Patent ID: 7339925

Claim:
A method of controlling routing of packets in a packet switched network including an infrastructure of packet switching nodes interconnected by packet transport links, and a plurality of access nodes to which a routing path, defined by routing entries held in packet switching nodes located along said routing path, may be directed in said infrastructure for a given network address, said method comprising: allocating a first said network address to a first mobile node being served via a communications link by a first access node, at least a first routing path in said infrastructure being directed to said first access node for said first network address; altering routing in said infrastructure when said first mobile node receives service from a second access node, such that at least a second routing path in said infrastructure is directed to said second access node for said first network address, said second routing path being defined at least in part by one or more host-specific routing entries; during a period of subsequent inactivity, removing said one or more host-specific routing entries from said infrastructure such that said mobile node has no current routing path in said network; and during said period of inactivity, providing two separate states for said mobile node: a) a state in which said mobile node retains said first network address; and b) a state in which said first network address may be reallocated to a different mobile node.