Patent ID: 7149229

Claim:
A network device which supports Mobile IP protocol and is configured to send an accounting request, the accounting request identifying a mobile node supporting the Mobile IP protocol, the network device comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the network device is adapted for updating a counter associated with the mobile node's activity during a Mobile EP session, the network device adapted for sending the accounting request to a AAA server supporting a AAA protocol in response to a trigger event, the accounting request both identifying the mobile node and including the counter, wherein the accounting request indicates a request to update accounting information associated with the mobile node using the counter, the trigger event being one of a lapse of a predetermined period of time, initiation or termination of a registration of the mobile node, and when a number of packets are received or sent by the mobile node, the server being adapted for recording accounting information associated with the mobile node using the counter, the network device being a Home Agent supporting the mobile node or a Foreign Agent to which the mobile node has roamed, wherein the server maintains accounting information for a plurality of mobile nodes supported by a plurality of Home Agents, the accounting information being received from a plurality of network devices, each of the plurality of network devices being a Home Agent or a Foreign Agent supporting the Mobile IP protocol and the AAA protocol and being adapted for sending an accounting request to the AAA server in the AAA protocol to update accounting information associated with a mobile node in response to the trigger event, wherein the AAA server does not support the Mobile IP protocol.