Patent attributes
A system and method optimizes the information flow regarding node location across a network by controlling the propagation of this information based on distance from the node. Location servers that are near to a node receive detailed information regarding the node's location; location servers that are farther from the node receive less detailed information. In like manner, periodic updates are provided less frequently to distant location servers, and preferably also based on the velocity of a mobile node, or on a priority associated with the mobile node. The location information provided in a message addressed to a node can be minimal when the message is transmitted, and additional detail can be added to this location information by routing nodes as the message is routed closer to its destination, based on information provided by the location servers.