Gateway Support Node Bypasses Home Agent for Mobile IP Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile telecommunications systems face challenges in enabling seamless handover between GPRS and I-WLAN networks while maintaining efficient communication of packet data, as current mobile IP protocols like DSMIPv6 increase signalling overhead, potentially reducing bandwidth and disrupting applications like VoIP.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a gateway support node to forward data packets directly to the mobile terminal, bypassing the home agent, and uses a proxy address resolution process to reduce tunnelling and signalling overhead, allowing handover from GPRS to I-WLAN networks while maintaining active applications and billing control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mobile IP protocols like DSMIPv6 are used to enable handover between GPRS and I-WLAN networks, then mobility and seamless communication are improved, but signalling overhead increases and bandwidth is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tunnelling function from the home agent and implements it locally at the gateway support node. When the mobile terminal is attached to the packet radio network, the gateway support node directly forwards packets without tunnelling through the home agent, eliminating unnecessary encapsulation/decapsulation operations and reducing signalling overhead while maintaining handover capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional mobile IP architecture by making the gateway support node the primary forwarding entity rather than the home agent. Instead of packets always routing through the home agent with tunnelling, the system inverts the path so that the gateway support node becomes the direct forwarding point, and the home agent only intervenes when necessary for wireless access network handovers.
2Reliability
If tunnelling is used to forward packets from home agent to mobile terminal, then packet delivery is ensured during handover, but device complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway support node acts as an intermediary between the packet radio network and the mobile terminal, performing direct packet forwarding without requiring home agent involvement. This intermediary function eliminates the need for complex tunnelling mechanisms while ensuring reliable packet delivery, as the gateway support node maintains the mobile terminal's home address and can directly route packets.
3Adaptability or versatility
If home agent is involved in all packet forwarding, then mobile terminal can be reached regardless of network attachment, but signalling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by having the home agent involved only when necessary (i.e., when the mobile terminal is attached to the wireless access network). When the mobile terminal is attached to the packet radio network, the gateway support node handles forwarding independently without home agent involvement, reducing signalling overhead while maintaining network accessibility through the gateway support node's knowledge of the mobile terminal's home address.
Data Source
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AI summary
A telecommunications system communicates data packets to and from a mobile terminal in accordance with a mobile internet protocol. The system comprises a packet radio network including a first radio access interface and a gateway support node. The packet radio network is operable to communicate data packets to and from the mobile terminal, through the gateway support node and via the first radio access interface. The gateway support node is operable to provide a home address via which a correspondent node may transmit data packets via the gateway support node to the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is attached to the packet radio network. The system further comprises a wireless access network including a second radio access interface and a home agent, the wireless access network being operable to communicate data packets to and from the mobile terminal through the home agent via the second radio access interface, the wireless access network being operable to provide a care of address for the mobile terminal via which the correspondent node may transmit data packets via the home agent to the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is attached to the wireless access network. The mobile terminal is arranged to connect to one of the packet radio network or the wireless access network and, when connected, to detect which of the packet radio network and the wireless access network the mobile terminal has connected. Upon detection that the mobile terminal is attached to the packet radio network, the mobile terminal and the home agent are arranged so that data packets are transmitted to and from the mobile terminal via the gateway support node in preference to the home agent.