Abstract: An apparatus comprising an application cross-stratum optimization (CSO) gateway (ACG) configured to communicate with a plurality of servers at an application layer, and a network CSO gateway (NCG) coupled to the ACG via an application-network interface (ANI) and configured to communicate with a plurality of network nodes at a plurality of network layers below the application layer, wherein the ANI allows joint application-network resource allocation, provisioning, and optimization. Also disclosed is a network apparatus implemented method comprising receiving at a service controller in a service plane a resource reservation request from an application controller coupled to an application plane to enable an application for a user, computing a path for the application, allocating the resource for the path at a network plane using network maintained databases, and forwarding a response with the allocated resource to the application plane via the service controller and the application controller.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an application cross-stratum optimization (CSO) gateway (ACG) coupled to an application layer that handles a plurality of servers, a network CSO gateway (NCG) coupled to a network layer that handles a plurality of network nodes and configured to communicate with the ACG using a CSO protocol (CSOP), and a CSO interface established between the ACG and the NCG that enables the exchange of a plurality of CSOP messages to allow joint application-network resource allocation, provisioning, and optimization. Also disclosed is a network apparatus implemented method comprising sending a user profile from a user plane to an application plane, sending an application profile from the application plane to a network plane via a CSO interface between an ACG and a NCG, and sending network capability information from the network plane to the application plane via the CSO interface.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a Local Mobility Anchor (LMA) configured to couple to a mobile node (MN), a network address translation (NAT) server, and an Internet Protocol (IP) version four (IPv4) only host and to associate an IP version six (IPv6) address for an interface with the MN with an IPv4 address for an interface with the IPv4 only host in a NAT state table entry, wherein the NAT state table entry is used to translate an IPv6 packet associated with the MN to an IPv4 packet associated with the IPv4 only host.

Abstract: Method and system for managing address prefix information associated with handover in network. A fast handover process is achieved for point-to-point communication model. A mobile node send a provisional new care-of-address with an aggregate prefix part to its previous access router, which forwards the address to a new access router. The new access router in response generates a modified new care-of-address with a unique prefix part for the mobile node. Alternatively, the mobile node sends a request to the previous access router for a unique prefix. The request is forwarded from the previous access router to the new access router. The new access router assigns a unique prefix for the mobile node.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a home agent (HA) configured to couple to a mobile node (MN), a network address translation (NAT) server, and an Internet Protocol (IP) version four (IPv4) only host and to associate an IP version six (IPv6) address for an interface with the MN with an IPv4 address for an interface with the IPv4 only host in a NAT state table entry, wherein the NAT state table entry is used to translate an IPv6 packet associated with the MN to an IPv4 packet associated with the IPv4 only host.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tunnel packet optimization is provided. A method for communications node operation where the communications node is at a beginning of a tunnel includes receiving a message from a communications device at an end of the tunnel, processing a packet having a first source address and a first destination address, and encapsulating the packet with an outer header having a second source address and a second destination address, thereby producing a tunnel packet. The message includes a flow label related to the first source address and the first destination address. The method also includes compacting the tunnel packet based on a tunnel optimization (TO) state, and transmitting the tunnel packet towards the second destination address. The second destination address includes an address of the communications device at the end of the tunnel.

Abstract: Method and system for managing address prefix information associated with handover in network. A fast handover process is achieved for point-to-point communication model. A mobile node send a provisional new care-of-address with an aggregate prefix part to its previous access router, which forwards the address to a new access router. The new access router in response generates a modified new care-of-address with a unique prefix part for the mobile node. Alternatively, the mobile node sends a request to the previous access router for a unique prefix. The request is forwarded from the previous access router to the new access router. The new access router assigns a unique prefix for the mobile node.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to receive a first message from a local mobility anchor (LMA), wherein the first message initiates a flow binding operation that does not require mobility management by a mobile node (MN), perform the flow binding operation, and transmit a second message from a media access gateway (MAG) to the LMA acknowledging that the flow binding operation was successfully performed, wherein the flow binding operation comprises adding the flow binding to a MAG, deleting the flow binding from the MAG, modifying the flow binding in the MAG, refreshing the flow binding in the MAG, moving the flow binding from the MAG to a second MAG, switching the flow binding from the LMA to a second LMA, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising granting a user restricted access at a reduced rate without authenticating the user, attempting to authenticate the user, and granting the user unrestricted access at a full rate if the user authentication is successful. Included is a method comprising authenticating a user device, a user line, or both using a first communication, and authenticating a user using a second communication separate from the first communication. Also included is an apparatus comprising an access node (AN) configured to couple to an access network and communicate with a user equipment (UE) via the access network, wherein the UE is authenticated using either line authentication or device authentication based on the access network.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a local mobility anchor (LMA) configured to maintain a plurality of binding cache entries (BCEs) for two or more active interfaces between a mobile node (MN) and a plurality of mobile access gateways (MAGs) comprising a first MAG and a second MAG, wherein the BCEs comprise a first BCE that corresponds to a home interface between the MN and the first MAG and that comprises a first list of home network prefixes (HNPs), and wherein the BCEs further comprise a second BCE that is linked to the first BCE, that corresponds to a secondary interface between the MN and the second MAG, and that comprises a second list of HNPs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a local area network system including a computational device or a host, a network apparatus and communication channel (e.g. router). The invention also provides a method for configuring IPv6 addresses in the host. The method includes separating a prefix assignment from generation of an interface identifier. The prefix may be stored in a DHCPv6 server. The procedure further includes requesting the prefix from the DHCPv6 server by the host, generating the interface identifier in the host, and combining the prefix and the generated interface identifier to formulate an IP address in the host, registering the IP address in the DHCPv6 server, and granting the usage of the IP address to the host by the DHCPv6 server.

