Patent ID: 8503416

Claim:
A method performed by a network element for providing micro-mobility in a network to a mobile node, wherein micro-mobility is maintenance of a communication session between the mobile node and a corresponding node while changing connections between different ones of a plurality of access routers within the network, wherein the network element functions as a mobility anchor point, the mobility anchor point in communication with the plurality of access routers within the network, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a registration request message at the mobility anchor point from an access router in the plurality of access routers, wherein the access router is currently coupled to the mobile node, and wherein the registration request message includes an endpoint identifier of the mobile node and a local care-of address of the mobile node; establishing a label switch path (LSP) between the mobility anchor point and the access router to handle data packets received at the mobility anchor point destined for the mobile node; storing the endpoint identifier of the mobile node in a binding entry in a bindings cache along with the local care-of address of the mobile node, a regional care-of address of the mobile node, the label switch path and an egress interface of the mobility anchor point; advertising over the network one or more of the endpoint identifier with associated regional or local care-of address of the mobile node by the mobility anchor point or access router; and forwarding data packets, received at the mobility anchor point from a corresponding node that have the regional or local care-of address, to the mobile node using the LSP, whereby micro-mobility is provided within the network to the mobile node with reduced signaling and tunneling overhead than using a static home agent node and Internet Protocol in Internet Protocol tunneling between the static home agent and the mobile node.