactive mobile ad hoc network routing protocol. The gateway locates, for each identified mobile router, its corresponding home agent via the wide area network according to the prescribed mobile IP protocol, and registers the corresponding identified mobile router with the home agent according to the prescribed mobile IP protcol. The gateway can then forward a packet received from a home agent to the corresponding mobile router. Hence, the gateway provides mobile routers within a mobile ad hoc network with access to the wide area network, without any necessity for the prescribed mobile IP protocol to be implemented within the mobile routers.

Abstract: A mobile router is configured for attaching to a selected router in a mobile network based on identifying a network topology model of the mobile network from received router advertisement messages that include tree information option fields specifying attributes of the network topology model. The mobile router selects which router advertisement originator to attach to based on correlating the attributes of the router advertisement originators relative to identified priorities, and orders the router advertisement originators within a default router list based on the identified priorities.

Abstract: Auto-adaptive method of load balancing in a data transmission system wherein one active station (32) amongst a plurality of stations requests the access to the resources of a host (10), the active station being connected to a connected-oriented network linked to host (10) by means of a plurality of communication controllers (12, 14, 16) identified by the station (32) with the address of host (10), the connected-oriented network implementing a protocol in which route discovery frames are sent from the station (32) to all the communication controllers (12, 14, 16) and response frames are sent back with a predefined delay from each one of the communication controllers to the station (32), whereby the station (32) selects the route defined by the first received response frame, this method being characterized in that the delay to apply to the response frame is at each moment dynamically defined by using a logarithmic function of the current number of active stations.

Abstract: A communication system speeds up digital traffic between nodes. The traffic is organized into data frames flowing over network high and low speed links attached to entry and exit ports of the nodes. Low speed modules connect the low speed links to a high speed switch. Router dispatch modules connect the high speed switch to a node attached to a high speed link for forwarding each data frame toward a dynamically selected target low speed module via the high speed switch, such that the dynamic selection of the target low speed module is based on detection of the module with the least load. At least one main router is attached to the high speed switch for storing a routing table to enable the targeted low speed module to orient one of the frames toward a right node exit port.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacturing for increasing link bandwidth occupation in a high speed packet switching digital network by enabling merging the traffics provided by different source users over several network node entry ports and to be propagated throughout network paths toward a same destination network port. To that end, at network ingress, the original packets provided by said source users and entering the network, are encapsulated with a so-called Single Sided Virtual Channel (SSVC) header including a Data Link Connection Identification (DLCI) field. Then, the packets provided by said source users and entering a given network node along their predefined path are monitored. Said packets SSVC headers DLCI fields are loaded with a same Virtual Channel number, whereby the corresponding traffics are being merged into a same channel, down to the destination network node. Then, the packets in said destination node are de-encapsulated from said SSVC header.

Abstract: A method for creating a single virtual LAN including a source (S) attached to a first Token ring LAN (N1), a target (T) within a subnet attached to a different Token ring LAN (N2), and an interconnecting router (R). The source (S) encapsulates the first packet with a Token ring header including the router MAC address (RMAC), SMAC as source MAC address as layer 2 information, and IP address of T (TIP) as layer 3 data and sends this packet over N1 toward the router. When receiving the first packet, R reads its IP table for best match with TIP address to identify the subnet including T. The net handler runs an ARP protocol to identify TMAC address, substitutes the MAC header with said TMAC address into said first packet destination MAC address field and forwards said first packet over N2. R then sends a conventional ICMP message over N1 limited broadcast and reconfigures itself in proxy ARP for the defined subnet.