Patent Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to the mobile communication field and discloses a prefix allocation method, a network system, and a Local Mobility Anchor (LMA). With the prefix allocation method, the network system and the LMA provided in the present disclosure, the problem that a shared prefix cannot be allocated to a multi-interface (IF) Mobile Node (MN) is solved. The prefix allocation method includes: receiving a registration request for a second IF of the MN from a Mobile Access Gateway (MAG); obtaining a first Home Network Prefix (HNP) that is already allocated to a first interface (IF) of the MN; and allocating the first HNP shared with the first IF to the second IF. The LMA obtains the first HNP that is already allocated to the first IF and allocates the first HNP to the second IF. In this way, a shared prefix is allocated to the multi-IF enabled MN.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2010/071237, filed on Mar. 24, 2010, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 200910119782.X, filed on Mar. 26, 2009, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to the mobile communication field, and in particular, to a prefix allocation method, a network system, and a Local Mobility Anchor (LMA). 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Proxy Mobile IP (PMIP) is widely applied on the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) System Architecture Evolution (SAE) network, and network systems for interworking between the 3GPP network and the WiMAX network. Generally, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the basic architecture of a PMIPV6 system includes: 
         [0004]    An Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server, which provides access authentication and authorization for the MN to access the network. Generally, on the 3GPP SAE network, the AAA server coexists with a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) that stores the subscription information of the MN. If the AAA server is separate from the HSS, the AAA server may communicate with the HSS to obtain the subscription information of the MN. 
         [0005]    A Mobile Node, MN and a Correspondent Node, CN, being a pair of communication nodes in a point-to-point service application, and the communication nodes are corresponding to a network device such as a terminal or a server. 
         [0006]    A Mobile Access Gateway (MAG) and a Local Mobile Anchor (LMA) are the basic network elements in the PMIPv6 system and are generally located on the gateway of access network and the gateway of core network respectively. 
         [0007]    The basic mechanism of the PMIPv6 system is as follows: after the MN attaches to the network where the MAG is located, the MAG completes registration on behalf of the MN, and the MAG simulates a home link to advertise a Home Network Prefix (HNP) to the MN. In this way, the MN is made to think itself always located on the home link, so that the MN does not need to support mobility management. 
         [0008]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the general process of allocating an HNP by the PMIPv6 system includes the following steps: 
         [0009]    S 101 , the MN attaches to the network where the MAG is located. S 102 , the MAG sends a first access request for the MN to the AAA server. S 103 , the AAA server returns a first access response to the MAG, where the access response includes service configuration information of the MN, that is, service information (including service type and Service QoS and authorization information (key materials allocated to the MN). S 104 , the MAG on behalf of the MN, sends a registration message (that is, a Proxy Binding Update (PBU) message) to the LMA. S 105 , the LMA sends a second access request for the MN to the AAA server. S 106 , the AAA server returns a second access response. S 105  and S 106  are optional. S 107 , the LMA allocates an HNP to the MN according to the received PBU, creates a Binding Cache Entry (BCE) regarding the HNP and a Proxy Care-of Address (PCoA) (generally referred to as the IP address of the MAG), where the BCE includes a mapping relationship between the MN ID, the HNP, and the PCoA, and acts as a proxy of the MN to send a neighbor advertisement in which the link layer address corresponding to the HNP that is allocated to the MN is asserted to be the link layer address of the LMA. S 108 , the LMA returns a Proxy Binding Acknowledge (PBA) message, which carries the HNP information allocated to the MN, to the MAG S 109 , the MAG stores the HNP information, and sends a Router Advertisement (RA), which carries the HNP, to the MN. S 110 , after the MN receives the RA, the MN generates a home address according to the HNP. 
         [0010]    In the preceding basic mechanism of PMIPv6, the HNP that the LMA allocates to the MN is exclusive. That is, the LMA allocates a unique HNP to each MN, and any two MNs do not have the same HNP. Furthermore, if multiple interfaces (IFs) of an MN are attached to the network through different access technologies and are connected to the LMA, the LMA allocates different HNPs to multiple IFs of the MN. 
         [0011]    A shared prefix is in contrast to an exclusive prefix. An HNP is used by multiple MNs, or by multiple IFs of an MN. However, the conventional PMIPv6 and MN do not support the shared prefix. 
         [0012]    As an intelligent MN is more capable of supporting multiple IFs (that is, each IF may be attached to the network through different access technologies), the multi-IF enabled MN has more requirements for some service applications. For example, services of the multi-IF enabled MN need to be attached to the network via multiple IFs of the MN to obtain more bandwidths, or services of the multi-IF enabled MN need to be handed over between different IFs to ensure load balancing. If the same prefix (that is, the shared prefix) is used by two or more IFs of the MN, the continuity of services/sessions in such requirements can be guaranteed. 
