System and method for subscriber mobility in a cable network environment

1. A method, comprising:

creating a service flow with an endpoint over a wireless link coupled to a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) backhaul network;

notifying a mobility anchor of a location associated with the endpoint;

creating a Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol (PMIP) tunnel between an access gateway and the mobility anchor;

relaying control packets between the endpoint and the access gateway over a bearer tunnel locally terminated at the access gateway;

relaying bearer packets between the endpoint and the access gateway over the locally terminated bearer tunnel; and

relaying bearer packets between the access gateway and the mobility anchor over the PMIP tunnel.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the DOCSIS backhaul network provides a DOCSIS link between a cable modem and a cable modem termination system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a request for the service flow includes a quality of service parameter, which is mapped to a DOCSIS quality of service class for the DOCSIS backhaul network.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein packets are exchanged between a cable modem termination system and a home agent in a WiMAX network, and wherein a care-of-address is sent in a router advertise message to the endpoint.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

assigning a subscriber policy profile to the endpoint, wherein the subscriber policy profile includes a quality of service parameter for the wireless link.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the DOCSIS backhaul network provides a DOCSIS link over a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) infrastructure.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

mapping a quality of service parameter to a quality of service class for a DOCSIS link provided by the DOCSIS backhaul network, wherein the DOCSIS link couples a cable modem and a cable modem termination system.

8. Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor operable to perform operations comprising:

creating a service flow with an endpoint over a wireless link coupled to a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) backhaul network;

notifying a mobility anchor of a location associated with the endpoint;

creating a Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol (PMIP) tunnel between an access gateway and the mobility anchor;

relaying control packets between the endpoint and the access gateway over a bearer tunnel locally terminated at the access gateway;

relaying bearer packets between the endpoint and the access gateway over the locally terminated bearer tunnel; and

relaying bearer packets between the access gateway and the mobility anchor over the PMIP tunnel.

9. The logic of claim 8 , wherein the DOCSIS backhaul network provides a DOCSIS link between a cable modem and a cable modem termination system.

10. The logic of claim 8 , wherein a request for the service flow includes a quality of service parameter, which is mapped to a DOCSIS quality of service class for the DOCSIS backhaul network.

11. The logic of claim 8 , wherein packets are exchanged between a cable modem termination system and a home agent in a WiMAX network, and wherein a care-of-address is sent in a router advertise message to the endpoint.

12. The logic of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:

assigning a subscriber policy profile to the endpoint, wherein the subscriber policy profile includes a quality of service parameter for the wireless link.

13. The logic of claim 8 , wherein the DOCSIS backhaul network provides a DOCSIS link over a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) infrastructure.

14. The logic of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:

mapping a quality of service parameter to a quality of service class for a DOCSIS link provided by the DOCSIS backhaul network, wherein the DOCSIS link couples a cable modem and a cable modem termination system.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element configured to store electronic code;

a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the electronic code; and

a mobility module coupled to the memory element and the processor, wherein the apparatus is configured for:

creating a service flow with an endpoint over a wireless link coupled to a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) backhaul network;

notifying a mobility anchor of a location associated with the endpoint;

creating a Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol (PMIP) tunnel between an access gateway and the mobility anchor;

relaying control packets between the endpoint and the access gateway over a bearer tunnel locally terminated at the access gateway;

relaying bearer packets between the endpoint and the access gateway over the locally terminated bearer tunnel; and

relaying bearer packets between the access gateway and the mobility anchor over the PMIP tunnel.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the DOCSIS backhaul network provides a DOCSIS link between a cable modem and a cable modem termination system.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein a request for the service flow includes a quality of service parameter, which is mapped to a DOCSIS quality of service class for the DOCSIS backhaul network.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein packets are exchanged between a cable modem termination system and a home agent in a WiMAX network, and wherein a care-of-address is sent in a router advertise message to the endpoint.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further configured for:

assigning a subscriber policy profile to the endpoint, wherein the subscriber policy profile includes a quality of service parameter for the wireless link.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the backhaul is a hybrid fiber-coaxial backhaul, and the apparatus is further configured for:

mapping a quality of service parameter to a quality of service class for a DOCSIS link provided by the DOCSIS backhaul network, wherein the DOCSIS link couples a cable modem and a cable modem termination system.