System for application server autonomous access across different types of access technology networks

• US 20050141447A1
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carlton, Alan Gerald, Menon, Narayan Parappil, Purkayastha, Debashish
• Granted Patent: US 8,014,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• 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

An Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) system for providing autonomous access to a wireless infrastructure by devices employing different types of access technology. The system includes a server, having an associated data storage device, for storing at least one policy, and a plurality of subnetworks, coupled to server, for providing access to the server. The plurality of subnetworks employ at least two different types of access technology. A plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) are wirelessly coupled to at least one of the subnetworks. The server monitors the wireless coupling and, depending upon the at least one policy, switches the WTRUs between different ones of the subnetworks.

Claims

1. A system for providing autonomous access to a wireless infrastructure by devices employing different types of access technology, the system comprising:

a server, having an associated data storage device, for storing at least one policy;

a plurality of subnetworks, coupled to said server, each for providing access to said server, said plurality of subnetworks including at least two different types of access technology; and

a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) for wirelessly coupling to said subnetworks,

whereby said server monitors said wireless coupling and, depending upon said at least one policy, switches said WTRU from one of said subnetworks to another of said subnetworks.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the server provides a registration with the WTRUs, the registration resulting in a regular transmission of location information between the PLMN and the server.

3. An architecture for providing network services to at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the architecture comprising:

a server for communicating with a plurality of networks, including a network providing large area mobile services and at least one subnetwork;

circuit providing connection requests through at least a subset of the plurality of networks, the circuit providing connection requests responsive to the server;

a query function on the server capable of generating a list of possible available connections between the WTRU and at least a subset of the plurality of networks;

a function for determining a preferred network connection selected from said plurality of networks in response to the query function generating the list of possible available connections, whereby the WTRU connects to one of said plurality of networks in response to the determination of the preferred network; and

a communication circuit for communicating with the WTRU when the WTRU connects to said one of said plurality of networks.

4. The architecture of claim 3 wherein the server provides information regarding system status of plural networks.

5. The architecture of claim 3 further comprising:

a communication network including an external voice and/or data network; and

the external voice and/or data network including at least one of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a public data network (PDN).

6. The architecture of claim 5 wherein an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) server provides connectivity between the external voice and/or data network and the WTRU is provided through the access networks using data from the ASAA server.

7. The architecture of claim 3 wherein an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) server provides an identity for the WTRU, thereby providing network connection requests in accordance with the identity assigned by the ASAA server.

8. A method of providing wireless telecommunication services to at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:

identifying at least a plurality of wireless access networks capable of providing wireless links to a WTRU;

providing a server capable of communicating with a plurality of wireless access networks;

determining a status of the WTRU of ability to establish a radio link with one or more of the wireless access networks;

using the server to establish a server communication link with at least one of the plurality of wireless access networks with which the WTRU has an ability to establish a radio link;

using the server communication link to establish communication between the WTRU through said one of the plurality of networks; and

using the server communication link to establish communication between the WTRU and a further destination through said one of the plurality of access networks.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

the server responsive to received addressing message from the WTRU, thereby permitting establishment of a communications link between the WTRU and a target network through a network connected to the WTRU, wherein the network connected to the WTRU provides an indication of connectivity of the WTRU;

a communication network providing an external voice and/or data network; and

the wireless access network providing communication with the server, thereby providing communication between the external voice and/or data network and the WTRU through network routing which includes said network connected to the WTRU.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the server providing information regarding system status of plural networks.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the external voice and/or data network communicates with at least one of the networks in response to the received response to a communication request.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the external voice and/or data network communicates with at least one of the networks in response to the received response to a paging request.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) server provides connectivity between the external voice and/or data network and the WTRU is provided through the access networks using data from the ASAA server.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing a registry by which at least one WTRU registers with the ASAA server for providing network services.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) server provides an identity for the WTRU, thereby providing network connection requests in accordance with the identity assigned by the ASAA server.