         [0013]    During the implementation of the present disclosure, the inventor discovers at least the following problems in the prior art: 
         [0014]    Because the multi-IF enabled MN has multiple IFs, the conventional system cannot determine which IFs need to be allocated with a shared prefix after being attached to the network. In addition, because an IF of the MN can have one or more prefixes, the conventional system cannot determine which prefix is shared with other IFs. Therefore, the problem about how to allocate a shared prefix to the multi-IF enabled MN should be solved as soon as possible. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0015]    Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a prefix allocation method, a network system, and an LMA to solve the problem that a shared prefix cannot be allocated to a multi-IF enabled MN. 
         [0016]    A prefix allocation method includes: receiving a registration request for a second IF of an MN from an MAG; according to the registration request, obtaining a first HNP that is already allocated to a first IF of the MN; and allocating the first HNP shared with the first IF to the second IF. 
         [0017]    A network system includes: an MAG, configured to send a registration request for a second IF of an MN to an LMA; and the LMA, configured, according to the registration request sent from the MAG, to obtain a first HNP that is already allocated to a first IF of the MN, and allocate the first HNP shared with the first IF to the second IF. 
         [0018]    An LMA includes: a receiving module, configured to receive a registration request for a second IF of an MN from an MAG; a prefix obtaining module, configured, according to the registration request received by the receiving module, to obtain a first HNP that is already allocated to a first IF of the MN; and an allocating module, configured to allocate the first HNP shared with the first IF and obtained by the prefix obtaining module to the second IF. 
         [0019]    In embodiments of the present disclosure, an LMA receives a registration request for a second IF of an MN from an MAG and according to the registration request, the LMA obtains a first HNP that is already allocated to a first IF of the MN, and allocates the first HNP to the second IF of the MN. With the embodiments of the present disclosure, a shared prefix is allocated to the multi-IF enabled MN, and the multi-IF enabled MN can obtain more bandwidths for a same service that has the shared prefix or a service can be handed over between IFs that have the shared prefix, thus ensuring the load balancing and continuity of services/sessions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    To make the present disclosure or the prior art clearer, the accompanying drawings for illustrating the embodiments of the present disclosure or the prior art are briefly described. Apparently, the accompanying drawings are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art can derive other drawings from such accompanying drawings without creative efforts. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a schematic architecture diagram of a PMIPv6 system in the prior art; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a signaling flowchart of allocating an HNP by the PMIPv6 system in the prior art; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a schematic flowchart of a prefix allocation method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of an extended HNP option according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5   a  is a schematic diagram of an extended Router Solicitation (RS) message according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5   b  is a schematic diagram of an extended Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) mobile prefix request according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of a prefix information option according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a signaling flowchart of a prefix allocation method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a structure diagram of a network system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a structure diagram of an LMA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is a structure diagram of a multi-IF enabled MN according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram of a relationship between a managing module, a service/application module, an Internet Protocol (IP) module, and an IF on a multi-IF enabled MN according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is a structure diagram of an MAG according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    To make the objective, features, and merits of the present disclosure clearer and understandable, the embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with the accompanying drawing. 
         [0035]    The method provided in embodiments of the present disclosure is based on the fact that a first HNP (HNP 1 ) is already allocated to a first interface (IF 1 ) of an MN. The process of allocating the HNP 1  to the IF 1  is the same as the process of allocating an HNP by the PMIPv6 system in the conventional art. 
         [0036]    A prefix allocation method is provided in a first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 3 , after a second interface (IF 2 ) of the MN attaches to a network where a MAG is located, the method includes the following steps: 
         [0037]    S 301  Receive a registration request for the IF 2  of the MN from the MAG 
         [0038]    After the IF 2  of the MN attaches to the network where the MAG is located, the MAG sends a registration request to the LMA on behalf of the IF 2 . 
         [0039]    The (initial) registration request that the MAG sends to a LMA in this embodiment refers to a PBU message. The PBU message may include an MN ID (for example, the network access identifier (NAI)), PCoA bound to the requested prefix, and other information data (for example, the access technology type of the IF 2  of the MN). The PBU message may further include information data such as whether the MN supports the shared prefix and a service type associated with the IF 2 . In this embodiment, an S flag bit, which indicates that the shared prefix is supported, is added to an extended HNP option (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) to indicate the request for the shared prefix. Optionally, the obtained HNP 1  information data is included; if such information data is not included, the prefix length is 0. Further, indication information data, which indicates that the MN supports the shared prefix, is added to an extended registration message to indicate whether the MN supports the shared prefix model. 
         [0040]    S 302  According to the registration request, obtain the HNP 1  that is already allocated to the IF 1  of the MN. 
         [0041]    In this embodiment, the LMA may obtain the HNP 1  in the following two modes: 
         [0042]    In the first mode, the registration request that the LMA receives from the MAG carries information data for helping obtain the HNP 1 . 
         [0043]    In the second mode, the registration request that the LMA receives from the MAG does not carry information data for helping obtain the HNP 1 . 
