Patent ID: 7657259

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving a first message requesting access to a visiting network different from a home network for a mobile node, the home network including a home agent for the mobile node; sending a second message to the home network, the second message including a value for a home agent field indicating a home agent has not been assigned, the home agent field being a field configured for an address of the home agent assigned to the mobile node; receiving a response from the home network indicating that the visiting home agent should be assigned by an entity in the visiting network, the home network interpreting the value as an indication to determine if the home network or the visiting network should assign the home agent; determining, at the entity in the visiting network, a visiting home agent to assign to the mobile node after receiving the response from the home network indicating the entity in the visiting network should assign the visiting home agent, the visiting home agent different from the mobile node's home agent in the home network, wherein a visiting home agent address different for the value for the home agent field is determined before a registration request is received from the mobile node, the value not identifying the assigned visiting home agent; and causing assignment of the visiting home agent address to the mobile node instead of the mobile node's home agent in the home network such that communications sent to and from the mobile node are directed through the visiting home agent instead of the mobile node's home agent in the home network, the assignment of the visiting home agent address occurring upon receipt of the registration request from the mobile node.