Method and system for gsm authentication during wlan roaming

• US 20050177733A1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TOGEWA Holding AG
• Original Assignee: TOGEWA Holding AG
• Inventors: Kauz, Michael, Stadelmann, Toni
• Granted Patent: US 7,539,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• 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 63/18 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: 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 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/31 Distributed metering or calculation of charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/50 for cross-charging network operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 WLAN
• 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 2215/34 : Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 : Connection to several service providers
• 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: H04M 2215/54 : Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 : Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/96 : Distributed calculation of charges, e.g. in different nodes like for mobiles between HLR and VLR, or between the terminal and the billing function
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 : Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 : Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 : Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks, in which method, for authentication, a mobile IP node (20) requests access to the WLAN at an access point (21, 22), in which method, upon request from the access server (23), the mobile IP node (20) transmits an IMSI stored on a SIM card (201) of the mobile IP node (20) to the access server (23), and in which method, based on the IMSI, using information stored in an SIM user database (34), the logic IP data channel of the WLAN is supplemented user-specifically towards corresponding GSM data for signal and data channels of a GSM network, and the authentication of the IP nodes (20) is carried out in an HLR (37) and/or VLR (37) of a GSM network.

Claims

1. Method for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks, in which method, for authentication, via a wireless interface within a basic service area of a WLAN, a mobile IP node requests access to the WLAN at an access point, the basic service area of the WLAN including one or more access points assigned to an access server, in which method, upon request from the access server, the mobile IP node transmits an IMSI stored on a SIM card of the mobile IP node to the access server, and the IMSI of the IP node is stored in a database of a SIM-RADIUS module, characterized

in that, based on the IMSI, the logic IP data channel of the WLAN is user-specifically supplemented towards corresponding GSM data for signal and data channels of a GSM network by means of information stored in an SIM user database,

in that by means of a SIM gateway module, to perform the authentication of the IP node, the necessary SS7/MAP functions are generated based on the GSM data,

in that, by means of a SIM user database and SIM gateway module, the SIM-RADIUS module performs the authentication of the mobile IP node at a HLR and/or VLR of a GSM network, based on the IMSI of the SIM card of the mobile node, and

in that with successful authentication a location update is performed at the HLR and/or VLR, and the mobile IP node receives a corresponding entry in a customer database of the access server, the WLAN being released for use by the mobile IP node.

2. Method for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks according to claim 1, characterized in that, with successful authentication, in addition to the location update at the HLR and/or VLR, an authorization of the mobile IP node is performed, a corresponding user profile based on the IMSI being downloaded at the HLR and/or VLR.

3. Method for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks according to claim 1, characterized in that, for the authentication of the mobile IP node, the IMSI stored on the SIM card of the mobile IP node is only used up to one or more of the first authentication stages and that for all further authentication stages the IMSI is replaced by a generated temporary IMSI.

4. Method for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks according to claim 1, characterized in that the authentication of the mobile IP node is performed by means of an extensible authentication protocol.

5. Method for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks according to claim 1, characterized in that the data stream of the mobile IP node is directed via a mobile radio network service provider during access to the WLAN from the access point.

6. Method for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks according to claim 5, characterized in that, based on the authentication by means of the IMSI, the mobile radio network service provider issues the corresponding service authorization for use of different services and/or performs the billing of the service availed of.

7. Method for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks according to claim 1, characterized in that the SIM user database is connected to a sync module and a sync database for changing or deleting existing user datasets or for inserting new user datasets, the comparison of the databases being carried out periodically and/or initiated by changes in the sync database or through failure of the SIM user database

8. Method for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks according to claim 1, characterized in that, by means of a clearing module 533 for the billing, the billing records of the heterogeneous WLANs are synchronized with the user data and processed based on the GSM-Standard TAP.

9. System for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks, which system includes at least one WLAN, with a basic service area in each case, which basic service area of a WLAN includes one or more access points assigned to an access server, which access points include a wireless interface for communication with mobile IP nodes and which mobile IP nodes include an SIM card for storage of an IMSI, characterized,

in that the access server includes an SIM-RADIUS module with a database for storage of the IMSI, based on the IMSI and by means of information stored in an SIM user database, the logical IP data channel of the WLAN being supplemented user-specifically towards GSM data for signal and data channels of a GSM network,

in that the system includes an SIM gateway module, by means of which to perform the authentication of the mobile IP node the necessary SS7/MAP functions are able to be generated based on the GSM data, and

in that the access server includes a customer database, in which authenticated users of the WLAN can be entered by means of the SIM-RADIUS module, during the entry a location update of the IMSI of the mobile IP node being performed at the HLR and/or VLR.

10. System for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks according to claim 9, characterized in that, with successful authentication, in addition to the location update by means of a user profile of the HLR and/or VLR an authorization of the mobile IP node can be performed.

11. System for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks according to claim 9, characterized in that, for the authentication of the mobile IP node, the IMSI is replaceable in at least one of the authentication stages by a temporary IMSI generated by means of a module.

12. System for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks according to claim 9, characterized in that the authentication of the mobile IP node can be performed by means of the Extensible Authentication Protocol.

13. System for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks according to claim 9, characterized in that the system includes of a mobile radio network provider via whom the data stream of the mobile IP node is able to be rerouted from the access point during access to the WLAN.

14. System for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks according to claim 13, characterized in that the mobile radio network provider includes a authorization module, which, based on the authentication by means of the IMSI, issues the corresponding service authorization for use of different services, and/or includes a clearing system that carries out the billing for the service availed of.

15. System for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks according to claim 9, characterized in that the system includes a sync module with a sync database, by means of which the SIM user database is connected for changing or deleting existing user datasets or for inserting new user datasets, the comparison of the databases being carried out periodically and/or initiated by changes in the sync database and/or through failure of the SIM user database.

16. System for automatic roaming between heterogeneous WLANs and/or GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks according to claim 9, characterized in that, by means of a clearing module 533 for the billing, the billing records of the heterogeneous WLANs are able to be synchronized with the user data and are able to be processed based on the GSM standard TAP.