Virtual home agent service using software-replicated home agents

Abstract

Multiple home agents for a home agent service provider network are implemented in a single computing platform in software as multiple virtual home agents. Each home agent is assigned or dedicated to a single virtual private network. Any number of home agents can be realized in the computing platform by multiple instantiations of a home agent program or code, and by providing unique IP addresses for each instantiation. Each home agent runs independently, and is independently configured and managed by the subscriber of the virtual private network service, freeing the service provider of having to manage and supervise low level processing tasks and customization features that the subscribers may want. In a representative embodiment, the computing platform comprises a router having a general purpose-computing platform.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of providing home agent services, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a computing platform for receiving a plurality of packets from a first network;    implementing a plurality of home agents in software in said computing platform;    directing said packets within said computing platform to the home agent associated with said packets;    processing said packets in said plurality of home agents; and    forwarding said packets from said computing platform onto a second network for transmission to the destinations for said packets.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said home agents comprise an instantiation of a home agent software program implemented in said computing platform.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said computing platform comprises a router.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said computing platform comprises a general-purpose computer.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said home agents are assigned a unique TIP address.  
     
     
         6 . A routing chassis processing packets for a plurality of mobile communications devices, comprising: 
 an interface to a first network;    two or more software-replicated home agents; and    a means for demultiplexing a plurality of packets arriving from said first network at said first network interface and for forwarding said packets to said plurality of home agents in accordance with addresses contained in said packets.    
     
     
         7 . The routing chassis of  claim 6 , further comprising two or more interfaces to a second network, each of said interfaces to said second network associated with one of said home agents.  
     
     
         8 . The routing chassis of  claim 6 , wherein each of said home agents comprise an instantiation of a home agent software program.  
     
     
         9 . The routing chassis of  claim 6 , wherein each of said home agents is assigned a unique TIP address.  
     
     
         10 . The routing chassis of  claim 6 , wherein each of said home agents processes registration request messages for a plurality of mobile devices.  
     
     
         11 . The routing chassis of  claim 6 , wherein each of said home agents are associated with a virtual private network.  
     
     
         12 . The routing chassis of  claim 6 , wherein said chassis is located on a local area network and wherein said local area network comprises an AAA server, said AAA server cooperating with said chassis in processing a registration request message from one of said wireless communications devices.  
     
     
         13 . A method of handing a registration request from a mobile communications device, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a master home agent in a communications chassis, said master home agent comprising a plurality of software-replicated home agents;    receiving a registration request from said mobile communications device at said communications chassis and forwarding said registration request to one of a plurality of software-replicated home agents in said communications chassis in accordance with an address in said registration request;    generating a registration request authentication message in said one of said plurality of software replicated home agents;    transmitting said registration request authentication message from said communications chassis to an accounting, authentication, and authorization (AAA) server;    receiving a reply to said registration authentication message from said AAA server at said one of said plurality of software-replicated home agents; and    forwarding a reply to said registration request message from said communications chassis to said mobile communications device.