Patent ID: 7471634

Claim:
A method for accounting for a mobile node communication usage when the mobile node is transferred from a first foreign agent to a second foreign agent comprising the steps of: registering the mobile node with the home agent upon connection with a first foreign agent on a first foreign network; performing a metering function on said home agent for communication usage on the foreign network; generating an information packet at the home agent containing accounting data derived from said metering function; updating the routing table on said home agent when said mobile node changes its communication connection from said first foreign agent on said first foreign network to said second foreign agent on a second foreign network; transmitting a finalize accounting message from the home agent in response to a registration request message received from said second foreign agent, said finalize accounting message will be used to finalize an accounting for the metering function associated with the connection of the mobile node to the first foreign agent; and, transmitting a begin accounting message from the home agent after transmitting the finalize accounting messages, said begin accounting message will be used to begin an accounting for the metering function associated with the connection of the mobile node to the second foreign agent.