         [0044]    In the first mode, the method, provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure, provides three types of information data for helping obtain the HNP 1  in the registration request. The registration request carries the HNP 1 , or a prefix list that includes at least the HNP 1 , or a service type associated with the IF 2 . 
         [0045]    In this case, the scenarios that the LMA obtains the HNP 1  are specifically included as follows: 
         [0046]    (1) When the registration request carries the HNP 1 , the LMA obtains the HNP 1  from the registration request. 
         [0047]    The HNP 1  carried in the registration request comes from a data link layer message or a network layer message that is sent by the MN via the IF 2  and received by the MAG. 
         [0048]    (i) An L 3  message that the MN sends to the MAG via the IF 2  carries the HNP 1  information data. Specifically, the L 3  message is a new L 3  message extended on the basis of an existing L 3  message or a newly defined L 3  message. 
         [0049]    Preferably, the L 3  includes an extended option to carry the HNP 1 . The L 3  message may include an RS message or an ICMP mobile prefix request message. 
         [0050]    The following describes the method by extending the existing RS and the ICMP mobile prefix request, as shown in  FIG. 5   a  and  FIG. 5   b:    
         [0051]    An S flag bit is added to the RS or the ICMP message, and is used to indicate a request for a shared prefix. The extended message may include a prefix information option, that is, the HNP 1  that is already allocated to the IF 1  of the MN in this embodiment. The prefix information option specifically includes the following contents (as shown in  FIG. 6 ): type of the prefix information option, option length, prefix length, on-link flag L, automatic configuration flag A, optional route address flag R, reserved bit  1 , valid life cycle, preferred life cycle, reserved bit  2 , and prefix. 
         [0052]    Optionally, the L 3  message that the multi-IF enabled MN sends to the MAG further carries an option of service type associated with the IF 2 , where the option is used to carry the service type associated with the IF 2 . 
         [0053]    In this embodiment, the process of the sending, by the MN, an L 3  message to the MAG to request a shared prefix may be implemented independently. That is, in some scenarios, an IF of the MN may actively request a known HNP or IP address. 
         [0054]    (ii) The link layer L 2  message that the MN sends to an access point such as a Base Station (BS) via the IF 2  carries the HNP 1  information. The access point sends the HNP 1  information to the MAG. 
         [0055]    Preferably, the L 2  message includes an extended option to carry the HNP 1 . 
         [0056]    On the WiMAX access network based on the 802.16/802.16e wireless technology, preferably, the L 2  message may include a request/acknowledgement message of an initial traffic flow or pre-configuration traffic flow. 
         [0057]    Optionally, the L 2  message that the multi-IF enabled MN sends to the MAG further carries a flag bit that indicates that the IF 2  supports the shared prefix, indicating that the MN is capable of supporting the shared prefix. 
         [0058]    Optionally, the L 2  message that the multi-IF enabled MN sends to the MAG further carries an option of service type associated with the IF 2 , where the option is used to carry the service type associated with the IF 2 . 
         [0059]    (2) When the registration request carries a prefix list that includes at least the HNP 1 , the LMA matches the prefix list with prefixes in the locally stored binding entry of the MN, and obtains the same HNP 1 . 
         [0060]    In this embodiment, the local refers to the LMA. 
         [0061]    Preferably, when only one prefix is available in the prefix list of the IF 2  that the MAG extracts from the service configuration information of the IF 2 , that is, only the HNP 1  is included in the prefix list, the LMA may directly obtain the HNP 1  after receiving a registration request that carries only the HNP 1 , and does not need to perform the matching. 
         [0062]    In this embodiment, one service type uses one prefix (a shared prefix) of one or more IFs. 
         [0063]    Conventionally, the service configuration information is stored on the AAA server, and includes service information and authorization information related to the subscription of users and the operator. The service information includes service type and service QoS, and the authorization information includes a key allocated to the MN and a charging index. The Remote Authentication Dial in User Service (RADIUS) or the Diameter protocol may be used between the MAG and the AAA server. If the RADIUS protocol is used, the first access response should be an Access Accept message, and the first access request should be a RADIUS Accept Request message. 
         [0064]    On the basis of the conventional art, the service configuration information, in this embodiment, further includes IF information corresponding to the service information. The IF information includes a prefix list corresponding to the IF, and a mapping relationship between services and prefixes in the prefix list. Preferably, the service configuration information further includes indication information indicating whether the MN supports the shared prefix. 
         [0065]    When the IF 2  of the MN attaches to the network, in the process of initiating, by the MAG the first authentication to the AAA server, the MAG receives from the AAA server a first access response that carries the service configuration information of the MN or the IF 2 . Optionally, the service configuration information further includes information about whether the MN supports the shared prefix. 
