Distribution of packets to foreign agents using multicast protocols

A method for registering to receive packets comprising:

• determining, by a plurality of foreign agents, a device identifier for a mobile unit, the mobile unit having an internet protocol (IP) address comprising a subnet identifier for a remote network;
• communicating, by the plurality of foreign agents to a mobility manager, a request for a multicast address associated with the mobile unit, the request including the device identifier;
• receiving, by the plurality of foreign agents from said mobility manager, the multicast address;
• registering, by the plurality of foreign agents, for a multicast group identified by the multicast address;
• and receiving, by the plurality of receiving, by the plurality of foreign agents from a home agent, multicast packets addressed to the multicast address, wherein the multicast packets contain information for communication to the mobile unit, wherein the home agent determines the multicast address by communicating a request including the IP address of the mobile unit to the mobility manager and receiving the multicast address from the mobility manager responsive to the request.

An apparatus for providing communications services for communications sessions of a mobile unit associated with a foreign network, the apparatus comprising:

• an interface operable to couple to a communications network;
• and
• a processor operable to determine, by a plurality of foreign agents, a device identifier for the mobile unit, the mobile unit having an internet protocol (IP) address comprising a subnet identifier for the remote network, the processor further operable to communicate, by the plurality of foreign agents to a mobility manager, a request for a multicast address associated with the mobile unit, the request including the device identifier using the interface, to receive, by the plurality of foreign agents from said mobility manager, the multicast address using the interface, and to register, by the plurality of foreign agents, for a multicast group identified by the multicast address, wherein the multicast group comprises the plurality of foreign agents, wherein the interface is further operable to receive, by the plurality of foreign agents from a home agent, multicast packets addressed to the multicast address, wherein the multicast packets contain information for communication to the mobile unit, wherein the home agent determines the multicast address by communicating a request including the IP address of the mobile unit to the mobility manager and receiving the multicast address from the mobility manager responsive to the request.

An apparatus for providing communications services for communications sessions of a mobile unit associated with a foreign network, the apparatus comprising:

• means for determining, by a plurality of foreign agents, a device identifier for the mobile unit, the mobile unit having an internet protocol (IP) address comprising a subnet identifier for the remote network;
• means for communicating, by the plurality of foreign agents to a mobility manager, a request for a multicast address associated with the mobile unit, the request including the device identifier;
• means for receiving, by the plurality of foreign agents from said mobility manager, the multicast address;
• means for registering, by the plurality of foreign agents, for a multicast group identified by the multicast address, wherein the multicast group comprises the plurality of foreign agents;
• and means for receiving, by the plurality of foreign agents from a home agent, multicast packets addressed to the multicast address, wherein the multicast packets contain information for communication to the mobile unit, wherein the home agent determines the multicast address by communicating a request including the IP address of the mobile unit to the mobility manager and receiving the multicast address from the mobility manager responsive to the request.

A computer program for registering to receive packets, the computer program stored on a computer readable medium and operable to:

• determine, by a plurality of foreign agents, a device identifier for a mobile unit, the mobile unit having an internet protocol (IP) address comprising a subnet identifier for a remote network;
• communicate, by the plurality of foreign agents to a mobility manager, a request for a multicast address associated with the mobile unit, the request including the device identifier;
• receive, by the plurality of foreign agents from said mobility manager, the multicast address;
• register, by the plurality of foreign agents, for a multicast group identified by the multicast address, wherein the multicast group comprises the plurality of foreign agents;
• and receive, by the plurality of foreign agents from a home agent, multicast packets addressed to the multicast address, wherein the multicast packets contain information for communication to the mobile unit, wherein the home agent determines the multicast address by communicating a request including the IP address of the mobile unit to the mobility manager and receiving the multicast address from the mobility manager responsive to the request.