Mobility management for a multimedia mobile network

The present application is related to U.S. Ser. No. 09/191,133, filed Nov. 13, 1998 and entitled "Subnetwork Layer For A Multimedia Mobile Network;" and U.S. Ser. No. 09/191,132, filed Nov. 13, 1998 and entitled "Addressing Scheme For A Multimedia Mobile Network." Various methodologies and related apparatus associated with mobility management issues within a packet-based multiaccess mobile communications system, which includes a plurality of mobile user stations and a plurality of network nodes, are provided. Location management techniques include tracking and/or locating mobile stations within the system. The invention makes use of home and visiting location registers in which information such as mobile station addresses and/or host names associated with mobile stations are stored. Mobile access methodologies include a complete mobile access method and a direct mobile access method. The former allows a mobile station to preferably include a unique address in the packets being transmitted, while the latter allows the station to merely use the host name of the destination station. The invention also includes various in-call mobility management techniques, including handoffs, which make use of the concept of an anchor.