         [0066]    The prefix list is extracted by the MAG from the first access response returned by the AAA server, where the first access response carries the service configuration information of the MN or the IF 2 . When the first access request that the MAG sends to the AAA server carries an MN ID, the first access response returned by the AAA server carries the service configuration information of the MN. When the first access request that the MAG sends to the AAA server carries the MN ID and the IF 2  ID, the first access response returned by the AAA server carries only the service configuration information of the IF 2 . 
         [0067]    In the actual deployment, the LMA performs a first authentication process and/or a second authentication to obtain the service configuration information of the MN. 
         [0068]    The prefix information list is a prefix list that extracted from the service configuration information of the MN carried in the first access response that the MAG receives from the AAA server. 
         [0069]    After receiving the registration request, the LMA matches the prefix information list with the service type carried by the IF 2 , so as to obtain the HNP 1  that corresponds to the same service type. 
         [0070]    Preferably, after the MAG receives the HNP 1  allocated by the LMA, the MAG sends a request (on the basis of the Diameter or RADIUS protocol) to the AAA server, and sends information, which the IF 2  is served by the MAG to the AAA server. 
         [0071]    (3) When the registration request carries the service type associated with the IF 2 , the LMA matches the service type associated with the IF 2  with a service type in the binding entry, stored locally, of the MN, and obtains the HNP 1  corresponding to a same service type. 
         [0072]    When the registration request carries the service type associated with the IF 2 , the LMA obtains the HNP 1  by matching the same service type in the binding entry, stored on the LMA, of the MN with the service type associated with the IF 2 . The binding entry may include an MN identity, an HNP of an IF, and service type corresponding to the HNP. 
         [0073]    The service type associated with the IF 2  of the MN in the registration request may come from the first access response that the AAA server returns to the MAG; where the first access response carries the service configuration information of the IF 2 , and the MAG extracts the service type associated with the IF 2  from the service configuration information. Alternatively, the service type may come from an link layer L 2  message or an network layer L 3  message that the MN sends to the MAG, and the link layer L 2  message or the network layer L 3  message carries the service type associated with the IF 2  in an extended option. 
         [0074]    For the second mode, the method provided in this embodiment provides two approaches for the LMA to obtain the HNP 1 . 
         [0075]    (4) The LMA extracts the service type associated with the IF 2  from the second access response returned by the AAA server, where the second access response carries the service configuration information of the MN or the IF 2 . The LMA matches the service type associated with the IF 2  with a service type in the binding entry, stored locally, of the MN, and obtains the HNP 1  corresponding to the same service type. 
         [0076]    According to the MN ID or the IF 2  ID carried in the registration request, the LMA sends a second access request, which carries an MN ID or carries an MN ID and an IF 2  ID, to the AAA server. 
         [0077]    The service configuration information, compared with the conventional art, further includes IF information corresponding to the service information, where the IF information includes a prefix list corresponding to the IF. If the first access request includes an IF identity of the MN, the service configuration information corresponding to the IF of the MN is returned; if the first access request does not include the IF identity of the MN, all the service configuration information of the MN is returned. Preferably, the service configuration information further includes indication information indicating whether the MN supports the shared prefix. 
         [0078]    Preferably, in this obtaining mode, after the LMA allocates the HNP 1  to the IF 2 , the LMA sends information that the IF 2  of the MN is served by the LMA to the AAA server. 
         [0079]    (5) The LMA extracts a prefix list that includes at least the HNP 1  from the second access response returned by the AAA server, where the second access response carries the service configuration information of the MN or the IF 2 . Then, the LMA matches the prefix list with prefixes in the binding entry, stored locally, of the MN, and obtains the same HNP 1 . 
         [0080]    Preferably, when only one prefix is available in the prefix list of the IF 2  that the LMA extracts from the service configuration information of the IF 2 , that is, only the HNP 1  is included in the prefix list, the LMA may directly obtain the HNP 1  according to a shared prefix indication, and does not need to perform the matching. 
         [0081]    S 303  Allocate the HNP 1  shared with the IF 1  to the IF 2 . 
         [0082]    After the LMA obtains the HNP 1 , the LMA allocates the HNP 1  shared with the IF 1  to the IF 2 . 
         [0083]    In this embodiment, the allocation process is as follows: the LMA creates a binding entry for the IF 2 , and stores, in a binding entry, the HNP 1 , a lifetime of the HNP 1 , service information corresponding to the HNP 1 , and information about whether the shared prefix is supported. The MN ID, IF information (for example, the IF identity, the access type, and other IF related information) of the MN, and the PCoA are also stored in the binding entry. 
         [0084]    Preferably, before the LMA allocates the HNP 1  to the IF 2 , the LMA determines, according to the indication information that indicates whether the MN supports the shared prefix and is carried in the registration request, whether the MN supports the shared prefix; if the MN supports the shared prefix, the LMA allocates the HNP 1  to the IF 2 . 
