DETERMINING TO USE MULTI-RAN INTERWORKING BY CORRELATING DIFFERENT RAN IDENTIFIERS

• US 20140204927A1
• Filed: 01/20/2014
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: HORN, Gavin Bernard, GIARETTA, Gerardo, MEYLAN, Arnaud
• Granted Patent: US 10,104,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/75 Temporary identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for confirming identity of a user equipment (UE) registered in both a wireless local area network (WLAN) and WWAN. A method is provided for wireless communications by a base station (BS). The method generally includes establishing communications with a first UE, wherein the UE is identified by a first set of one or more identifiers in a wide area wireless network (WWAN) and by a second set of one or more identifiers in a wide local area network (WLAN), and determining, based on the first and second set of identifiers, a UE connected to the WWAN and WLAN is the first UE

Claims

1. A method for secure wireless communications by a first base station, comprising:

establishing communications with a first user equipment (UE), wherein the UE is identified by a first set of one or more identifiers in a wide area wireless network (WWAN) and by a second set of one or more identifiers in a wide local area network (WLAN); and

determining, based on the first and second set of identifiers, a UE connected to the WWAN and WLAN is the first UE.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the UE, a long term evolution (LTE) Internet Protocol (IP) address and a WLAN media access control (MAC) address.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising assigning the UE a same IP configuration for the WLAN as for the WWAN, based on a detected match of the WLAN MAC address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first set of identifiers comprises at least one of a cell radio network temporary identification (C-RNTI) or global unique temporary identification (GUTI); and

the second set of identifiers comprises at least one of a network access identifier (NAI) or a media access control (MAC) address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises comparing an identifier from the first set of identifiers to an identifier from the second set of identifiers.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the identifier from the second set of identifiers is provided by the first UE as part of establishing communications with the WWAN.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein:

at least one of the first or second identifiers is provided by the UE as part of establishing communications with the WLAN or WWAN.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein:

at least one of the first or second identifiers used in the comparison is shared over a backhaul connection between a base station of the WLAN and a base station of the WWAN.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of identifiers for the WWAN comprises at least one identifier from the second set of identifiers for the WLAN.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first set of identifiers comprises one of the second set of identifiers provided by the UE via one or more of radio resource control (RRC) or non access stratum (NAS) signaling.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the UE supports WWAN and WLAN interworking as a capability.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determination is provided as a capability as a part of the establishing communication with the UE on the WLAN or the WWAN.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the determination is provided as a capability as a part of a registration with the WWAN.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the WLAN and WWAN interworking comprises WWAN and WLAN interworking at least one of a radio access network (RAN) or a core network (CN).

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising directing the UE, via one of the WWAN or WLAN, to establish communication with the other one of the WWAN or WLAN, in response to the determination.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the directing comprises providing, to the UE, an identifier of where to establish the communication.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising indicating, to the UE, that the WWAN and WLAN networks support WWAN and WLAN interworking as a capability.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the indication is provided via at least one of radio resource control (RRC) signaling, a system information block (SIB), a probe response, or an association response.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising indicating, to the UE, to establish WWAN and WLAN interworking as part of the establishing communication with the WWAN or WLAN.

20. A method for secure wireless communications by a UE, comprising:

establishing communications with a wide area wireless network (WWAN) and a wide local area network (WLAN), wherein the UE is identified by a first set of one or more identifiers in the WWAN and by a second set of one or more identifiers in the WLAN; and

providing, when establishing communications with a first one of the WWAN or WLAN, a set of identifiers allowing the other of the WWAN or WLAN to identify the UE.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the first set of identifiers comprises at least one of a cell radio network temporary identification (C-RNTI) or global unique temporary identification (GUTI); and

the second set of identifiers comprises at least one of a network access identifier (NAI) or a media access control (MAC) address.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the providing the set of identifiers allowing the other of the WWAN or WLAN to identify the UE comprises:

providing a long term evolution (LTE) Internet Protocol (IP) address and a WLAN media access control (MAC) address.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving a same IP configuration for the WLAN as for the WWAN.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the determining comprises comparing an identifier from the first set of identifiers to an identifier from the second set of identifiers.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the identifier from the second set of identifiers is provided by the first UE as part of establishing communications with the WWAN.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein:

at least one of the first or second identifiers is provided by the UE as part of establishing communications with the WLAN or WWAN.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein:

at least one of the first or second identifiers used in the comparison is shared over a backhaul connection between a base station of the WLAN and a base station of the WWAN.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the first set of identifiers for the WWAN comprises at least one identifier from the second set of identifiers for the WLAN.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the first set of identifiers comprises one of the second set of identifiers provided by the UE via radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

30. The method of claim 22, further comprising determining the UE supports WWAN and WLAN interworking as a capability.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the determination is provided as a capability as a part of the establishing communication with the UE on the WLAN or the WWAN.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the determination is provided as a capability as a part of a registration with the WWAN.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the WLAN and WWAN interworking comprises WWAN and WLAN interworking at least one of a radio access network (RAN) or a core network (CN).

