Media-Independent Handover: Session Identifier

Abstract

A system for media independent handover using a session identifier in which a session identifier is used for identifying a media independent handover registration session across different MIH transport instances between a pair of communicating MIHFs. A point of service maintains a single registration state for a mobile node across the multiple transport instances. A session identifier is assigned by a point of service at the time of initial registration, and is valid only during the lifetime of the registration. A registration state includes local handles to transport instances that are used when sending and receiving media independent handover messages related to the registration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by a way of example, and not limitation, in the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative architectural diagram related to a first case in which there is a single hop; and

FIG. 2 is an illustrative architectural diagram related to a second case, in which there are multiple hops.

Claims

1. The method of media independent handover using a session identifier, comprising the steps of: a point of service maintaining a single registration state for a mobile node across multiple transport instances, where the transport instances are visible to the point of service; anddefining a session identifier that is assigned by a point of service at the time of initial registration, said session ID being valid only during the lifetime of the registration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a registration state includes local handles to transport instances, said transport instance being used when sending and receiving media independent handover messages related to said registration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the same SessionID is shared among different services.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said services comprise at least one of event service and command service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein multiple SessionIDs are associated with the same transport instance.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of a mobile node or a point of service re-registering with a registrar using the SessionID assigned to the registration in order to add a new transport instance to the existing registration or delete an already associated transport instance from the existing registration.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein an “Add” indication is used for adding a new transport instance and a “Delete” indication is used for deleting a transport instance, and wherein said “Add” or “Delete” indication is carried in the re-registration request.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said re-registration request is sent over the transport instance to be added or deleted.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said “Add” or “Delete” indication is not carried in the re-registration request, and at least one currently associated transport instance is replaced with the new transport instance.

10. The method of media independent handover using a session identifier, comprising the steps of: a point of service maintaining a single registration state for a mobile node across multiple transport instance, where the transport instances are not visible to the point of service;defining a session identifier that is assigned by a non-point of service media independent handover, at the time of initial registration, said session ID being global unique to support multi-hop sessions.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the session-Id of a diameter protocol is used as the session ID.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein each point of service that has a transport instance with a mobile node maintains a single registration state for the mobile node across multiple points of service relaying said registration requests.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein each point of service relays a registration request towards the non-point of service media independent handover.

14. A system for media independent handover using a session identifier, comprising: a point of service maintaining a single registration state for a mobile node across multiple transport instances;defining a session identifier that is assigned by a point of service at the time of initial registration, said session ID being valid only during the lifetime of the registration; anda registration state includes local handles to transport instances, said transport instance being used when sending and receiving media independent handover messages related to said registration.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein a registration state includes local handles to transport instances, said transport instance being used when sending and receiving media independent handover messages related to said registration, multiple SessionIDs are associated with the same transport instance, and wherein the same SessionID is shared among different services.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising the step of a mobile node or a point of service re-registering with a registrar using the SessionID assigned to the existing registration in order to add a new transport instance to the existing registration or delete an already associated transport instance from the existing registration.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein a session identifier is used for identifying an MIH registration session across different MIH transport instances between a pair of communicating MIHFs.