TITLE OF THE INVENTION

LOCATION INFORMATION ELEMENT IN ACCESS NETWORKS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/906,217, filed on March 12, 2007. The subject matter of this earlier filed application is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method defining and configuring an information element in a network to provide information about location configuration protocols supported by the network.

Description of the Related Art

[0003] Location information of a mobile station or a device can be determined in various ways. One way of determining location information is through the use of a global positioning system (GPS). GPS is a network of satellites used to determine location. While GPS can provide accurate spatial position information, problems arise when a GPS receiver is obstructed by geographic features such as canyons or bluffs as well as man- made structures. Problems also arise when a signal transmitted by an orbiting satellite is reflected from a nearby object, giving the GPS receiver one or more incorrect readings from that satellite.

[0004] There are a number of network based location configuration protocols available which could be used for the purpose of determining the location of a mobile station. The problem is that many of these protocols are network specific, for instance, a specific access network can only support a subset of the available location configuration protocols) and it is at the

discretion of the network operator to enable or disable the support of a given location configuration protocol in the network.

[0005] Even in case the mobile station is able to support such location configuration protocols, the mobile station does not know which location configuration protocol works on the network it has attached to. Some conventional systems suggest that the mobile station implements a few location configuration protocols and then gives them a try, one of them should work. While this procedure may be very time consuming (especially when an emergency call is to be placed) it does not guarantee that the mobile station and the network will find a commonly spoken location configuration protocol.

[0006] A trend in mobile communication is to have several types of access networks available and a mobile station connecting to the one network which fits the mobile station's needs the best. Such needs of the mobile station vary dynamically based on a particular application running or services being accessed, for instance, which the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.21 has recognized and, accordingly, has started to define several types of information elements.

[0007] The mobile station also has a number of ways to keep the information about the available networks and their offered services up-to- date and, eventually, handover from one network to another when one specific service is not available on one network but available in another network.

[0008] However, IEEE 802.21 has not considered the different types of networks available, each having very different ways of determining the location of a mobile station, if at all. Location information of the mobile station is extremely useful and necessary in at least two basic cases: the mobile station needs to place an emergency call and for that needs its own location, or the mobile station wants to use location based services.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a device including a transmitter configured to transmit a query to a network requesting information of one or more location configuration protocols supported by at least one target network. The device also includes a selecting unit configured to select one of the location configuration protocols supported by the at least one target network and corresponding to a location configuration protocol of the device to determine a location of the device.

[0010] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a control unit in a network, including a receiving unit configured to receive a query from a device requesting information of one or more location configuration protocols supported by at least one target network in proximity to the device or in proximity of a future location of the device. The control unit is also includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit to the device information of at least one of the location configuration protocols supported by the at least one target network.

[0011] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method, including transmitting a query from a device to a network requesting information of one or more location configuration protocols supported by at least one target network. The method includes selecting one of the location configuration protocols supported by the at least one target network and corresponding to a location configuration protocol of the device to determine a location of the device.

[0012] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of a control unit in a network, including receiving a query from a device requesting information of one or more location configuration protocols supported by at least one target network in proximity to the device or in proximity of a future location of the device. The method

includes transmitting to the device information of at least one of the location configuration protocols supported by the at least one target network.

[0013] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a device, including transmitter means for transmitting a query to a network requesting information of one or more location configuration protocols supported by at least one target network. The device includes selecting means for selecting one of the location configuration protocols supported by the at least one target network and corresponding to a location configuration protocol of the device to determine a location of the device.

[0014] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a control unit in a network, including receiving means for receiving a query from a device requesting information of one or more location configuration protocols supported by at least one target network in proximity to the device or in proximity of a future location of the device. The control unit also includes transmitting means for transmitting to the device information of at least one of the location configuration protocols supported by the at least one target network.

[0015] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor to perform similar functions as those provided for the methods.

[0016] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system, including a device configured to transmit a query requesting information of one or more location configuration protocols supported by at least one target network, and a receiving unit configured to receive the query. The system also includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit to the device information of at least one of the location configuration protocols supported by the at least one target network. The

device is configured to select one of the location configuration protocols supported by the at least one target network and corresponding to a location configuration protocol of the device to determine a location of the device.

