Service in WLAN inter-working, address management system, and method

• US 10,511,961 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2018
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redwood Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Wi-Fi One, LLC (Inception Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Tan, Pek Yew, Cheng, Hong, Tan, Chee Bing
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Brian S
• Application Number:
  US15/961,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20180249326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/086 using security domains
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A mobile terminal associated with a first wireless communication network includes a transceiver that sends a service request message to a first wireless communication network element via a second wireless communications network. The request message requests a service from the second wireless communications network. The transceiver receives service from the first wireless communication network without requiring the mobile terminal to perform an access control procedure with the second wireless communications network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sending, from a mobile terminal, a tunneling setup request message to a network element of a first wireless communications network via a second wireless communications network, the tunneling setup request message requesting a service from the second wireless communications network, and;

receiving, by the mobile terminal, a tunneling setup response message from the network element of the first wireless communications network via the second wireless communications network, the tunneling setup response message comprising address information for the mobile terminal and service parameters for a tunnel,

wherein, when the mobile terminal is engaged in an active session prior to sending the tunneling setup request message, the address information comprises a same address previously allocated to the mobile terminal for the active session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tunneling setup request message includes service parameters from the second wireless communications network for multiple communications sessions, and wherein the address information includes multiple addresses for the mobile terminal for the multiple communications sessions.

3. The method claim 1, wherein before sending the tunneling setup request message, the mobile terminal is configured to perform association and authentication messaging with the second wireless communications network.

4. The mobile terminal in claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is configured to receive from the first wireless communications network address information for the mobile terminal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is associated with the first communications wireless network.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to;

send a tunneling setup request message to a network element of a first wireless communications network via a second wireless communications network, the tunneling setup request message requesting a service from the second wireless communications network, and;

receive a tunneling setup response message from the network element of the first wireless communications network via the second wireless communications network, the tunneling setup response message comprising address information for the mobile terminal and service parameters for a tunnel,

wherein, when the mobile terminal is engaged in an active session prior to sending the tunneling setup request message, the address information comprises a same address previously allocated to the mobile terminal for the active session.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the tunneling setup request message includes service parameters from the second wireless communications network for multiple communications sessions, and wherein the address information includes multiple addresses for the apparatus for the multiple communications sessions.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein before sending the tunneling setup request message, the apparatus is configured to perform association and authentication messaging with the second wireless communications network.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive from the first wireless communications network address information for the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus is associated with the first wireless communications network.

11. That apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus is a mobile terminal.

12. At least one non-transitory, computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform:

sending, from a mobile terminal, a tunneling setup request message to a network element of a first wireless communications network via a second wireless communications network, the tunneling setup request message requesting a service from the second wireless communications network, and;

receiving, by the mobile terminal, a tunneling setup response message from the network element of the first wireless communications network via the second wireless communications network, the tunneling setup response message comprising address information for the mobile terminal and service parameters for a tunnel,

wherein, when the mobile terminal is engaged in an active session prior to sending the tunneling setup request message, the address information comprises a same address previously allocated to the mobile terminal for the active session.

13. The medium of claim 12, wherein the tunneling setup request message includes service parameters from the second wireless communications network for multiple communications sessions, and wherein the address information includes multiple addresses for the mobile terminal for the multiple communications sessions.

14. The medium claim 12, wherein before sending the tunneling setup request message, the mobile terminal is configured to perform association and authentication messaging with the second wireless communications network.