HANDOFF SOLUTION FOR CONVERGING CELLULAR NETWORKS BASED ON MULTI-PROTOCOL LABEL SWITCHING

摘要

A network device for enabling handoff of a mobile device from a first point of attachment to a second point of attachment. The network device includes a component for implementing a protocol wherein incoming packets are forwarded based on predefined label switched paths. When a mobile station moves from a first point of attachment to a second point of attachment, the mobile station issues a handoff request message to an attached serving support node which relays the message to an associated gateway support node. Each intermediate node receiving the request message takes action so that incoming packets destined for the mobile station are rerouted on a predefined handoff label switched path. During handoff from the first point of attachment to the second point of attachment incoming packets are forwarded from the serving support node to the second point of attachment.