INTEGRATED CELLULAR SYSTEM WITH WI-FI-FALLBACK

• US 20160262020A1
• Filed: 10/30/2014
• Published: 09/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: ZALZALAH, Luay, ABU-FARHA, Najeh
• Granted Patent: US 10,623,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/162 at the data link layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0016 Hand-off preparation specially adapted for end-to-end data sessions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0033 with transfer of context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/34 Selective release of ongoing connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing fallback data services over a Wi-Fi network is described. A request to enable access to new data sessions for wireless terminals in a zone covered by a Wi-Fi network node is received upon failure of 3GPP radio in that zone. When a request for a new data session from a WT is received, the MAC address of the WT is added to a list of authorized users. The MAC address of the WT is sent to Wi-Fi network nodes of adjacent zones such that the WT can have continuous service as it moves between zones. When a Wi-Fi network node currently serving the WT receives an indication that the WT data session is terminated, a message is sent from the Wi-Fi network node currently serving the WT, to nodes of adjacent zones to remove the MAC address of the WT from the list of authorized users.

Claims

1. A method, performed in a Wi-Fi network node of a Wireless Network providing cellular and Wi-Fi services, the method comprising:

receiving a request to enable Wi-Fi access to wireless terminals (WTs) located in a zone covered by said Wi-Fi network node;

receiving a request for a new data session from a WT;

adding the MAC address of said WT to a list of authorized users such that data sessions can be enabled for said WT located in said covered zone;

sending the MAC address of said WT to other Wi-Fi network nodes in said covered zone and Wi-Fi network nodes of adjacent zones such that said WT can have continuous data services as it moves within said covered zone and other zones adjacent thereof;

receiving at a Wi-Fi network node currently serving said WT an indication that the WT data session is terminated; and

sending a message from said serving Wi-Fi network node, to other Wi-Fi network nodes in said covered zone and Wi-Fi network nodes of adjacent zones to remove the MAC address of said WT from said list of authorized users.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said request to enable Wi-Fi access to said WT is received at said Wi-Fi network node upon failure of a cellular RF radio serving said WT in said covered zone.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein MAC addresses of all WTs located in said covered zone is collected upon failure of said cellular RF radio and added to said list of authorized users.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein said list of MAC addresses is forwarded to other nodes in said covered zone and zones adjacent thereof when said WT moves away from said serving node to another node in said serving zone or to an adjacent zone thereof.

5. A Wi-Fi network node of a Wireless Network providing cellular and Wi-Fi services, the Wi-Fi network node comprising:

a processor; and

a computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the Wi-Fi network node to;

enable access to all new data sessions for wireless terminals (WTs) located in a Wi-Fi zone covered by said Wi-Fi network node;

add the MAC address of said WTs to a list of users authorized to access said Wi-Fi network node;

send the MAC address of said WT to other Wi-Fi network nodes of said covered zone and zones adjacent thereof such that said WT can have continuous service as it moves between Wi-Fi nodes of one zone and from one zone to another zone;

receive at a Wi-Fi network node currently serving said WT an indication that the WT data session is terminated; and

send a message from said serving Wi-Fi network node, to other Wi-Fi network nodes in said covered zone and Wi-Fi network nodes of adjacent zones to remove the MAC address of said WT from said list of authorized users.

6. A Wi-fi network node as defined in claim 5, wherein said Wi-Fi access is enabled for WTs in said covered zone upon failure of a cellular RF radio also serving said WTs.

7. A Wi-Fi network node as defined in claim 6, wherein MAC addresses of all WTs located in said covered zone is collected upon failure of said cellular RF radio and added to said list of authorized users.

8. A Wi-Fi network node as defined in claim 7, wherein said list of MAC addresses is forwarded to other nodes in said covered zone and zones adjacent thereof when said WT moves away from said serving node to another node in said serving zone or to an adjacent zone thereof.

9. A computer program comprising computer program code which, when run on Wi-Fi network node, causes the Wi-Fi network node to:

enable access to all new data sessions for wireless terminals located in a Wi-Fi zone covered by said Wi-Fi network node;

add the MAC address of said WTs to a list of users authorized to access said Wi-Fi network node;

send the MAC address of said WT to other Wi-Fi network nodes of said covered zone and zones adjacent thereof such that said WT can have continuous service as it moves between Wi-Fi nodes of one zone and from one zone to another;

receive at a Wi-Fi network node currently serving said WT an indication that the WT data session is terminated; and

send a message from said serving Wi-Fi network node, to other Wi-Fi network nodes in said covered zone and Wi-Fi network nodes of adjacent zones to remove the MAC address of said WT from said list of authorized users.