         [0085]    The indication information, which indicates th at the MN supports the shared prefix and is carried in the registration request, includes: 
         [0086]    indication information that indicates that the MN supports the shared prefix and is extracted by the MAG from an L 2  message or an L 3  message that the MN sends via the IF 2 , where the L 2  message or the L 3  message carries the indication information, which indicates that the MN supports the shared prefix, in an extended flag bit; or 
         [0087]    indication information that indicates that the MN supports the shared prefix and is extracted by the MAG from a first access response returned by the AAA server, where the first access response carries service configuration information. 
         [0088]    Preferably, before the LMA allocates the HNP 1  to the IF 2 , the LMA may determine whether the service type associated with the IF 2  is the same as the service type corresponding to the HNP 1 ; if the service type associated with the IF 2  is the same as the service type corresponding to the HNP 1 , the LMA allocates the HNP 1  to the IF 2 . 
         [0089]    In this embodiment, when multiple prefixes are already allocated to one or more IFs and another IF requests the shared prefix, the prefix list of the new IF carried in the service configuration information returned by the AAA server may include multiple prefixes same as those of other IFs. When the LMA receives the prefix list and matches the prefix list with the binding entry, stored on the LMA, of the MN, the LMA obtains one or multiple shared prefixes. The LMA allocates these shared prefixes to the new IF to achieve the objective of allocating shared prefixes to a multi-IF enabled MN. Preferably, before allocating these shared prefixes to the new IF, the LMA determines whether the MN supports the shared prefix, and/or matches the service type associated with the new IF with a locally stored service type associated with other IFs of the MN, so as to determine which shared prefixes should be allocated to the new IF. 
         [0090]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the method provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the following steps: 
         [0091]    In step S 701 , the IF 2  of the MN attaches to a network where the MAG 2  is located. 
         [0092]    In step S 702 , the MAG 2  sends a registration request to the LMA. 
         [0093]    The (initial) registration request that the MAG 2  sends to the LMA may include an MN ID (for example, the NAI), PCoA bound to the requested prefix, and other information (for example, the access technology type of the IF 2  of the MN). The registration request may further include the HNP 1  requested by the IF 2 , or a prefix list that includes at least the HNP 1 , or the service type associated with the IF 2 , and include indication information that indicates whether the MN supports the shared prefix. 
         [0094]    In step S 703 , the LMA obtains the HNP 1  that is already allocated to the IF 1 . 
         [0095]    The LMA may obtain the HNP 1  that is already allocated to the IF 1  in the following modes: 
         [0096]    When the registration request carries the HNP 1 , the LMA obtains the HNP 1  from the registration request, where the HNP 1  carried in the registration request comes from the L 2  message or L 3  message that the MN sends to the MAG via the IF 2 . 
         [0097]    Alternatively, when the registration request carries a prefix list that includes at least the HNP 1 , the LMA matches the prefix list with prefixes in the binding entry, stored on the LMA, of the MN, and obtains the same HNP 1 , where the prefix list is extracted by the MAG from the first access response which is returned by the AAA server and carries the service configuration information of the MN or the IF 2 . 
         [0098]    Alternatively, when the registration request carries the service type associated with the IF 2 , The LMA matches the service type associated with the IF 2  with a service type in the binding entry, stored on the LMA, of the MN, and obtains the HNP 1  corresponding to the same service type. 
         [0099]    Alternatively, the LMA extracts the service type, carried by the IF 2 , from the second access response returned by the AAA server, where the second access response carries the service configuration information of the MN or the IF 2 , matches the service type associated with the IF 2  with a service type in the binding entry, stored on the LMA, of the MN, and obtains the HNP 1  corresponding to the same service type. 
         [0100]    In step S 704 , the LMA allocates the HNP 1  to the IF 2  of the MN. 
         [0101]    Preferably, before the LMA allocates the HNP 1  to the IF 2  of the MN, the LMA determines whether the MN supports the shared prefix. If the MN supports the shared prefix, then step S 704  is performed. 
         [0102]    Preferably, before the LMA allocates the HNP 1  to the IF 2  of the MN, the LMA may determine whether the service type associated with the IF 2  is the same as the service type corresponding to the HNP 1 . If the service type associated with the IF 2  is the same as the service type corresponding to the HNP 1 , then step S 704  is performed. 
         [0103]    Whether the MN supports the shared prefix is determined according to the indication information that indicates that the MN supports the shared prefix and is carried in the registration request. The indication information, which indicates that the MN supports the shared prefix and carried in the registration information, may include: 
         [0104]    indication information that indicates that the MN supports the shared prefix and is carried in the L 2  message or the L 3  message that the MN sends via the IF 2 ; or 
         [0105]    indication information that indicates that the MN supports the shared prefix and is extracted by the MAG from the first access response returned by the AAA server, where the first access response carries the service configuration information. 
         [0106]    Preferably, after the LMA allocates the HNP 1  to the IF 2 , the LMA sends information that the IF 2  is served by the LMA to the AAA server. 
