Method and apparatus to facilitate broadcast packet handling

A method for use by a first network node, the method comprising:

• at a first network node, determining that a given mobile node using mobile Internet Protocol should receive subsequent broadcast packets as sourced by a Home Agent;
• at the first network node, automatically determining whether to support such subsequent broadcast packets using a first broadcast packet handling approach or a second broadcast packet handling approach, by conducting negotiations with the Home Agent regarding broadcast packet handling;
• and
• at the first network node, determining whether to update a list to reflect whether the Home Agent is capable of supporting using the second broadcast packet handling approach,
• the list is stored at the first network node and identifies Home Agents that are capable of supporting the second broadcast packet handling approach,
• the Home Agent is added to the list if the Home Agent is determined to be capable of supporting the second broadcast packet handling approach,
• the Home Agent is removed from the list if the Home Agent is determined to be capable of supporting the first broadcast packet handling approach and determined to not be capable of supporting the second broadcast packet handling approach and if the Home Agent is presently identified in the list,
• the first broadcast packet handling approach includes forwarding to a plurality of mobile nodes, by the first network node, a discrete version of each subsequent broadcast packet as provided by the Home Agent, and
• the second broadcast packet handling approach includes respectively forwarding, by the first network node to each of the plurality of mobile nodes, replicates of a shared version of each subsequent broadcast packet as provided by the Home Agent.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an interface to a mobile Internet Protocol-compatible wireless mobile node;
• an interface to a Home Agent;
• a memory;
• a list, stored in the memory, that represents whether to use a first broadcast packet handling approach or a second broadcast packet handling approach if forwarding broadcast packets from the Home Agent to the mobile node, wherein the list includes a list of Home Agents that support the second broadcast packet handling approach;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the interface to the mobile node, the interface to the Home Agent, and the list,
• the controller is configured to update the list to add the Home Agent if the Home Agent is determined to be capable to support the second broadcast packet handling approach,
• the controller is further configured to remove the Home Agent from the list if the Home Agent is determined to be capable to support the first broadcast packet handling approach and is determined to not be capable to support the second broadcast packet handling approach and if the Home Agent is presently identified in the list,
• the first broadcast packet handling approach includes forwarding, to a plurality of mobile nodes, a discrete version of each subsequent broadcast packet as provided by the Home Agent, and
• the second broadcast packet handling approach includes respectively forwarding, to each of the plurality of mobile nodes, replicates of a shared version of each subsequent broadcast packet as provided by the Home Agent.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for determining, at a packet data serving node, that a given mobile node using mobile Internet Protocol should receive subsequent broadcast packets as sourced by a Home Agent;
• the means for determining automatically determines whether to support such subsequent broadcast packets using a first broadcast packet handling approach or a second broadcast packet handling approach;
• and
• means for storing, at the packet data serving node, a list that identifies Home Agents that are capable of supporting the second broadcast packet handling approach,
• if the means for determining determines that the Home Agent is capable of supporting the second broadcast packet handling approach, the Home Agent is added to the list,
• if the means for determining determines that the Home Agent is capable of supporting the first broadcast packet handling approach and not capable of supporting the second broadcast packet handling approach and if the Home Agent is presently identified in the list, the Home Agent is removed from the list,
• the first broadcast packet handling approach includes forwarding to a plurality of mobile nodes, by the packet data serving node, a discrete version of each subsequent broadcast packet as provided by the Home Agent, and
• the second broadcast packet handling approach includes respectively forwarding, by the packet data serving node to each of the plurality of mobile nodes, replicates of a shared version of each subsequent broadcast packet as provided by the Home Agent.