Distributed disparate wireless switching network

• US 20060168111A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanjay M. Gidwani
• Original Assignee: Sanjay M. Gidwani
• Inventors: Gidwani, Sanjay M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,733,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy

Abstract

A distributed disparate wireless switching network is described herein. In one embodiment, an exemplary network architecture includes, but is not limited to, a connection origination exchange (COX), a proxy controller coupled to the COX, an access point coupled to the proxy controller, and a mobile node wirelessly coupled to the access point. The mobile node communicates with a terminating node of a network through the access point and the proxy controller using an identification maintained by the proxy controller. The COX originates a connection with the terminating node on behalf of the mobile node using the identification provided by the proxy controller. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Claims

1. A network architecture, comprising:

a connection origination exchange (COX);

a first proxy controller coupled to the COX;

a first access point coupled to the first proxy controller; and

a mobile node wirelessly coupled to the first access point, wherein the first mobile node communicates with a terminating node of a network through the first access point and the first proxy controller using an identification maintained by the first proxy controller, and wherein the COX originates a connection with the terminating node on behalf of the first mobile node using the identification provided by the first proxy controller.

2. The network architecture of claim 1, wherein the COX cooperates with the mobile node to provide virtualized origination of the connection to the terminating node over the network.

3. The network architecture of claim 1, wherein the identification is a virtual subscriber identification associated with a subscriber of the mobile node.

4. The network architecture of claim 3, wherein the first proxy controller maintains a record containing authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) information associated with a subscriber of the mobile node.

5. The network architecture of claim 4, wherein the authentication is performed using a dynamic authentication identifier associated with the subscriber that changes from time to time to provide access to the network.

6. The network architecture of claim 4, wherein the first proxy controller cooperates with the mobile node to provide AAA, network management, and network accesses to resources of the network.

7. The network architecture of claim 1, wherein connection services are provided via a first connection segment between the mobile node and the COX at a first time, and wherein connection services are provided via a second connection segment between the mobile node and the COX at a second time.

8. The network architecture of claim 7, wherein connection services are provided via a first connection segment between a first subscriber of the mobile node and the COX, and wherein connection services are provided via a second connection segment between a second subscriber of the mobile node and the COX.

9. The network architecture of claim 7, wherein the COX maintains a given connection segment between the COX and the terminating node for a predetermined period of time, while a connection segment between the COX and the mobile node is unavailable.

10. The network architecture of claim 9, wherein the COX maintains a plurality of connections with the mobile node.

11. The network architecture of claim 9, wherein the COX maintains a plurality of connections with the terminating node.

12. The network architecture of claim 1, wherein connection services are provided by the COX using a virtual subscriber identifier associated with a plurality of subscribers.

13. The network architecture of claim 1, further comprising a master information base to store network preferences associated with types of connections when establishing a connection.

14. The network architecture of claim 1, wherein the first proxy controller is coupled to a plurality of access points including the first access point and a second access point, and wherein the mobile node is able to wirelessly communicate with one or more of the access points.

15. The network architecture of claim 14, wherein the first proxy controller maintains network traffic information of the access points to provide switching functionality of the mobile node from the first access point to the second access point.

16. The network architecture of claim 15, further comprising a second proxy controller coupled to the COX and one or more other access points, wherein the first and second proxy controllers communicate with each other regarding network traffic information.

17. The network architecture of claim 16, wherein the first and second proxy controllers exchanges information regarding at least one of service preferences, traffic policies, and quality of service.

18. A method, comprising:

a first proxy controller communicating with a connection origination exchange (COX) and one or more access points over a wired connection;

a mobile node wirelessly communicating with at least one of the one or more access points and the first mobile node communicating with a terminating node of a network through the first access point and the first proxy controller using an identification maintained by the first proxy controller; and

the COX originating a connection with the terminating node on behalf of the first mobile node using the identification provided by the first proxy controller.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

means for a first proxy controller communicating with a connection origination exchange (COX) and one or more access points over a wired connection;

means for a mobile node wirelessly communicating with at least one of the one or more access points and the first mobile node communicating with a terminating node of a network through the first access point and the first proxy controller using an identification maintained by the first proxy controller; and

means for the COX originating a connection with the terminating node on behalf of the first mobile node using the identification provided by the first proxy controller.