METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AN ACCESS POINT AND A NETWORK CONTROLLER

• US 20080076393A1
• Filed: 09/22/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tao, Patrick, Gupta, Rajeev, Markovic, Milan, Khetawat, Amit, Gallagher, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 between access points and access point controllers

Abstract

Some embodiments are implemented in a communication system that includes a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication system that includes a Femtocell access point (FAP) and a network controller that can communicatively couple the FAP to the first wireless communication system. In some embodiments, the network controller can communicatively couple to the first wireless communication system through a UTRAN Iu interface. In some embodiments, the FAP can communicatively couple to a user equipment using a short-range licensed wireless frequency. Some embodiments provide method of securing communication between the FAP and the network controller. The method establishes a secure tunnel between the FAP and the network controller. The method communicatively couples the FAP and several user equipments (UEs) to the network controller by using the secure tunnel. The UEs are communicatively coupled to the FAP through an air interface.

Claims

1. A method of securing communication between a Femtocell access point (FAP) and a network controller in a communication system comprising a first wireless communication system and a second network comprising the network controller and the FAP communicatively coupled to the network controller, the method comprising:

a) establishing a secure tunnel between the FAP and the network controller; and

b) communicatively coupling the FAP and a plurality of user equipments (UEs) to the network controller using said secure tunnel;

wherein the UEs are communicatively coupled to the FAP through the air interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the secure tunnel is an IPSec tunnel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the secure tunnel protects signaling traffic between the FAP and the UE.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the secure tunnel protects user plane traffic between the FAP and the UE.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE is communicatively coupled to the FAP using a short-range licensed wireless frequency.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wireless communication system is a generic access network (GAN), wherein the network controller is a generic access network controller (GANC).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network controller is communicatively coupled to the first wireless communication system through a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) Iu interface.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the secure tunnel is an IPSec tunnel.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the secure tunnel protects signaling traffic between the FAP and the UE.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the secure tunnel protects user plane traffic between the FAP and the UE.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the UE is communicatively coupled to the FAP using a short-range licensed wireless frequency.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the second wireless communication system is a generic access network (GAN), wherein the network controller is a generic access network controller (GANC).

14. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the network controller is communicatively coupled to the first wireless communication system through a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) Iu interface.

8. A computer readable medium storing a computer program for execution, the computer program for securing an air interface in a communication system comprising a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication system comprising a Femtocell access point (FAP) and a network controller communicatively coupling the FAP to the first wireless communication, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

a) establishing a secure tunnel between the FAP and the network controller; and

b) communicatively coupling the FAP and a plurality of user equipments (UEs) to the network controller using said secure tunnel;

wherein the UEs are communicatively coupled to the FAP through the air interface.