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising being directed, via one of the WWAN or WLAN, to establish communication with the other one of the WWAN or WLAN, in response to the determination.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the direction comprises receiving an identifier of where to establish the communication.

36. The method of claim 30, further comprising receiving an indication that the WWAN and WLAN networks support WWAN and WLAN interworking as a capability.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the indication is provided via at least one of radio resource control (RRC) signaling, a system information block (SIB), a probe response, or an association response.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising receiving direction to establish WWAN and WLAN interworking as part of the establishing communication with the WWAN or WLAN.

39. An apparatus for secure wireless communications by a first base station, comprising:

means for establishing communications with a first UE, wherein the UE is identified by a first set of one or more identifiers in a wide area wireless network (WWAN) and by a second set of one or more identifiers in a wide local area network (WLAN); and

means for determining, based on the first and second set of identifiers, a UE connected to the WWAN and WLAN is the first UE.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising means for receiving, from the UE, a long term evolution (LTE) Internet Protocol (IP) address and a WLAN media access control (MAC) address.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising means for assigning the UE a same IP configuration for the WLAN as for the WWAN, based on a detected match of the WLAN MAC address.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein:

the first set of identifiers comprises at least one of a cell radio network temporary identification (C-RNTI) or global unique temporary identification (GUTI); and

the second set of identifiers comprises at least one of a network access identifier (NAI) or a media access control (MAC) address.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the means for determining comprises means for comparing an identifier from the first set of identifiers to an identifier from the second set of identifiers.

44. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising means for determining the UE supports WWAN and WLAN interworking as a capability.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising means for directing the UE, via one of the WWAN or WLAN, to establish communication with the other one of the WWAN or WLAN, in response to the determination.

46. An apparatus for secure wireless communications by a first base station, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

establish communications with a first UE, wherein the UE is identified by a first set of one or more identifiers in a wide area wireless network (WWAN) and by a second set of one or more identifiers in a wide local area network (WLAN); and

determine, based on the first and second set of identifiers, a UE connected to the WWAN and WLAN is the first UE; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

47. A computer program product for secure wireless communications by a first base station comprising a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable by one or more processors for:

establishing communications with a first UE, wherein the UE is identified by a first set of one or more identifiers in a wide area wireless network (WWAN) and by a second set of one or more identifiers in a wide local area network (WLAN); and

determining, based on the first and second set of identifiers, a UE connected to the WWAN and WLAN is the first UE.

48. An apparatus for secure wireless communications by a UE, comprising:

means for establishing communications with a wide area wireless network (WWAN) and a wide local area network (WLAN), wherein the UE is identified by a first set of one or more identifiers in the WWAN and by a second set of one or more identifiers in the WLAN; and

means for providing, when establishing communications with a first one of the WWAN or WLAN, a set of identifiers allowing the other of the WWAN or WLAN to identify the UE.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein:

the first set of identifiers comprises at least one of a cell radio network temporary identification (C-RNTI) or global unique temporary identification (GUTI); and

the second set of identifiers comprises at least one of a network access identifier (NAI) or a media access control (MAC) address.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the means for providing the set of identifiers allowing the other of the WWAN or WLAN to identify the UE comprises:

means for providing a long term evolution (LTE) Internet Protocol (IP) address and a WLAN media access control (MAC) address.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising means for receiving a same IP configuration for the WLAN as for the WWAN.

52. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the determining comprises comparing an identifier from the first set of identifiers to an identifier from the second set of identifiers.

53. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising means for determining the UE supports WWAN and WLAN interworking as a capability.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising means for being directed, via one of the WWAN or WLAN, to establish communication with the other one of the WWAN or WLAN, in response to the determination.

55. An apparatus for secure wireless communications by a UE, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

establish communications with a wide area wireless network (WWAN) and a wide local area network (WLAN), wherein the UE is identified by a first set of one or more identifiers in the WWAN and by a second set of one or more identifiers in the WLAN; and

provide, when establishing communications with a first one of the WWAN or WLAN, a set of identifiers allowing the other of the WWAN or WLAN to identify the UE; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

56. A computer program product for secure wireless communications by a UE comprising a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable by one or more processors for:

establishing communications with a wide area wireless network (WWAN) and a wide local area network (WLAN), wherein the UE is identified by a first set of one or more identifiers in the WWAN and by a second set of one or more identifiers in the WLAN; and

providing, when establishing communications with a first one of the WWAN or WLAN, a set of identifiers allowing the other of the WWAN or WLAN to identify the UE.