Mobile internet protocol square

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for network access for consumers in both wired and wireless environments. Multiple-interface/multiple-connections are used to support high-speed handoff and seamless roaming between different networks (wired and wireless). The present invention is implemented by using multiple interfaces and connections to interface a mobile PC unit, providing additional functions, and enhancing current PC device drivers and software.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A communications method, comprising:
 maintaining multiple connections between a mobile unit having a single address and a home agent using at least first and second networks, wherein:   a first signaling path and a data path for a session are provided between the mobile unit and the home agent on the first network,   a second signaling path is provided between the mobile unit and the home agent on the second network,   both the first and second signaling paths are simultaneously supported between the mobile unit and the home agent, and   the data path for the session is switched from the first network to the second network based on a user profile when a predetermined condition occurs, but the switch of the data path does not interrupt or tear-down the session.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined condition is that the first network becomes unavailable. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined condition is that the second network becomes available. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined condition is dependent on a type of data to be provided to the mobile unit and that use of the second network is less expensive or provides a higher Quality of Service (QoS) than use of the first network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mobile unit scans for available networks based on the user profile stored in the mobile unit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein connections to the available networks are established and maintained based on the user profile. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the mobile unit is served simultaneously by the available networks, so long as the connections to the available networks can be established and maintained. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the home agent maintains at least one user profile for the mobile unit identifying foreign agents in at least the first and second networks and routes packets to the mobile unit via the foreign agents based on the user profile. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the user profile is a table that comprises a network type, a priority, and a foreign agent care-of address for each of the connections for the mobile unit. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the table is dynamically updated by the mobile unit. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) controls routing of packets to the mobile unit by mapping the single address of the mobile unit to each of the connections. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mobile unit uses an Internet Control Management Protocol (ICMP) to notify a next-in-line network of a disconnection when a connection to a previous network is either terminated or unavailable. 
     
     
         14 . A communications device, comprising:
 a mobile unit having a single address that maintains multiple connections with a home agent using at least first and second networks, wherein:   a first signaling path and a data path for a session are provided between the mobile unit and the home agent on the first network,   a second signaling path is provided between the mobile unit and the home agent on the second network,   both the first and second signaling paths are simultaneously supported between the mobile unit and the home agent, and   the data path for the session is switched from the first network to the second network based on a user profile when a predetermined condition occurs, but the switch of the data path does not interrupt or tear-down the session.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the mobile unit scans for available networks based on the user profile stored in the mobile unit. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein connections to the available networks are established and maintained based on the user profile. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the mobile unit is served simultaneously by the available networks, so long as the connections to the available networks can be established and maintained. 
     
     
         18 . A communications system, comprising:
 a home agent that maintains multiple connections with a mobile unit having a single address using at least first and second networks, wherein:   a first signaling path and a data path for a session are provided between the mobile unit and the home agent on the first network,   a second signaling path is provided between the mobile unit and the home agent on the second network,   both the first and second signaling paths are simultaneously supported between the mobile unit and the home agent, and   the data path for the session is switched from the first network to the second network based on a user profile when a predetermined condition occurs, but the switch of the data path does not interrupt or tear-down the session.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the predetermined condition is that the first network becomes unavailable. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the predetermined condition is that the second network becomes available. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the predetermined condition is dependent on a type of data to be provided to the mobile unit and that use of the second network is less expensive or provides a higher Quality of Service (QoS) than use of the first network.