Sprint Communications Comapny L.p.

Sprint Spectrum L.p.

Joseph Christopher Shojayi

Jeremy Richard Breau

Frederick Carl Rogers

Terry Daniel Nebergall

John H Bennett, Iii

George Jason Schnellbacher

Joao Carlos Osorio Gouvea Teixeira De Magalhaes

Ramkumar Swaminathan

Khalid Mohamed Medhat

Systems and methods for assigning unique network identifiers in a packet-switched wireless network are provided. A request for a unique network identifier for a wireless device is received. A socket-based unique network identifier, including an IP address and one or more ports, is assigned to the wireless device. The unique network identifier is created by combining an IP address and one or more ports. This allows multiple unique network identifiers to be created from a single IP address, where each unique network identifier consists of the same IP address combined with a different group of one or more ports.

Socket-based internet protocol for wireless networks

Methods for marking and verifying an authentication status of a wireless communication device are disclosed. When a wireless communication device is authenticated in a first wireless communication network, copies of a token, are stored in memory accessible by the wireless communication device and in memory accessible by a clearinghouse server. The clearinghouse server also stores a correlation between the token and the identity of the server that authenticated the wireless communication device. When the wireless communication device moves from the first network to a second network, the WCD transmits the token to a server in the second network, which can then query the clearinghouse server to determine the identity of the server that authenticated the WCD in the first network, confirm the authentication status of the wireless communication device, and allow the WCD to access a resource in or via the second network.

Tokenized authentication across wireless communication networks

A wireless network authorization system receives an authorization request for a wireless communication device transmitted from a visited wireless network. A processing system selects one of a simple internet connection and an encrypted internet connection for the wireless communication device in response to the authorization request. The communication interface transfers an authorization response for delivery to the visited wireless network indicating the selected one of the simple internet connection and the encrypted internet connection.

Mobility protocol selection by an authorization system

Systems and methods for assigning unique network identifiers in a packet-switched wired network and methods for communicating with a network device in a packet-switched wired network are provided. A request for a unique network identifier for a network device is received. A socket-based unique network identifier, including an IP address and one or more ports, is assigned to the network device. The unique network identifier is created by combining an IP address and one or more ports. This allows multiple unique network identifiers to be created from a single IP address, where each unique network identifier consists of the same IP address combined with a different group of one or more ports.

Socket-based internet protocol for wired networks

A method, system, and medium are provided for updating bindings associated with a first mobile IP session by tunneling binding updates through registration messages associated with a second mobile IP session. A first mobile IP client provides binding updates to a second mobile IP client, which includes the binding updates in an extended registration request. The extended registration request is communicated to a mobile IP agent associated with the second mobile IP session. The request is parsed, and the binding updates are provided to a mobile IP agent associated with the first mobile IP session. Binding-update acknowledgements can be returned to mobile IP clients in a similar fashion.

Tunneling binding messages in registration messages

Methods for registering a first internet protocol version registration request and a second internet protocol version registration request in a single binding on a home agent are provided. In embodiments, entries are recognized as sharing common information in an IPv4 and IPv6 binding table. The entries with common information are combined into one binding. Through the combining of the bindings, the IPv4 and IPv6 sessions are combined into one session.

IPV4 and IPV6 single session on a home agent

Computer systems, computer-readable media, and computerized methods for resolving fractional IP addresses using domain name system (DNS)-enabled devices are provided. The system includes a local DNS server that accesses a correlation table, which maintains a mapping between fractional IP addresses and domain names. The fractional IP addresses each represent an IPv4 address paired with a respective value of an IP version field. The system also includes a client device that is capable of transmitting to the local DNS server a request message, which includes a destination name of a device targeted by the client device. Upon receiving the request message, the local DNS server compares the destination name against the correlation table. When a match is discovered within the domain names populated within the correlation table, the local DNS server identifies and transmits to the client device a fractional IP address mapped to the matching domain name.

Employing a hierarchy of servers to resolve fractional IP addresses

Systems and methods for assigning unique network identifiers in a packet-switched wireless network and methods for communicating with a wireless device in a packet-switched wireless network are provided. A request for a unique network identifier for a wireless device is received. A socket-based unique network identifier, including an IP address and one or more ports, is assigned to the wireless device. The unique network identifier is created by combining an IP address and one or more ports. This allows multiple unique network identifiers to be created from a single IP address, where each unique network identifier consists of the same IP address combined with a different group of one or more ports.

Methods and computer-readable media are provided to dynamically update a home agent with location-based information for a mobile device such that a third party, such as a law enforcement agency, may access the information to determine a location associated with the mobile device and, therefore, with the user of the mobile device. A signaling message is sent to a packet-routing component. The signaling message contains location-based information for a communications session. A transaction update is sent from the packet-routing component to the home agent each time the location-based information is updated, such as when the mobile device enters a new coverage area. A binding table is populated with the updated information. An acknowledgment is then sent from the home agent to the packet-routing component indicating that the information has been updated in the binding table. The third party is now able to access the location-based information via the home agent.

Dynamically updating a home agent with location-based information

Computer systems, computer-readable media, and computerized methods for assigning network identifiers in a network are provided. A dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server is employed to allocate various fractional IP addresses that include a common IPv4 address paired with a value of an IP version field within a data packet, wherein the value is selected from a plurality of available values. In order to differentiate between fractional IP addresses that share a common IPv4 address, a particular value of the IP version field is selected by the DHCP server and assigned to a client device when that particular value is not currently or previously assigned to another client device. Upon assignment to the client device, a fractional IP address that includes the common IPv4 address together with the particular value of the IP version field uniquely identifies the client device as a destination of a data packet within the network.

Allocating IP version fields to increase address space

A wireless communication device receives a router advertisement message transferred by a packet network node. The wireless communication device determines location information that corresponds to its geographic location. In response to the router advertisement message, the wireless communication device generates an acknowledgement message having a header extension that includes the location information. The wireless communication device wirelessly transmits the acknowledgement message for delivery to the packet network node.

Wireless communication device that transmits geographic location information in router advertisement acknowledgement messages

An authorization system in a home wireless network comprises a communication interface and a processing system, wherein a wireless communication device associated with the home wireless network transfers a request to a visited wireless network for access to an internet. The communication interface is configured to receive an authorization request for the wireless communication device transmitted from the visited wireless network. The processing system is configured to select one of a visited internet connection and a home internet connection for the wireless communication device, wherein the visited internet connection links the wireless communication device to the internet without using the home wireless network and wherein the home internet connection links the wireless communication device to the internet through the home wireless network. The communication interface is configured to transfer the authorization response for delivery to the visited wireless network indicating the selected one of the visited internet connection or the home internet connection.

Computer systems, computer-readable media, and computerized methods for determining a media access (MAC) address that corresponds with a network identifier in a wireless or wired network are provided. A dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server is employed to allocate a set of socket IP addresses that include a common IPv4 address paired with a selected group of ports, where none of the ports in the selected groups overlap. When assigned to a client device, the socket IP address uniquely identifies the client device within the network. A host device within the network is configured to broadcast an address resolution protocol (ARP) request to other devices within the network, such as the DHCP server, where the ARP request includes a socket IP address associated with recipient(s) of communications from the host device. In response to the ARP request, the appropriate device or DHCP server returns a MAC address of the recipient.

Growing community of inventors

Overland Park, KS, United States of America

Joseph Christopher Shojayi