System and method for allocating and distributing end user information in a network environment

• US 20060088011A1
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malaviya, Viren K., Iyer, Jayaraman R., Lindert, David P., Waclawsky, John G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,450,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1453 Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management

Abstract

A method for distributing information in a network environment is provided that includes receiving one or more packets from a communication flow and recognizing a universal generic identification (UGI) associated with the communication flow. The UGI corresponds to an end user that is associated with the communication flow. The UGI is operable to enable a service for the end user in a first network and a second network, the first and second networks being different, whereby either the first network or the second network operates as a home network for the end user.

Claims

1. An apparatus for distributing information in a network environment, comprising:

an identification (ID) server operable to receive one or more packets from a communication flow and to recognize a universal generic identification (UGI) associated with the communication flow, wherein the UGI corresponds to an end user that is associated with the communication flow, and wherein the UGI is operable to enable a service for the end user in a first network and a second network, the first and second networks being different, whereby either the first network or the second network operates as a home network for the end user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a selected one, but not both, of the first and second networks have a billing relationship with the end user.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the selected network is operable to interface with the other network in order to create a financial relationship for the end user such that the end user is enabled to engage in activity in the other network.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the selected network performs authentication and authorization procedures for the end user.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the ID server communicates data associated with the end user to one or more additional ID servers using a generic routing service protocol (GRSP) element.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein if permission is denied for access to the other network, then a reject message is sent to the end user, and wherein the reject message is operable to include a cause associated with a failure to obtain permission.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein if permission is granted to access the other network, then a billing protocol is initiated.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein once permission is granted, at least a selected one of end user location information, service accessed or service allowed information, and presence information associated with the end user is updated in the ID server.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein once permission is granted, a service request and a billing record is generated for the end user.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the UGI is operable to be resolved in order to correlate a profile to the end user that enables roaming over a plurality of disparate networks.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the profile comprises user information that includes one or more parameters associated with the end user, the parameters being selected from the group consisting of:

a) a physical location associated with the end user;

b) a network access technology associated with the end user;

c) a network service preference associated with the end user;

d) a quality of service associated with the end user;

e) a presence parameter associated with the end user;

f) a parental control associated with the end user;

g) a security key associated with the end user;

h) an authorization parameter associated with the end user;

i) an authentication parameter associated with the end user;

j) a status indicator associated with activity associated with the end user; and

k) an IP address associated with the end user.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the UGI may be resolved in order to provide access to a physical network, and wherein the physical network is a selected one of a wireless local area network (WLAN), a mobile network, a cable network, and an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) network.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the UGI provides a point of management in order to control one or more network operations associated with the end user that initiated the communication session.

14. A method for distributing information in a network environment, comprising:

receiving one or more packets from a communication flow; and

recognizing a universal generic identification (UGI) associated with the communication flow, wherein the UGI corresponds to an end user that is associated with the communication flow, and wherein the UGI is operable to enable a service for the end user in a first network and a second network, the first and second networks being different, whereby either the first network or the second network operates as a home network for the end user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a selected one, but not both, of the first and second networks have a billing relationship with the end user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected network is operable to interface with the other network in order to create a financial relationship for the end user such that the end user is enabled to engage in activity in the other network.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein if permission is denied for access to the other network, then a reject message is sent to the end user, and wherein the reject message is operable to include a cause associated with a failure to obtain permission.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein if permission is granted to access the other network, then a billing protocol is initiated.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein once permission is granted, at least a selected one of end user location information, service accessed or service allowed information, and presence information associated with the end user is updated in the ID server.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein once permission is granted, a service request and a billing record is generated for the end user.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

resolving the UGI in order to correlate a profile to the end user that enables roaming over a plurality of disparate networks.

22. A system for distributing information in a network environment, comprising:

means for receiving one or more packets from a communication flow; and

means for recognizing a universal generic identification (UGI) associated with the communication flow, wherein the UGI corresponds to an end user that is associated with the communication flow, and wherein the UGI is operable to enable a service for the end user in a first network and a second network, the first and second networks being different, whereby either the first network or the second network operates as a home network for the end user.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein a selected one, but not both, of the first and second networks have a billing relationship with the end user.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the selected network is operable to interface with the other network in order to create a financial relationship for the end user such that the end user is enabled to engage in activity in the other network.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein if permission is denied for access to the other network, then a reject message is sent to the end user, and wherein the reject message is operable to include a cause associated with a failure to obtain permission.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein if permission is granted to access the other network, then a billing protocol is initiated.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein once permission is granted, at least a selected one of end user location information, service accessed or service allowed information, and presence information associated with the end user is updated in the ID server.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein once permission is granted, a service request and a billing record is generated for the end user.

29. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

means for resolving the UGI in order to correlate a profile to the end user that enables roaming over a plurality of disparate networks.

30. Software embodied in a computer readable medium including code for distributing information in a network environment, the code being operable to:

receive one or more packets from a communication flow; and

recognize a universal generic identification (UGI) associated with the communication flow, wherein the UGI corresponds to an end user that is associated with the communication flow, and wherein the UGI is operable to enable a service for the end user in a first network and a second network, the first and second networks being different, whereby either the first network or the second network operates as a home network for the end user.

31. The medium of claim 30, wherein a selected one, but not both, of the first and second networks have a billing relationship with the end user.

32. The medium of claim 31, wherein the selected network is operable to interface with the other network in order to create a financial relationship for the end user such that the end user is enabled to engage in activity in the other network.

33. The medium of claim 31, wherein if permission is denied for access to the other network, then a reject message is sent to the end user, and wherein the reject message is operable to include a cause associated with a failure to obtain permission.

34. The medium of claim 31, wherein if permission is granted to access the other network, then a billing protocol is initiated.

35. The medium of claim 34, wherein once permission is granted, at least a selected one of end user location information, service accessed or service allowed information, and presence information associated with the end user is updated in the ID server.

36. The medium of claim 34, wherein once permission is granted, a service request and a billing record is generated for the end user.

37. The medium of claim 30, wherein the code is further operable to:

resolve the UGI in order to correlate a profile to the end user that enables roaming over a plurality of disparate networks.

38. A method for signing up an end user in a network environment, comprising:

enrolling an end user in a charging plan;

generating a bill for the end user that corresponds to the charging plan, wherein the charging plan is based on a plurality of operations that include;

receiving one or more packets from a communication flow; and

recognizing a universal generic identification (UGI) associated with the communication flow, wherein the UGI corresponds to an end user that is associated with the communication flow, and wherein the UGI is operable to enable a service for the end user in a first network and a second network, the first and second networks being different, whereby either the first network or the second network operates as a home network for the end user.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein a selected one, but not both, of the first and second networks have a billing relationship with the end user.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the selected network is operable to interface with the other network in order to create a financial relationship for the end user such that the end user is enabled to engage in activity in the other network.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein if permission is denied for access to the other network, then a reject message is sent to the end user, and wherein the reject message is operable to include a cause associated with a failure to obtain permission.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein if permission is granted to access the other network, then a billing protocol is initiated.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein once permission is granted, at least a selected one of end user location information, service accessed or service allowed information, and presence information associated with the end user is updated in the ID server.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein once permission is granted, a service request and a billing record is generated for the end user.

45. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

resolving the UGI in order to correlate a profile to the end user that enables roaming over a plurality of disparate networks.