Method for data message transmission

1. A method of operation in a communication system to facilitate transmission of data messages to a mobile node when the mobile node is served in a network which is not its home network, the method including:

within the mobile node:

(a) when attached to a first service node identifying a second service node as a candidate service node to which the mobile node can become attached by an attachment handover procedure;

(b) obtaining a new Care Of Address for use with attachment of the mobile node to the second service node;

(c) notifying the second service node of its identity and of its new Care Of Address;

(d) notifying a Home Agent for the mobile node of the identity of the second service node and/or of the new Care Of Address;

wherein steps (b), (c) and (d) are carried out before any attachment handover to the second service node; and

(e) in response to the notification in step (c) the second service node establishing a capability to route data messages addressed to the mobile node at the new Care Of Address;

(f) the Home Agent in response to the notification in step (d) establishing a capability to send duplicate copies of data messages addressed to the mobile node at (i) a current Care Of Address associated with attachment of the mobile station to the first service node and at (ii) the new Care Of Address obtained in step (b);

after (f) the Home Agent notifying the mobile node that the duplication of messages has been started;

(g) following steps (e) and (f) the mobile node completing service attachment handover from the first service node to the second service node;

(h) following completion of the handover, the mobile node notifying the Home Agent of completion of the handover; and

(i) in response to (h), the Home Agent stopping the duplication of data messages, the data messages being forwarded only to the new Care Of Address after the stopping of duplication.

2. A method according to claim 1 including the second service node recording, in response to receiving the notification sent in step (c), the identity and the new Care of Address of the mobile node in an associated database.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein steps (c) and (d) are carried out after the mobile node has undertaken a service node re-selection procedure and has selected the second service node for communication service attachment by a service attachment handover procedure.

4. A method according to claim 1 including the mobile node picking up data messages already received at the new Care Of Address from the Home Agent following completion of the handover.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method operates in accordance with Mobile Internet Protocol Standard procedures.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein notifying the Home Agent for the mobile node of the identity of the second service node and/or of the new Care Of Address comprises sending a ‘Start Duplication’ message to the Home Agent to start duplication of the data messages addressed to the mobile node using the current Care Of Address and the new Care Of Address.

7. A method of operation in a communication system to facilitate transmission of data messages to a mobile node when the mobile node is served in a network which is not its home network, the method including:

within the mobile node:

(a) when attached to a first service node identifying a second service node as a candidate service node to which the mobile node can become attached by an attachment handover procedure;

(b) obtaining a new Care Of Address for use with attachment of the mobile node to the second service node;

(c) notifying the second service node of its identity and of its new Care Of Address;

(d) notifying a Home Agent for the mobile node of the identity of the second service node and/or of the new Care Of Address, wherein notifying the Home Agent for the mobile node of the identity of the second service node and/or of the new Care Of Address comprises sending a ‘Start Duplication’ message to the Home Agent to start duplication of the data messages addressed to the mobile node using the current Care Of Address and the new Care Of Address;

wherein steps (b), (c) and (d) are carried out before any attachment handover to the second service node; and

(e) in response to the notification in step (c) the second service node establishing a capability to route data messages addressed to the mobile node at the new Care Of Address;

(f) the Home Agent in response to the notification in step (d) establishing a capability to send duplicate copies of data messages addressed to the mobile node at (i) a current Care Of Address associated with attachment of the mobile station to the first service node and at (ii) the new Care Of Address obtained in step (b);

(g) following steps (e) and (f) the mobile node completing service attachment handover from the first service node to the second service node;

(h) following completion of the handover, the mobile node notifying the Home Agent of completion of the handover; and

(i) in response to (h), the Home Agent stopping the duplication of data messages, the data messages being forwarded only to the new Care Of Address after the stopping of duplication.

8. A method according to claim 7 further comprising the mobile node selecting a predetermined period of time to wait after sending the ‘Start Duplication’ message to the Home Agent, the predetermined period of time being selected by the mobile node dependent on the communication system such that the predetermined period of time is sufficient to ensure that the second service node has started routing messages to the new Care Of Address and that the Home Agent has started duplication.

9. A method according to claim 7 wherein the ‘Start Duplication’ message identifies the second service node as well as a network and router by which the second service node may be reached.

10. A method according to claim 7 wherein the ‘Start Duplication’ message is transmitted on behalf of the mobile node from the first service node to the Home Agent.

11. A method according to claim 7 further comprising the second service node recording, in response to receiving the notification sent in step (c), the identity and the new Care of Address of the mobile node in an associated database.

12. A method according to claim 7 wherein steps (c) and (d) are carried out after the mobile node has undertaken a service node re-selection procedure and has selected the second service node for communication service attachment by a service attachment handover procedure.

13. A method according to claim 7 further comprising the mobile node picking up data messages already received at the new Care Of Address from the Home Agent following completion of the handover.

14. A method according to claim 7 wherein the method operates in accordance with Mobile Internet Protocol Standard procedures.

15. A method according to claim 7 further comprising after (f) the Home Agent notifying the mobile node that the duplication of messages has been started.

16. A method according to claim 7 further comprising after (f) the mobile node waiting for a predetermined period of time sufficient for the duplication being deemed to have taken place.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the mobile node waits for the predetermined period of time rather than the Home Agent notifying the mobile node that the duplication of messages has been started.