Assigning addresses in a communications network

Abstract

A method and apparatus for addressing a message sent from a proxy node to a peer node in a communications network. The proxy node receives from a host node a plurality of multipath messages. Each message of the plurality of multipath messages has an address. The proxy node then applies a rule to assign an address for a single flow message towards the peer node, and assigns a new address for the single flow message towards the peer node, the assigned new address not being used for any of the plurality of multipath messages; and. The single flow message comprises each message of the plurality of multipath messages. The single flow message is then sent towards the peer node.

1 . A method of addressing a message sent from a proxy node to a peer node, the method comprising, at the proxy node:
 receiving from a host node a plurality of multipath messages, each message of the plurality of multipath messages having an address;   applying a rule to assign an address for a single flow message towards the peer node, the single flow message comprising the plurality of multipath messages;   assigning a new address for the single flow message towards the peer node, the assigned new address not being used for any of the plurality of multipath messages; and   sending the single flow message towards the peer node.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multipath messages comprises Multipath Transmission Control Protocol messages and the single flow message comprises a Transmission Control Protocol. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, at the proxy node:
 determining an address for a first message of the plurality of multipath messages;   assigning the determined address to the single flow message towards the peer node; and   sending to an address assigning node an instruction not to release or re-use the address for the single flow message.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining addresses for each message of the plurality of multipath messages;   selecting from the determined addresses the address for assigning to the single flow message towards the peer node; and   sending to an address assigning node an instruction not to release or re-use the address for the single flow message.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising performing the selection on the basis of any of:
 a type of network to which each address belongs;   an expected life of each address; and   a historical life of each address.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the determined addresses include at least one address expected to be assigned to the host. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising sending to an address assigning node an instruction not to release or re-use the selected address. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the assigned address is unique to a single host. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, at the proxy node:
 performing network address translation on each message of the plurality of multipath messages.   
     
     
         10 . A proxy node for use in a mobile communications network, the proxy node comprising:
 a first receiver for receiving from a host node a plurality of multipath messages, each message of the plurality of multipath messages having an address;   a processor for applying a rule to assign address for a single flow message towards a peer node, the single flow message comprising the plurality of multipath messages, and for assigning an address to the single flow message towards the peer node, the assigned new address not being used for any of the plurality of multipath messages; and   a first transmitter for sending the single flow message towards the peer node.   
     
     
         11 . The proxy node according to  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of multipath messages comprises Multipath Transmission Control Protocol messages and the single flow message comprises a Transmission Control Protocol. 
     
     
         12 . The proxy node according to  claim 10 , wherein the processor is arranged to determine an address for a first message of the plurality of multipath messages and assign the determined address to the single flow message towards the peer node, the proxy node further comprising:
 a second transmitter for sending to an address assigning node an instruction not to release or re-use the address for the single flow message.   
     
     
         13 . The proxy node according to  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further arranged to determine addresses for each message of the plurality of multipath messages and to select from the determined addresses an address to assign to the single flow message towards the peer node. 
     
     
         14 . The proxy node according to  claim 13 , wherein the processor is arranged to further perform the selection on the basis of any of the type of network to which each address belongs, the expected life of each address, and the historical life of each address. 
     
     
         15 . The proxy node according to  claim 13 , further comprising a second transmitter for sending to an address assigning node an instruction not to release or re-use the selected address. 
     
     
         16 . The proxy node according to  claim 10 , wherein processor is arranged to assign an address that is unique to a single host. 
     
     
         17 . The proxy node according to  claim 10 , further comprising a network address translation function for performing network address translation on each message of the plurality of multipath messages. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer readable code means which, when run in a processor in a proxy node, causes the proxy node to perform a method of addressing a message sent from the proxy node to a peer node, the method comprising:
 receiving from a host node a plurality of multipath messages, each message of the plurality of multipath messages having an address;   applying a rule to assign an address for a single flow message towards the peer node, the single flow message comprising the plurality of multipath messages;   assigning a new address for the single flow message towards the peer node, the assigned new address not being used for any of the plurality of multipath messages; and   sending the single flow message towards the peer node.