Method for obtaining a mobile internet protocol address

1. A method for acquiring a mobile internet protocol address in a communication network, the method comprising:

sending a mobile network internet node key to a service node;

sending a mobile internet protocol access request message from a mobile network internet node to an authentication node;

receiving the mobile network internet node key at the authentication node transferred from the service node; and

assigning the mobile internet protocol address at the mobile network internet node to a mobile station associated with a user identifier in response to receiving a mobile internet protocol access accept message at the mobile network internet node transferred from the authentication node wherein the mobile internet protocol access accept message comprises the mobile network internet node key.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a data link request message at a second authentication node transferred from a mobile station wherein the data link request message comprises a user identifier and wherein the second authentication node comprises an authentication node identifier.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising generating at the second authentication node the mobile network internet node key.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising storing the mobile network internet node key at the second authentication node.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a data link accepted message to a gateway node transferred from a second authentication node.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing a data link at the gateway node for the mobile station.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a mobile internet protocol session request message at the gateway node transferred from the mobile station utilizing a data link.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending mobile internet protocol request message from the gateway node to the mobile network internet node.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a mobile internet protocol reply message at the gateway node transferred from the mobile network internet node wherein the mobile internet protocol reply message comprises the mobile internet protocol address.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a mobile internet protocol session accept message to the mobile station comprises transferring the mobile internet protocol session accept message from the gateway node to the mobile station.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a data link request message at a second authentication node transferred from the mobile station wherein the data link request message comprises the user identifier and wherein the second authentication node comprises an authentication node identifier;

generating at the second authentication node the mobile network internet node key;

sending a data link accepted message to the gateway node transferred from the second authentication node;

establishing a data link at the gateway node for the mobile station;

receiving a mobile internet protocol session request message at the gateway node transferred from the mobile station utilizing the data link; and

sending mobile internet protocol request message from the gateway node to the mobile network internet node.

12. A method for acquiring a mobile internet protocol address in a communication network, the method comprising:

sending a mobile network internet node key to a service node;

sending a mobile internet protocol access request message from a mobile network internet node to an authentication node;

receiving the mobile network internet node key at the authentication node transferred from the service node; and

receiving a mobile internet protocol access accept message at the mobile network internet node transferred from the authentication node wherein the mobile internet protocol access accept message comprises the mobile network internet node key;

assigning the mobile internet protocol address at the mobile network internet node to the mobile station associated with the user identifier;

receiving a mobile internet protocol reply message at a gateway node transferred from the mobile network internet node wherein the mobile internet protocol reply message comprises the mobile internet protocol address; and

sending a mobile internet protocol session accept message transferred from the gateway node to the mobile station wherein the mobile internet protocol session accept message comprises the mobile internet protocol address.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising receiving a data link request message at a second authentication node transferred from the mobile station wherein the data link request message comprises the user identifier and wherein the second authentication node comprises the authentication node identifier.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising generating at the second authentication node the mobile network internet node key.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising sending a data link accepted message to a gateway node transferred from the second authentication node.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising establishing a data link at the gateway node for the mobile station.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the gateway node comprises an access service network gateway.

18. The method claim 12 wherein the mobile network node comprises a mobile internet node home agent.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the authentication node comprises an authentication, authorization and accounting node.