Patent ID: 8982855
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. For a mobile node visiting a packet-switched wireless access network, said access network using a tunnelling-type micro-mobility protocol and a Quality of Service (QoS) routing protocol to route packet data to and from said mobile node, and comprising an access router to which said mobile node may attach, a mobility agent and a gateway, a method of configuring said access network to route packet data toward said mobile node which method comprises: (a) receiving in said access network a handover indication of said mobile node or a login request therefrom; (b) in response to receiving said handover indication or login request, computing a QoS route for said mobile node at a location in said access network remote from said mobility agent, which QoS route is useable to route packets between said mobility agent and said mobile node; and (c) transmitting said QoS route and said handover indication or login request from said remote location toward said mobility agent; wherein upon receipt of said handover indication or login request, said mobility agent handles both mobility configuration and QoS route configuration for said mobile node as part of said network handover; wherein said access router is a target access router within a different mobility agent domain to an existing access router attached to the mobility agent, wherein said handover indication indicates that a handover must also take place from said mobility agent to a new mobility agent, said handover of said mobile node comprising the following phases: wherein phase (i) further comprises the steps of said mobile node receiving a Router Advertisement from said target access router, which Router Advertisement comprises an identity of said new mobility agent, whereupon said mobile node stores an indication that a mobility agent handover is required, and following completion of phase (i) said mobile node transmits toward said new mobility agent said handover indication further comprising data for triggering mobility agent handover; and further comprising steps of said target access router intercepting said handover indication, computing a QoS route between said new mobility agent and said target access router, and forwarding said QoS route and said handover indication toward said new mobility agent.