Address acquisition

Abstract

In a GPRS system, a method of a mobile station acquiring an IP network address. The method comprises the steps of: the mobile station generating a link identifier and sending it to a gateway over a wireless link in a network address request together with a request to check if the link identifier is unique; the gateway receiving the network address request and checking if the link identifier is unique; the gateway responding with a network address request response including either the sending a unique link identifier confirmed as being unique or a different unique link identifier; the gateway sending a network prefix to the mobile station; the mobile station combining the interface identifier and the network prefix to generate the IP network address.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 a node sending a network address request to a gateway over a wireless link requesting a unique interface identifier; 
 the node receiving the unique interface identifier and a confirmation from the gateway that the unique interface identifier is unique; 
 the node adopting the unique interface identifier; 
 the node receiving a network prefix from the gateway; and 
 the node combining the unique interface identifier and the network prefix to produce an internet protocol network address. 
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus comprising:
 a transmitter configured to send a network address request to a gateway over a wireless link requesting a unique interface identifier; 
 a receiver configured to receive the unique interface identifier and a confirmation from the gateway that the unique interface identifier is unique; and 
 a processing unit configured to,
 adopt the unique interface identifier; 
 receive a network prefix from the gateway; and 
 combine the unique interface identifier and the network prefix to produce an internet protocol network address. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, wherein the node is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the node produces the internet protocol network address which is an Internet Protocol version 6 address. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein the confirmation confirms the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the node and the gateway. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein the network address request sent by the node is a context activation request. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein the gateway is a general packet radio service gateway support node. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein the node is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system and the node produces the internet protocol network address which is an Internet Protocol version 6 address. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein:
 the node is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system;   the node produces the internet protocol network address which is an Internet Protocol version 6 address; and   the confirmation confirms the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the node and the gateway.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein:
 the node is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system;   the node produces the internet protocol network address which is an Internet Protocol version 6 address;   the confirmation confirms the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the node and the gateway; and   the network address request sent by the node is a context activation request.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein:
 the node is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system;   the node produces the internet protocol network address which is an Internet Protocol version 6 address;   the confirmation confirms the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the node and the gateway;   the network address request sent by the node is a context activation request; and   the gateway is a general packet radio service gateway support node.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein the apparatus is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein the internet protocol network address is an Internet Protocol version 6 address. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein the receiver is configured to receive a confirmation from the gateway that the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the apparatus and the gateway. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein the network address request sent by the apparatus is a context activation request. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein the gateway is a general packet radio service gateway support node. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein:
 the apparatus is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system; and   the processing unit is configured to combine the unique interface identifier and the network prefix to produce an Internet Protocol version 6 address.   
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein:
 the apparatus is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system;   the processing unit is configured to combine the unique interface identifier and the network prefix to produce an Internet Protocol version 6 address; and   the receiver is configured to receive a confirmation from the gateway that the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the apparatus and the gateway.   
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein:
 the apparatus is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system;   the processing unit is configured to combine the unique interface identifier and the network prefix to produce an Internet Protocol version 6 address;   the receiver is configured to receive a confirmation from the gateway that the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the apparatus and the gateway; and   the network address request sent by the apparatus is a context activation request.   
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising wherein:
 the apparatus is a mobile station for a cellular telephone system;   the processing unit is configured to combine the unique interface identifier and the network prefix to produce an Internet Protocol version 6 address;   the receiver is configured to receive a confirmation from the gateway that the unique interface identifier is unique within a subnetwork defined between the apparatus and the gateway;   the network address request sent by the apparatus is a context activation request; and   the gateway is a general packet radio service gateway support node.