| 摘要 |
<p>This disclosure is directed to techniques for supporting transition between network communication protocols in a communication network e.g. IP network (18). The techniques may be applicable to different network communication protocols, but are especially useful in the transition from the IPv4 communication protocol to the IPv6 communication protocol in a wireless communication network (14,16,18). In general, to reduce consumption of scarce IPv4 address during the transition period, a network communication device e.g. mobiles WDC1-WDCn (12A-12N) implementing a dual IPv4/IPv6 stack acquires an IPv4 address only when necessary to communicate with IPv4 resources e.g. Ipv4 nodes (20A-20N) on the network. The network communication device uses an IPv6 address at the start of a communication session, and does not acquire an IPv4 address unless a need arises later in the session for communication with an IPv4 resource. The IPv4 address may be acquired for a limited period of time, such as fixed period of time or a period of actual usage, to further promote availability of IPv4 addresses.</p> |