16. A server for providing network services to at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) according to an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) protocol, the server comprising:

a communication request circuit providing communication requests through at least a subset of the plurality of networks;

a circuit responsive to received messages from the plurality of networks, such that a response to a communication request a particular WTRU and received from one of the networks provides an indication of connectivity of the WTRU through said one of the networks; and

a communication circuit for communication between the external voice and/or data network and the WTRU through network routing which includes said one of the networks in response to the received response to the communication request.

17. The server of claim 16 wherein the server provides information regarding system status of plural networks.

18. The server of claim 16 wherein the communication circuit communicates through at least one of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a public data network (PDN).

19. The server of claim 16 wherein the server provides connectivity between the external network using data from the ASAA server.

20. The server of claim 16 further comprising a registry by which at least one WTRU registers with the ASAA server for providing network services.

21. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for communicating with a server through a plurality of access networks, the WTRU, comprising:

a circuit for receiving a paging request issued by the server through at least a first subset of the access networks;

a circuit for providing an indication of connectivity of the WTRU through said one of the networks in response to the paging request;

a circuit for selectively communicating through at least one of a second subset of the access networks, whereby the second subset may overlap the first subset; and

a communication circuit, communicating with the server through said at least one of the second subset of the access networks.

22. The WTRU of claim 21 wherein the WTRU communicates through the server with an external voice and/or data network including at least one of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a public data network (PDN).

23. The WTRU of claim 21 wherein the WTRU communication with the server provides Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) service.

24. The WTRU of claim 23 further comprising a circuit function to communicate with the ASAA service in accordance with a registration with the ASAA server for providing network services.

25. A method for controllably operating a video camera, the method comprising:

providing a wireless network to at least one camera device, the wireless network connection providing operational control of the camera and retrieving images from the camera;

providing a supervisory network capable of communicating operational control signals through the wireless network connection to the camera device and controlling transmission of images from the camera as received by the wireless network connection to the camera;

providing a control terminal; and

establishing a link between the control terminal to the supervisory network, the link between the control terminal and the supervisory network providing control of the camera by providing communication of the operational control signals to the camera and providing control of transmission of the images from the camera.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

using the supervisory server to identify links to the camera device;

using the supervisory server to establish a server communication link to control said camera device; and

using the server communication link to establish communication between the camera and a further destination.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

using, as the supervisory server, an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) server which provides connectivity between the external network and the camera device, said connectivity provided through an access network serving as the server communication link and using data from the ASAA server;

using the ASAA server to identify links to the camera device;

using the ASAA server to establish the server communication link to control said camera device; and

using the server communication link to establish communication between the camera and a further destination.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising providing a registry by which at least one WTRU registers with the supervisory network for providing network services.

29. A system capable of providing secure access to at least one video device, the system comprising:

a wireless network providing a link to the video device and providing operational control and transferring images;

a supervisory network capable of communicating operational control signals through the wireless network connection to the video device and controlling transmission of images as transferred by the wireless network connection;

a control terminal in communication with one of the supervisory network and the wireless network; and

a function of the supervisory network for establishing a link between the control terminal to control of the video device by providing communication of the operational control signals to the video device and providing control of transmission of the images in association with the video device.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein:

the supervisory server identifies links to the video device;

the supervisory server establishes a server communication link to control said video device; and

the server communication link establishes communication between the video device and a further destination.

31. The system of claim 29 further comprising:

an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) server providing the function of the supervisory server, wherein the ASAA server provides connectivity between the external network and the camera device, said connectivity provided through an access network serving as the server communication link and using data from the ASAA server;

the ASAA server including a circuit function to identify links to the camera device and to establish the server communication link to control said camera device; and

the server communication link establishing communication between the camera and a further destination.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein at least one WTRU registers with the supervisory network for providing network services.

