METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOBILE BASED ACCESS POINT NAME (APN) SELECTION

• US 20080273488A1
• Filed: 06/05/2008
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaheen, Kamel M.
• Application Number:
  US12/133,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20080273488A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/17 Selecting a data network PoA [Point of Attachment]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

A procedure is provided wherein a serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN) receives a request for an access point name (APN) the SGSN making a determination if the requested packet data protocol (PDP) and APN are the same as subscribed information. In the event that the requested and subscribed PDP type and the requested and subscribed APN are not the same, the SGSN advises that the APN requested is not authorized and agreement to terms and conditions and the provision of credit (or debit) card information must be provided to obtain the requested APN.

Claims

1. A method comprising, a mobile station (UE):

a) communicating to a serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN), a packet data protocol (PDP) context request to the network requesting a PDP type and an access point name (APN);

the SGSN;

b) validating the request and mapping the APN to a gateway

GPRS support node (GGSN);

the GGSN;

c) responding to the SGSN;

the SGSN;

d) advising the UE that it is not authorized to receive the requested APN and that the UE must agree to terms and conditions to access the requested APN when the PDP type is the same as the PDP type subscribed and when the APN requested is not the same as the APN subscribed for said UE; and

the UE;

e) accepting said terms and conditions to obtain the requested APN.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes sending a requirement that the UE consent to charges, and further comprising. said UE communicating information to the network to charge costs of obtaining said APN.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of communicating information to charge costs of obtaining said APN further comprises communicating credit card information.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, said UE receiving the requested APN.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, said SGSN:

rejecting the requested APN when a subscribed PDP type of the UE is not the same as the requested PDP type.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising, said UE communicating a rejection of the terms and conditions.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising, said UE requesting a PDP address as part of said context request.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising, the SGSN providing a radio access bearer (RAB) setup with the UE, employing a radio access network (RAN).

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the SGSN, responsive the UE consenting to the terms, providing a radio access bearer (RAB) setup with the UE.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the SGSN provides the RAB setup employing a radio access network (RAN).

11. A method for a serving general packet radio services (GRPS) support node (SGSN), which processes a context request for an access point node (APN), said SGSN comprising:

a) checking subscribed information from a user equipment (UE) when none of a PDP type, a PDP address and an APN are present;

b) rejecting the UE request if the UE has a multiple PDP subscription.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising, said SGSN communicating the requested APN when the UE has a single subscription.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising, said SGSN communicating an address mode and PDP type as well as the requested APN when the UE has a single subscription.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising, said SGSN rejecting the context request when a subscribed PDP type is not the same as the requested PDP type.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising, said SGSN providing an address mode and PDP type as well as the requested APN when the requested PDP type is the same as a subscribed type.

16. Apparatus configured as a serving general packet radio service (GRPS) support node (SGSN), comprising:

a receiver for receiving a context request requesting a packet data protocol (PDP) type, a PDP address, and an access point name (APN);

a comparison device for determining if at least the PDP address requested compares with subscribed data, and

a device for granting the request when a comparison is present.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the granting device is configured to provide address mode and PDP type as well as the APN.

24. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a device for rejecting the context request when at least one of the requested PDP type and the PDP address is not the same as the subscribed criteria.

18. Apparatus configured as a serving general packet radio service (GRPS) support node (SGSN), comprising:

a receiver for receiving a context request requesting only a packet data protocol (PDP) type;

a comparison device for determining if at least the PDP type requested compares with subscribed data, and

a device for granting the request when a comparison is present.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the granting device is configured to provide address mode and APN as well as PDP type.

25. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a device for rejecting the request when the PDP type requested does not compare with the stored criteria.

20. Apparatus configured as a serving general packet radio service (GRPS) support node (SGSN), comprising:

a receiver for receiving a context request requesting only a packet data protocol (PDP) type and PDP address;

a comparison device for determining if the PDP type and PDP address requested compares with subscribed data, and

a device for granting the request when a comparison is present.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the granting device is configured to provide APN as well as PDP type and PDP address.

26. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a device for rejecting the request when at least one of the PDP type and PDP address requested does not compare with the stored criteria.

22. Apparatus configured as a serving general packet radio service (GRPS) support node (SGSN), comprising:

a receiver for receiving a context request requesting only an APN;

a comparison device for determining if the APN requested compares with subscribed data, and

a device for granting the request when a comparison is present.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the granting device is configured to provide a PDP type and PDP address as well as the requested APN.

27. Apparatus, comprising:

a serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN);

at least one gateway GPRS support node (GGSN);

said SGSN configured for;

receiving a context request requesting a packet data protocol (PDP) type and an access point name (APN) from a mobile unit (UE);

examining the PDP type and APN request;

validating the request when the PDP type and APN requested compare with a subscribed PDP type and APN and further providing a PDP address;

mapping the requested APN to said GGSN;

said GGSN configured to;

provide a context response to said SGSN responsive to said mapped context request; and

said SGSN being further configured to;

communicate the context response to said UE.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said GGSN is further configured to provide a tunnel endpoint identifier (TEIP), a PDP type, a quality of service (QoS) and a charging ID to said SGSN as part of said context response to said UE.

29. The communication apparatus of claim 28 wherein said SGSN includes means for inserting a GGSN address of said GGSN and the requested APN address as part of the PDP context, responsive to the context response to the UE from said GGSN.