Aggregating multiple air interfaces with a multi-link protocol

• US 20030223450A1
• Filed: 05/29/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Rezaiifar, Ramin, Bender, Paul E.
• Application Number:
  US10/158,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20030223450A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/441
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/168 specially adapted for link layer protocols, e.g. asynchronous transfer mode [ATM], synchronous optical network [SONET] or point-to-point protocol [PPP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Techniques for aggregating multiple air interfaces to achieve higher data rates using standard link interfaces and a single user identifier are disclosed. In one aspect, each of a plurality of radio elements is associated with a unique link identifier and a common subscriber identifier. In another aspect, a base station authenticates a radio element by comparing a transmitted link identifier with a list of link identifiers accessed from a subscriber database indexed by subscriber identifier. In yet another aspect, a wireless connection is linked with an access node through an interface distinguished by the link identifier. The connection can be merged with other connections in a multi-link protocol. These aspects have benefits including allowing multiple devices to be supported with one subscriber identifier, achieving higher data rates due to aggregation of multiple links using standard interfaces, a single record per subscriber, and others.

Claims

1. A method of communication between an access terminal, including a plurality of radio elements, and an access node, including a multi-link protocol, comprising:

sending a link identifier and subscriber identifier from each of the plurality of radio elements to a base station, each link identifier unique to a corresponding radio element and the subscriber identifier common to the plurality of radio elements.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing a subscriber database with the subscriber identifier to receive a link identifier list comprising one or more link identifiers associated with the subscriber identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising authenticating a wireless connection between the base station and one of the plurality of radio elements when the link identifier associated with the radio element matches a link identifier in the link identifier list.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising connecting the wireless connection to the access node, the connection distinguished by the link identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising merging the connection with existing connections using the multi-link protocol and aggregating data therefrom.

6. A method of authentication, comprising:

receiving a link identifier and a subscriber identifier from a radio element;

receiving a link identifier list corresponding to the subscriber identifier from a subscriber database; and

authenticating the radio element when the link identifier matches a link identifier in the link identifier list.

7. Processor readable media operable to perform the following steps:

receiving a link identifier and a subscriber identifier from a radio element;

receiving a link identifier list corresponding to the subscriber identifier from a subscriber database; and

authenticating the radio element when the link identifier matches a link identifier in the link identifier list.

8. A communication system, including a base station operable with a plurality of radio elements and a subscriber database, the subscriber database including lists of link identifiers associated with subscriber identifiers, comprising:

a multi-link authenticator for receiving a link identifier and subscriber identifier from a radio element, receiving a link identifier list associated with the subscriber identifier from the subscriber database, and authenticating the radio element when the link identifier matches a link identifier in the link identifier list.

9. The communication system of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of radio elements, each radio element associated with a unique link identifier and a subscriber identifier common to the plurality of radio elements.

10. The communication system of claim 9, further comprising:

a multi-link protocol for aggregating data from and parsing data to the plurality of radio elements.

11. The communication system of claim 8, further comprising:

an Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server, the AAA server comprising a subscriber database including records associated with subscriber identifiers, the records comprising one or more link identifiers.

12. The communication system of claim 8, further comprising:

a packet data service node (PDSN) for communicating with the base station using a plurality of interfaces, each interface distinguished by a link identifier associated with one of the plurality of radio elements.

13. A communication system, comprising:

means for receiving a link identifier and a subscriber identifier from a radio element;

means for receiving a link identifier list corresponding to the subscriber identifier from a subscriber database; and

means for authenticating the radio element when the link identifier matches a link identifier in the link identifier list.

14. A communication system, comprising:

means for sending a link identifier and subscriber identifier from each of a plurality of radio elements to a base station, each link identifier unique to a corresponding radio element and the subscriber identifier common to the plurality of radio elements.

15. A communication system, comprising:

means for accessing an AAA server with a subscriber identifier to receive a link identifier list comprising one or more link identifiers associated with the subscriber identifier.

16. A communication system, comprising:

means for authenticating a wireless connection between the base station and one of the plurality of radio elements when a link identifier associated with the radio element matches a link identifier in a link identifier list.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

means for connecting the wireless connection to an access node, the connection distinguished by the link identifier.

18. A base station, operable with a plurality of radio elements and a subscriber database, the subscriber database including lists of link identifiers associated with subscriber identifiers, comprising:

a multi-link authenticator for receiving a link identifier and subscriber identifier from a radio element, receiving a link identifier list associated with the subscriber identifier from the subscriber database, and authenticating the radio element when the link identifier matches a link identifier in the link identifier list.

19. The base station of claim 18, further comprising an accounting means for accumulating network usage information associated with a link identifier and reporting the information with the associated subscriber identifier.

20. A base station, comprising:

means for receiving a link identifier and subscriber identifier from a radio element;

means for receiving a link identifier list associated with the subscriber identifier from a subscriber database; and

means for authenticating the radio element when the link identifier matches a link identifier in the link identifier list.

21. Processor readable media operable to perform the following step:

accessing a subscriber database with a subscriber identifier to receive a link identifier list comprising one or more link identifiers associated with the subscriber identifier.

22. Processor readable media operable to perform the following steps:

receiving a link identifier and subscriber identifier from a radio element;

receiving a link identifier list associated with the subscriber identifier from a subscriber database; and

authenticating the radio element when the link identifier matches a link identifier in the link identifier list.

23. The processor readable media of claim 22, operable to perform the further step of connecting to an access node, the connection distinguished by the link identifier.

24. A mobile station, operable with a base station, comprising:

a plurality of radio elements, each radio element associated with a unique link identifier and a subscriber identifier common to the plurality of radio elements, the link identifier and subscriber identifier transmitted to the base station during initialization of communication therewith.

25. The mobile station of claim 24, further comprising a multi-link protocol for aggregating data from and parsing data to the plurality of radio elements.

26. A mobile station, comprising:

means for transmitting a link identifier and subscriber identifier corresponding to a radio element to a base station for initialization of communication therewith.

27. The mobile station of claim 26, further comprising:

means for aggregating data from and parsing data to a plurality of radio elements.

28. Processor readable media operable to perform the following step:

sending a link identifier and subscriber identifier from each of the plurality of radio elements to a base station, each link identifier unique to a corresponding radio element and the subscriber identifier common to the plurality of radio elements.

29. An Authorization, Authentication, and Accounting (AAA) server, comprising:

a database of records, each record associated with a subscriber identifier, each record comprising one or more link identifiers.

30. The AAA server of claim 29, operable to receive an access request with a subscriber identifier from a base station and to transmit information from the record corresponding thereto.

31. An Authorization, Authentication, and Accounting (AAA) server, comprising:

means for associating a subscriber identifier with a record comprising one or more link identifiers.