System and method for redirecting messages to an active interface of a multiple-interface device

1. A method of operating a first access network configured to communicate with a user device, the method comprising:

receiving, by a network device in the first access network, a re-direct message from the user device, wherein the user device comprises a first interface configured to communicate via the first access network and a second interface configured to communicate via a second access network, and wherein the re-direct message requests that messages addressed to the first interface be re-routed over the second access network;

binding a first home address of the user device to a second home address of the user device to establish an internet protocol (IP) to IP (IP-to-IP) tunnel for rerouting messages over the second access network, wherein the first home address is assigned to the first interface in the first access network, and wherein the second home address is assigned to the second interface in the second access network;

receiving, by the network device, a second message addressed to the first interface of the for user device; and

forwarding, by the network device, the second message to the user device over the IP-to-IP tunnel, thereby rerouting the second message over the second access network.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network device is a Home Agent coupled to a router of the first access network.

3. A forwarding agent in a first access network, the forwarding agent comprising a processor configured to:

communicate with a multi-interface user device, the multi-interface user device comprising a first interface configured to communicate via the first access network and a second interface configured to communicate via a second access network;

receive a re-direct message from the multi-interface user device, the re-direct message requesting that messages addressed to the first interface be re-routed over the second access network,

bind a first home address of the multi-interface user device to a second home address of the multi-interface user device to establish an internet protocol (IP) to IP (IP-to-IP) tunnel for rerouting messages over the second access network, wherein the first home address is assigned to the first interface in the first access network, and wherein the second home address is assigned to the second interface in the second access network;

receive a second message addressed to the first interface of the multi-interface user device; and

forward the second message to the multi-interface user device over the IP-to-IP tunnel, thereby rerouting the second message over the second access network.

4. The forwarding agent of claim 3 , wherein the processor is further configured to process the first message and the second message.

5. The forwarding agent of claim 3 , wherein the forwarding agent is configured to establish a communication link with the second access network.

6. The forwarding agent of claim 3 , wherein the processor is further coupled to a router of the first access network.

7. The forwarding agent of claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the multi-interface user device via a first base station in the first access network.

8. The forwarding agent of claim 3 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a traffic flow from a core network of the multi-interface user device, the traffic flow comprising a plurality of data packets addressed to the first interface of the multi-interface user device;

encapsulate the plurality of data packets with an outer IP header to obtain encapsulated data packets addressed to the second interface; and

forward the encapsulated data packets over the IP-to-IP tunnel to the second interface of the multi-interface user device, thereby re-directing the traffic flow over the second access network to avoid activating the first interface of the multi-interface user device.

9. The forwarding agent of claim 3 , wherein the IP-to-IP tunnel extends through the second access network without extending through a core network of the user device.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the network device, a traffic flow from a core network of the user device, the traffic flow comprising a plurality of data packets addressed to the first interface of the user device;

encapsulating, by the network device, the plurality of data packets with an outer IP header to obtain encapsulated data packets addressed to the second interface; and

forwarding, by the network device, the encapsulated data packets over the IP-to-IP tunnel to the second interface of the user device, thereby re-directing the traffic flow over the second access network to avoid activating the first interface of the user device.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the IP-to-IP tunnel extends through the second access network without extending through a core network of the user device.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for execution by a processor, the computer program including instructions to:

receive a re-direct message from a user device, wherein the user device comprises a first interface configured to communicate via the first access network and a second interface configured to communicate via a second access network, and wherein the re-direct message requests that messages addressed to the first interface be re-routed over the second access network;

bind a first home address of the user device to a second home address of the user device to establish an internet protocol (IP) to IP (IP-to-IP) tunnel for rerouting messages over the second access network, wherein the first home address is assigned to the first interface in the first access network, and wherein the second home address is assigned to the second interface in the second access network;

receive a second message addressed to the first interface of the user device; and

forward the second message to the user device over the IP-to-IP tunnel, thereby rerouting the second message over the second access network.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the network device is a Home Agent coupled to a router of the first access network.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the IP-to-IP tunnel extends through the second access network without extending through a core network of the user device.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the computer program further includes instructions to:

receive a traffic flow from a core network of the user device, the traffic flow comprising a plurality of data packets addressed to the first interface of the user device;

encapsulate the plurality of data packets with an outer IP header to obtain encapsulated data packets addressed to the second interface; and

forward the encapsulated data packets over the IP-to-IP tunnel to the second interface of the user device, thereby re-directing the traffic flow over the second access network to avoid activating the first interface of the user device.

16. A network device in a first access network, the network device comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for execution by the processor, the computer program including instructions to:

receive a re-direct message from a user device, wherein the user device comprises a first interface configured to communicate via the first access network and a second interface configured to communicate via a second access network, and wherein the re-direct message requests that messages addressed to the first interface be re-routed over the second access network;

bind a first home address of the user device to a second home address of the user device to establish an internet protocol (IP) to IP (IP-to-IP) tunnel for rerouting messages over the second access network, wherein the first home address is assigned to the first interface in the first access network, and wherein the second home address is assigned to the second interface in the second access network;

receive a second message addressed to the first interface of the user device; and

forward the second message to the user device over the IP-to-IP tunnel, thereby rerouting the second message over the second access network.

17. The network device of claim 16 , wherein the network device is a Home Agent coupled to a router of the first access network.

18. The network device of claim 16 , wherein the computer program further includes instructions to:

receive a traffic flow from a core network of the user device, the traffic flow comprising a plurality of data packets addressed to the first interface of the user device;

encapsulate the plurality of data packets with an outer IP header to obtain encapsulated data packets addressed to the second interface; and

forward the encapsulated data packets over the IP-to-IP tunnel to the second interface of the user device, thereby re-directing the traffic flow over the second access network to avoid activating the first interface of the user device.

19. The network device of claim 16 , wherein the IP-to-IP tunnel extends through the second access network without extending through a core network of the user device.