Multi-Operator Wireless Networking

• US 20140056290A1
• Filed: 08/22/2012
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pazhyannur, Rajesh S., Leung, Kent K., Jain, Sudhir Kumar, Gundavelli, Sri
• Granted Patent: US 9,197,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/045 involving different protocol versions, e.g. MIPv4 and MIPv6

Abstract

Multi-operator networking techniques are provided for allowing two or more operators to share a wireless local area network (WLAN). In particular, mobile access gateway functionality is integrated in a wireless network controller of a WLAN that is accessible to first and second operators. Operator-specific tunnels are created through the network for each of the first and second operators that link a core network of each of the first and second operators with an associated client device. Packets are then forwarded between the core networks of the first and second operators and their associated client devices via the operator-specific tunnels.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at a wireless network controller for a wireless local area network that is accessible to at least first and second operators, creating operator-specific tunnels through the wireless local area network for each of the first and second operators that link a core network of each of the first and second operators with an associated client device; and

forwarding packets between the core networks of the first and second operators and their associated client devices via the operator-specific tunnels.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the wireless network controller, a profile that includes tunneling information for a first client device; and

creating an operator-specific tunnel linking the core network of the first operator with the first client device based on the tunneling information in the received profile.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the profile that includes tunneling information for the first client device comprises:

receiving an identification of a local mobility anchor (LMA) associated with the first operator and which is useable by the first client device to transmit packets to the core network of the first operator.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the profile indicating tunneling information for the first client device comprises:

receiving a Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol version 6 (PMIPv6) mobility context that includes, an Access Point Name (APN), an IP address of an LMA associated with the first operator, and a user identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein creating comprises:

associating a first client device with an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server of the first operator;

receiving, at the wireless network controller, a profile that includes tunneling information for the first client device;

transmitting a Proxy Binding Update message with tunneling attributes from the wireless network controller to an Local Mobility Anchor associated with the first operator; and

receiving a Proxy Binding Acknowledge message from the Local Mobility Anchor.

6. The method of claim 1, and wherein forwarding packets between the first and second operators and their associated client devices via the operator-specific tunnels comprises:

receiving an upstream packet, wherein the upstream packet is transmitted from a transmitting client device to an associated operator;

inspecting a media access control (MAC) address of the transmitting client device included in the upstream packet;

selecting, based on the MAC address of the transmitting client device, an operator-specific tunnel linking the transmitting client device with its associated operator; and

forwarding the upstream packet along the selected operator-specific tunnel.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a downstream packet at the wireless network device, wherein the downstream packet is transmitted from a transmitting operator to an associated receiving client device;

identifying a Generic Routing Encapsulation key corresponding to the receiving client device;

selecting, based on the Generic Routing Encapsulation key corresponding to the receiving client device, a corresponding operator-specific tunnel linking the transmitting operator with the receiving client device; and

forwarding the downstream packet along the selected operator-specific tunnel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding packets between the first and second operators and their associated client devices via the operator-specific tunnels comprises:

receiving an upstream packet at the wireless network controller, wherein the upstream packet is transmitted from a transmitting client device to an associated operator; and

determining if the transmitting client device is a PMIPv6 device or a simple IP device;

if the transmitting client device is a PMIPv6 device;

inspecting a media access control (MAC) address of the transmitting client device included in the upstream packet;

selecting, based on the MAC address of the transmitting client device, an operator-specific tunnel linking the transmitting client device with its associated operator; and

forwarding the upstream packet along the selected operator-specific tunnel.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a downstream packet at the wireless network controller, wherein the downstream packet is transmitted from a transmitting operator to an associated receiving client device;

determining if the downstream packet was received via an operator-specific tunnel;

if the downstream packet was received via an operator-specific tunnel;

identifying a Generic Routing Encapsulation key corresponding to the receiving client device;

selecting, based on the Generic Routing Encapsulation key corresponding to the receiving client device, a corresponding operator-specific tunnel linking the transmitting operator with the receiving client device; and

forwarding the downstream packet along the selected operator-specific tunnel.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network controller is configured to perform proxy Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) operations on behalf of connected client devices, further comprising:

receiving an ARP request at the wireless network controller from the first client device;

determining that the ARP request is directed to a third client device having an Internet Protocol (IP) address that overlaps with the IP address of another client device;

determining a type of the first client device before processing the ARP request.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining that the first client device is a wireless client; and

transmitting, in response to the ARP request, a MAC address of the wireless network controller to the first client device for use by the first client device in transmitting packets to the third client device.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining that the first client device is a wired client; and

transmitting a response to the ARP request only if the overlapping IP addresses correspond to simple IP client devices.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to”

perform proxy Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) operations on behalf of connected client devices;

receive an ARP request at the wireless network controller from the first client device;

