Patent ID: 7706301

Claim:
A method of supporting mobility in an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6)-based data network, the method characterised by the steps of: generating a first stateful IPv6 autoconfiguration message at a mobile node, wherein said message contains an IP address capable of use for route maintenance to and from said mobile node; transmitting, by said mobile node, said generated message to a first access node, where said access node adds an IP address of said access node to said message; forwarding said generated message, by said first access node, to a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) Server; analysing said message, at said DHCP server, to determine a route to deliver data one or more of to said mobile node and from said mobile node; analysing said message, at said access node, to determine a route to deliver data one or more of to said mobile node and from said mobile node; triggering one or more route update messages from said access node and said DHCP server to a number of network elements between said access node and said DHCP server in the IP based data network, wherein said one or more route update messages from said access node and said DHCP server are triggered substantially simultaneously; repeating said steps of generating, transmitting and forwarding for a second stateful IP autoconfiguration message that confirms the IP address of said mobile node when said mobile node attaches to a second access node, where said second access node substitutes its address in said second message; and in response to receiving said second stateful IP autoconfiguration message, generating one or more route update messages by said second access node and said DHCP server.