33. A video device accessible through a public subscriber network and providing secure access, the video device comprising:

a circuit for communicating with a wireless network so as to provide a link between the network and the video device for providing operational control and transferring images through the wireless network; and

a circuit responsive to a supervisory network so as to receive operational control signals through the wireless network connection in a manner controlled by the supervisory network, thereby permitting control and transmission of images by the wireless network connection, wherein the supervisory network controls establishment of a link between a remote terminal to control the video device by providing communication of the operational control signals to the video device and wherein the supervisory network controls transmission of the images in association with the video device.

34. The video device of claim 33 wherein:

the video device provides the supervisory server with data for identifying links to the video device;

the video device responds to a communication link with the server to control the video device; and

the video device responds to the server to communicate with a further destination.

35. A communication accessory for providing secured communications, the communication accessory comprising:

a circuit for communicating with at least one local device through a bidirectional port connection;

a memory store for storing code conversion data for encryption and/or decryption; and

a logic circuit for receiving data through the bidirectional port, and decrypting the data using the code conversion data, wherein the code conversion provides a cooperative function with a predetermined remotely accessed server, and said one local device communicating through the bidirectional port connection, when connected through a public network link provides communication with the predetermined remotely accessed server through the public network link, such that data accessed by the logic circuit provides code conversion for establishing a secure transfer of data between at least one service provided through the public network link and accessed through said one local device.

36. The communication accessory of claim 35 wherein said one local device provides data limited by a limited set of user and remote commands, thereby limiting access to the data through the local terminal except as provided by the limited set of commands.

37. The communication accessory of claim 35 wherein said data accessed by the logic circuit includes data from a service separate from the predetermined remotely accessed server, and wherein the predetermined remotely accessed server provides secure access to the service separate from the predetermined remotely accessed server.

38. The communication accessory of claim 35 wherein said data accessed by the logic circuit includes data from a service separate from the predetermined remotely accessed server, and wherein the predetermined remotely accessed server directs communication between the local terminal and the service separate from the predetermined remotely accessed server.

39. The communication accessory of claim 35 further comprising a reader device operatively communicating with the logic circuit for providing further data processing.

40. The communication accessory of claim 35 further comprising a reader device operatively communicating with the logic circuit for providing further code conversion data.

41. The communication accessory of claim 35 further comprising a reader device operatively communicating with the logic circuit for providing further data processing, at least a portion of said further data processing generated independently of the logic circuit.

42. The communication accessory of claim 35 wherein the accessory provides dongle security cooperatively with the predetermined remotely accessed server.

43. The communication accessory of claim 35 wherein the accessory provides secure access to said local service by encryption and decryption of signals processed by the local terminal.

44. The communication accessory of claim 35 further comprising one of the memory store, the predetermined remotely accessed server or a service accessible by the predetermined remotely accessed server providing storage of password information, wherein the logic circuit decrypts the password information.

45. The communication accessory of claim 35 wherein the communication accessory provides secure communication through the local terminal with one of a plurality of security servers selected in accordance with a particular function executed through the local terminal.

46. The communication accessory of claim 35 wherein the predetermined remote server provides secure communication with a further server according to the further server'"'"'s protocol independently of a protocol used by the communication accessory to effect secure communications with the predetermined remote server.

47. The communication accessory of claim 35 wherein:

the predetermined remote server provides secure communication with a further server according to the further server'"'"'s protocol independently of a protocol used by the communication accessory to effect secure communications with the predetermined remote server, the predetermined remote server configured as an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) server; and

the ASAA server provides the cooperative function for code conversion in accordance with a registration of the local device with the ASAA server.

48. The communication accessory of claim 35 wherein the predetermined remote server provides secure communication as an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) server, the ASAA server providing the cooperative function for code conversion in accordance with a registration of the local device with the ASAA server.

49. The communication accessory of claim 35 further comprising a circuit function for reading further security data, thereby enabling the communication accessory to operate in conjunction with a separate security device.

