Methods and apparatus for sending a registration request packet on behalf
of a node that supports PPP but does not support Mobile IP is implemented
in a Foreign Agent. The method comprises accepting a call from the node
and receiving authentication information associated with a PPP
authentication protocol from the node, the authentication information
enabling a PPP node to be authenticated. From this authentication
information, a PPP node profile is obtained. The PPP node profile
includes registration information associated with the node that enables
proxy registration to be performed by the Foreign Agent on behalf of the
node, where the registration information associated with the node
identifies a Home Agent associated with the node. The registration
information may also include other information that may be pertinent to
the composition of a registration request packet. A registration request
packet including the registration information associated with the node is
then composed and sent to the Home Agent on behalf of the node. The
registration request packet that is sent by the Foreign Agent also may
include a registration indicator indicating whether registration being
performed by the Foreign Agent on behalf of the node is a re-registration
by the Foreign Agent or an initial registration by the Foreign Agent.
More particularly, in accordance with one embodiment, the registration
request packet includes a sequence number indicating an order within a
sequence of one or more registrations performed by one or more Foreign
Agents on behalf of the node. From the sequence number, a Home Agent
receiving the registration request packet may determine whether the
Foreign Agent is performing a re-registration or an initial registration
on behalf of the node.