[0017] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system including device means for transmitting a query requesting information of one or more location configuration protocols supported by at least one target network, and receiving means for receiving the query. The system also includes transmitting means for transmitting to the device means information of at least one of the location configuration protocols supported by the at least one target network. The device means selects one of the location configuration protocols supported by the at least one target network and corresponding to a location configuration protocol of the device to determine a location of the device means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Further embodiments, details, advantages and modifications of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a placement of a media independent handover function within a mobility management protocol stack of a device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a mobile independent handover communication model, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a layout of different information elements and neighbor map of different networks in a geographical area, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 4A illustrates a location configuration protocol determination flow between a device and at least one network, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 4B illustrates elements in the device to perform the location configuration protocol determination flow, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 4C illustrates elements in an information element of the at least one network to perform the location configuration protocol determination flow, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a location configuration protocol determination method, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention that is a computer program product embodied on a computer-readable medium, encoding instructions for performing at least the method described in FIG. 5, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0027] Reference will now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus, a system, and a method to define a location configuration protocol information element within a network.

[0028] The location configuration protocol information element in the network, in accordance with the present invention, may list at least one location configuration protocol that the network supports, which may be used by a device as network selection criteria before handoff. The location configuration protocol information element may also provide information

associated with the accuracy that each location configuration protocol configured therein may provide to determine the location of the device. The location configuration protocol information element in the network may also specify whether civic or geospatial or both location formats are supported by the location configuration protocol(s). The location configuration protocol may be configured to include a set of data about a specific network, thus, helping the device to determine to which network it is going to attach to, and once attached, it will know type of services available, quality of service (QoS), security available in that specific network, etc.

[0029] Although the location configuration protocol information element described herein may be any type of element in a network configured to include at least one location configuration protocol supported by a particular network, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other elements within a network, such as a control unit, may be configured to indicate or define the at least one location configuration protocol supported by the network. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit may be configured to indicate the location configuration protocol supported by the network in such a way that the device will be able to access that information (either locally or remotely). In addition, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that even if one network is not configured or does not have a way to provide information to a device about the location configuration protocols supported therein, another network may be configured to include both, the location configuration protocols supported in that network and the location configuration protocols supported in the other network.

[0030] Although the location configuration protocol information element described herein may be configured in accordance with IEEE 802.21 network requirements, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the location configuration protocol information element may be configured in accordance with other types of network requirements. The

present invention may be utilized in other access networks such as wireless local area network (WLAN), 3GPP, worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) forum, open mobile alliance (OMA), etc.

[0031] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the device could transmit a query to a network, where the network is an access network from which the device is currently obtaining its connectivity, such as link layer or IP connectivity or other. The query would request information to the network pertaining as to which location configuration protocols are supported by a target network, where the target network may be the access network that the device is currently attached to or another network the device might consider to handover or have access to. In an alternative embodiment, the query may request information as to which location configuration protocols are supported by target networks in proximity to the device or in proximity of a future location.

[0032] The device would then compare the location configuration protocol configured therein with the location configuration protocols supported by each available network. If a match or a correspondence is found, the device would attach to the network associated with the matched location configuration protocol. Once the device has attached to the network, the device would run the location configuration protocol to obtain its location information right away. Once the device obtains its location, the device may include such location information into, for instance, an emergency call it may need to place, or may use the location information to access different services which may require the device's location. The information could also be used by the device to run the proper location configuration protocol once attached to a given network, thus, being possible to configure the location fast, without the need to try different location configuration protocols and figure out which one is supported by the device just attached to.

[0033] While in general handoff refers to handoff between homogeneous networks, starting with the efforts with which the IEEE 802.21 working group is developing standards, as described in IEEE P802.21/D03.00, Draft IEEE Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks: Media Independent Handover Services, IEEE P802.21™/D03.00, December 2006, to enable handoff between heterogeneous networks, the inter-technology handoff will be provided seamlessly in 4G.

[0034] The IEEE 802.21 standard supports cooperative use of information available at the device and at network infrastructure. The device is well- placed to detect available networks. The network infrastructure is well- suited to store overall network information, such as neighborhood cell lists, location of mobile devices, higher layer services available and thus help in optimum network selection. Both the device and the network may make decisions about connectivity. In general, both the device and the network points of attachment such as base stations and access points may be multimodal, that is, capable of supporting multiple radio standards and simultaneously supporting connections on more than one radio interface.

[0035] The overall network may include pico cells such as IEEE 802.15, micro cells such as IEEE 802.11, and macro cells (such as third generation partnership project (3GPP), 3GPP2, or IEEE 802.16 coverage) which will in general intersect. The overall network may include both micro cells (e.g., IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15 coverage) and macro cells (e.g., 3GPP, 3GPP2, or IEEE 802.16 coverage) which will in general intersect. A handover process may be conditioned by measurements and triggers supplied by the link layers on the device. The measurements report metrics that are typically used in handover algorithms, such as signal quality, synchronization time differences, transmission error rates, etc.