determine that the ARP request is directed to a third client device having an Internet Protocol (IP) address that overlaps with the IP address of another client device; and

determine a type of the first client device before processing the ARP request.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine that the first client device is a wireless client; and

transmit, in response to the ARP request, a MAC address of the apparatus to the first client device for use by the first client device in transmitting packets to the third client device.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine that the first client device is a wired client; and

transmit a response to the ARP request only if the overlapping IP addresses correspond to simple IP client devices.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

one or more network interface ports;

a memory; and

a processor configured to control a wireless local area network that is accessible to at least first and second operators, create operator-specific tunnels through the wireless local area network for each of the first and second operators that link a core network of each of the first and second operators with an associated client device, and forwarding packets between the core networks of the first and second operators and their associated client devices via the operator-specific tunnels.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a profile that includes tunneling information for a first client device; and

create an operator-specific tunnel linking the core network of the first operator with the first client device based on the tunneling information in the received profile.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein to receive the profile that includes tunneling information for the first client device, the processor is configured to:

receive an identification of a local mobility anchor (LMA) associated with the first operator and which is useable by the first client device to transmit packets to the core network of the first operator.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein to receive the profile that includes tunneling information for the first client device, the processor is configured to:

receive a Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol version 6 (PMIPv6) mobility context that includes, an Access Point Name (APN), an IP address of an LMA associated with the first operator, and a user identifier.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein to create the operator-specific tunnels the processor is configured to:

associate a first client device with an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server of the first operator;

receive a profile that includes tunneling information for the first client device;

transmit a Proxy Binding Update message with tunneling attributes to an Local Mobility Anchor associated with the first operator; and

receive a Proxy Binding Acknowledge message from the Local Mobility Anchor.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein to forward packets between the first and second operators and their associated client devices via the operator-specific tunnels the processor is configured to:

receive an upstream packet, wherein the upstream packet is transmitted from a transmitting client device to an associated operator;

inspect a media access control (MAC) address of the transmitting client device included in the upstream packet;

select, based on the MAC address of the transmitting client device, an operator-specific tunnel linking the transmitting client device with its associated operator; and

forward the upstream packet along the selected operator-specific tunnel.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a downstream packet at the wireless network device, wherein the downstream packet is transmitted from a transmitting operator to an associated receiving client device;

identify a Generic Routing Encapsulation key corresponding to the receiving client device;

select, based on the Generic Routing Encapsulation key corresponding to the receiving client device, a corresponding operator-specific tunnel linking the transmitting operator with the receiving client device; and

forward the downstream packet along the selected operator-specific tunnel.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein to forward packets between the first and second operators and their associated client devices via the operator-specific tunnels the processor is configured to:

receive an upstream packet transmitted from a transmitting client device to an associated operator; and

determine if the transmitting client device is a PMIPv6 device or a simple IP device;

if the transmitting client device is a PMIPv6 device;

inspect a media access control (MAC) address of the transmitting client device included in the upstream packet;

select, based on the MAC address of the transmitting client device, an operator-specific tunnel linking the transmitting client device with its associated operator; and

forward the upstream packet along the selected operator-specific tunnel.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to:

receive a downstream packet transmitted from a transmitting operator to an associated receiving client device;

determine if the downstream packet was received via an operator-specific tunnel;

if the downstream packet was received via an operator-specific tunnel;

identify a Generic Routing Encapsulation key corresponding to the receiving client device;

select, based on the Generic Routing Encapsulation key corresponding to the receiving client device, a corresponding operator-specific tunnel linking the transmitting operator with the receiving client device; and

forward the downstream packet along the selected operator-specific tunnel.

25. One or more computer readable storage media encoded with software comprising computer executable instructions and when the software is executed operable to:

at a wireless network controller for a wireless local area network that is accessible to at least first and second operators, create operator-specific tunnels through the wireless local area network for each of the first and second operators that link a core network of each of the first and second operators with an associated client device; and

forward packets between the core networks of the first and second operators and their associated client devices via the operator-specific tunnels.

26. The more computer readable storage media of claim 25, further comprising instructions operable to:

receive, at the wireless network controller, a profile that includes tunneling information for a first client device; and

create an operator-specific tunnel linking the core network of the first operator with the first client device based on the tunneling information in the received profile.

27. The computer readable storage media of claim 26, wherein the instructions operable to receive the profile that includes tunneling information for the first client device comprise instructions operable to:

receive an identification of a local mobility anchor (LMA) associated with the first operator and which is useable by the first client device to transmit packets to the core network of the first operator.

28. The computer readable storage media of claim 26, wherein the instructions operable to receive the profile that includes tunneling information for the first client device comprise instructions operable to:

receive a Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol version 6 (PMIPv6) mobility context that includes, an Access Point Name (APN), an IP address of an LMA associated with the first operator, and a user identifier.