Architecture that manages access between a mobile communications device and an IP network

• US 20070083470A1
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Flynn, Judson, Bonner, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,775,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

Architecture which includes functionality in a handset and a network that automates an access point association and authorization procedure. The invention builds on a framework specified as part of a generic access network controller to enable the network to transparently and dynamic detect, control, and manage which access points are allowed for specific subscribers. The invention comprises a system that facilitates communications over a network including an access component that facilitates wireless communications over an unlicensed network that operates in an unlicensed frequency band (e.g., a home Wi-Fi network), and an authorization component that facilitates authorization of a mobile communications device (e.g., a cellular telephone) for communications over a mobile communications network (e.g., a cellular network) via the unlicensed network.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates communications over a network, comprising:

an access component that facilitates wireless communications over an unlicensed network; and

an authorization component that facilitates an authorization process of a mobile communications device for communications over a mobile communications network via the unlicensed network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization component automatically associates an access point of the access component with the mobile communications device when the mobile communications device accesses the access point for the first time.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization component automatically prohibits access to the unlicensed network based on subscriber data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization component automatically limits access to the unlicensed network based on allowed access to other unlicensed networks.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization component prompts a user to accept access to the unlicensed network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the unlicensed network is an IEEE 802.11-based network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the unlicensed network is a home Wi-Fi network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device is a multi-mode cellular telephone handset.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a subscriber associated with the unlicensed network communicates unique access point data of the access component to a service provider via the mobile communications network.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization component associates the mobile communications device with an access point of the unlicensed network.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device is a cellular telephone that is VoIP-capable.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization component authorizes communications of the mobile communications device via a GSM network.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device includes a client that automatically detects unique data of a wireless access point, and presents the unique data to a device user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the unique data of the wireless access point is BSSID data.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the unique data of the wireless access point is BSSID data that is transmitted from the mobile communications device via a USSD message.

16. A system that facilitates communications over a network, comprising:

an access point that facilitates wireless communications between a cell phone and a cellular network via an unlicensed network; and

an authorization component that facilitates an authorization process of the cell phone for cellular communications via the unlicensed network.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein when the cell phone is out of radio range of the access point, the communications bypasses the unlicensed network and is automatically configured directly for the cellular network.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the authorization component is part of a generic access network.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the authorization component includes an AAA service that accesses an access control database for cell phone and access point associated data.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the access control database associates an EAP-SIM permanent identity with an EAP-SIM pseudonym identity.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the access control database associates an EAP-AKA permanent identity with an EAP-AKA pseudonym identity.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein messaging to the cell phone from the authorization component is communicated via an SS7 entity, which is a signal control point.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the authorization process includes accessing a website to input cell phone data and access point data that is used to authorize cellular communications via the unlicensed network.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the authorization process includes accessing an interactive voice response (IVR) system input cell phone data and access point data that is used to authorize cellular communications via the unlicensed network.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the authorization process includes transmitting cell phone data and access point data over-the-air which is used to authorize cellular communications via the unlicensed network.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the cell phone includes a client that facilitates identifying at least one of an access point ESSID, an access point BSSID, RSSI, RF band, data encryption, and an RF channel.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein the cell phone includes an interface that facilitates at least one of identifying an IP address of the cell phone, running a traceroute, and pinging a network entity.

28. A method of authorizing cellular communications over an IP network, comprising:

receiving an IEEE 802.11-based network for IP network access;

detecting unique access point data of an access point of the IEEE 802.11-based network;

communicating the unique access point data to a cellular network via a mobile communications device;

communicating unique mobile communications device data to the cellular network via the mobile communications device;

processing the unique access point data and the unique mobile communications device data against a master database of subscriber data during an authorization process; and

authorizing access to the cellular network using the mobile communications device, via the IEEE 802.11-based network, if the authorization process is successful.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the acts of communicating are performed via at least one of an IVR system, a secure website, and over-the-air using the mobile communications device.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the master database includes an access control database against which the authorization process is performed, which access control database includes an association of the unique mobile communications device data and the unique access point data.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising an act of allowing or denying EAP-SIM authentication requests received from a security gateway.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising an act of allowing or denying EAP-AKA authentication requests received from a security gateway.

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising an act of restricting access to no more than three unlicensed network access points.

34. The method of claim 28, further comprising an act of restricting an access point change process such that a user is limited to a fixed number of changes in a predetermined time period.

35. The method of claim 28, further comprising an act of storing the unique access point data, which is a BSSID, and the unique mobile communications device data, which is an originating IP address, in the master database in association with IMSI data.

36. The method of claim 28, further comprising an act of restricting authorization to the IEEE 802.11-based network only if the access point is a private access point.

37. The method of claim 28, further comprising an act of restricting authorization to the IEEE 802.11-based network only if the access point is at a primary residence of a subscriber.

38. The method of claim 28, further comprising an act of sharing Wi-Fi credentials with another mobile communications device.

39. The method of claim 28, further comprising acts of:

detecting a plurality of access points and associated unique access point data, which is BSSID data;

prioritizing the BSSID data based on received signal strength data associated with the plurality of access points; and

presenting a prioritized list of the BSSID data to a user for selection.

40. A system that facilitates authorization of cellular communications over an IP network, comprising:

means for detecting a BSSID of a home access point of WLAN;

means for communicating the BSSID and, IMSI data and an IP address of a cell phone to a cellular network during an authorization process;

means for communicating a message to the cell phone via an SS7 entity; and

means for authorizing access to the cellular network via the WLAN if the authorization process is successful.

41. The system of claim 40, further comprising means for presenting via menu means a user-selectable option.

42. The system of claim 40, further comprising means for viewing the BSSID.