Using subnet relations for paging, authentication, association and to activate network interfaces in heterogeneous access networks

• US 20030148777A1
• Filed: 04/10/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Fujio, Kurakake, Shoji, Cao, Jingjun
• Granted Patent: US 7,366,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/458
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/04 multi-step notification using statistical or historical mobility data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/08 using multi-step notification by increasing the notification area
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for using subnet relations to determine paging areas, for performing authentication and association, and to activate access network interfaces in wireless communication devices in a heterogeneous access network. Paging areas are generated using subnet relations by determining mobility agent servers within a predetermined number of subnet relations from a last active mobility agent server. Authentication and association are also accomplished using subnet relations. Access network interfaces can also be turned on and off based on subnet relations thereby conserving battery power.

Claims

1. A method for determining a paging area for a wireless communication device, comprising the steps of:

determining a last mobility agent server that serviced said wireless communication device;

retrieving a list of mobility agent servers within a predetermined number of subnet relations from said last mobility agent server to determine said paging area; and

generating a paging message that is sent to said list of mobility agent servers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a subnet relation map is used to determine said list of mobility agent servers within said predetermined number of subnet relations from said last mobility agent server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a subnet relation algorithm determines said predetermined number of subnet relations.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using an application characteristic database when determining said paging area.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using a personal device characteristic database when determining said paging area.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining an increased paging area if said paging area fails.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said increased paging area is determined by looking at a same level of access network, a same access network or a larger cell size of access networks.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said increased paging area is determined by adding a predetermined number of subnet relations to said paging area.

9. A paging system for a wireless communication device in a heterogeneous access network, comprising:

at least one access network;

at least one mobility agent server located within each said access network;

a virtual operator server connected to said mobility agent server;

a paging application on said virtual operator server operable to generate a paging message that is sent to a predetermined paging area within said heterogeneous access network; and

wherein said paging application is operable to determine a last mobility agent server that serviced said wireless communication device, and wherein said paging application retrieves a list of mobility agent servers within a predetermined number of subnet relations from said last mobility agent server to determine said paging area.

10. The paging system of claim 9, wherein a subnet relation map is used to determine said list of mobility agent servers within said predetermined number of subnet relations from said last mobility agent server.

11. The paging system of claim 9, wherein a subnet relation algorithm is used to determine said predetermined number of subnet relations.

12. The paging system of claim 9, wherein an application characteristic database is used to limit said paging area.

13. The paging system of claim 9, wherein a personal device characteristic database is used to limit said paging area.

14. The paging system of claim 9, wherein said paging area is increased by a predetermined number of subnet relations if said paging message fails.

15. A method for determining access network interface activation for a wireless communication device, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of mobility agent servers connected to a virtual operator server;

determining a current active mobility agent server for said wireless communication device;

retrieving a list of mobility agent servers within a predetermined number of subnet relations from said current active mobility agent server;

determining a type of access network interface used for each said mobility agent servers contained in said list of mobility agent servers; and

notifying said wireless communication device of said types of access network interfaces.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of activating said access network interfaces.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of generating a confirmation message that is transmitted to said virtual operator server once said wireless communication device is notified of said types of access network interfaces.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said subnet relations are determined from a subnet relation map.

19. A method for providing pre-authentication for a wireless communication device, comprising the steps of:

determining a current active mobility agent server associated with said wireless communication device;

retrieving a list of mobility agent servers within a predetermined number of subnet relations from said wireless communication device; and

generating a pre-authentication message that is transmitted to each said mobility agent server contained in said list of mobility agent servers.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said subnet relations are determined from a subnet relation map.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of authenticating said wireless communication device in advance of handing off to another mobility agent server.

22. A method of providing pre-association for a wireless communication device, comprising the steps of:

determining a current active mobility agent server associated with said wireless communication device;

retrieving a list of mobility agent servers within a predetermined number of subnet relations from said wireless communication device; and

associated said wireless communication device with said mobility agent servers within said predetermined number of subnet relations from said wireless communication device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of using a subnet relation map to determine said subnet relations.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of sending a keep alive message to an appropriate access network for which said wireless communication device is turning on a wireless interface.