Patent ID: 7443786
Filing Date: 2008-10-28
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for providing resiliency for mobile terminal data sessions, wherein said data sessions rely on Internet Protocol Version 4 and wherein at least one Home Agent node maintains a mobility bindings database for all registered mobile terminals while they are away from a home network, said method comprising the steps of: establishing, using Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) according to IETF RFC3768, a VRRP group comprising a master Home Agent (m-HA) and at least one backup Home Agent (b-HA), wherein said master Home Agent (m-HA) automatically assumes the role of a Virtual Home Agent (v-HA) Function (VHAF), and wherein VRRP packets transmitted between said master Home Agent and said at least one backup Home Agent include an advertisement interval field having a sub-second value; maintaining session resiliency of said mobile terminal data sessions in the event of a failure of said master Home Agent by: sending, from a mobile terminal to said master Home Agent (m-HA), a mobile IP Registration Request (RRQ); if said Registration Request is validated and authenticated said by said master Home Agent, sending a Registration Reply (RRP) message to said mobile terminal and sending a Proxy Registration Request (PRRQ) message to said at least one backup Home Agent (b-HA) using a dedicated multicast address for all Home Agents (all-HA); sending, from said at least one backup Home Agent to said master Home Agent, a Proxy Registration Reply (PRRP) message acknowledging said proxy registration; detecting by said at least one backup Home Agent, via said VRRP packets, the failure of said master Home Agent; assuming, by one of said at least one backup Home Agent, the role of master Home Agent.