METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REDIRECTING A REQUEST FOR IP SESSION FROM A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20130125205A1
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hsu, Jay, Buehler, Donald William Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,420,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4588 containing mobile subscriber information, e.g. home subscriber server [HSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/503 using an authentication, authorisation and accounting [AAA] protocol, e.g. remote authentication dial-in user service [RADIUS] or Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5061 Pools of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• 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 4/24 Accounting or billing
• 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 8/265 for initial activation of new user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A request for establishing an IP session from a mobile device to be activated and connected to a cellular network is redirected to a web portal or platform of the cellular network. When the mobile device sends an authentication request for requesting establishment of an IP session to the cellular network, the mobile device receives a restricted IP address from the cellular network if the mobile device is not currently authorized for communication via the cellular network. A reverse domain name system lookup is performed on the restricted IP address to find a host name of a web portal or platform of the cellular network corresponding to the restricted IP address. The mobile device determines whether or not redirection of an IP communication request to the web portal or platform of the cellular network is to occur based on the host name.

Claims

1. A method for redirecting a request for establishing an IP session from a mobile device, the method comprising:

(a) sending, through a cellular network or a hotspot network to the cellular network, an authentication request for establishing an Internet Protocol (IP) packet session;

(b) in response to the authentication request, receiving an IP address assigned to the mobile device from the cellular network, the IP address assigned based on a result of the authentication request;

(c) determining whether redirection of the mobile device to a platform of the cellular network for activation of the mobile device is to occur based directly or indirectly on the assigned IP address; and

(d) if it is determined that the redirection is to occur, in response to an IP communication request for the mobile device redirecting an IP session of the mobile device from a user'"'"'s requested web server identified in the IP communication request to the platform of the cellular network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) further comprises:

receiving a host name associated with the assigned IP address from a reverse domain name system (DNS) server, the host name being obtained through a reverse DNS lookup of the assigned IP address by the reverse DNS server; and

determining whether redirection of the mobile device to the platform of the cellular network for activation of the mobile device is to occur based on the received host name.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the assigned IP address is a restricted IP address dynamically assigned from a pool of restricted IP addresses, and

assignment of any of the restricted IP addresses in the pool of restricted IP addresses causes the reverse DNS server to return a host name that causes redirection to occur.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein assignment of any of the restricted IP addresses in the pool of restricted IP addresses causes the reverse DNS server to return the same host name.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the assigned IP address is a non-restricted IP address dynamically assigned to the mobile device from a pool of non-restricted IP addresses, and

assignment of any of the non-restricted IP addresses in the pool of non-restricted IP addresses causes the reverse DNS server to return a host name that enables the mobile device to communicate via the cellular network without causing redirection of the request of the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the mobile device for communication through the cellular network at the platform of the cellular network, via the session that was redirected in step (d).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step (c), the redirection is to occur because the mobile device is not yet activated for communication service via the cellular network or a prepaid data plan balance for communication service of the mobile device is used up.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (a)-(d) are performed by the mobile device.

9. A mobile device comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured for communication via a cellular network;

a programmable controller coupled to the wireless transceiver;

a non-transitory storage medium coupled to the controller; and

programming stored in the medium, wherein execution of the programming by the controller causes the controller to operate the mobile device to perform functions comprising functions to;

(a) send, by the mobile device to a cellular network, an authentication request for establishing an Internet Protocol (IP) packet session, through the cellular network or a hotspot network;

(b) receive, by the mobile device, an IP address assigned to the mobile device from the cellular network;

(c) determine whether redirection of the mobile device to a platform of the cellular network for activation of the mobile device is to occur based directly or indirectly on the assigned IP address; and

(d) if it is determined in response to the IP communication request from the mobile device that the redirection is to occur, redirect an IP session of the mobile device from a user'"'"'s requested web server identified in the IP communication to the platform of the cellular network.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the function (c) comprises:

receiving a host name associated with the assigned IP address from a reverse domain name system (DNS) server, the host name being obtained through a reverse DNS lookup of the assigned IP address by the reverse DNS server; and

determining whether redirection of the mobile device to the platform of the cellular network for activation of the mobile device is to occur based on the received host name.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein:

the assigned IP address is a restricted IP address dynamically assigned from a pool of restricted IP addresses,

assignment of any of the restricted IP addresses in the pool of restricted IP addresses causes the reverse DNS server to return a host name that causes redirection to occur, and

the determining that redirection is to occur comprises recognizing the received host name as the host name that causes redirection to occur.

12. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein when the assigned IP address is a non-restricted IP address dynamically assigned to the mobile device from a pool of non-restricted IP addresses and assignment of any of the non-restricted IP addresses in the pool of non-restricted IP addresses causes the reverse DNS server to return a host name corresponding to full authorization, the functions further include the mobile device communicating via the cellular network without causing redirection of any request of the mobile device.

13. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the functions further comprises a function to:

activate the mobile device for communication through the cellular network at the platform of the cellular network, via the session that was redirected in step (d).

14. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein, the redirection of the mobile device is to occur because the mobile device is not yet activated for communication service via the cellular network or a prepaid data plan balance for communication service of the mobile device is used up.

15. A system for redirecting a request for establishing an Internet Protocol (IP) packet session from a mobile device, the system comprising:

a cellular network including a gateway configured to manage IP sessions between the mobile device and the Internet, wherein the gateway assigns an IP address to the mobile device in response to an authentication request for an IP session from the mobile device; and

the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is configured to determine whether redirection of the mobile device to a platform of the cellular network for activation is to occur based directly or indirectly on the assigned IP address, and to redirect an IP session of the mobile device from a user'"'"'s requested web server identified in an IP communication request to the platform of the cellular network.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a reverse domain name system (DNS) server configured to perform a reverse DNS lookup for the assigned IP address sent from the mobile device to obtain a host name associated with the assigned IP address and send the obtained host name to the mobile device,

wherein the mobile device determines whether redirection of the mobile device to the platform of the cellular network for activation is to occur based on the obtained host name.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the assigned IP address is a restricted IP address dynamically assigned from a pool of restricted IP addresses, and

assignment of any of the restricted IP addresses in the pool of restricted IP addresses causes the reverse DNS server to return a host name that causes redirection to occur.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the assigned IP address is a non-restricted IP address dynamically assigned to the mobile device from a pool of non-restricted IP addresses,

assignment of any of the non-restricted IP addresses in the pool of non-restricted IP addresses causes the reverse DNS server to return a host name corresponding to full authorization, and

the mobile device is further configured to communicate via the cellular network without causing redirection of the request of the mobile device upon receiving the host name corresponding to full authorization.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile device is configured to be activated for communication through the cellular network at the platform of the cellular network, via the session that was redirected.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the redirection of the mobile is to occur because the mobile device is not yet activated for communication service via the cellular network or a prepaid data plan balance for communication service of the mobile device is used up.