[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates a placement of a media independent handover function (MIHF) within the mobility management protocol stack of the

device. FIG. 1 also illustrates the entity that initiates the MIHF service. The MIHF provides services to the MIH users through a single technology independent interface (the MIH service access point (SAP)) and obtains services from the lower layers through a variety of technology dependent interfaces (media specific SAPs).

[0037] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the device may be capable of supporting multiple access technologies, which may be wireless or wired. Also, the MIHF either in the device or in the network, may receive or transmit information about the configuration and condition of access networks around the device. This information may originate at different layers of the protocol stack within the device or at various devices.

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates a MIH communication model, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The model illustrates MIHFs in different distinctive roles and the communication relationships amongst them. The communication model may assign different roles to the MIHF depending on its position in the system: 1) MIHF on the device; 2) MIH point of service (PoS) on the Network Entity that includes the serving point of attachment (PoA) of the device; 3) MIH PoS on the Network Entity that includes a candidate PoA for the device (a candidate PoA is a PoA that the device is aware of but not currently attached to; it becomes the target PoA if a handover eventually occurs); 4) MIH PoS on a Network Entity that does not include a PoA for the device; and 5) MIH non-PoS on a Network Entity that does not include a PoA for the device.

[0039] The communication model also identifies the following communication reference points between different instances of MIHFs. Reference point Rl refers to MIHF procedures between the MIHF on the device and the MIH PoS on the Network Entity of its serving PoA. Rl may encompass communication interfaces over both L2 and L3 and above. MIHF

content passed over Rl may be related to media independent information service (MIIS), media independent even services (MIES), or media independent command services (MICS).

[0040] Reference point R2 refers to MIHF procedures between the MIHF on the device and the MIH PoS on the Network Entity of a candidate PoA. R2 may encompass communication interfaces over both layer 2 (medium access control (MAC)) and logical link control (LLC)) L2 and (layer 3) L3 and above. MIHF content passed over R2 may be related to MIIS, MIES, or MICS.

[0041] Reference point R3 may refer to MIHF procedures between the MIHF on the device and the MIH PoS on a non-PoA Network Entity. R3 may encompass communication interfaces over L3 and above and possibly L2 transport protocol like Ethernet bridging, (multi-protocol label switching) MPLS, etc. MIHF content passed over R3 may be related to MIIS, MIES, or MICS. Reference point R4 refers to MIHF procedures between an MIH PoS in a Network Entity and an MIH non-PoS instance in another Network Entity. R4 may encompass communication interfaces over L3 and above. MIHF content passed over R4 may be related to MIIS, MIES, or MICS. Reference point R5 refers to MIHF procedures between two MIH PoS instances in distinct Network Entities. R5 may encompass communication interfaces over L3 and above. MIHF content passed over R5 may be related to MIIS, MIES, or MICS.

[0042] Mobile-initiated or network-initiated handovers may be initiated by changes in the wireless environment which may lead to the selection of networks that support different access technology than the serving network. During network selection, the device and the network may need to exchange information about available candidate networks and select the best network. The network selection policy engine may end up selecting a different network than the current one which may necessitate an inter-technology

handover. Once a new network has been selected and handover has been initiated, mobility management protocols handle packet routing aspects such as address update and transfer of packet delivery to the new network.

[0043] MIIS provides a framework by which an MIHF both in the device and in the network may discover and obtain network information within a geographical area to facilitate handovers. One of the objectives is to acquire a global view of all the heterogeneous networks relevant to the device in the area to facilitate seamless handovers when roaming across these networks. MIIS may include support for various information elements. The information elements provide information that is essential for a network selector to make intelligent handover decision. One of the main goals behind the information service is to allow device and network entities to discover information that may influence the selection of appropriate networks during handovers.

[0044] The information service elements may be classified into the following groups: 1) general access network information, which are information elements giving a general overview of the different networks providing coverage within an area such as list of available networks and their associated operators, roaming agreements between different operators, cost of connecting to the network and network security and quality of service capabilities, and 2) information about points of attachment (PoA), which provide information about different PoAs for each of the available access networks. These information elements may include PoA addressing information, PoA location, data rates supported, the type of physical layer (PHY) and MAC layers and any channel parameters to optimize link layer connectivity. This may also include higher layer services and individual capabilities of different PoAs. Other Information may be vendor/network specific, and could be specified appropriately.

