Connection setup using flexible protocol configuration

• US 20060133409A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Horn, Gavin Bernard, Rezaiifar, Ramin, Prakash, Rajat, Jain, Nikhil
• Granted Patent: US 7,990,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A user terminal establishes a session with a first access point (AP0) and obtains a token associated with modem configuration information used for radio communication. The user terminal thereafter establishes a connection with a second access point (AP1) by sending the token. AP1 receives the token, obtains the modem configuration information associated with the token, and initializes an air interface protocol stack with the modem configuration information to obtain a modem-specific protocol stack for the user terminal. AP1 sends a response indicating successful connection setup. The user terminal and AP1 thereafter communicate in accordance with the modem-specific protocol stack. AP1 may attempt to fetch the session for the user terminal from AP0. If this is successful, then AP1 updates the protocol stack with the session information to obtain a complete protocol stack for the user terminal. The user terminal and AP1 thereafter communicate with the complete protocol stack.

Claims

1. An apparatus in a communication network, comprising:

a controller operative to receive a first message sent by a user terminal to establish a connection, to extract a token included in the first message, to obtain modem configuration information associated with the token, and to send to the user terminal a second message indicating successful connection setup based on the token; and

at least one data processor operative to exchange data with the user terminal in accordance with the modem configuration information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operative to form a protocol stack for the user terminal with the modem configuration information, and wherein the at least one data processor is operative to exchange data with the user terminal in accordance with the protocol stack.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory unit operative to store a token table containing tokens allowed for the network.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operative to determine whether the token is valid and, if the token is valid, to obtain the modem configuration information and to send the second message.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller is operative to look up the token in a token table containing tokens allowed for the network and to indicate that the token is valid if found in the token table.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operative to determine whether a session for the user terminal is available in local memory, and wherein the at least one data processor is operative to exchange data with the user terminal in accordance with the session for the user terminal if the session is available.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operative to initiate a fetch of a session for the user terminal from the network, and wherein the at least one data processor is operative to exchange data with the user terminal in accordance with the session for the user terminal if the session is fetched.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data processor is operative to receive from the user terminal packets for mobile Internet Protocol (IP) and to forward the packets for mobile IP to the network.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data processor is operative to receive from the user terminal packets for simple Internet Protocol (IP) and to terminate the packets for simple IP received from the user terminal.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the session for the user terminal comprises the modem configuration information and user-specific session information for the user terminal.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user-specific session information comprises a security key, and wherein the at least one data processor is operable to exchange data securely using the security key if the session is fetched.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the token includes a plurality of fields, and wherein each field is associated with a respective set of protocols or information usable for communication.

13. A method of communicating in a communication network, comprising:

receiving a first message sent by a user terminal to establish a connection;

obtaining from the first message a token indicative of modem configuration information to be used for the connection;

obtaining the modem configuration information associated with the token;

sending to the user terminal a second message indicating successful connection setup based on the token; and

exchanging data with the user terminal in accordance with the modem configuration information.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether the token is valid; and

if the token is valid, performing the obtaining the modem configuration information, the sending to the user terminal the second message, and the exchanging data with the user terminal.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

if the token is not valid and a session for the user terminal is not found, sending to the user terminal a message indicating the connection is closed.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

if the token is recognized but not supported, sending to the user terminal a message indicating the token is recognized but not supported.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether a session for the user terminal is available in local memory; and

if the session is available, exchanging data with the user terminal in accordance with the session for the user terminal.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

fetching a session for the user terminal from the network; and

if the session is fetched, exchanging data with the user terminal in accordance with the session for the user terminal.

19. An apparatus in a communication network, comprising:

means for receiving a first message sent by a user terminal to establish a connection;

means for obtaining from the first message a token indicative of modem configuration information to be used for the connection;

means for obtaining the modem configuration information associated with the token;

means for sending to the user terminal a second message indicating successful connection setup based on the token; and

means for exchanging data with the user terminal in accordance with the modem configuration information.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for determining whether the token is valid; and

means for enabling the means for obtaining the modem configuration information, the means for sending the second message, and the means for exchanging data with the user terminal if the token is valid.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for determining whether a session for the user terminal is available in local memory; and

means for exchanging data with the user terminal in accordance with the session for the user terminal if the session is available.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for fetching a session for the user terminal from the network; and

means for exchanging data with the user terminal in accordance with the session for the user terminal if the session is fetched from the network.

23. An apparatus in a communication network, comprising:

a controller operative to send a first message to a first access point to establish a connection and to receive from the first access point a second message indicating successful connection setup, wherein the first message includes a token indicative of modem configuration information to be used for the connection, and wherein the connection setup is based on the token; and

at least one data processor operative to exchange data with the first access point in accordance with the modem configuration information.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the controller is operative to select the token from among a plurality of tokens available for the apparatus, each of the plurality of tokens being associated with specific modem configuration information.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the controller is further operative to establish a session with a second access point and to obtain from the second access point the token associated with the modem configuration information, wherein the session comprises the modem configuration information and user-specific session information.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one data processor is operative to exchange data with a second access point in accordance with a session previously established for the user terminal.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one data processor is operative to exchange data with the first access point using simple Internet Protocol (IP) and to exchange data with the second access point using mobile IP.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one data processor is operative to receive local data service via the first access point and to receive global data service via the second access point.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the controller is operative to receive from the first access point a third message indicating a session for the user terminal has been fetched, and wherein the at least one data processor is operative to exchange data with the first access point in accordance with the session.

30. A method of communicating in a communication network, comprising:

sending from a user terminal a first message to a first access point to establish a connection, the first message including a token indicative of modem configuration information to be used for the connection;

receiving from the first access point a second message indicating successful connection setup based on the token; and

exchanging data with the first access point in accordance with the modem configuration information.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

establishing a session with a second access point, the session comprising the modem configuration information and user-specific session information; and

obtaining from the second access point at least one token, each token being associated with specific modem configuration information, and wherein the token included in the first message is one of the at least one token.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

exchanging data with a second access point in accordance with a session previously established for the user terminal.

33. An apparatus in a communication network, comprising:

means for sending from a user terminal a first message to a first access point to establish a connection, the first message including a token indicative of modem configuration information to be used for the connection;

means for receiving from the first access point a second message indicating successful connection setup based on the token; and

means for exchanging data with the first access point in accordance with the modem configuration information.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

means for establishing a session with a second access point, the session comprising the modem configuration information and user-specific session information; and

means for obtaining from the second access point the token associated with the modem configuration information.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

means for exchanging data with a second access point in accordance with a session previously established for the user terminal.