Methods and apparatus for controlling wireless network resources for data sessions based on IP address usage

1. A network component, comprising:

a processor;

memory;

computer instructions stored in the memory;

the computer instructions being executable by the processor for use in controlling network resources for data sessions in a wireless network for a mobile station operating for communications using a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session which is associated with a data inactivity timer for terminating the PPP session, by:

dynamically assigning, from a pool of IP addresses, a Care Of Address (COA) for a mobile station in the wireless network, the mobile station having a home IP address associated with a home network;

calculating a ratio of the number of IP addresses dynamically assigned to mobile stations in the wireless network and the total number of IP addresses in the pool;

setting a Mobile IP (MIP) Registration Lifetime for the mobile station to an initial value that is less than the data inactivity timer of the PPP session and depends on the ratio of IP addresses such that, as the ratio increases, the initial value decreases;

causing the COA and the MIP Registration Lifetime to be sent to the mobile station, which is adapted to register the COA with a home agent in the home network for IP mobility service, so that data packets of the PPP session which are addressed to the home IP address are tunneled to the COA of the mobile station in the wireless network; and

communicating a Link Control Protocol (LCP) Termination Request which terminates the IP mobility service if no re-registration request is received from the mobile station upon expiration of the MIP Registration Lifetime.

2. The network component of claim 1 , wherein the computer instructions are further executable by the processor for:

setting and running the MIP Registration Lifetime; and

causing the Link Control Protocol (LCP) Termination Request for the data session to be communicated if no re-registration is received from the mobile station upon expiration of the MIP Registration Lifetime.

3. The network component of claim 1 , wherein the MIP Registration Lifetime is communicated to the mobile station by a foreign agent via the wireless network; and wherein the MIP Registration Lifetime defines a duration of time that the foreign agent will accept the re-registration request from the mobile station.

4. A method for use in controlling network resources in a wireless network for a mobile station operating for communications using a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session which is associated with a data inactivity timer for terminating the PPP session, the method comprising the acts of:

dynamically assigning, from a pool of IP addresses utilized in the wireless network, a Care Of Address (COA) for a mobile station in the wireless network, the mobile station having a home IP address associated with a home network;

calculating a ratio of the number of IP addresses dynamically assigned to mobile stations in the wireless network and the total number of IP addresses in the pool;

setting a Mobile IP (MIP) Registration Lifetime for the mobile station to an initial value that is less than the data inactivity timer of the PPP session and depends on the ratio of IP addresses such that, as the ratio increases, the initial value decreases;

causing the COA and the MIP Registration Lifetime to be sent to the mobile station, which is adapted to register the COA with a home agent in the home network for IP mobility service so that data packets of the data session which are addressed to the home IP address are tunneled to the COA of the mobile station in the wireless network; and

communicating a Link Control Protocol (LCP) Termination Request which terminates the IP mobility service if no re-registration request is received from the mobile station upon expiration of the MIP Registration Lifetime.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

wherein the MIP Registration Lifetime is communicated to the mobile station from a foreign agent via the wireless network; and

wherein the MIP Registration Lifetime defines a duration of time that the foreign agent will accept the re-registration request from the mobile station.

6. A method for use in a mobile station for controlling network resources while operating for communications using a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session associated with a data inactivity timer for terminating the PPP session, the method comprising the acts of:

maintaining a home IP address associated with a home network;

receiving, via a foreign network, assignment of a Care Of Address (COA) from a pool of IP addresses utilized in the foreign network;

receiving, via the foreign network, a Mobile IP (MIP) Registration Lifetime having an initial value that is less than the data inactivity timer of the PPP session and depends on a calculated ratio of the number of IP addresses dynamically assigned to mobile stations in the foreign network and the total number of IP addresses in the pool, such that as the ratio increases, the initial value decreases;

registering, via the foreign network, the COA with a home agent in the home network for IP mobility service;

receiving, via the foreign network using the IP mobility service, data packets originally addressed to the home IP address but tunneled to the COA of the mobile station in the foreign network; and

communicating, to the foreign network, a re-registration request for continuing the IP mobility service upon expiration of the MIP Registration Lifetime.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

wherein the MIP Registration Lifetime is communicated to the mobile station from a foreign agent via the foreign network; and

wherein the MIP Registration Lifetime defines a duration of time that the foreign agent will accept the re-registration request from the mobile station.

8. A mobile station, comprising:

a controller;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the controller;

the controller being configured to control network resources while the mobile station operates for communications using a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session associated with a data inactivity timer for terminating the PPP session, by being further configured to:

maintain a home IP address associated with a home network;

receive, via a foreign network through the wireless transceiver, a Care Of Address (COA) from a pool of IP addresses utilized in the foreign network;

receive, via the foreign network through the wireless transceiver, a Mobile IP (MIP) Registration Lifetime having an initial value that is less than the data inactivity timer of the PPP session and depends on a calculated ratio of the number of IP addresses dynamically assigned to mobile stations in the foreign network and the total number of IP addresses in the pool, such that as the ratio increases, the initial value decreases;

register, via the foreign network through the wireless transceiver, the COA with a home agent in the home network for IP mobility service;

receive, via the foreign network through the wireless transceiver, using the IP mobility service, data packets originally addressed to the home IP address but tunneled to the COA of the mobile station in the foreign network; and

communicate, to the foreign network using the wireless transceiver, a re-registration request for continuing the IP mobility service upon expiration of the MIP Registration Lifetime.

9. The mobile station of claim 8 , wherein the MIP Registration Lifetime is communicated to the mobile station from a foreign agent via the foreign network, and the MIP Registration Lifetime defines a duration of time that the foreign agent will accept the re-registration request from the mobile station.