SERVICE IN WLAN INTER-WORKING, ADDRESS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND METHOD

• US 20100002668A1
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redwood Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tan, Chee Bing, Cheng, Hong, Tan, Pek-Yew
• Granted Patent: US 8,081,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/086 using security domains
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

The present invention provides a solution to the mobile terminal address management in the WLAN inter-working. By using the access control framework, the mobile terminal could obtain the address, and setup the tunnel together with the granting of service access. The management process would be shielded by the inherent encryption and protection of the access control process, and thus does not need extra security setup procedures to be performed. The invention also provides a method for the terminal to obtain address that binds to the session, using a fine grain service authorization procedure. The terminal could maintain multiple addresses when accessing multiple parallel sessions. The address management is also integrated with the policy control mechanisms. The policy control would provide means for the terminal and its home network to configure the WLAN when necessary after an address alternation. QoS, or tunnelling information would be modified and provisioned according to the new status using channels available in the existing policy control procedures. By this, a smooth address transition in the roaming time could be achieved, and QoS interruption could be minimized.

Claims

1. An address management method which is used when a mobile terminal accesses a service from a WLAN access network, the service being provided in a home domain network of the mobile terminal or the service being provided in a service provider network via the home domain network, comprising:

a connection step in which the mobile terminal connects to the WLAN access network;

a sending step in which the mobile terminal sends a tunnel setup request message from the WLAN access network to a home domain server which is located in the home domain network, the tunnel setup request message including a service request identifier for accessing a requested service and a mobile terminal identifier; and

an allocation step in which the home domain server receives the tunnel setup request message, and allocates an address for use by the mobile terminal to access the requested service based on the service request identifier and the mobile terminal identifier.

2. The address management method according to claim 1 wherein the allocation step further comprises a decision step in which the home domain server, after receiving the tunnel setup request message and before allocating the address, decides whether access for the requested service by the mobile terminal is allowed, based on user subscription information.

3. The address management method according to claim 2, wherein the home domain server queries a node in the home domain network or a node in the service provider network in the decision step.

4. The address management method according to claim 3, wherein the node in the home domain network or the node in the service provider network being queried allocates the address for use by the mobile terminal to access the requested service, and provides the home domain server with the address.

5. The address management method according to claim 1, comprising an adjustment step in which QoS adjustment is performed between the WLAN access network and a WLAN server which is connected to the home domain server.

6. The address management method according to claim 5, wherein the QoS adjustment is performed via a policy server which performs policy control in a network domain.

7. The address management method according to claim 1, comprising an obtaining step in which the mobile terminal obtains an address of the home domain server, based on information on the home domain network.

8. The address management method according to claim 1, comprising an address sending step in which the home domain server sends the allocated address to the mobile terminal.

9. An address management system having a mobile terminal and a home domain server, wherein the mobile terminal accesses a service from a WLAN access network, the service being provided in a home domain network of the mobile terminal or the service being provided in a service provider network via the home domain network, wherein

the mobile terminal comprises:

a connection unit for connecting to the WLAN access network; and

a sending unit for sending a tunnel setup request message from the WLAN access network to the home domain server which is located in the home domain network, the tunnel setup request message including a service request identifier for accessing a requested service and a mobile terminal identifier, and

the home domain server comprises;

an allocation unit for receiving the tunnel setup request message, and allocating an address for use by the mobile terminal to access the requested service based on the service request identifier and the mobile terminal identifier.

10. The address management system according to claim 9 wherein the allocation unit further comprises a decision unit for, after receiving the tunnel setup request message and before allocating the address, deciding whether access for the requested service by the mobile terminal is allowed, based on user subscription information.

11. The address management system according to claim 10, wherein the decision unit queries a node in the home domain network or a node in the service provider network.

12. The address management system according to claim 11, wherein the node in the home domain network or the node in the service provider network being queried allocates the address for use by the mobile terminal to access the requested service, and provides the home domain server with the address.