[0045] With certain access networks the device may be able to obtain IEEE 802.21 related information elements before the device is authenticated with the PoA. These information elements may be used by the handover policy function to determine if the PoA can be selected. In order to enable the information query before authentication, individual link technologies may provide an L2 or media specific transport or a protocol message exchange that makes the MIIS query exchange possible between the UE and a certain MIHF in the network.

[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates a layout of different information elements and neighbor map of different networks in a geographical area, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Multiple operators can be providing support for a particular network. Thus, support for IEEE 802.11 networks is provided by both Operator_l and Operator_2. A single operator may provide support for multiple networks. Therefore, Operator_l provides support for IEEE 802.11 and UMTS networks while Operator_3 provides support for 802.16 and UMTS networks respectively.

[0047] The general network information elements are specified for each network supported by an operator. Therefore, in case of Operator l, general network information is specified for both IEEE 802.11 and UMTS networks, while in case of Operator_2 it is specified only for IEEE 802.11 networks. For each network supported by an operator there may be a list of supported PoAs and at least one location configuration protocol (LCP) being supported (TYPE_IE_NETWORK_LCP), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For each PoA, the PoA information elements may be specified, which may include at least one location configuration protocol configured (TYPEJEJPOAJLCP), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates this information representation and tree hierarchy for different networks.

[0048] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the information element in a network may also provide at least one location configuration protocol that is supported. The location configuration protocol may be defined as a location protocol supported by a target network and a device allowing such target network to determine a location of the device. The device may support only one location configuration protocol, more than one location configuration protocol, or no location configuration protocol at all. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the device may be configured to support at least one location configuration protocol. The device may also be configured to search for a target network which is able to support the location configuration protocol configured in the device.

[0049] It should be appreciated that configuration of an information element including at least one location configuration protocol, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, may be used in any network system such as GSM (global system for mobile telecommunications) public land mobile network (PLMN), in 3rd generation WCDMA (wideband code division multiple access) UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system) that provides communications between a device and a base station and some kind of location information service, universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) packet network architecture including a device, OMA (Open Mobile Alliance), UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), and core network (CN). An interworking of a wireless local area network (WLAN) (IEEE 802.11) with other technologies (e.g. 3GPP, 3GPP2 or 802.16 (BWA)) such as that shown in FIG. 1, for example, in protocol specifications for 3GPP and 3GPP2. In IEEE protocol specification, such activities are carried out in IEEE 802.11 TGu and in IEEE 802.21, which focuses on the handoff of a device.

[0050] FIG. 4A illustrates a location configuration protocol determination flow between a device and at least one network, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B illustrates at least some elements in the

device to perform the location configuration protocol determination flow described in FIG. 4A, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4C illustrates elements in an information element or control unit of the at least one network to perform the location configuration protocol determination flow described in FIG. 4A, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the network 100 includes the information element 110 or control unit, where the information element 110 would include at least one location configuration protocol (400). The device 10 is then configured to include at least one location configuration protocol to be used, for instance, as network selection criteria before handoff (410). Although one device is described herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that multiple devices may simultaneously be configured.

[0052] A transmitter 20 in the device transmits a query to a network, where the network 100 is an access network from which the device 10 is currently obtaining its connectivity, such as IP connectivity (420). The query would request information to the information element 110 in the network 100 pertaining as to which location configuration protocols are supported by a target network, where the target network may be the access network it is currently attached to or another network the device 10 might consider to handover or have access to. In an alternative embodiment, the query may request information as to which location configuration protocols are supported by target networks in proximity to the device 10 or in proximity of a future location. The information element 110 includes a receiving unit 120 and a transmitting unit 130. The receiving unit 120 would receive the query from the device 10. The transmitting unit 130 would then transmit a response to the device 10 providing the information associated with the at least one of the location configuration protocols corresponding to at least one target network (430). Using a comparator 30, the device 10 would then determine whether the target network includes the at least one of the location

configuration protocols that matches or corresponds to the location configuration protocol configured therein (440).

[0053] Using a selecting unit 40, the device 10 may select the target network based on whether the at least one of the location configuration protocols configured in the device 10 is supported by the target network. If so, the device 10 may select using the selecting unit 40 one of the location configuration protocols supported by the target network based on, for instance, the accuracy that the location configuration protocol may assist in determining the location of the device 10, and/or whether the location configuration protocol supports civic or geospatial or both location formats. Other criteria may be used by the device 10 to select a particular location configuration protocol. If there is a match or a correspondence of the at least one of the location configuration protocols, the device 10 would select the target network. The device 10 may initiate the attach or association procedure, where the procedure may not necessarily be performed with the network 100 it queried before as the target network may be a different one, with the target network.