Abstract: A method for handover in a network is provided. The method includes receiving a first message from a first access network device associated with a mobile node (MN) associated with a first access router. A second message is sent to a second access router associated with a second access network device to initiate handover. A third message in response to the second message is received to establish a tunnel between the first access router and the second access router for handover. Packets designated to the MN are forwarded from the first access router to the second access router through the tunnel.

Abstract: A method, system and device for achieving an optimized mobility routing path are disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises a method of cutting unnecessary network tunnels. In a mobile network system, transmitting data packets through a tunnel is an effective way to provide network location privacy. An optimization method is proposed to consolidate two tunnels connecting with a network element such as a first distributed local mobility anchor (D-LMA). The first D-LMA informs a data packet sender such as a second D-LMA of the destination address saved in the first D-LMA. The second D-LMA updates its destination address accordingly and sends subsequent data packets to the destination directly. By applying this optimization method, a network system provides a further optimized route for data packets as well as location privacy.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing mobility routing are disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises a home local mobility anchor and two or more distributed local mobility anchors, wherein the distributed local mobility anchors have a reduced functionality from the home local mobility anchor. A first distributed local mobility anchor may send an initial data packet from a correspondent node to the home local mobility anchor, which may route the initial data packet to a second distributed local mobility anchor where a mobile node is anchored while also sending the location of the mobile node back to the first distributed local mobility anchor. Subsequent packets can be sent by the first distributed local mobility anchor directly to the second distributed local mobility anchor and bypassing the home local mobility anchor.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a mobile access gateway (MAG) configured to register an Internet Protocol (IP) address for a mobile node (MN) with a local mobility anchor (LMA) to allow proxy mobile IP version 6 (PMIPv6) mobility management for the MN, wherein the MAG communicates a query message that comprises a PMIPv6 service name to a Domain Name Service (DNS) and obtains the IP address of the LMA from the DNS. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor coupled to a memory and configured to send a DNS query for a plurality of Service Resource Records (SRV RRs), and receive a DNS reply that comprises a plurality of Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs) for a plurality of LMAs, wherein the DNS query comprises a Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol version 6 (PMIPv6) service name, a protocol name, and a domain name.

Abstract: A method comprising encapsulating a message with a tunnel header comprising an access identifier associated with a network entity. Also included is an apparatus comprising an access node (AN) configured to communicate with a residential gateway (RG) via the access network, wherein the AN is configured to encapsulate a router solicitation (RS) with a header comprising an access identifier associated with the RG, and send the encapsulated RS to an Internet Protocol (IP) edge, wherein the AN is configured to receive a router advertisement (RA), and wherein the AN is configured to forward the RA to the RG associated with the access identifier.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a home agent (HA) configured to initiate a flow binding operation for a mobile node (MN) by sending a first message to the MN and receiving a second message from the MN, wherein the first message indicates the flow binding operation to the MN, and wherein the MN returns the second message to the HA in response to the first message. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a first message from a HA to initiate a flow binding operation for a flow, and sending a second message to the HA. Included is a method comprising transmitting to a MN a flow binding message to perform a flow binding action for the MN.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of communication interfaces configured to receive a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) reply message comprising routing information for at least one of the plurality of interfaces, and a processor configured to select one of the plurality of interfaces for transmission based upon the routing information. An apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a DHCP request message comprising a first multi-homed routing policy entry (MHRPE) option, selecting default route information based upon the first MHRPE option, and transmitting a DHCP reply message comprising a second MHRPE option comprising the default route information. A method comprising receiving a DHCP request message comprising a first MHRPE option, selecting default route information based upon the first MHRPE option, and transmitting a DHCP reply message comprising a second MHRPE option comprising the default route information.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a local mobility anchor (LMA) configured to forward a flow to a mobile node (MN) via a first mobile access gateway (MAG) in a first network and via a second MAG in a second network, and to bind the flow to the second MAG from the first MAG, wherein the first MAG is configured to manage the MN mobility in the first network and the second MAG is configured to manage the MN mobility in the second network, wherein the first MAG sends a binding update comprising a flow description information to the LMA, and wherein the LMA replies to the binding update with a binding acknowledgement.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a mobile node (MN) comprising a first radio interface and at least one second radio interface, wherein a point of service (PoS) is configured to communicate with the MN via the first radio interface to proxy the second interface, and wherein the first interface is an active interface and the second interface is a powered off interface. Also included is an apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising setting an interface between a MN and a network in a powered off mode, tracking the mobility of the MN on behalf of the network when the interface is powered off, and waking up the interface when a call arrives in the network for the interface.