Method, system and device for service selection via a wireless local area network

• US 20040029580A1
• Filed: 04/17/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Haverinen, Henry, Mikkonen, Jouni
• Granted Patent: US 7,633,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/18 Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• 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 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5053 Lease time; Renewal aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• 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 12/75 Temporary identity
• 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 method in a system, a system, a method in a terminal and a terminal for service selection in a data network. The method sends, from a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) terminal, a Network Access Identifier (NAI) including a service selection indicator via a WLAN access point; receives, at an authentication server, the NAI including a service selection indicator, and provides the WLAN terminal with a connection to the service indicated by said selection indicator. The system comprises at least one WLAN access point and terminal comprising means for including a service selection indicator in a NAI and means for sending said NAI including said service selection indicator via the WLAN access point, at least one authentication server comprising means for receiving said NAI, means for extracting said service selection indicator from said NAI and means for initiating connection to a service indicated by said service selection indicator.

Claims

1. A method for service selection in a data network comprising at least one Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access point, said method comprising:

sending, from a WLAN terminal, a network access identifier (NAI) including a service selection indicator via the WLAN access point,

receiving, at an authentication server, the network access identifier including a service selection indicator, and

providing the WLAN terminal with a connection to the service that is indicated by said selection indicator.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the NAI is of the form <

user>

@<

realm> and

the service selection indicator is included in the <

realm>

portion of the NAI.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein communication to and from said WLAN terminal utilizes an Authentication Authorization Accounting (AAA) protocol.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said providing the WLAN terminal with a connection includes transferring tunnel attributes to said WLAN terminal.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said providing the WLAN terminal with a connection includes transferring Virtual Local Area Network attributes to said WLAN terminal.

6. A system for selecting services in a network, the system comprising:

at least one Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access point,

at least one WLAN terminal comprising means for including a service selection indicator in a Network Access Identifier (NAT) and means for sending said NAT including said service selection indicator via the WLAN access point, and

at least one authentication server comprising means for receiving a NAT including said service selection indicator, means for extracting said service selection indicator from said NAT and means for initiating a connection to a service indicated by said service selection indicator.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said means for initiating a connection is arranged to send tunnel attributes relating to said connection.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein said means for initiating a connection is arranged to send Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) attributes relating to said connection.

9. A method in a terminal for selecting services, said method comprising:

setting a service selection indicator,

including said service selection indicator in a Network Access Identifier (NAT),

sending said NAT including said service selection indicator over a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and

receiving at least one message for establishing a connection to the indicated service.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising receiving an input from the user indicating a selected service.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising presenting selectable services for a user.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the NAI is of the form <

user>

@<

realm> and

the service selection indicator is included in the <

realm>

portion of the NAI.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein said receiving at least one message establishing a connection further comprises receiving tunnel attributes for use in establishing the connection.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein said receiving at least one message establishing a connection further comprises receiving Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) attributes for use in establishing the connection.

15. A computer program directly loadable into the internal memory of a terminal, the computer program comprising software code portions for performing the method of claim 9.

16. A terminal that is enabled for communication via a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), said terminal comprising:

means for setting a service selection indicator,

means for including said service selection indicator in a Network Access Identifier (NAI),

means for sending said NAI including said service selection indicator, and

means for establishing a connection to a indicated service in response to at least one message for establishing a connection.

17. A terminal according to claim 16, further comprising input means for. input of an indicator of a selected service.

18. A terminal according to claim 17, further comprising means for presenting selectable services for a user.

19. A terminal according to claim 16, wherein said means for establishing a connection is arranged to establish a connection based on received tunnel attributes.

20. A terminal according to claim 16, wherein said means for establishing a connection is arranged to establish a connection based on received Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) attributes.

21. An authentication server comprising:

means for receiving a Network Access Identifier (NAI) including a service selection indicator,

means for extracting said service selection indicator from said NAI, and

means for initiating a connection between a WLAN terminal and a service indicated by said service selection indicator.

22. An authentication server according to claim 21, further comprising means for retrieving attributes for setting up a connection to the service indicated by said service selection indicator.

23. An authentication server according to claim 21, wherein the authentication server is a authentication authorization accounting server.

24. An authentication server according to claim 23, further comprising a log including at least one record, which includes a user identity, a service selection indicator, and a value representing a billable feature.

25. A method in an authentication server comprising:

receiving a Network Access Identifier (NAI) including a service selection indicator,

extracting said service selection indicator from said NAI, and

initiating a connection between a WLAN terminal and a service indicated by said service selection indicator.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said initiating a connection comprises sending connection attributes related to the service that is indicated by said service selection indicator.

27. A method according to claim 25, further comprising controlling if a user identified in the NAI is authorized to access the service indicated in the NAI.

28. A method according to claim 25, further comprising logging a billable feature for an identified user utilizing an indicated service.