Network architecture for mobile communication system and communication method using the same

• US 20040141488A1
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Sung-hyun, Kim, Young-soo, Hwang, Chan-soo, Park, Won-hyoung
• Application Number:
  US10/702,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20040141488A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/85 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8214 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2013 Fixed data network, e.g. PDN, ATM, B-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/204 UMTS; GPRS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/782 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

Network architecture for a mobile communication system includes a plurality of Internet protocol (IP) routers that serve as gateways for transmitting data from one mobile terminal to another mobile terminal over a public Internet network. The architecture also includes a home agent (HA) and an authorization authentication accounting (AAA) server, both of which are located on the public Internet network. The HA performs initial registration of mobile terminals, IP routing, and management of mobility of the mobile terminals. The AAA server performs authorization, authentication and accounting for the mobile terminals to allow the mobile terminals access to the public Internet network and stores AAA information of each of the mobile terminals. A plurality of radio access points (RAPs), which are respectively connected to the public Internet network via the IP routers, connect the mobile terminals to the public Internet network.

Claims

1. A network architecture for a mobile communication system, the network architecture comprising:

a plurality of Internet protocol (IP) routers which serve as gateways for transmitting data from one mobile terminal, which is a sending party, to another mobile terminal, which is a receiving party, over a public Internet network;

a home agent (HA) located on the public Internet network, the HA carrying out initial registration of mobile terminals, IP routing, and management of mobility of the mobile terminals;

an authorization authentication accounting (AAA) server located on the public Internet network, separate from the HA, the AAA server carrying out authorization, authentication and accounting for the mobile terminals such that the mobile terminals access the public Internet network and storing AAA information of each of the mobile terminals; and

a plurality of radio access points (RAPs) which are respectively connected to the public Internet network via the IP routers, the RAPs connecting the mobile terminals to the public Internet network.

2. The network architecture of claim 1, wherein the home agent, the AAA server, and the plurality of RAPs are constructed to support a safe communication path.

3. The network architecture of claim 2, wherein the safe communication path includes a virtual private network (VPN).

4. The network architecture of claim 1, wherein at least one of the RAP, the AAA server and the HA encapsulates control information data to be transmitted.

5. The network architecture of claim 4, wherein the RAP assigns a higher priority to encapsulated control information data than to other types of data.

6. The network architecture of claim 1, wherein the RAP directly transmits user data to the public Internet network via the IP routers.

7. The network architecture of claim 1, wherein the RAP transmits location information of a mobile terminal to the HA.

8. The network architecture of claim 1, wherein the HA further performs route optimization.

9. The network architecture of claim 1, wherein the RAP further performs general radio link functions.

10. A communication method in a network architecture for a mobile communication system, the network architecture including a plurality of Internet protocol (IP) routers, a home agent, an authorization authentication accounting (AAA) server and a plurality of radio access points (RAPs), the communication method comprising:

transmitting control information data using a first communication manner; and

transmitting user data using a second communication manner,

wherein the control information data and user data are separately processed and transmitted.

11. The communication method of claim 10, wherein the first communication manner comprises securing a safe communication path by performing communication between the plurality of RAPs, between the RAPs and the home agent, and between the RAPs and the AAA server.

12. The communication method of claim 11, wherein the securing a safe communication path includes using virtual private network (VPN) services.

13. The communication method of claim 12, wherein the first communication manner further comprises encapsulating the control information data.

14. The communication method of claim 13, further comprising setting a higher priority to encapsulated control information data than to user data.

15. The communication method of claim 10, wherein the second communication manner includes directly transmitting the user data of each mobile terminal to the public Internet network.

16. The communication method of claim 10, wherein the second communication manner is less secure than the first communication manner.

17. The communication method of claim 12, wherein the first communication manner further comprises encapsulating the control information data.

18. The communication method of claim 13, further comprising setting a higher priority to encapsulated control information data than to user data.