Enhanced general packet radio service (GPRS) mobility management

• US 20040162105A1
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Reddy, Ramgopal (Paul) K., Bhatt, Dhiraj
• Application Number:
  US10/663,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20040162105A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/551
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/162 at the data link layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Requests for credential information from a SIM are initiated using extensible authentication protocol (EAP). A smartcard interface and a SIM reader driver are used to communicate with a GPRS adapter containing the SIM.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

using credential information stored in a subscriber identity module (SIM) associated with a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) adapter to authenticate access to a wireless local area network (WLAN), wherein communications with the SIM is carried out using extensible authentication protocol (EAP).

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

issuing one or more requests via a smart card interface to get the credential information.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

arbitrating the one or more requests to the SIM when the SIM is busy.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more requests are received by the SIM via a SIM reader driver.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving the credential information from the SIM after the one or more requests are processed by the SIM.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a WLAN connection with the WLAN via a WLAN adapter.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the WLAN connection is established while there is a connection to a GPRS network via the GPRS adapter.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

issuing a location update to switch data services from the GPRS network to the WLAN; and

disconnecting from the GPRS network.

9. A machine-readable medium including machine readable instructions that, if executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform a method comprising:

using credential information stored in a subscriber identity module (SIM) associated with a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) adapter to authenticate access to a wireless local area network (WLAN), wherein communications with the SIM is carried out using extensible authentication protocol (EAP).

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising

issuing one or more requests via a smart card interface to get the credential information.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising:

arbitrating the one or more requests to the SIM when the SIM is busy.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more requests are received by the SIM via a SIM reader driver.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving the credential information from the SIM after the one or more requests are processed by the SIM.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

establishing a WLAN connection with the WLAN via a WLAN adapter.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the WLAN connection is established while there is a connection to a GPRS network via the GPRS adapter.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

issuing a location update to switch data services from the GPRS network to the WLAN; and

disconnecting from the GPRS network.

17. A system, comprising:

a wireless local area network (WLAN) adapter;

a general packet radio service (GPRS) adapter coupled to the WLAN adapter and including a subscriber identify module (SIM); and

a mobility client to initiate requests for credential information from the SIM to authenticate access to a WLAN when the mobility recognizes an access point, wherein said requests for the credential information are communicated to the SIM using extensible authentication protocol (EAP).

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the requests for the credential information are communicated to the SIM via a smart card interface.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the requests for the credential information are received by the SIM via a SIM reader driver.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the GPRS adapter includes a SIM access module (SAM) to arbitrate the request for the credential information to the SIM.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the SAM arbitrates the requests for the credential information to the SIM while there is a GPRS connection to a GPRS network via the GPRS adapter.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the mobility client is further to issue a location update after the access to the WLAN is authenticated and a WLAN connection is established.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the mobility client is further to drop the GPRS connection.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the WLAN adapter and the GPRS adapter are installed an open platform.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the WLAN adapter and the GPRS adapter are combined into one module.

27. A system, comprising:

means for initiating requests for credential information from a subscriber identity module (SIM) associated with a general packet radio service (GPRS) adapter;

means for authenticating access to a wireless local area network (WLAN) using the credential information; and

means for switching data services from a GPRS connection to a WLAN connection after the access to the WLAN is authenticated.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said means for requesting the credential information from the SIM includes means for arbitrating requests to the SIM.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said means for switching data services between the GPRS connection and the WLAN connection includes means for performing a location update.

30. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

means for interfacing with the SIM to send the request for the credential information.