System and method for providing source awareness in a wireless application protocol network environment

• US 7,120,148 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2002
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Rourke, Chris, Batz, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, BLANCHE
• Application Number:
  US10/075,830
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/12 Application layer protocols, e.g. WAP [Wireless Application Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A method for communicating in a wireless application protocol (WAP) network environment is provided that includes receiving a request packet at a WAP gateway and positioning an identifier into the request packet. A content switch then identifies the identifier and correlates the identifier to a source that generated the request packet. An internet protocol (IP) address associated with the source is positioned in the request packet before communicating the request packet to a next destination.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communicating in a wireless application protocol (WAP) network environment, comprising:

a WAP gateway positioning an identifier into a request packet;

a content switch coupled to the WAP gateway, identifying the identifier and correlating the identifier to a source that generated the request packet, and further receiving the request packet and positioning an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the source in the request packet before communicating the request packet to a next destination; and

a client service packet gateway (CSPG) receiving the request packet after the IP address associated with the source has been positioned by the content switch and matching one or more IP addresses with one or more source profiles in order to provide one or more networking services to one or more selected sources;

wherein the matching is performed by the CSPG by proxying RADIUS flows associated with a selected one or more sources.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the content switch comprises a table that includes one or more identifiers that correlate to one or more sources respectively, and wherein each of the sources is generating one or more request packets in the WAP network environment.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the matching is performed by the CSPG by accessing and querying a database.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server coupled to the CSPG, authenticating the source associated with the request packet.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the AAA server authorizing the source associated with the request packet.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the AAA server providing accounting services for the source associated with the request packet.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a radio access network (RAN) packet gateway providing a communications link between a mobile station associated with the source and the WAP gateway.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a database coupled to the content switch, storing a table that includes one or more identifiers that correlate to one or more sources respectively, and wherein each of the sources is generating one or more request packets in the WAP network environment.

9. A method for communicating in a wireless application protocol (WAP) network environment, comprising:

receiving a request packet;

positioning an identifier into the request packet;

identifying the identifier and correlating the identifier to a source that generated the request packet;

positioning an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the source in the request packet before communicating the request packet to a next destination;

receiving the request packet after the IP address associated with the source has been positioned; and

matching one or more IP addresses with one or more source profiles in order to provide one or more networking services to one or more selected sources;

wherein the matching is performed by proxying RADIUS flows associated with a selected one or more sources.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a table that includes one or more identifiers that correlate to one or more sources respectively, wherein each of the sources is generating one or more request packets in the WAP network environment.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the matching is performed by accessing and querying a database.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising authenticating the source associated with the request packet.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising authorizing the source associated with the request packet.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing accounting services for the source associated with the request packet.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a communications link for a mobile station associated with the source.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing a table that includes one or more identifiers that correlate to one or more sources respectively in a database, and wherein each of the sources is generating one or more request packets in the WAP network environment.

17. A system for communicating in a wireless application protocol (WAP) network environment, comprising:

means for receiving a request packet;

means for positioning an identifier into the request packet;

means for identifying the identifier and correlating the identifier to a source that generated the request packet;

means for positioning an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the source in the request packet before communicating the request packet to a next destination;

means for receiving the request packet after the IP address associated with the source has been positioned; and

means for matching one or more IP addresses with one or more source profiles in order to provide one or more networking services to one or more selected sources;

wherein the matching is performed by proxying RADIUS flows associated with a selected one or more sources.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for identifying the identifier comprises a table that includes one or more identifiers that correlate to one or more sources respectively, and wherein each of the sources is generating one or more request packets in the WAP network environment.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the matching is performed by accessing and querying a database.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for authenticating the source associated with the request packet.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising means for authorizing the source associated with the request packet.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising means for providing accounting services for the source associated with the request packet.

23. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for providing a communications link for a mobile station associated with the source.

24. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for storing a table that includes one or more identifiers that correlate to one or more sources respectively in a database, and wherein each of the sources is generating one or more request packets in the WAP network environment.

25. Software embodied in a computer readable media:

receiving a request packet;

positioning an identifier into the request packet;

identifying the identifier and correlating the identifier to a source that generated the request packet;

positioning an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the source in the request packet before communicating the request packet to a next destination;

receiving the request packet after the IP address associated with the source has been positioned; and

matching one or more IP addresses with one or more source profiles in order to provide one or more networking services to one or more selected sources;

wherein the matching is performed by proxying RADIUS flows associated with a selected one or more sources.

26. The software of claim 25, wherein the software identifying the identifier comprises a table that includes one or more identifiers that correlate to one or more sources respectively, and wherein each of the sources is generating one or more request packets in the WAP network environment.

27. The software of claim 25, wherein the matching is performed by accessing and querying a database.

28. The software of claim 25, further authenticating the source associated with the request packet.

29. The software of claim 28, further authorizing the source associated with the request packet.

30. The software of claim 28, further providing accounting services for the source associated with the request packet.

31. The software of claim 25, further providing a communications link for a mobile station associated with the source.

32. The software of claim 25, further storing a table that includes one or more identifiers that correlate to one or more sources respectively in a database, and wherein each of the sources is generating one or more request packets in the WAP network environment.

33. An apparatus for communicating in a wireless application protocol (WAP) network environment, comprising:

a content switch coupled to a WAP gateway, identifying an identifier positioned in a request packet by the WAP gateway and correlating the identifier to a source that generated the request packet, and further receiving the request packet and positioning an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the source in the request packet before communicating the request packet to a next destination; and

a client service packet gateway (CSPG) receiving the request packet after the IP address associated with the source has been positioned by the content switch and matching one or more IP addresses with one or more source profiles in order to provide one or more networking services to one or more selected sources;

wherein the matching is performed by the CSPG by proxying RADIUS flows associated with a selected one or more sources.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the content switch comprises a table that includes one or more identifiers that correlate to one or more sources respectively, and wherein each of the sources is generating one or more request packets in the WAP network environment.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the matching is performed by the CSPG by accessing and querying a database.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server coupled to the CSPG, authenticating the source associated with the request packet.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the AAA server authorizing the source associated with the request packet.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the AAA server providing accounting services for the source associated with the request packet.

39. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a radio access network (RAN) packet gateway providing a communications link between a mobile station associated with the source and the WAP gateway.

40. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a database coupled to the content switch, storing a table that includes one or more identifiers that correlate to one or more sources respectively, and wherein each of the sources is generating one or more request packets in the WAP network environment.