50. A method for providing secure data transfer when using at least one separate terminal interface by use of a communication accessory, while maintaining security data separate from the terminal interface, the method comprising:

providing a security accessory containing a logic circuit and at least one memory store;

using the security accessory to communicate with at least one local device through a bidirectional port connection, wherein the local device establishes or maintains a public network connection; and

providing a cooperative code conversion function with a predetermined remotely accessed server accessible through the public network connection, and said one local device communicating through the bidirectional port connection, when connected through a public network connection provides communication with the predetermined remotely accessed server, such that data accessed by the logic circuit provides code conversion for establishing a secure transfer of data between at least one service provided through the public network link and accessed through said one local device.

51. The method of claim 50 further comprising using said one local device to provide data limited by a limited set of user and remote commands, thereby limiting access to the data through the local terminal except as provided by the limited set of commands.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein said data accessed by the logic circuit includes data from a service separate from the predetermined remotely accessed server, and wherein the predetermined remotely accessed server provides secure access to the service separate from the predetermined remotely accessed server.

53. The method of claim 50 wherein said data accessed by the logic circuit includes data from a service separate from the predetermined remotely accessed server, and wherein the predetermined remotely accessed server directs communication between the local terminal and the service separate from the predetermined remotely accessed server.

54. The method of claim 50 further comprising using a reader device operatively communicating with the logic circuit for providing further data processing.

55. The method of claim 50 further comprising using a reader device operatively communicating with the logic circuit for providing further code conversion data.

56. The method of claim 50 further comprising using a reader device operatively communicating with the logic circuit for providing further data processing, at least a portion of said further data processing generated independently of the logic circuit.

57. The method of claim 50 wherein the accessory provides dongle security cooperatively with the predetermined remotely accessed server.

58. The method of claim 50 further comprising using the accessory to provide secure access to said local service by encryption and decryption of signals processed by the local terminal.

59. The method of claim 50 further comprising:

providing storage and password information in one of the memory store, the predetermined remotely accessed server or a service accessible by the predetermined remotely accessed server; and

using wherein the logic circuit to decrypt the password information.

60. The method of claim 50 further comprising using the communication accessory to provide secure communication through the local terminal with one of a plurality of security servers selected in accordance with a particular function executed through the local terminal.

61. The method of claim 50 further comprising using the predetermined remote server provides secure communication with a further server according to the further server'"'"'s protocol independently of a protocol used by the communication accessory to effect secure communications with the predetermined remote server.

62. The method of claim 50 further comprising:

using the predetermined remote server to provide secure communication with a further server according to the further server'"'"'s protocol independently of a protocol used by the communication accessory to effect secure communications with the predetermined remote server, the predetermined remote server configured as an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) server; and

using the ASAA server to provide the cooperative function for code conversion in accordance with a registration of the local device with the ASAA server.

63. The method of claim 50 further comprising using an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) server as the predetermined remote server, the ASAA server providing the cooperative function for code conversion in accordance with a registration of the local device with the ASAA server.

64. The method of claim 50 further comprising reading further security data, thereby enabling the communication accessory to operate in conjunction with a separate security device.

65. An architecture for providing network services to at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the architecture comprising:

a server for communicating with a plurality of networks, including a network providing large area mobile services; and

the providing connection requests through at least a subset of the plurality of networks and communicating with the WTRU in accordance with a preferred network connection, wherein server provides an identity for the WTRU and the WTRU communicates in accordance with said preferred network connection, thereby providing network connection requests in accordance with the identity assigned by the server.

66. The architecture of claim 65 wherein the server provides information regarding system status of plural networks.

67. The architecture of claim 65 further comprising:

a communication network including an external voice and/or data network; and

the external voice and/or data network including at least one of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a public data network (PDN).

68. The architecture of claim 65 further comprising an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) server which provides connectivity between the external network and the WTRU is provided through the access networks using data from the ASAA server.