Abstract: An apparatus comprising a client node configured to communicate with a server node and a plurality of mobile nodes, wherein the client node is configured to obtain Prefix Authorization (PA) for the mobile node from the server node using a Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) protocol. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising sending an Access-Request message to an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) PA server using a RADIUS protocol, receiving an Access-Accept message from the AAA PA server using the RADIUS protocol if the Access-Request message is accepted by the AAA PA server, and receiving an Access-Reject message from the AAA PA server using the RADIUS protocol if the Access-Request message is not accepted by the AAA PA server.

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: A method and apparatus for home agent redirect is provided. A method for redirecting a device from a first home agent to a second home agent includes sending a first message to the first home agent, receiving a second message from the first home agent, and sending a third message to the second home agent. The first message includes a binding update, and the second message includes a binding acknowledgement and a redirect indication that the device is being redirected to the second home agent. The third message includes a binding update, and an address of the first home agent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for home agent address acquisition for IPv4 mobile nodes is provided. A method for device operation includes sending a request message to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server, and receiving a reply message from the AAA server. The reply message contains an assigned Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) address of a home agent and the home agent is deployed with a dual stack mobile Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) function.

Abstract: A method comprising sending a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) message comprising an Identity Association for Prefix Delegation (IA_PD) Prefix option comprising a Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) prefix and a length of the IPv6 prefix to a device having a media access control (MAC) address, receiving from the device a packet comprising a source MAC address and a source IPv6 address, and dropping the packet when the MAC address is equal to the source MAC address and the leftmost bits of the source IPv6 address defined by the length are not equal to the IPv6 prefix.

Abstract: A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising sending a message comprising an authentication mobility option to a mobile node, wherein the message is configured to revoke a mobility binding for the mobile node is disclosed. Also disclosed is a system comprising a home agent configured to send a binding revocation indication (BRI) to a mobile node and receive a binding revocation acknowledgement (BRA) from the mobile node, wherein the BRI comprises a first authentication mobility option and the BRA comprises a second authentication mobility option. Included is a method comprising receiving a BRI message comprising an authentication mobility option from a home agent, analyzing the authentication mobility option, and sending a BRA message to the home agent.

Abstract: A mobility access gateway (MAG) comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising establishing a multi-protocol label switched (MPLS) tunnel with a local mobility agent (LMA), and establishing communications with a plurality of mobile nodes (MNs) associated with a plurality of service providers, wherein a plurality of packets destined for the LMA comprise a label that distinguishes between the service providers. Also disclosed is a method comprising receiving a packet destined for a MN, adding an inner label to the packet, wherein the inner label is associated with the MN, and adding a tunnel label to the packet.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a mobile router (MR) configured to communicate with a plurality of mobile nodes (MNs), wherein the MR is configured to obtain from a home agent (HA) a prefix for MNs using a binding update (BU) message and a binding acknowledgement (BA) message. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising requesting a mobile network prefix (MNP) using a BU message, receiving a BA message, and advertising the MNP to a MN if the MNP is received in the BA message. Also disclosed is a method comprising delegating at least one prefix for a MN by exchanging a BU message and a BA message between a MR and a HA.

Abstract: Methods and system for simplified Protocol for Carrying Authentication for Network Access (sPANA) are disclosed. In the broadband architecture such as Broadband forum or WiMAX forum, a Network Access server (NAS) is one IP hop away from a user. Therefore, it is possible to relax the need in PANA to obtain an IP address prior to authentication. A PANA client (PaC) may use an unspecified IP address (e.g. 0.0.0.0 in TPv4) as a source address for authentication. A PANA Authentication Agent (PAA) may use an IP broadcast address as a network layer destination address (e.g. oxffffffff). The present invention defines PANA Attribute-Value Pairs (AVPs) and procedures that allow a Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) exchange to occur in PANA. The PANA CHAP support may facilitate smooth migration from Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) sessions to IP sessions in a DSL Broadband network environment. The sPANA can be desirably compatible with the PANA.

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: Methods and apparatuses are provided for supporting mobility in a Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol (“IP”) network without having a mobile node (“MN”) to participate in certain mobility related signaling. Instead, a proxy agent might implement functions of a mobile access gateway (“MAG”) in a Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol Version 6 (“IPv6”) network. The proxy agent, rather than the MN, might send a request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“DHCP”) server, and receive back a local mobility anchor address (“LMAA”) of a local mobility anchor (“LMA”). The proxy agent might instead perform a Domain Name System (“DNS”) lookup for the LMAA of the LMA first; in response to a failure to receive the LMAA, the proxy agent might then send the request to the DHCP server to receive the LMAA. The proxy agent might further update DNS information of the MN.

Abstract: A communication network system having capability for IP mobility management selection. The communication system includes a server, a network entity, and at least one mobile node. The network entity is configured to provide its IP mobility management information to the server, whereas the mobile node is configured to provide its IP mobility management information to the server. In the communication system, the server is configured to make a selection of IP mobility management mechanism based on the information provided by the network entity and the mobile node. The server then sends the selection to the network entity. In a specific embodiment, the server can be an Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server. Here, the IP mobility management information includes one or more supported IP mobility management protocols. For example, the supported IP mobility management protocols can include mobile IPv4, mobile IPv6, dual stack mobile IP, and proxy mobile IP, etc.

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: 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: A network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a multicast listening state (MLS) report comprising a multicast state data from a mobile node (MN), sending the multicast state data to an access router (AR), establishing a tunnel with the AR, and forwarding at least one multicast data stream associated with the multicast state data to the AR via the tunnel. Also disclosed is an AR configured to implement a method comprising receiving a multicast state data for a MN, evaluating the multicast state data, indicating whether the multicast state data is supported by the AR, establishing a tunnel with a second AR, and receiving at least one multicast data stream associated with the multicast state data from the second AR via the tunnel.

Abstract: A network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising promoting transmission of a request for an address prefix to a prefix issuing party, identifying a reply comprising the address prefix from the prefix issuing party, and promoting transmission of a router advertisement comprising the address prefix to a mobile station. Also disclosed is a method comprising receiving a request for an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) prefix, assigning the IPv6 prefix to a mobile station, and sending the IPv6 address to the mobile station, wherein the method is implemented at a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server or an Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server.