Relocation of content sources during IP-level handoffs
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a relocation of content sources that provide media content to a mobile terminal (mobile node) when a network layer-level handoff occurs. The relocation of content sources enables the mobile terminal to seamlessly execute an application that utilizes the media content from a current content source before the handoff and from a new content source after the handoff. The mobile terminal registers with a current access router in order to inform the access router about application context information. The current access router informs a new access router about the impending handoff. The new access router consequently discovers the new content source.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a mobile terminal communications interface; and
a processor configured to communicate through the communications interface, the processor configured to perform:
initiating an application supported by the apparatus
receiving, from a current content source, a packet data stream that is associated with the application;
forwarding application context information that is associated with the application to an access router for registration thereon, the application context information including a content profile and a media description, the application context information configured to be used in establishing a connection with a new content source; and
receiving the packet data stream from the new content source in response to the apparatus completing a network layer-level handoff.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform:
sending a first trigger that indicates to transfer the application context information; and
sending a handoff trigger that causes the apparatus to be served by the new content source.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the media description comprises a pointer to a media content that is sent by the current content source and the new content source.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform:
receiving a modified media description; and
processing the packet data stream in accordance with the modified media description.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform:
sending an acknowledgement in response to receiving the modified media description.
6. A method comprising:
initiating an application with a mobile terminal;
receiving from a current content source, a packet data stream that supports the application;
forwarding application context information that is associated with the application to an access router for registration thereon, the application context information including a content profile and a media description, the application context information configured to be used in establishing a connection with a new content source; and
receiving the packet data stream from the new content source in response to the mobile terminal completing a network layer-level handoff.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
sending a first trigger that indicates to transfer the application context information; and
sending a handoff trigger that causes the mobile terminal to be served by the new content source.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
receiving a modified media description; and
processing the packet data stream in accordance with the modified media description.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
sending an acknowledgement in response to receiving the modified media description.
10. An apparatus comprising:
a mobile terminal communications interface; and
a processor configured to communicate through the communications interface, the processor configured to perform:
initiating an application supported by the apparatus;
receiving, from a current content source, a packet data stream that is associated with the application;
forwarding application context information that is associated with the application to an access router for registration thereon, the application context information including a content profile and a media description, the application context information configured to be used in establishing a connection with a new content source;
sending a first trigger that indicates to transfer the application context information;
sending a handoff trigger that causes the apparatus to be served by the new content source; and
receiving the packet data stream from the new content source in response to the apparatus completing a network layer-level handoff.