# US 2010/0166003 A1 · Locator resolution in communications networks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0166003 A1 - Document ID: US20100166003A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/377,914 - Filed: 2007-09-03 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2006-09-05 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson - Inventors: Anders E. Eriksson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166003A1 ## CPC - H04L 45/741: Routing in networks with a plurality of addressing schemes, e.g. with both IPv4 and IPv6 - H04L 12/66: Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways - H04L 61/4511: using domain name system [DNS] - H04L 61/4535: using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers - H04W 40/34: Modification of an existing route - H04L 67/54: Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users - H04W 8/02: Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks - H04W 80/04: Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol] - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A set of globally-reachable attachment registers is provided for objects in an internetwork of interconnected communications networks. “Objects” can be networks, hosts or terminals, or passive objects which themselves do not have a network interface. Each attachment register corresponds to an object in the internetwork. The attachment registers are not located with their respective object. Information is stored in the attachment registers that establishes one or more logical links between the attachment registers. The information is used to perform one or more network communication functions, and in particular to determine a locator by identifying a logical path, along the logical links between attachment registers, from a destination attachment register corresponding to the destination object. Other non-limiting example functions include location registration and update, name to global locator resolution, routing, multi-homing, dynamic ISP selection, and handover. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for use in an internetwork of interconnected communications networks, comprising: providing a set of globally-reachable attachment registers, each attachment register corresponding to an object in the internetwork; storing information in the attachment registers establishing one or more logical links between attachment registers, each logical link between attachment registers corresponding to a communication link between neighbouring objects in the internetwork; and determining a locator for a destination object in the internetwork by identifying a logical path, along the logical links between attachment registers, from a destination attachment register corresponding to the destination object. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein, for each object, communication links to neighbouring objects are registered with the corresponding attachment register of that object. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein passive objects in the internetwork lacking a network interface are associated with proxy active objects, and wherein the proxy active objects register communication links with attachment registers on behalf of their associated passive objects. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of a claim 1 wherein objects in the internetwork include one or more of the following: networks, hosts, terminals, passive objects, human beings, data files, sensors, vehicles, merchandise, physical locations. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein passive objects register with a network node using a readable medium including one of an RFID tag, PIN code or bar code. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein, when one object changes from a first point of attachment at a first neighbouring object to a second point of attachment at a second neighbouring object, the method further comprises: updating the attachment register corresponding to the one object to change a logical link from the attachment register corresponding to the first neighbouring object to the attachment register corresponding to the second neighbouring object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the locator is constructed in a name resolution of the destination object. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the locator identifies a preferred network path between a source object and the destination object. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the locator identifies a physical location of the destination object. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the locator identifies a preferred physical path to the destination object. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein some or all of the attachment registers include information identifying a physical location of their corresponding object or a relative physical location of their corresponding object compared to neighbouring objects. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the logical path along logical links between attachment registers is conducted in accordance with a predefined policy of preferred objects to be included in locator construction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a locator includes: sending a locator constructor request to the destination attachment register; at the destination attachment register, adding the name of the destination object to the location constructor request; forwarding the locator constructor request to another attachment register corresponding to an neighbouring object closer to a root network than the destination object; and repeating the process until the locator constructor request returns to the sender and contains the names of all the objects corresponding to the attachment registers passed through by the locator constructor request. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a locator includes carrying out session initiation with the destination object. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein a session initiation request is sent to the destination attachment register at the same time as the locator constructor request. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the objects are mobile. ### Claim 17 A method for use in interconnected communication networks containing a plurality of objects, at least some of the objects each having a corresponding, globally-reachable attachment register, where there are logical links between certain ones of the attachment registers, the method comprising: querying one or more of the globally-reachable attachment registers to obtain or modify logical link information in the one or more globally-reachable attachment registers, and using the logical link information to perform one or more network communications functions. ### Claim 18 A method for use in interconnected communications networks having a plurality of objects, comprising: providing a set of globally-reachable attachment registers, where at least some of the objects each has a corresponding attachment register, and storing information in the attachment registers that establishes one or more logical links between the attachment registers, wherein the logical links between certain ones of the attachment registers are useable to perform one or more network communication functions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein at least some of the objects having corresponding attachment registers are passive objects without network interfaces. ### Claim 20 Apparatus for use in an internetwork of communications networks, comprising: a group of globally-reachable attachment registers, each attachment register corresponding to an object in the internetwork, and electronic circuitry for storing information in the attachment registers that establishes one or more logical links between the attachment registers, each logical link between attachment registers corresponding to a communication link between neighbouring objects in the internetwork; wherein the logical links between certain ones of the attachment registers are useable to perform one or more network communication functions. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus is arranged to determine a locator for a destination object by identifying a logical path, along the logical links between attachment registers, from a destination attachment register corresponding to the destination object. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein passive objects in the internetwork lacking a network interface are associated with proxy active objects, and wherein the proxy active objects are arranged to register communication links with attachment registers on behalf of their associated passive objects. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein objects in the internetwork include one or more of the following: networks, hosts, terminals, passive objects. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, wherein passive objects are arranged to register with a network node using a readable medium. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the locator is constructed in a name resolution of the destination object. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the locator identifies a preferred network path between a source object and the destination object. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the locator identifies a physical location of, or a preferred physical path to, the destination object. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein some or all of the attachment registers include information identifying a physical location of their corresponding object or a relative physical location of their corresponding object compared to neighbouring objects. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, arranged so that a predefined policy of preferred objects to be included in locator construction are taken into account in the determination of the logical path along logical links between attachment registers. ### Claim 30 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, arranged to carry out session initiation at the same time as locator determination. ### Claim 31 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least some of the objects are mobile. ### Claim 32 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein, when one object changes from a first point of attachment at a first neighbour object to a second point of attachment at a second neighbour object, the electronic circuitry is configured to update the attachment register corresponding to the one object to change a logical link from the attachment register corresponding to the first neighbour object to the attachment register corresponding to the second neighbour object. ### Claim 33 Apparatus for use in an internetwork of communication networks containing a plurality of objects, at least some of the objects each having a corresponding, globally-reachable attachment register, where there are logical links between certain ones of the attachment registers, the apparatus comprising electronic circuitry configured to: query one or more of the globally-reachable attachment registers to obtain or modify logical link information in the one or more globally-reachable attachment registers, and use the logical link information to perform one or more network communications functions. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The apparatus in claim 33, wherein the apparatus includes a correspondent host. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The apparatus in claim 33, wherein the apparatus includes one of the attachment registers. ### Claim 36 Apparatus for use in interconnected communications networks having a plurality of objects, comprising: a set of globally-reachable attachment registers, each attachment register corresponding to an object from the plurality of objects; and electronic circuitry arranged to store information in the attachment registers that establishes one or more logical links between the attachment registers, wherein the logical links between certain ones of the attachment registers are useable to perform one or more network communication functions. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The apparatus of claim 33, wherein at least some of the objects that have corresponding attachment registers are passive objects without network interfaces.