13. The address management system according to claim 9, wherein the home domain server further comprises an adjustment unit for performing QoS adjustment between the WLAN access network and a WLAN server which is connected to the home domain server.

14. The address management system according to claim 13, wherein the QoS adjustment is performed via a policy server which performs policy control in a network domain.

15. The address management system according to claim 13, wherein the mobile terminal further comprises an obtaining unit for obtaining an address of the home domain server, based on information on the home domain network.

16. The address management system according to claim 13, wherein the home domain server comprises an address sending unit for sending the allocated address to the mobile terminal.

17. A mobile terminal for accessing a service from a WLAN access network, the service being provided in a home domain network of the mobile terminal or the service being provided in a service provider network via the home domain network, comprising:

a connection unit for connecting to the WLAN access network; and

a sending unit for sending a tunnel setup request message from the WLAN access network to a home domain server which is located in the home domain network, the tunnel setup request message including a service request identifier for accessing a requested service and a mobile terminal identifier.

18. The mobile terminal according to claim 17, further comprising an obtaining unit for obtaining an address of the home domain server, based on information on the home domain network.

19. The mobile terminal according to claim 17, further comprising a receiving unit for receiving an address for accessing the requested service from the home domain server, the address being allocated based on the service request identifier and the mobile terminal identifier.

20. A home domain server being located in a home domain network of a mobile terminal, wherein the mobile terminal accesses a service from a WLAN access network, the service being provided in the home domain network of the mobile terminal or the service being provided in a service provider network via the home domain network, comprising

an allocation unit for receiving, from the mobile terminal, a tunnel setup request message including a service request identifier for accessing a requested service and a mobile terminal identifier, and allocating an address for use by the mobile terminal to access the requested service based on the service request identifier and the mobile terminal identifier.

21. The home domain server according to claim 20, wherein the allocation unit further comprises a decision unit for, after receiving the tunnel setup request message and before allocating the address, deciding whether access for the requested service by the mobile terminal is allowed, based on user subscription information.

22. The home domain server according to claim 21, wherein the decision unit queries a node in the home domain network or a node in the service provider network.

23. The home domain server according to claim 22, comprising an address receiving unit for receiving, from the node in the home domain network or the node in the service provider network, an address for use by the mobile terminal to access the requested service, the address being allocated based on a query regarding the mobile terminal.

24. The home domain server according to claim 20, further comprising an adjustment unit for performing QoS adjustment between the WLAN access network and a WLAN server which is connected to the home domain server.

25. The home domain server according to claim 24, wherein the QoS adjustment is performed via a policy server which performs policy control in a network domain.

26. The home domain server according to claim 20, further comprising an address sending unit for sending the allocated address to the mobile terminal.

27. A method of using a mobile terminal to access a service from a WLAN access network, the service being provided in a home domain network of the mobile terminal or the service being provided in a service provider network via the home domain network, the method comprising:

connecting the mobile terminal to the WLAN access network; and

sending a tunnel setup request message from the WLAN access network to a home domain server which is located in the home domain network, the tunnel setup request message including a service request identifier for accessing a requested service and a mobile terminal identifier.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising obtaining an address of the home domain server, based on information on the home domain network.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising receiving an address for accessing the requested service from the home domain server, the address being allocated based on the service request identifier and the mobile terminal identifier.

30. A method of using a mobile terminal to access a service from a WLAN access network, the service being provided in a home domain network of the mobile terminal or the service being provided in a service provider network via the home domain network, wherein a home domain server located in the home domain network allocates an address for use by the mobile terminal to access the service based on a service request identifier and a mobile terminal identifier, the method comprising:

connecting the mobile terminal to the WLAN access network; and

sending a tunnel setup request message from the WLAN access network to a home domain server which is located in the home domain network, the tunnel setup request message including a service request identifier for accessing a requested service and a mobile terminal identifier.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising obtaining an address of the home domain server, based on information on the home domain network.

32. The method according to claim 30, further comprising receiving an address for accessing the requested service from the home domain server, the address being allocated based on the service request identifier and the mobile terminal identifier.