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Abstract

The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for internetwork communication between fixed host and mobile host data processing devices. A home network includes at least one mobility support border router (MSBR) coupled between the home network and a OSPF backbone network. A new area network also includes at least one MSBR coupled between the new area and the OSPF backbone network. A third network, referred to as an 'other area' network includes an MSBR coupled between the other area network and the OSPF backbone. A mobile host (MH) data processing device may move between the three networks and continue to communicate with all other fixed and mobile data processing devices coupled to the networks. In one embodiment, a first data processing (DP) device coupled to the home network may send a data packet to a MH data processing device which is normally associated with the home network, but has moved to, for example, the new area network. The data packet is sent by the first DP device to a mobility support router (MSR) located closest to the first DP device. The MSR initiates a local search to determine if the MH is currently coupled to the home area network, and if so, the MSR sends the data packet to the MH in the home area. If the MH is not coupled to the home area network, the MSBR acknowledges that the MH is out of the area and checks an internal tunnel route table for the last area (network) the MH was located in. The MSBR then send the data packet to an MSBR coupled to the new area in which the MH is now disposed, and the new area MSBR forwards the data packet to a new area MSR. The new area MSR then forwards the data packet to the MH. Any movement of the MH within the new area is detected by the new area MSBR, such that any messages sent from a new area DP device to the MH are simply forwarded to the closest MSR in the new area network and need not be sent to the MSBR of the home area, thereby optimizing routing. Additional features and methods are provided to permit the MH to move between all interconnected networks while maximizing routing efficiency.

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First Claim