Method for performing handovers in a communication system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the performing of handover in a communication system. In the method a transport connection establishment request is sent from a first network node to a second network node. A node name is obtained for the second network node. A handover condition is detected by the first network node. A new address is obtained for the first network node. The new address for the first network node is updated to a name service node. A transport connection migration request is sent from the first node to the second network node. The transport connection migration request comprises a token, which identifies the connection.

1 . A method, comprising:
 sending a transport connection establishment request from a first network node to a second network node;   obtaining a node name for said second network node;   detecting a handover condition in said first network node;   obtaining a second address for said first network node;   updating said second address for said first network node to a name service node; and   sending a transport connection migration request to said second network node, said transport connection migration request comprising a token identifying said connection.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 adding a public key of said first network node to said transport connection establishment request;   obtaining a public key for said second network node;   computing a shared secret with said public key of said first network node and said public key of said second network node; and   computing said token using said shared secret.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 detecting a timer expiry for a reply to said transport connection migration request;   obtaining a second address for said second network node using said node name for said second network node; and   sending said transport connection migration request to said second network node, said transport connection migration request comprising said token.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 starting a first transport process upon sending the transport connection migration request in said first network node;   starting a second transport process upon receiving the transport connection migration request in said first network node;   detecting connection migration completion of said first transport process; and   abandoning said second transport process.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said transport connection comprises a transport control protocol connection. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said name service node comprises a domain name server. 
     
     
         7 . A communication system comprising:
 a first network node configured to send a transport connection establishment request to a second network node, to obtaining a node name for said second network node, to detect a handover condition, to obtain a second address, to request updating of said second address for said first network node to a name service node and to send a transport connection migration request to said second network node, said transport connection migration request comprising a token identifying said transport connection;   said second network node configured to receive said transport connection establishment request and to receive said transport connection migration request; and   said name service node to receive said request for updating of said second address for said first network node.   
     
     
         8 . The communication system according to  claim 7 , the system further comprising:
 said first network node configured to add a public key of said first network node to the transport connection establishment request, to obtain a public key for said second network node, to compute a shared secret with said public key of said first network node and said public key of said second network node and to compute said token using said shared secret; and   said second network node configured to provide said public key for said second network node to said first network node.   
     
     
         9 . The communication system according to  claim 7 , the system further comprising:
 said first network node configured to detect a timer expiry for a reply to said transport connection migration request, to obtain a second address for said second network node using said node name for said second network node and to send said transport connection migration request to said second network node, said transport connection migration request comprising said token.   
     
     
         10 . The communication system according to  claim 7 , the system further comprising:
 said first network node configured to start a first transport process upon sending the transport connection migration request, to start a second transport process upon receiving the transport connection migration request, to detect connection migration completion of said first transport process and to abandon said second transport process.   
     
     
         11 . The communication system according to  claim 7 , wherein said transport connection comprises a transport control protocol connection. 
     
     
         12 . The communication system according to  claim 7 , wherein said name service node comprises a domain name server. 
     
     
         13 . A network node comprising:
 a transport entity configured to send a transport connection establishment request to a second network node, to obtaining a node name for said second network node, to detect a handover condition, to obtain a second address, to request updating of said second address for said network node to a name service node and to send a transport connection migration request to said second network node, said transport connection migration request comprising a token identifying said transport connection.   
     
     
         14 . A network node comprising:
 means for sending a transport connection establishment request to a second network node;   means for obtaining a node name for said second network node;   means for detecting a handover condition;   means for obtaining a second address;   means for requesting the updating of said second address for said network node to a name service node; and   means for sending a transport connection migration request to said second network node, said transport connection migration request comprising a token identifying said transport connection.   
     
     
         15 . A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program comprising code for controlling a processor to execute a method comprising:
 sending a transport connection establishment request to a second network node;   obtaining a node name for said second network node;   detecting a handover condition;   obtaining a second address;   requesting the updating of said second address for a network node to a name service node; and   sending a transport connection migration request to said second network node, said transport connection migration request comprising a token identifying said transport connection.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program according to  claim 15 , wherein said computer readable medium is a removable memory card. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program according to  claim 15 , wherein said computer readable medium is a magnetic or an optical disk.