Locator coding in communications networks

Abstract

A method for use in interconnected communications networks, comprising negotiating a locally unique interface identifier between a network entity and a network such that the locally unique interface identifier differs from any interface identifier used by either of the network entity and the network; and using the locally unique interface identifier to identify an egress interface from the network entity to the network, and using the locally unique interface identifier to identify an egress interface from the network to the network entity. By using a common locally unique interface identifier between networks and network entities on a path between a source or destination network entity and a core network, a globally unique locator for the source or destination network entity can be constructed by concatenating elements derived from a plurality of negotiated common local interface identifiers between networks and network entities on the path.

Description

technical field [0001] This invention relates to packet communications in data networks, and more particularly to locator encoding in communications networks. Background technique [0002] Name-address management typically includes issues such as name-to-address resolution and name-address registration. Name-to-address resolution is the process by which the "name" of a network resource (eg, a network node) is resolved or translated into a routable network address (ie, a location in the network topology). Name-address registration is the corresponding registration process whereby the name of the resource and the assigned network address are registered in the network. The name of the resource is generally known to the user, and typically also remains the same for a relatively long period of time. [0003] Traditional networking architectures for the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or the Internet address the problem of connecting terminals or hosts (which can be see...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

A particular mobility problem associated with mobile networks is the potentially large number of registrations or other location updates that need to be signaled and processed each time the mobile network changes location

The problem is that a destination host receiving a packet with a bottom-up source locator cannot use it to return the packet to the source host for the reasons above

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