Access system for an access network

• US 20040068571A1
• Filed: 08/06/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Ahmavaara, Kalle
• Granted Patent: US 7,551,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/50 for cross-charging network operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/204 UMTS; GPRS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2046 Hybrid network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/52 Interconnection, inter-exchange, reseller billing, billing agreements between different operators, e.g. billing identifier added on the CDR in order to cross charge the other operator, inter-operator accounting, reconciliation, bill directly resellers customers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/14 between access point controllers and backbone network device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method, system and device for providing access from a terminal device (1) to a second access network (8). To achieve this an access network device (3) belonging to an first access network (12) stores a second access network information comprising information of second access network(s) (8) accessible from the first access network (12). Communication means between the terminal device and and the first access network are established and the second access network information is delivered to the terminal device (1). The terminal device (1) accesses the second access network (8) via the first access network (12). The accessing is done based on the second access network information delivered to said terminal device (1). Thereby, service functions of the second access network, e.g. UMTS services, can be distributed via any other access network and existing broadband or high-speed access networks can be implemented in new cellular network structures. A huge capacity enhancement can thus be offered to the network operators of the cellular network without any standardization effort or license fee and at very small investment and maintenance costs.

Claims

1. A method of providing access from a terminal device (1) to a second access network (8), said method comprising the steps of:

a) storing second access network information in an access network device (3) belonging to a first access network (12), said second access network information comprising information of second access network(s) (8) accessible from said first access network (12);

b) establishing communication means between said terminal device (1) and said first access network (12);

c) delivering the second access network information from said access network device (3) to said terminal device (1); and

d) accessing said second access network (8) via said first access network (12), said accessing done based on the second access network information delivered to said terminal device (1).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said second access network (8) is accessed via a service node (5) belonging to said second access network (8).

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein IP transport is used between said terminal device (1) and said service node (5).

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said second access network information comprises a list of PLMN-IDs of accessible second access networks (8).

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said second access network information comprises IP Address of the service node (5).

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said second access network information comprises system information package from each accessible second access network (8).

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said terminal device is connected to the first access network (12) via an access device (2) and said establishing of communication means comprises an establishment of the radio interface connection between said terminal device (1) and said access device (2).

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the method further comprises a step of allocation of IP address to the terminal device (1).

9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said accessing of the second access network (8) comprises establishing an connection between the terminal device (1) and the service node (5) of the second access network (8).

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said connection is used to transport radio resource control connection between the terminal device (1) and the service node (5).

11. A method according to claims 9 or 10, wherein said connection is maintained as long as the terminal device (1) is in the coverage area of the first access network (12).

12. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein handing over between two access devices (2) comprises steps of:

abandoning the communication means between the access device (2) and the terminal device (1);

establishing a new communication means between the new access device (2) and the terminal device (1); and

sending a signaling message to the service node (5) from the terminal device (1).

13. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein handing over an access device (2) comprises steps of:

abandoning the communication means between the access device (2) and the terminal device (1);

establishing a new communication means between the new access device (2) and the terminal device (1);

allocation of IP address to terminal device (1);

delivering of second access network information to the terminal device (1); and

sending a signaling message to the new service node (5) from the terminal device (1).

14. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein said first access network (12) uses WLAN, OFDM or Bluetooth based radio technology.

15. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the data transmitted between said terminal device (1) and said second access network (8) comprises of protocol data units.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said protocol data units are radio link control data units.

17. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the protocol data units are multiplexed into a data stream between the second access network (8) and terminal device (1) by a multiplexing protocol.

18. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the protocol data units are transported over the first access network (12) via a UDP/IP tunnel.

19. A system for providing access from a terminal device (1) to a second access network (8), said system comprising:

a) a first access network (12) for providing communication means for the terminal device (1);

b) an access network device (3) belonging to said first access network (12), for storing and delivering second access network information to said terminal device (1), said second access network information comprising information of second access network(s) (8) accessible from said first access network (12); and

said second access network information comprising information enabling the terminal device (1) to access said second access network (8) via said first access network (12).

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein said second access network (8) comprises a service node (5) via which said second access network (8) is accessed by the terminal device (1).

21. A system according to claim 19 or 20, wherein IP transport is used between said terminal device (1) and said service node (5).

22. A system according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein said second access network information comprises a list of PLMN-IDs of accessible second access networks (8).

23. A system according to any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein said second access network information comprises IP address of the service node (5).

24. A system according to any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein said second access network information comprises system information package from each accessible second access network (8).

25. A system according to any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein said first access network further comprises an access device (2) arranged to connect said terminal device (1) to the first access network (12) according to the access specifications of said first access network (12).

26. A system according to any one of claims 19 to 25, wherein said establishing of communication means comprises an establishment of the radio interface connection between said terminal device (1) and said access device (2).

27. A system according to any one of claims 19 to 26, wherein said access network device (3) is arranged to allocate an IP address to the terminal device (1).

28. A system according to any one of claims 19 to 27, wherein said accessing said second access network (8) comprises establishing of an connection between said terminal device (1) and said service node (5) of said second access network (8).

29. A system according to any one of claims 28, wherein said connection is used for radio resource control connection between said terminal device (1) and said service node (5).

30. A system according to claims 28 or 29, wherein said connection is maintained as long as said terminal device (1) is in the coverage area of said first access network (12).

31. A system according to any one of claims 19 to 30, wherein said first access network (12) is arranged to use WLAN, Bluetooth or OFDM based radio technology.

32. A system according to any one of claims 19 to 31, wherein the data transmitted between the said terminal device (1) and said second access networks (8) comprises of protocol data units.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein said protocol data units are radio link control data units.

34. A system according to claim 32 or 33, wherein said service node (5) and terminal device (1) are arranged to multiplex said protocol data units into a data stream between said service node (5) and said terminal device (1) by a multiplexing protocol.

35. A system according to any one of claims 32 to 34, wherein said protocol data units are transported over said first access network (12) via a UDP/IP tunnel.

36. An access network device (3) for enabling access from a terminal device (1) connected to a first access network (12), to a second access network (8), said access network device (3) arranged to:

a) store a second access network information; and

b) deliver said second access network information to said terminal device (1), said second access network information comprising information of second access network(s) (8) accessible from the first access network (12); and

said second access network information comprising information enabling the terminal device (1) to access said second access network (8) via said first access network (12).

37. An access network device (3) according to claim 36, wherein said access network device (3) belongs to said first access network (12)

38. An access network device (3) according to claims 36 or 37, wherein said access network device (3) is arranged to allocate an address to said terminal device (1).