Patent ID: 6687252
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
A method of dynamically allocating an Internet Protocol (IP) address to a mobile terminal operating in a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, said GPRS network having a Serving GPRS Service Node (SGSN) serving the mobile terminal and a Gateway GPRS Service Node (GGSN) connecting the GPRS network to a server that allocates IP addresses in an IP-based network, said method comprising the steps of:setting on a counter in the GGSN, a maximum number (Ni) of requests for an IP address that are to be sent from the GGSN to the server; setting on a timer in the GGSN, a maximum time period (Ti) that the GGSN will wait for a response from the server after each request for an IP address is sent; sending a sequence of requests for an IP address from the GGSN to the server, with each request being separated from the previous request by time period Ti, said sequence being halted if a response is received from the server within time period Ti after one of the requests is sent; receiving in the GGSN, a response from the server that includes an IP address for the mobile terminal within time period Ti after one of the requests is sent; and sending the IP address from the GGSN to the mobile terminal.