Abstract: In a wireless ad hoc network comprising a plurality of nodes, a primary node receives a domain name service (DNS) query from a node. The primary node determines whether the query can be resolved based on cached information. If the DNS query can be resolved based on cached information, the primary node sends a response to the node. If the DNS query cannot be resolved based on cached information, the primary node sends the DNS query outside the ad hoc network for resolution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating handoff for a mobile entity in a wireless communication network is provided (100). The method comprising obtaining a first internet protocol (IP) address for the mobile entity (105) when the mobile entity is attached to a first access node, identifying at least one target access node (110), the target access node being a potential access node for handoff for the mobile entity, sending a trigger message corresponding to the mobile entity to the identified target access node (115) and acquiring a second IP addresses for the mobile entity at the target access node (120). The invention also proposes a method for creating a tunnel for facilitating the handoff for a mobile entity from the first access node to the target access node (205, 210, 215, 220).

Abstract: All nodes within a communication system (100) will create an IP address based on a shared-secret key. The shared-secret key is unique for every node within the communication system and is known only to the node (102) and a server (103). The router (101) can validate that the node (102) owns the IP address.

Abstract: Apparatus performs a method that includes the steps of: receiving (210) a location parameter request for a mobile entity; determining (220) a set of location parameters corresponding to the mobile entity, the set of location parameters comprising at least an identification of a current point of attachment of the mobile entity; and communicating (230) a response comprising at least a portion of the determined set of location parameters. Another method includes the steps of: receiving (310) a message comprising a set of location parameters corresponding to the mobile entity, wherein the set of location parameters is based on an identification of a current point of attachment of the mobile entity; and setting (320) a network access configuration for the mobile entity based on the set of location parameters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multicast communication, wherein the apparatus is configured for performing the method that includes the steps of: communicating (210) a request to a server to join a first multicast group, the first multicast group associated with a first multicast address; determining (220) a second multicast group corresponding to the first multicast group, the second multicast group having a second multicast address; joining (230) the second multicast group to create a corresponding multicast tunnel; receiving (240) a first multicast packet from the server using the multicast tunnel, the first multicast packet comprising the first and second multicast addresses; removing (250) the second multicast address from the first multicast packet; and forwarding (260) the first multicast packet comprising the first multicast address to an entity.

Abstract: In a system (100) that includes at least one mobility server (40, 50), at least one edge mobility agent (60) and a plurality of mobile nodes (20, 30), a method for local routing between two mobile nodes that includes the steps of: receiving a first care-of address for a first mobile node; detecting an edge mobility agent having knowledge of the first care-of address; determining, based upon at least one condition, that the edge mobility agent can perform local routing of at least one datagram for the first mobile node; and instructing the edge mobility agent to perform local routing of at least one datagram between the first mobile node and a second mobile node that has a second care-of address that is known to the edge mobility agent.

Abstract: A method for enabling autonomous mode routing between mobile entities in a plurality of nested mobile networks includes the steps of: announcing (305) a root mobile entity address; in response to the announcing, receiving (310) a registration request comprising routing information from each mobile entity in at least a portion of a plurality of mobile entities comprising a plurality of nested mobile networks, wherein at least one of the registration requests is received while in an autonomous mode; and generating (315) a root mobile entity binding cache using the routing information from the registration requests, for enabling routing within the plurality of nested mobile networks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating handoff for a mobile entity in a wireless communication network is provided (100). The method comprising obtaining a first internet protocol (IP) address for the mobile entity (105) when the mobile entity is attached to a first access node, identifying at least one target access node (110), the target access node being a potential access node for handoff for the mobile entity, sending a trigger message corresponding to the mobile entity to the identified target access node (115) and acquiring a second IP addresses for the mobile entity at the target access node (120). The invention also proposes a method for creating a tunnel for facilitating the handoff for a mobile entity from the first access node to the target access node (205, 210, 215, 220).

Abstract: A method and system of enabling dynamic configuration of mobility configuration parameters for a mobile entity (105) by a mobility configuration agent (120) may be implemented, wherein the assigned mobility configuration parameters for the mobile entity are based on mobility configuration parameters corresponding to a group to which the mobile entity (120) belongs. An SLP directory (445) may be used to allocate an optimal home agent to the mobile entity.

Abstract: An Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) key, defining a first shared secret between a mobile node (108) and an AAA server (110), is acquired. A shared key becomes associated with the mobile node (108) and the VPN server (104). The shared key is formed, at least in part, from the AAA key. The shared key defines a second shared secret, which is between the mobile node (108) and the VPN server (104). A secure data tunnel is then established between the mobile node (108) and the VPN server (104) using the shared key.

