Support for WISPr attributes in a TAL/CAR PWLAN environment

• US 20070094401A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Yi, Van Horne, Edwin, Buduguru, Chandra, Gagne, Francois
• Granted Patent: US 8,924,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• 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 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A computer configured to serve data services in a one-way cable plant having telco-retum for upstream data resources to requesting computers in a networked environment is disclosed. The computer includes a subscriber edge services manager server and a radius proxy server, the radius proxy configured to classify received radius requests into a plurality of types and handle requests classified as a first type from requests classified as non-first types. The computer also includes an access point, the access point providing communication connection to at least one computing device. The subscriber edge services manager server and radius proxy server are configured to communicate with the access point to acquire information from the access point, and user location information is configured on the access point in a vendor-specific attribute.

Claims

1. In a computer network, a method of communicating location information, the method comprising:

a first device receiving user information configured on a second device, the second device being subsequent in a sequential relationship with respect to the first device and a data distribution sequence involving routing devices connected to the computer network, such that the first device distributes data to the second device in accordance with a data distribution scheme, the received user information including network location information and operational ownership information; and

the first device transmitting over the computer network the received user information to other devices over the computer network, the other devices connected to the computer network and configured to offer location-based services to the second device.

2. A computer apparatus configured to serve data services in a one-way cable plant having telco-return for upstream data resources to requesting computers in a networked environment, the computer comprising:

a subscriber edge services manager server;

a radius proxy server, the radius proxy configured to classify received radius requests into a plurality of types and handle requests classified as a first type from requests classified as non-first types; and

an access point, the access point providing communication connection to at least one computing device;

wherein the subscriber edge services manager server and radius proxy server are configured to communicate with the access point to acquire information from the access point, wherein user location information is configured on the access point in a vendor-specific attribute.

3. The computer apparatus of claim 2, wherein the user location information configured on the access point in a vendor-specific attribute comprises a configurable character string that indicates public wireless LAN location information and operational ownership of a computing resource.

4. The computer apparatus of claim 2, further comprising instructions, which, when executed by the computer apparatus, send the location information to an upstream computer device.

5. The computer apparatus of claim 2, wherein the user location information configured on the access point in a vendor-specific attribute comprises user service information.

6. The computer apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of types includes an authentication request.

7. The computer apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of types includes an accounting request.

8. The computer apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of types includes a service profile request.

9. The computer apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of types includes a domain type.

10. The computer apparatus of claim 2 further comprising instructions, which when executed by the computer apparatus, send the received requests to another server, the another server selected based on request type.

11. A method of providing location-based services in a computer network, the method comprising:

receiving a RADIUS request over a computer network from a computing device, the RADIUS request indicating a location of a user connected to the computer network over a wireless connection;

classifying the received RADIUS request as belonging to a predetermined type;

authorizing the classified RADIUS request;

creating a session;

retrieving the location indication by supplying a MAC address associated with the location indication; and

supplying location-based services to the computing device during the duration of the session.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising routing the classified request to another server based on the received RADIUS request belonging to the predetermined type.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined type comprises an accounting request.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined type comprises an authentication request.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined type comprises a service profile request.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined type comprises a domain identification.