Patent ID: 6041358
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
In an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, wherein a plurality of virtual local area network (VLAN) server nodes are connected by virtual channels into plural trees, wherein at least some of said VLANs comprise base stations (BSs) capable of providing packet communication for one or more mobile terminals (MTs), a method of tracking a location of each MT comprising the steps of:(a) maintaining in an original BS (BS.sub.orig) on an original VLAN (VLAN.sub.orig) a record corresponding to each MT for which said BS.sub.orig provides packet communication which record contains an identifier (VLAN-ID) of one of said VLANs which said MT is on (VLAN-ID(MT)),(b) transmitting a message frame, from said BS.sub.orig which currently provides packet communication for an MT, to a server node of said VLAN.sub.orig, said message frame, containing said VLAN-ID(MT), a VLAN-ID of a new VLAN (VLAN.sub.new) and an ATM address of said BS.sub.orig (ATM(BS.sub.orig)),(c1) if said MT is on said VLAN.sub.orig, increasing said number of MTs on VLAN.sub.orig which have moved; and(c) receiving said message frame at said server node of said VLAN.sub.orig and updating a mobility terminal membership tracking database (MTD) maintained at said server node to reflect said movement of said MT.