Patent ID: 6219547
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
In a mobile data intermediate station for use in a network including cellular digital packet data capability, the mobile data intermediate station capable of serving multiple roaming mobile end stations which also correspond to at least one home mobile intermediate station, a method of communicating with a roaming mobile end station comprising the steps of:receiving a request from an originating mobile end station to send data to the roaming mobile end station;determining, by reference to a mobile serving function (MSF), if the roaming mobile end station is in an area served by the mobile data intermediate station; andif the roaming mobile end station is in an area served by the mobile data intermediate station, sending the data, in the form of one or more network protocol data units, directly via said mobile data intermediate station from the originating mobile end station to the roaming mobile end station without further routing through said network, and without transmitting the data to a home mobile intermediate station which is associated with the roaming mobile end station and without encapsulation of the one or more network protocol data units.