Abstract: In a communication network (400), wireless access points (300) utilize one or more agents (302, 306) to support the operating needs of corresponding mobile stations. Pursuant to one approach, the agent supports translation of the mobile station's end-to-end protocol-based messages to Internet Protocol-based messages that are readily ported through an Internet Protocol-friendly communication system infrastructure that preferably eschews the use of network elements that rely upon unique and/or proprietary non-Internet Protocol interfaces. Pursuant to another approach the wireless access point is able to interact on a peer-to-peer basis with other wireless access points in order to facilitate, for example, handovers and other mobility management tasks.

Abstract: A wireless access point (102) detects an indicia of a change in wireless connectivity of a mobile station (101) with respect to itself and another wireless access point (103). The wireless access point then automatically effects at least one of establishing a communication between itself and the second wireless access point regarding the change in wireless connectivity and/or establishing a temporary data tunnel as between itself and the second wireless access point. These network elements can also act to automatically establish a data flow path for the mobile station as between the second wireless access point and a network element (such as a mobility management agent (105)) that is external to the common subnet. In a preferred approach this comprises, at least in part, automatically sending a registration request to the network element other than in response to a specific request from the mobile station to send such a registration request.

Abstract: In an embodiment, method(s) and system(s) for providing ephemeral communication is described herein. In an implementation, the method may include determining one or more request keywords associated with a request received from a requesting terminal. The request may be intended for initiating communication. The method may further include transmitting, based on the one or more request keywords, a notification to each of a plurality of target terminals over a communication network for joining a communication group. The method may also include initiating the communication between the requesting terminal and at least one target terminal from the plurality of target terminals. The communication may be initiated upon receiving an acceptance notification from the at least one target terminal to join the communication group.

Abstract: A wireless access point (300A, 300B, 300C) provides (101) a surrogate Internet Protocol address to use on behalf of a mobile station (401). That wireless access point then uses (102) that surrogate Internet Protocol address along with its own Internet Protocol address to facilitate establishing one or more data tunnels as necessary to support the communication needs of the mobile station.

Abstract: Mobile station information is exchanged between a plurality of distributed mobility agents (106, 108). The exchange is initiated by a mobility agent (106) associated with a last known network access point (110) that has communicated with the mobile station (114). The mobile station (114) is paged from at least one network access point using an available air interface technology to interface with the mobile station (114) and using the mobile station information. No centralized controller is used in the paging.

Abstract: In an embodiment, method(s) and system(s) for providing ephemeral communication is described herein. In an implementation, the method may include determining one or more request keywords associated with a request received from a requesting terminal. The request may be intended for initiating communication. The method may further include transmitting, based on the one or more request keywords, a notification to each of a plurality of target terminals over a communication network for joining a communication group. The method may also include initiating the communication between the requesting terminal and at least one target terminal from the plurality of target terminals. The communication may be initiated upon receiving an acceptance notification from the at least one target terminal to join the communication group.

Abstract: A method, wireless service node, and wireless communication system, are provided to manage wireless service usage and service node migration in the wireless communication system. A registration request from a wireless device (108) is received. A charging session associated with the wireless device (108) is established with a billing server (124). Wireless service usage is associated with the wireless device (108). The wireless device (108) is determined to be migrating to a new wireless service node (114). Information associated with the current charging session is transferred to the new wireless service node (114). Following the transfer, the service usage information pertaining to the same session is maintained and transferred by the new wireless service node to the billing server at appropriate time intervals and as per dynamic rules set in the billing server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing delivery of information in a wireless network (100) includes bearer plane information handlers (110, 111), each of which maintains a database of paging controller associations (200). Each paging controller association is an association of an idle mobile device to a last known paging controller of that idle mobile device. The apparatus also includes paging controllers (115-118), each of which is associated with at least one paging area (130-133). For each paging area, the paging controller maintains a database of all base transmitters of the paging area that are associated with the paging controller (310) and maintains a database of other selected paging controllers that control base transmitters in the paging area (315). Using these resources, the method uses location notification messages and paging responses to deliver bearer plane information to a mobile device (125) that has been idle.

Abstract: An indication is received from the mobile station (114) indicating that the mobile station (114) is moving from an originating mobility agent (106) to a destination mobility agent (108). An identity of the destination mobility agent (108) is determined using the indication. Routing information is sent from the originating mobility agent (106) to the destination mobility agent (108) using the identity. Incoming data is routed to the mobile station (114) using the routing information.

Abstract: A wireless access point (200), upon determining (101) that a need exists to support a communication need of a mobile station, acquires (102) a first Internet Protocol (IP) address and automatically transmits (103) a gratuitous Address Resolution Protocol message to a local router to thereby cause the latter to correlate the first IP address to a Medium Access Control address for the wireless access point. In a preferred embodiment the wireless access point can also automatically transmit a registration request to a remote network element (such as a Home Agent) that presents this first IP address as a care-of address to use in conjunction with another IP address that serves as a home address for the mobile station.