         [0107]    In addition, when the MN does not support the shared prefix or when the service type associated with the IF 2  is different from the service type corresponding to the HNP 1 , the LMA allocates a new home network prefix, HNP 2 , to the IF 2  of the MN or generates a failure code indicating that the shared prefix is not allowed to use. 
         [0108]    Preferably, the method further includes S 705 , that is, the LMA carries the HNP 1  allocated to the IF 2  in a registration response, and returns the registration response to the MAG 2 . 
         [0109]    In this embodiment, the registration response returned by the LMA refers to a PBA message. After the MAG 2  receives the registration response, the MAG 2  creates a second BCE (BCE 2 ) for the IF 2 , where the BCE 2  may include a mapping relationship between the MN ID, the IF 2  ID, and the PCoA 2 , and a corresponding LMA. 
         [0110]    Preferably, the method further includes S 706 , that is, the MAG 2  returns the HNP 1  to the MN. 
         [0111]    If the LMA allocates the HNP 1  to the IF 2 , the MAG 2  returns the HNP 1  to the MN through an RA after receiving, from the LMA, a registration response that includes the HNP 1 . 
         [0112]    Optionally, the extended RA message carries a shared prefix flag bit. 
         [0113]    Preferably, the method further includes S 707 , that is, the MN configures a home address, which is same as that of the IF 1 , for the IF 2 . 
         [0114]    The IF 2  of the MN performs IP address configuration according to the shared prefix to carry out the subsequent service handover or service use. 
         [0115]    The IP address that the MN configures for the IF 2  is the same as or different from the IP address configured for the IF 1 . If the IP address of the IF 2  is the same as that of the IF 1 , the MN may directly request the IP address when obtaining the HNP 1 . 
         [0116]    Through the method provided in this embodiment, after receiving a registration request for the IF 2  of the MN, the LMA obtains an HNP 1  that is already allocated to the IF 1  of the MN, and allocates the HNP 1  to the IF 2 . With the method provided in this embodiment, a shared prefix is allocated to the multi-IF enabled MN, and the multi-IF enabled MN can obtain more bandwidths for a same service that has the shared prefix; or a service can be handed over between IFs that have the shared prefix, thus ensuring the load balancing and continuity of services/sessions. 
         [0117]    An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a network system. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the network system includes an MAG  110  and an LMA  120 . 
         [0118]    A MAG  110  is configured to send a registration request for an IF 2  of a MN to a LMA  120 . 
         [0119]    The LMA  120  is configured, according to the registration request sent from the MAG  110 , to obtain an HNP 1  that is already allocated to an IF 1  of the MN, and allocate the HNP 1  shared with the IF 1  to the IF 2 . 
         [0120]    Preferably, the MAG  110  is further configured to obtain an HNP 1 , or a prefix list that includes at least the HNP 1 , or a service type associated with the IF 2 , and carry the HNP 1 , the prefix list, or the service type associated with the IF 2  in the registration request. 
         [0121]    Preferably, the step of obtaining the HNP 1  that is already allocated to the IF 1  of the MN is as follows: when the registration request carries the HNP 1 , the LMA  120  obtains the HNP 1  from the registration request; or when the registration request carries a prefix list that includes at least the HNP 1 , the LMA  120  matches the prefix list with the prefixes in the binding entry, stored on the LMA  120 , of the MN, and obtains the same HNP 1 ; or when the registration request carries a service type associated with the IF 2 , the LMA  120  matches the service type associated with the IF 2  with a service type in the binding entry, stored on the LMA  120 , of the MN, and obtains the HNP 1  corresponding to the same service type. 
         [0122]    Preferably, the step of obtaining the HNP 1  that is already allocated to the IF 1  of the MN is as follows: the LMA  120  extracts the service type associated with the IF 2  from a second access response returned by a AAA server, where the second access response carries the service configuration information of the MN or the IF 2 , matches the service type associated with the IF 2  with a service type in the binding entry, stored on the LMA  120 , of the MN, and obtains the HNP 1  corresponding to the same service type. 
         [0123]    Preferably, the step of obtaining the HNP 1  that is already allocated to the IF 1  of the MN is as follows: the LMA  120  extracts a prefix list that includes at least the HNP 1  from a second access response returned by the AAA server, where the second access response carries the service configuration information of the MN or the IF 2 , matches the prefix list with prefixes in the binding entry, stored on the LMA  120 , of the MN, and obtains the same HNP 1 . 
         [0124]    Preferably, the MAG  110  is further configured to obtain indication information that the MN supports the shared prefix, and carry, in the registration request, the indication information that the MN supports the shared prefix. 
         [0125]    Preferably, the LMA  120  is further configured to determine whether the MN supports the shared prefix according to the indication information, which indicates that the MN supports the shared prefix and is carried in the registration request sent from the MAG  110 , before allocating the HNP 1  to the IF 2 . 
