Return routability optimisation

1. A method of managing switching of a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel termination point from a first address to a second address, wherein the VPN operates between a fixed network node and a mobile node which defines the termination point, the method comprising the steps of:

Requesting that a third party, which is trusted by the fixed network node, allocate an address to the mobile node using an identity used by the mobile node for the VPN tunnel with the fixed network node;

Allocating the second address as a new address to the mobile node by the trusted third party;

Providing the mobile node with a certificate, containing the second address and the identity, by the trusted third party;

switching an address of the mobile node from the first address to the second address;

sending a notification containing the certificate from the mobile node to the fixed network node that the address of the mobile node has changed from the first address to the second address; and

verifying from the certificate that the second address has been allocated to the mobile node by the trusted third party.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the trusted third party is a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the identity is determined during establishment of the VPN tunnel.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the certificate contains a public key.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the certificate contains a timestamp showing when the DHCP server allocated the second address and a lifetime for which the second address has been allocated to the mobile node.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the certificate contains a digital signature using a private key of the DHCP server that serves as a binding between the second address, the identity used by the mobile node and the timestamp.

7. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the mobile node requests the services of the DHCP server capable of providing the certificate through use of modified DHCP signalling.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the modified DHCP signalling is a new option OPTION_ADDR_CERT included in a DHCP Request message for address allocation from the mobile node to the DHCP server.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein Internet Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv 2 ) signalling is used to notify the fixed network node of the mobile node's second address and contains the DHCP certificate.

10. A virtual private network (VPN) tunnel termination point switching system for switching from a first address to a second address, wherein the VPN tunnel operates between a fixed node and a mobile node which defines the termination point, the switching system comprising:

Requesting means arranged to request a third party, which is trusted by the fixed network node, to allocate an address to the mobile node using an identity used by the mobile node for the VPN tunnel with the fixed network node;

Allocating means arranged to allocate the second address as a new address to the mobile node by the trusted third party;

Providing means arranged to provide the mobile node with a certificate, containing the second address and the identity, by the trusted third party;

switching means arranged to switch the address of the mobile node from the first address to the second address;

notification sending means arranged to send a notification containing the certificate from the mobile node to the fixed network node, the notification indicating that the address of the mobile node has changed from the first address to the second address; and

verification means arranged to verify from the certificate that the second address has been allocated to the mobile node by the trusted third party.

11. The switching system according to claim 10 , wherein Internet Key Exchange (IKE) signalling is used to notify the fixed network node that the address of the mobile node has changed from the first address to the second address.

12. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the certificate contains the identity used by the mobile node during an address configuration process.

13. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

providing, by the trusted third party to the mobile node, a further certificate that verifies the trusted third party;

providing, by the mobile node, the further certificate to the fixed network node; and

verifying the trusted third party by the fixed network node, using the further certificate.