Mobility in ip without mobile ip

Abstract

Not Mobile IP (NMIP) comprises methods for implementing macro-mobility in an IP network, wherein macro-mobility means the ability of an endpoint node to change its network-layer, e.g., IP, address without disturbing existing transport-layer and application-layer sessions, e.g., conversations. When two NMIP endpoint nodes establish a new NMIP session, they exchange pseudo-random numbers, or nonces, and store the nonces in a session table. When a first endpoint node changes its IP address, the first endpoint node sends to the second endpoint node an address-update message that contains the new IP address and the first endpoint node's nonce. If the received nonce matches a nonce in the session table, then the second endpoint node updates its protocol control blocks with the new IP address, and sends an address-update reply message to the first endpoint node. Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) can be used to secure or replace the exchange of nonces.

1 . A router for a packet-switched network having a protocol stack comprising an upper layer and a lower layer, the router comprising:
 a transceiver adapted to receive incoming packets and transmit outgoing packets; and   a processor adapted to process the incoming packets and generate the outgoing packets, wherein:
 the router is adapted to support an upper-layer session between a first endpoint node and a second endpoint node in which packets are transmitted between the first endpoint node and the second endpoint node via the packet-switched network; 
 the first endpoint node is adapted to establish the upper-layer session with the second endpoint node during which the first endpoint node has a first lower-layer address; 
 the first endpoint node is adapted to switch from the first lower-layer address to a second lower-layer address, different from the first lower-layer address, while maintaining the upper-layer session with the second endpoint node; and 
 the first endpoint node has no home lower-layer address. 
   
     
     
         2 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first lower-layer address is within a network-address space corresponding to the router; and   the router supports the upper-layer session when the first endpoint node has the first lower-layer address.   
     
     
         3 . The invention of  claim 2 , wherein, after the first endpoint node switches from the first lower-layer address to the second lower-layer address, the router forwards subsequently received incoming packets addressed to the first lower-layer address to the first endpoint node using the second lower-layer address. 
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 3 , wherein the router forwards the subsequently received incoming packets to the second lower-layer address for a specified duration, after which the router no longer forwards subsequently received incoming packets addressed to the first lower-layer address. 
     
     
         5 . The invention of  claim 4 , wherein the router receives the specified duration from the first endpoint node. 
     
     
         6 . The invention of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the second lower-layer address is within a network-address space corresponding to the router; and   the router supports the upper-layer session when the first endpoint node has the second lower-layer address.   
     
     
         7 . A first endpoint node for a packet-switched network having a protocol stack comprising an upper layer and a lower layer, the first endpoint node comprising:
 a transceiver adapted to receive incoming packets and transmit outgoing packets; and   a processor adapted to process the incoming packets and generate the outgoing packets, wherein:
 the first endpoint node is adapted to establish an upper-layer session with a second endpoint node in which packets are transmitted between the first endpoint node and the second endpoint node via the packet-switched network during which the first endpoint node has a first lower-layer address; 
 the first endpoint node is adapted to switch from the first lower-layer address to a second lower-layer address, different from the first lower-layer address, while maintaining the upper-layer session; 
 the first endpoint node has a first endpoint node's identifier that is adapted for the second endpoint node to use to identify the upper-layer session both (i) when the first endpoint node has the first lower-layer address and (ii) when the first endpoint node has the second lower-layer address; and 
 the first endpoint node's identifier is a nonce selected by the first endpoint node. 
   
     
     
         8 . A first endpoint node for a packet-switched network having a protocol stack comprising an upper layer and a lower layer, the first endpoint node comprising:
 a transceiver adapted to receive incoming packets and transmit outgoing packets; and   a processor adapted to process the incoming packets and generate the outgoing packets, wherein:
 the first endpoint node is adapted to establish an upper-layer session with a second endpoint node in which packets are transmitted between the first endpoint node and the second endpoint node via the packet-switched network during which the first endpoint node has a first lower-layer address; 
 the first endpoint node is adapted to switch from the first lower-layer address to a second lower-layer address, different from the first lower-layer address, while maintaining the upper-layer session; 
 the first endpoint node has a first endpoint node's identifier adapted for the second endpoint node to use to identify the upper-layer session both (i) when the first endpoint node has the first lower-layer address and (ii) when the first endpoint node has the second lower-layer address; and 
 the first endpoint node transmits, to the second endpoint node, a lifetime for the first endpoint node's identifier. 
   
     
     
         9 . The first endpoint node of  claim 8 , wherein the first endpoint node subsequently transmits, to the second endpoint node, an updated lifetime for the first endpoint nodes identifier. 
     
     
         10 . A first endpoint node for a packet-switched network having a protocol stack comprising an upper layer and a lower layer, the first endpoint node comprising:
 a transceiver adapted to receive incoming packets and transmit outgoing packets; and   a processor adapted to process the incoming packets and generate the outgoing packets, wherein:
 the first endpoint node is adapted to establish an upper-layer session with a second endpoint node in which packets are transmitted between the first endpoint node and the second endpoint node via the packet-switched network during which the first endpoint node has a first lower-layer address; 
 the first endpoint node is adapted to switch from the first lower-layer address to a second lower-layer address, different from the first lower-layer address, while maintaining the upper-layer session; and 
 the first endpoint node has no home lower-layer address; 
 the second endpoint node has an identifier; 
 the first endpoint node associates the second endpoint nodes identifier with a current lower-layer address of the second endpoint node, such that the first endpoint node addresses current packets to be transmitted to the second endpoint node with the current lower-layer address of the second endpoint node; 
 the first endpoint node associates the second endpoint nodes identifier with a specified lifetime for the second endpoint node's identifier; and 
 after expiration of the second endpoint node's identifier's specified lifetime, the first endpoint node ceases to associate the second endpoint nodes identifier with the current lower-layer address of the second endpoint node. 
   
     
     
         11 . The first endpoint node of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first endpoint node receives from the second endpoint node an updated lifetime for the identifier of the second endpoint node; and   the first endpoint node associates the second endpoint nodes identifier with the updated lifetime for the second endpoint nodes identifier.