Patent ID: 6078575
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: H04L,H04Q,H04W

Abstract:
A network comprising a plurality of switches, said switches being formed into respective peer groups, said peer groups being formed into a hierarchical logical network of L levels, where L.gtoreq.1, each of said switches being associated with a plurality of base stations each operative for communicating with wireless terminals located in respective cells, individual ones of said switches serving as a home switch for respective ones of said wireless terminals, said network further comprisingat one of said switches, responsive to receiving from an associated base station a registration message originating from one of said wireless terminals, generating a message containing information relating to the current location of said one of said wireless terminals and sending the message to the other switches that are within S levels of said one of said switches and to a switch previously serving said one of said wireless terminals,at each of said other switches, responsive to receipt of said message, updating an associated reachability database to indicate the current location of said one of said wireless terminals, andat said switch previously serving said one of said wireless terminals, responsive to receipt of said message, setting a pointer pointing to the current location of said one of said wireless terminals, and wherein if said one of said wireless terminals is not within scope S of said previous switch, then said previous switch responsive to receipt of said message, updates an associated reachability database to indicate that said one of said wireless terminals may be reached via a home switch associated with said one of said wireless terminals.