Patent ID: 7463614

Claim:
A method comprising: at a mobile station: establishing a Point-to-Point Protocol session with a serving network element; at the serving network element; in response to establishment of the Point-to-Point Protocol session, taking a predetermined action, wherein the predetermined action comprises automatically transmitting a default type of Internet Protocol version 6 prefix for use by the mobile station when sourcing messages; at the mobile station: transmitting a message wherein the message comprises, at least in part, any of: an indication that the mobile station has need of an Internet Protocol version 6 prefix; an indication that the mobile station has need of an Internet Protocol version 6 6to4 prefix; an indication that the mobile station has need of both an Internet Protocol version 6 prefix and an Internet Protocol version 6 6to4 prefix; at a serving network element: receiving the message; processing the message to determine a type of Internet Protocol version 6 prefix that is being sought by the mobile station; transmitting a reply message to the mobile station comprising at least one Internet Protocol version 6 prefix of a type as corresponds to an Internet Protocol version 6 prefix type as is indicated in the message, wherein, when processing the message to determine a type of Internet Protocol version 6 prefix that is being sought by the mobile station reveals that the mobile station is seeking a type of Internet Protocol version 6 prefix that is different than the default type, transmitting a reply message to the mobile station further comprises transmitting a reply message to the mobile station comprising: at least one Internet Protocol version 6 prefix of a type as corresponds to an Internet Protocol version 6 prefix type as is indicated in the message; content that effectively de-allocates the default type of Internet Protocol version 6 prefix.