Communication with vehicle based node

An apparatus for a communication system for supporting communication between an end node of a vehicle and a remote correspondent node via a fixed network, the communication system comprising:

• a plurality of wireless access points of the fixed network, each wireless access point having a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams;
• a first wireless modem arranged to establish a first link being a first mm wave radio communication link to the first access point, the first link supporting a data session between the end node and the remote correspondent node, the first wireless modem being located on the vehicle and employing a first electronically steerable beamforming directional antenna having a first main beam for establishing the first mm wave radio communication link;
• a second wireless modem arranged to establish a second link being second mm wave radio communication link to a second access point further supporting the data session, the second wireless modem being located on the vehicle and employing a second electronically steerable beamforming directional antenna having a second main beam for establishing the second mm wave radio communication link;
• a common network element located on the vehicle and arranged to support communication for the data session over both the first mm wave radio communication link and the second mm wave radio communication link;
• and the apparatus comprising:
• a connection control circuit located on the vehicle and arranged to dynamically switch between the first mm wave radio communication link and the second mm wave radio communication link for the data session;
• and wherein
• the connection control circuit is arranged to transmit an address resolution message to the second access point over the second mm wave radio communication link for a switch from the first mm wave radio communication link to the second mm wave radio communication link;
• the address resolution message comprising identification data for the common network element.

A method of operation for a communication system for supporting communication between an end node of a vehicle and a remote correspondent node via a fixed network, the communication system comprising:

• a plurality of wireless access points of the fixed network, each wireless access point having a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams;
• a first wireless modem for establishing a first link being a first mm wave radio communication link to the first access point, the first link supporting a data session between the end node and the remote correspondent node, the first wireless modem being located on the vehicle and employing a first electronically steerable beamforming directional antenna having a first main beam for establishing the first mm wave radio communication link;
• a second wireless modem for establishing a second link being second mm wave radio communication link to a second access point further supporting the data session, the second wireless modem being located on the vehicle and employing a second electronically steerable beamforming directional antenna having a second main beam for establishing the second mm wave radio communication link;
• a common network element located on the vehicle and arranged to support communication for the data session over both the first mm wave radio communication link and the second mm wave radio communication link;
• and the method comprising:
• dynamically switching between the first mm wave radio communication link and the second mm wave radio communication link for the data session;
• and
• transmitting from the vehicle an address resolution message to the second access point over the second mm wave radio communication link for a switch from the first mm wave radio communication link to the second mm wave radio communication link;
• the address resolution message comprising identification data for the common network element.