Abstract: At least one candidate point-of-presence element to which at least one mobile node may be handed over from a first point-of-presence element is identified (201). In a preferred approach this occurs regardless of whether the point-of-presence elements differ from one another (for example, with respect to an enabling mobile node access technology, a service type, and/or a supported application to be handed over). A handover key is then derived (202) as corresponds at least to the identified point-of-presence element that use of that handover key is facilitated (203) to facilitate a possible handover of the mobile node from the first to the identified point-of-presence element. The handover key may also be used, if desired, to derive a pairwise handover key.

Abstract: Connectivity status information of a mobile network node (104) that may connect to the mobile router (106) is tracked and determined. When the connectivity status of the mobile network node (104) indicates that the mobile network node (104) is no longer reachable, packets destined to be sent to that mobile network node (104) are intercepted.

Abstract: A method for improving the reliability of a low latency handoff is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a first message from a first device. Upon receipt of the first message, transmitting a registration request via the first device to a home agent for pre-registration of a co-located care-of address associated with a second device, wherein the registration request comprises the co-located care-of address associated with the second device. If the first message is received again from the first device prior to attaching to the second device, re-transmitting the registration request via the first device.

Abstract: A registration method in a system having a hierarchical structure (100) that includes a mobile node (20), at least one FA (42), at least one GFA (40) and an HA (30). The method includes the steps of: intercepting (210) a registration request (300) from a mobile node to its HA, the registration request including a first care of address (360) for the mobile node; determining (220) whether there is an existing entry in a visitor list for the mobile node; if the entry exists, updating (230) the entry; if no entry exists, creating an entry (250) in the list for the mobile node, adding (260) a second care of address as an extension to the registration request, and sending (270) the registration request with the address extension to the HA; and sending (240) a registration reply to the mobile node.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of authenticating an electronic device in a mobile network. A method of authenticating an electronic device comprises a first mobile network controller receiving an authentication request from the electronic device in a mobile network 105; searching for an authentication credential 110 at a first mobile network controller by searching in a local database of the first mobile network controller; and, searching for an alternate authentication server to fulfill the authentication request 115, if the authentication credential is not found in the local database of the first mobile network controller.

Abstract: A first device (104) receives a first message from a second device (100). Upon receipt of the first message, the first device transmits a registration request to the second device for pre-registration with a third device (102). If the second device does not receive the registration request from the first device within a predetermined time period, the second device re-transmits the first message to the first device if a communication link with the first device is still operational. If the first device receives the first message again from the second device prior to attaching to the third device, the first device re-transmits the registration request to the second device. If registration with the third device is not pending when the first device attaches to the third device, the third device transmits a second message to the first device to solicit a registration request from the first device.

Abstract: In a wireless ad hoc network comprising a plurality of nodes, a primary node receives a domain name service (DNS) query from a node. The primary node determines whether the query can be resolved based on cached information. If the DNS query can be resolved based on cached information, the primary node sends a response to the node. If the DNS query cannot be resolved based on cached information, the primary node sends the DNS query outside the ad hoc network for resolution.

Abstract: In a system (100) that includes at least one mobility server (40, 50), at least one edge mobility agent (60) and a plurality of mobile nodes (20, 30), a method for local routing between two mobile nodes that includes the steps of: receiving a first care-of address for a first mobile node; detecting an edge mobility agent having knowledge of the first care-of address; determining, based upon at least one condition, that the edge mobility agent can perform local routing of at least one datagram for the first mobile node; and instructing the edge mobility agent to perform local routing of at least one datagram between the first mobile node and a second mobile node that has a second care-of address that is known to the edge mobility agent.

Abstract: A method for use by middleware in a communication system (100) that includes the steps of: enabling a group of behavior sets (220) for use by the middleware; operating (330) in accordance with a first behavior set from the group (220); receiving at least one trigger (342, 346); selecting (350) a second behavior set from the group (220) based upon the at least one trigger (342, 346); and operating in accordance with the second behavior set (330).

Abstract: A method for providing seamless mobility to a first device (102) in a system (100) comprising at least the first device, a second device (104/106) and a routing infrastructure (108) is disclosed herein. The routing infrastructure comprises a plurality of routers used to communicate information between the first device and the second device. In operation, the first device receives an anycast address and injects an updated route to the anycast address into the routing infrastructure each time the first device roams to a different subnet. The first device sends a binding update to the second device informing the second device of the anycast address, after which, the first device receives information from the second device via the anycast address regardless of a location of the first device in the system.