Network-controlled wtru address/anchor selection

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided to enable or aid network-controlled selection of an IP address (and anchor) to be used by a WTRU on an application/service basis. In one example, a method is provided for a WTRU to establish a link with a gateway, transmit a query related to a selected application via the gateway, receive an advertisement for an internet protocol (IP) address, and use the IP address to communicate via the gateway with respect to the selected application. It may be assumed that there are more than one possible IP address/anchor available for the WTRU to use, as it might be the case in a mobility environment, in which an operator can provide addresses with different mobility capabilities.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:
 a processor and a transceiver;   the processor and the transceiver configured to establish a session with a network access device;   the processor and the transceiver configured to determine an internet protocol (IP) mobility requirement, from at least three possible IP mobility requirements, of an application on the WTRU;   the processor and the transceiver configured to transmit a request for an IP address, based on the IP mobility requirement of the application, when establishing the session; and   the processor and the transceiver configured to receive an IP address, selected from a plurality of available IP addresses, based on the IP mobility requirement,   wherein the IP mobility requirement is determined from at least three IP mobility capabilities of the network access device.   
     
     
         2 . The WTRU of  claim 1 , wherein the IP mobility requirement comprises a desired capability of the network access device or of a second network access device in communication with the network access device. 
     
     
         3 . The WTRU of  claim 1 , wherein the IP mobility requirement comprises a capability of a second network access device in communication with the network access device. 
     
     
         4 . The WTRU of  claim 1 , wherein the request comprises a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) communication. 
     
     
         5 . The WTRU of  claim 1 , wherein the processor and the transceiver are configured to transmit a router solicitation, which includes the IP mobility requirement, to the network access device. 
     
     
         6 . The WTRU of  claim 1 , wherein the processor and the transceiver are configured to transmit a plurality of different IP mobility requirements, ranked by preference, to the network access device. 
     
     
         7 . The WTRU of  claim 1 , wherein the processor and the transceiver are configured to transmit the request to the network access device prior to receiving any indication regarding an IP mobility capability of the network access device or a second network access device in communication with the network access device. 
     
     
         8 . The WTRU of  claim 1 , wherein the request comprises a request for an IP address from the network access device, or from a second network access device in communication with the network access device, based on the IP mobility requirement. 
     
     
         9 . A network access device comprising:
 a processor and a transceiver;   the processor and the transceiver configured to establish a session with a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU);   the processor and the transceiver configured to receive a request for an IP address, based on an IP mobility requirement of an application on the WTRU, when establishing the session; and   the processor and the transceiver configured to transmit an IP address, selected from a plurality of available IP addresses, based on the IP mobility requirement;   wherein the IP mobility requirement corresponds to one of at least three IP mobility capabilities of the network access device.   
     
     
         10 . The network access device of  claim 9 , wherein the IP mobility requirement comprises a desired capability of the network access device or of a second network access device in communication with the network access device. 
     
     
         11 . The network access device of  claim 9 , wherein the IP mobility requirement comprises information regarding a capability of a second network access device in communication with the network access device. 
     
     
         12 . The network access device of  claim 9 , wherein request comprises a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) communication. 
     
     
         13 . The network access device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor and the transceiver are configured to receive a router solicitation which includes the IP mobility requirement from the WTRU. 
     
     
         14 . The network access device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor and the transceiver are configured to receive a plurality of different IP mobility requirements, ranked by preference, from the WTRU. 
     
     
         15 . The network access device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor and the transceiver are configured to receive the IP mobility requirement from the WTRU prior to transmitting any indication regarding an IP mobility capability of the network access device or a second network access device in communication with the network access device. 
     
     
         16 . The network access device of  claim 9 , wherein the network access device or a second network access device in communication with the network access device are configured to receive a request from the WTRU for an IP address based on the IP mobility requirement. 
     
     
         17 . A method for use in a network access device, the method comprising:
 establishing a session with a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU);   receiving, from the WTRU, a request for an IP address, based on an IP mobility requirement of an application on the WTRU, when establishing the session; and   transmitting, to the WTRU, an IP address selected from a plurality of available IP addresses, based on the IP mobility requirement,   wherein the IP mobility requirement corresponds to one of at least three IP mobility capabilities of the network access device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the IP mobility requirement comprises a desired capability of the network access device or of a second network access device in communication with the network access device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the IP mobility requirement comprises information regarding a capability of a second network access device in communication with the network access device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the request comprises a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) communication.