         [0126]    Preferably, the network system  10  further includes: an AAA server  130  configured to: perform first access authentication on the MAG  110  and return a first access response; perform second access authentication on the LMA  120  and return a second access response; and store the service configuration information of the MN. 
         [0127]    In this embodiment, when the network system receives a registration request for the IF 2  of the MN, the network system obtains an HNP 1 , which is allocated to the IF 1  of the MN, through the LMA, and allocates the HNP 1  to the IF 2 . The network system provided in this embodiment allocates a shared prefix to a multi-IF enabled MN, and the multi-IF enabled MN can obtain more bandwidths for a same service that has the shared prefix; or a service can be handed over between IFs that have the shared prefix, thus ensuring the load balancing and continuity of services/sessions. 
         [0128]    An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an LMA. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the LMA includes: 
         [0129]    a receiving module  1201 , configured to receive a registration request for the IF 2  of the MN from the MAG; 
         [0130]    a prefix obtaining module  1202 , configured, according to the registration request received by the receiving module  1201 , to obtain an HNP 1  that is already allocated to the IF 1  of the MN; and 
         [0131]    an allocating module  1203 , configured to allocate the HNP 1 , which is shared with the IF 1  and is obtained by the prefix obtaining module  1202 , to the IF 2 . 
         [0132]    Preferably, the prefix obtaining module  1202  includes one or any combination of the following units: 
         [0133]    a first unit, configured to obtain the HNP 1  from the registration request when the registration request carries the HNP 1 ; 
         [0134]    a second unit, configured to: when the registration request carries a prefix list that includes at least the HNP 1 , match the prefix list with prefixes in the binding entry, stored on the LMA  120 , of the MN, and obtain the same HNP 1 ; 
         [0135]    a third unit, configured to: when the registration request carries the service type associated with the IF 2 , match the service type associated with the IF 2  with a service type in the binding entry, stored on the LMA  120 , of the MN, and obtain the HNP 1  corresponding to the same service type; 
         [0136]    a fourth unit, configured to: extract the service type, carried by the IF 2 , from a second access response returned by the AAA server, where the second access response carries the service configuration information of the MN or the IF 2 , match the service type associated with the IF 2  with a service type in the binding entry, stored on the LMA  120 , of the MN, and obtain the HNP 1  corresponding to the same service type; 
         [0137]    a fifth unit, configured to: extract a prefix list that includes at least the HNP 1  from a second access response returned by the AAA server, where the second access response carries the service configuration information of the MN or the IF 2 , match the prefix list with prefixes in the binding entry, stored on the LMA  120 , of the MN, and obtain the same HNP 1 . 
         [0138]    Preferably, the LMA  120  further includes: 
         [0139]    a module  1204  for obtaining information that shared prefix is supported, configured to obtain indication information that indicates that the MN supports the shared prefix and is carried in the registration request; and 
         [0140]    the allocating module  1203 , further configured to determine whether the MN supports the shared prefix according to indication information that indicates that the MN supports the shared prefix and is carried in the registration request. 
         [0141]    In this embodiment, after the LMA receives a registration request for the IF 2  of the MN, the LMA obtains an HNP 1  that is already allocated to the IF 1  of the MN, and allocates the HNP 1  to the IF 2 , thus allocating a shared prefix to a multi-IF enabled MN. 
         [0142]    An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a multi-IF enabled MN. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the multi-IF enabled MN includes a sending module  210 , a receiving module  220 , and an address generating module  230 . 
         [0143]    The sending module  210  is configured to send an L 2  message or an L 3  message that carries an HNP 1  to the MAG via the IF 2  after the HNP 1  is already allocated to the IF 1  of the MN and the IF 2  of the MN attaches to the network where the MAG is located. 
         [0144]    The receiving module  220  is configured to receive an HNP returned by the MAG. 
         [0145]    The address generating module  230  is configured to generate a home address according to the HNP received by the receiving module  220 . 
         [0146]    Preferably, the MN  20  further includes a managing module  240  configured to: manage the request, sent by the sending module  210 , for a shared prefix of the IF, manage a shared home address generated by the address generating module  230  according to the shared prefix, and control the service handover between multiple IFs that have the shared home address. 
         [0147]    Preferably, the MN  20  further includes a service/application module  250 , an IP module  260 , and an IF  270 . 
         [0148]    The service/application module  250  is configured to provide users with services/applications. 
         [0149]    The IP module  260  is configured to provide the services/applications of the service/application module  250  with functions such as TCP/IP or UDP/IP. 
         [0150]    The IF  270  is configured to connect to same/different access networks through the IP module  260 . 
         [0151]    The relationship between the managing module  240 , the service/application module  250 , the IP module  260 , and the IF  270  is shown in  FIG. 11 . The managing module  240 , according to the policy information, determines whether the service is connected to the network at the same time via multiple IFs  270 , or hands over the service from one IF  270  to another IF  270 , or performs other operations. In addition, the managing module determines whether the IF  270  needs to allocate the shared prefix to another IF  270 . 
