Nortel Networks Corporation

Carey B Becker

Emad A Qaddoura

Mohamed Khalil

Haseeb Akhtar

Liem Q Le

Donald L Wurch

Russ C Coffin

Russel Coffin

A system and method is provided for seamlessly switching between different network access technologies without interrupting active network applications or sessions. A Network Access Arbitrator (NAA), which contains a virtual network adapter driver, resides between a Data Link Layer and a Network Layer of the standard OSI-7 Layer Protocol Stack for controlling necessary switching between different network access technologies. Since all network applications are controlled by layers residing on or above the Network Layer, all applications using network services provided by the Network Layer will continue their active network sessions or applications without disruption, as the NAA switches between different network access technologies.

Method and system for switching between two network access technologies without interrupting active network applications

A computer protocol that manages and provides efficient communications and utilization of resources between a mobile computer system or device and other systems and devices. Each home agent maintains a home agent list containing information about each of the home agents coupled to the home link. A designated home agent on behalf of the home agents for a virtual home agent is used to send and broadcast home agent advertisement, to receive and process a request from a mobile node, to process and send a reply to the mobile node. Synchronization mechanisms or tools, such as home agent priority or floating token method, are provided for proper operation of a Virtual Distribution Home Agent Protocol (VDHAP). These mechanisms or tools are used to fairly distribute loads from the mobile node among the home agents within the virtual home agent.

Virtual distributed home agent protocol

Growing community of inventors

Plano, TX, United States of America

Carey B Becker