[0054] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, once the device 10 has selected the target network and, if necessary, the particular location configuration protocol, a handoff procedure may between the target network and the device 10. The target network would then determine the location of the device 10 and would transmit such information to the device 10 to be used, for instance, in an emergency call or to access different services that would require the device 10's location.

[0055] In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, once the device 10 has selected the target network and, if necessary, the particular location configuration protocol, an initial access of the device 10 to the target network may begin.

[0056] Some of the many advantages of the present invention include allowing the device 10 to quickly determine which location configuration protocol(s) are available in at least one target network to determine the location of the device 10. Furthermore, the device 10 may be able to choose a particular target network based on corresponding location configuration protocol(s) that may be supported by the device 10.

[0057] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a location configuration protocol determination method, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. At step 500, the method configures information elements in networks, where each information element would include at least one location configuration protocol. At step 510, the method configures a device to include at least one location configuration protocol to be used. At step 520, the method transmits through the device a query to the network, where the network is an access network from which the device is currently obtaining its connectivity. The query requests information to the network pertaining as to which location configuration protocols are supported by a target network, where the target network includes the access network that the device is currently attached to or another network the device might consider to handover or have access to. In an alternative embodiment, the query may request information as to which location configuration protocols are supported by the target networks in proximity to the device or in proximity of a future location.

[0058] At step 530, the method transmits from the network a response to the device providing the information associated with the at least one of the location configuration protocols corresponding to at least one target network. At step 540, the method determines at the device which target network includes at least one of the location configuration protocols that matches or corresponds to the at least one of the location configuration protocols configured therein. That is, the method would determine whether at least one of the location configuration protocols configured in the device is supported by

the target network. At step 550, the method selects through the device the target network that includes the at least one of the location configuration protocols matching or corresponding to the at least one of the location configuration protocols configured therein. If more than one target network supports the at least one of the location configuration protocols of the device, the device may select the target network based on criteria associated with each of the at least one of the location configuration protocols supported by each target network. Such criteria may include, for instance, the accuracy that the location configuration protocol in each target network may assists in determining the location of the device, and/or whether the location configuration protocol is able to support civic or geospatial or both location formats. Other criteria may be used by the device to select a particular location configuration protocol in a network.

[0059] Once the device has selected the target network and, if necessary, a particular location configuration protocol, in one embodiment, at step 560, the method begins a handoff procedure between the target network and the device. At step 570, the method determines the location of the device and transmits such information from the target network to the device to be used, for instance, in an emergency call. In another embodiment, after step 550, the method may proceed to step 580, in which the method may begin an initial access of the device to the target network.

[0060] It is to be understood that in the embodiment of the present invention, the steps are performed in the sequence and manner as shown although the order of some steps and the like may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, the methods described in FIG. 5 may be repeated as many times as needed.

[0061] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention that is a computer program product embodied on a computer-readable medium, encoding instructions for performing at least the method described in FIG. 5,

in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The computer program product can be embodied on a computer readable medium 610. The computer program product can include encoded instructions for processing 620 location configuration protocol determination flow 630, which may also be stored on the computer readable medium 610.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 6 the computer program product can be implemented in hardware, software, or a hybrid implementation. The computer program product can be composed of modules that are in operative communication with one another, and which are designed to pass information or instructions to a communications device such as a user equipment or network node. The computer program product can be configured to operate on a general purpose computer or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0063] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the device may include any type of mobile or non-mobile network element including, but not limited to, a mobile station, a laptop, a user equipment, a wireless transmit/receive unit, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a mobile telephone, a computer (fixed or portable), a pager, a personal data assistant or organizer, or any other type of network element capable of operating in a wireless environment or having networking capabilities. For instance, if the device is a laptop, when the laptop is switched on, scans for available networks and their supported services (including location configuration protocol). The laptop can then have a profile listing the criteria for the selection from the available networks. The laptop can automatically select the network which matches or corresponds best with the profile. Once the laptop has to move, it may be switched off and then again on at the new location, where the method described herein is repeated.

[0064] In addition, while the term data has been used in the description of the present invention, the invention has import to many types of network

data. For purposes of this invention, the term data includes packet, cell, frame, datagram, bridge protocol data unit packet, packet data and any equivalents thereof.

[0065] The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and step illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.