         [0152]    The policy information refers to the policy information between the service/application module  250  and the IF  270  managed by the managing module  240 . The policy information may include: QoS needed by the service and the QoS of the link (the bandwidths and delays obtained via the 3G IF are different from the bandwidths and delays obtained via the Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) IF) corresponding to the IF  270 , and service expenses and expenses (for example, expenses of the same service may vary with interfaces adopted, e.g., via the 3G IF and the WiFi IF) caused by the link corresponding to the IF  270 . Alternatively, the policy information refers to the status information of the IF  270  managed and/or sensed by the managing module  240 . For example, when an IF  270  is overloaded or the IF  270  is disconnected (for example, the MN moves outside the network coverage), the managing module  240  can hand over the services/applications from an IF  270  to another IF  270 . 
         [0153]    In this embodiment, the multi-IF enabled MN manages the request for and use of the IF prefix; after the network obtains the HNP that is already allocated to an IF of the MN, and allocates the HNP to another IF subsequently attached, the MN may generate a shared home address according to the shared prefix, and the service of the multi-IF enabled MN may be connected to the network, via multiple IFs of the MN, to obtain more bandwidths; and the service of the multi-IF enabled MN may be handed over between different IFs, thus guaranteeing the load balancing and continuity of services/sessions. 
         [0154]    An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an MAG As shown in  FIG. 12 , the MAG includes a prefix obtaining module  1101 , a registration request generating module  1102 , a registration request sending module  1103 , and a prefix returning module  1104 . 
         [0155]    The prefix obtaining module  1101  is configured to obtain the HNP 1  after the HNP 1  is allocated to the IF 1  of the MN and the IF 2  of the MN attaches to the network where the MAG  110  is located. 
         [0156]    The registration request generating module  1102  is configured to generate the registration request that carries the HNP 1  obtained by the prefix obtaining module  1101 . 
         [0157]    The registration request sending module  1103  is configured to send the registration request to the LMA. 
         [0158]    Preferably, the prefix obtaining module  1101  includes a first obtaining unit configured to obtain the HNP 1  from the registration request when the registration request carries the HNP 1 , where the HNP 1  carried in the registration request comes from an L 2  message or an L 3  message that the MN sends to the MAG  110  via the IF 2 . 
         [0159]    Preferably, the prefix obtaining module  1101  includes a second obtaining unit configured to: when the registration request carries a prefix list that includes at least the HNP 1 , match the prefix list with prefixes in the binding entry, stored on the LMA, of the MN, and obtain the same HNP 1 , where the prefix list is extracted by the MAG from a first access response which is returned by the AAA server and includes the service configuration information data of the MN or the IF 2 . 
         [0160]    Preferably, the prefix obtaining module  1101  includes a third obtaining unit configured to: when the registration request carries the service type associated with the IF 2 , match the service type associated with the IF 2  with a service type in the binding entry, stored on the LMA, of the MN, and obtain the HNP 1  corresponding to the same service type. 
         [0161]    Preferably, the MAG  110  further includes a prefix returning module  1104  configured to return the HNP that the LMA allocates to the IF 2  to the MN. 
         [0162]    In this embodiment, after the IF 2  of the MN attaches to the network where the MAG is located, the MAG obtains the HNP 1  that is already allocated to the IF 1  of the MN, and sends a registration request that carries the HNP 1  to the LMA; after an HNP is allocated to the IF 2  of the MN, the MAG returns the HNP to the MN, thus allocating a shared prefix to a multi-IF enabled MN. 
         [0163]    The method, network system, and LMA provided in embodiments of the present disclosure are also applicable for a scenario where multiple prefixes are already allocated to one or more IFs (for example, IF 1 ) of the MN, or where multiple prefixes shared with other IFs are allocated to a new IF (for example, the IF 2 ). 
         [0164]    The embodiments of the network system, the LMA, the multi-IF enabled MN, and the MAG according to the present disclosure are described briefly because of similar contents with the embodiments of the proxy allocation method mentioned above. For details, please refer to the description of method embodiments provided in the present disclosure. 
         [0165]    It is understandable to those skilled in the art that all or some of the steps of the method are completed by hardware instructed by a program. The program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. When the program is executed, the process includes: receiving a registration request for the IF 2  of the MN from the MAG; according to the registration request, obtaining an HNP 1  that is already allocated to the IF 1  of the MN; and allocating the HNP 1  shared with the IF 1  to the IF 2 . The storage medium may be a Read Only Memory or Random Access Memory (ROM/RAM), a magnetic disk, or a Compact Disk-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM). 
         [0166]    The above descriptions are merely exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, but not intended to limit the protection scope of the present disclosure. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made without departing from the spirit and principle of the present disclosure should fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7