General access network controller bypass to facilitate use of standard cellular handsets with a general access network

• US 20070189254A1
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RadioFrame Networks, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Yan, Hoole, Elliott, Tariq, Ahmed, Sukumaran, Jayesh
• Granted Patent: US 7,944,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0019 adapted for mobile IP [MIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/06 Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server

Abstract

Enabling a standard cellular handset to be used to access a core mobile network via a generic access network is disclosed. A communication between a generic access network element and the core mobile network is intercepted. A modified version of the communication is generated. The modified communication is forwarded.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a standard cellular handset to be used to access a core mobile network via a generic access network, comprising:

intercepting a communication between a generic access network element and the core mobile network;

generating a modified version of the communication; and

forwarding the modified communication.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein generating a modified version of the communication comprises modifying a data element comprising the communication.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the data element is modified based at least in part on a second communication received via an interface that bypasses the generic access network element.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication is from the generic access network element and is forwarded to the core mobile network.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication comprises a handover request acknowledge message from the generic access network element.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the modified communication comprises a modified handover request acknowledge message.

7. A mobile network element, comprising:

a communication interface; and

a processor coupled to the communication interface and configured to;

intercept a communication between a generic access network element and the core mobile network;

generate a modified version of the communication; and

forward the modified communication via the communication interface.

8. A mobile network element as recited in claim 7, wherein the communication comprises a handover request acknowledge message.

9. A mobile network element as recited in claim 7, wherein the communication interface comprises an interface to a mobile switching center.

10. A mobile network element as recited in claim 9, wherein at the mobile switching center the communication interface is associated with the generic access network element.

11. A mobile network element as recited in claim 7, wherein the general access network element comprises a generic access network controller (GANC) and the mobile network element is located in a communication path between the GANC and the core mobile network.

12. A computer program product for enabling a standard cellular handset to be used to access a core mobile network via a generic access network, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

intercepting a communication between a generic access network element and the core mobile network;

generating a modified version of the communication; and

forwarding the modified communication.

13. A computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein generating a modified version of the communication comprises modifying a data element comprising the communication.

14. A computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein the data element is modified based at least in part on a second communication received via an interface that bypasses the generic access network element.

15. A computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein the communication comprises a handover request acknowledge message from the generic access network element.

16. A method for enabling a standard cellular handset to be used to access a core mobile network via a generic access network, comprising:

receiving an indication that a handover into a service area associated with the generic access network is to be performed; and

providing to a node on a mobile station side of a generic access network element located in a call data path between a mobile station and the core mobile network, via an interface that bypasses the generic access network element, an attribute of the mobile station, which attribute the node is configured to use to establish on behalf of the mobile station a secure connection to the generic access network element.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the attribute comprises an identifier associated with the mobile station.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the attribute comprises a network asset identifier (NAI) associated with the mobile station.

19. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the attribute comprises an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) associated with the mobile station.

20. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the attribute is provided at least in part by intercepting and forwarding to the node via the bypass interface a handover request message sent by the core mobile network to the generic access network element.