Abstract: In the present technique of a communication system (100), an address of a forwarding agent (114) linked to a receiver node (112) is detected to provide a discovered address. The discovered address is then used to establish a direct route with the forwarding agent of the receiver node for subsequent communications between a sender node (104) and the receiver node.

Abstract: A method, wireless service node, and wireless communication system, are provided to manage wireless service usage and service node migration in the wireless communication system. A registration request from a wireless device (108) is received. A charging session associated with the wireless device (108) is established with a billing server (124). Wireless service usage is associated with the wireless device (108). The wireless device (108) is determined to be migrating to a new wireless service node (114). Information associated with the current charging session is transferred to the new wireless service node (114). Following the transfer, the service usage information pertaining to the same session is maintained and transferred by the new wireless service node to the billing server at appropriate time intervals and as per dynamic rules set in the billing server.

Abstract: In a communication network (400), wireless access points (300) utilize one or more agents (302, 306) to support the operating needs of corresponding mobile stations. Pursuant to one approach, the agent supports translation of the mobile station's end-to-end protocol-based messages to Internet Protocol-based messages that are readily ported through an Internet Protocol-friendly communication system infrastructure that preferably eschews the use of network elements that rely upon unique and/or proprietary non-Internet Protocol interfaces. Pursuant to another approach the wireless access point is able to interact on a peer-to-peer basis with other wireless access points in order to facilitate, for example, handovers and other mobility management tasks.

Abstract: A wireless access point (300A, 300B, 300C) provides (101) a surrogate Internet Protocol address to use on behalf of a mobile station (401). That wireless access point then uses (102) that surrogate Internet Protocol address along with its own Internet Protocol address to facilitate establishing one or more data tunnels as necessary to support the communication needs of the mobile station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing delivery of information in a wireless network (100) includes bearer plane information handlers (110, 111), each of which maintains a database of paging controller associations (200). Each paging controller association is an association of an idle mobile device to a last known paging controller of that idle mobile device. The apparatus also includes paging controllers (115-118), each of which is associated with at least one paging area (130-133). For each paging area, the paging controller maintains a database of all base transmitters of the paging area that are associated with the paging controller (310) and maintains a database of other selected paging controllers that control base transmitters in the paging area (315). Using these resources, the method uses location notification messages and paging responses to deliver bearer plane information to a mobile device (125) that has been idle.

Abstract: A wireless access point (200), upon determining (101) that a need exists to support a communication need of a mobile station, acquires (102) a first Internet Protocol (IP) address and automatically transmits (103) a gratuitous Address Resolution Protocol message to a local router to thereby cause the latter to correlate the first IP address to a Medium Access Control address for the wireless access point. In a preferred embodiment the wireless access point can also automatically transmit a registration request to a remote network element (such as a Home Agent) that presents this first IP address as a care-of address to use in conjunction with another IP address that serves as a home address for the mobile station.

Abstract: Mobile station information is exchanged between a plurality of distributed mobility agents (106, 108). The exchange is initiated by a mobility agent (106) associated with a last known network access point (110) that has communicated with the mobile station (114). The mobile station (114) is paged from at least one network access point using an available air interface technology to interface with the mobile station (114) and using the mobile station information. No centralized controller is used in the paging.

Abstract: An indication is received from the mobile station (114) indicating that the mobile station (114) is moving from an originating mobility agent (106) to a destination mobility agent (108). An identity of the destination mobility agent (108) is determined using the indication. Routing information is sent from the originating mobility agent (106) to the destination mobility agent (108) using the identity. Incoming data is routed to the mobile station (114) using the routing information.

Abstract: In the present technique of a communication system (100), an address of a forwarding agent (114) linked to a receiver node (112) is detected to provide a discovered address. The discovered address is then used to establish a direct route with the forwarding agent of the receiver node for subsequent communications between a sender node (104) and the receiver node.

Abstract: A wireless access point (102) detects an indicia of a change in wireless connectivity of a mobile station (101) with respect to itself and another wireless access point (103). The wireless access point then automatically effects at least one of establishing a communication between itself and the second wireless access point regarding the change in wireless connectivity and/or establishing a temporary data tunnel as between itself and the second wireless access point. These network elements can also act to automatically establish a data flow path for the mobile station as between the second wireless access point and a network element (such as a mobility management agent (105)) that is external to the common subnet. In a preferred approach this comprises, at least in part, automatically sending a registration request to the network element other than in response to a specific request from the mobile station to send such a registration request.