10. A computer program as defined in claim 9, wherein said Wi-Fi access is enabled for WTs in said covered zone upon failure of a cellular RF radio also serving said WTs.

11. A computer program as defined in claim 10, wherein MAC addresses of all WTs located in said covered zone is collected upon failure of said cellular RF radio and added to said list of authorized users.

12. A computer program as defined in claim 11, wherein said list of MAC addresses is forwarded to other nodes in said covered zone and zones adjacent thereof when said WT moves away from said serving node to another node in said serving zone or to an adjacent zone thereof.

13. A method, performed in a wireless terminal (WT) being capable of communicating both with a cellular communication network and a Wi-Fi access point (AP), the method comprising:

detecting the presence of a Wi-Fi AP which said WT is not currently authorized to access;

detecting the failure of a cellular RF radio currently serving said WT;

detecting that said Wi-Fi AP is now available for access;

sending a request for a new data session to said Wi-Fi AP;

completing a hand shake with said Wi-Fi AP to activate said new data session;

detecting the presence of another Wi-Fi AP which is now available for access as said WT moves within a zone or from one zone served by said Wi-Fi AP to a zone served by said other Wi-Fi AP.

14. A wireless terminal being capable of communicating both with a cellular communication network and a Wi-Fi access point, the wireless terminal comprising:

a processor; and

a computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the wireless terminal to;

detect the presence of a Wi-Fi AP which said WT is not currently authorized to access;

detect the failure of a cellular RF radio currently serving said WT;

detect that said Wi-Fi AP is now available for access;

send a request for a new data session to said Wi-Fi AP;

complete a hand shake with said Wi-Fi AP to activate said new data session;

detect the presence of another Wi-Fi AP which is now available for access as said WT moves within a zone or from one zone served by said Wi-Fi AP to a zone served by said other Wi-Fi AP.

15. A computer program comprising computer program code which, when run on a wireless terminal being capable of communicating both with a cellular communication network and a Wi-Fi access point, causes the wireless terminal to:

detect the presence of a Wi-Fi AP which said WT is not currently authorized to access;

detect the failure of a cellular RF radio currently serving said WT;

detect that said Wi-Fi AP is now available for access;

send a request for a new data session to said Wi-Fi AP;

complete a hand shake with said Wi-Fi AP to activate said new data session;

detect the presence of another Wi-Fi AP which is now available for access as said WT moves within a zone or from one zone served by said Wi-Fi AP to a zone served by said other Wi-Fi AP.

16. A method, performed in a Wireless Access Controller (AC) being capable of communicating both with a cellular communication network radio and a Wi-Fi access point (AP), both said radio and AP serving a wireless mobility zone, the method comprising:

detecting a cellular service failure event;

instructing said cellular network radio to disable cellular RF ports associated with said failure event for an affected zone;

instructing a Wi-Fi AP serving said affected zone to enable Wi-Fi access to Wireless Terminals (WT) located in a zone covered by said Wi-Fi AP;

receiving from said serving Wi-Fi AP, a list of MAC addresses associated with one or more WT requesting a new data session with said serving Wi-Fi AP or any other Wi-Fi AP in a zone managed by said AC or in a zone adjacent thereof.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein said list of MAC addresses is forwarded to other nodes in said zone and zones adjacent thereof when said WT moves away from said serving node to another node in said serving zone or to a zone adjacent thereof.

18. A Wireless Access Controller (AC) capable of communicating both with a cellular communication network radio and a Wi-Fi access point (AP), both said radio and AP serving a wireless mobility service zone, the AC comprising:

a processor; and

a computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the AC to;

detect a cellular service failure event;

instruct said cellular communication network radio to disable cellular RF ports associated with said failure event for an affected zone;

instruct a Wi-Fi AP serving said affected zone to enable access to Wireless Terminals (WT) in said affected zone;

receive from said serving Wi-Fi AP, a list of MAC addresses associated with one or more WT requesting a new data session with said serving Wi-Fi AP or any other Wi-Fi AP in a zone managed by said AC.

19. A computer program comprising a computer program code which, when run on a Wi-Fi Access Controller (AC) capable of communicating both with a cellular communication network radio and a Wi-Fi access point (AP), wherein both said radio and AP serve a wireless mobility service zone, causes the Wi-Fi AC to:

detect a cellular service failure event;

instruct said cellular communication network radio to disable cellular RF ports associated with said failure event for an affected zone;

instruct a Wi-Fi AP serving said affected zone to enable access to all new data sessions from Wireless Terminals (WT) in said affected zone;

receive from said serving Wi-Fi AP, a list of MAC addresses associated with one or more WT requesting a new data session with said serving Wi-Fi AP or any other Wi-Fi AP in a zone managed by said AC.