Address option for use in an internet protocol-based multimedia mobile network

The present invention relates to mobile communications systems and, more particularly, to addressing and mobility management techniques in such systems that may include multimedia applications in a highly dynamic Internet Protocol-based networking environment. In an IP addressing aspect of the invention, a method for use in facilitating transfer of packets in an Internet Protocol (IP) based communications system, wherein the communications system includes a plurality of network nodes and a plurality of mobile user stations, comprises the steps of: (i) inserting an address option field in a packet header of a packet to be transferred in the communications system, the address option field including supplemental address related data for facilitating transfer of packets in the communications system; and processing the packet within at least one of a network node and a mobile user station in the communications system in accordance with the supplemental address related data in the address option field of the packet header. The address option field may comprise an address type field, an address length field and an address data field. Various address related data may be included in the address data field to facilitate transfer of packets in an IP-based communications system.