Method and system for service portability across disjoint wireless networks

• US 7,133,386 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holur, Balaji S., Davidson, Kenneth W., Shannon, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, STEVEN H D
• Application Number:
  US10/299,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20040120277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/328, 370/331, 370/335, 370/338, 455/422.1, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/432.3, 455/435.1, 455/436, 455/444
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks

Abstract

A method and system for providing services to a communication session anchored to a micro wireless network includes providing at a router of the micro wireless network an interface for communication with a service node of a macro wireless network that is coupled to the micro wireless network. The interface is of a same type as used by a radio access network of the macro wireless network to communicate with the service node. Information associated with the session is communicated between the interface and the service node in a format used by the service node to communicate with the radio access network of the macro wireless network. The macro network provides portability services to the session of the micro wireless network through the interface.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a macro wireless network comprising a radio access network and a service node, the radio access network operable to communicate information for a wireless session to the service node via a first interface of a type, wherein the first interface is provided in a router that is associated with the service node and that is operable to provide an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) function for one or more access points, whereby the access points communicate AAA commands to the router to achieve respective authentications; and

a micro wireless network coupled to the service node of the macro wireless network, the micro wireless network operable to communicate information for a wireless session to the service node via a second interface of the same type as the first interface;

the service node of the macro wireless network operable to;

receive via the second interface a request to authenticate the handover of a particular wireless session from the macro wireless network to the micro wireless network; and

manage the authentication of the particular wireless session such that the particular wireless session may be handed over from the macro wireless network to the micro wireless network.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first and second interfaces comprise a packet control function.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the micro wireless network comprises a wireless local access network (WLAN).

4. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the macro wireless network comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless network.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the service node comprises a packet data serving node (PDSN).

6. A method for providing services to a communication session anchored to a micro wireless network, comprising:

providing at a router of the micro wireless network an interface for communication with a service node of a macro wireless network coupled to the micro wireless network, the interface of a same type as used by a radio access network of the macro wireless network to communicate with the service node, wherein the interface is provided in the router that is associated with the service node and that is operable to provide an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) function for one or more access points, whereby the access points communicate AAA commands to the router to achieve respective authentications;

communicating information associated with the session between the interface and the service node in a format used by the service node to communicate with the radio access network of the macro wireless network; and

providing macro network services to the session of the micro wireless network through the interface.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the macro network services comprise locations or services.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the macro network services comprise push services.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the macro network services comprise traffic management services.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the macro network services comprise handoff services.

11. A system for providing services to a communication session anchored to a micro wireless network, comprising:

means for providing at a router of the micro wireless network an interface for communication with a service node of a macro wireless network coupled to the micro wireless network, the interface of a same type as used by a radio access network of the macro wireless network to communicate with the service node, wherein the interface is provided in the router that is associated with the service node and that is operable to provide an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) function for one or more access points, whereby the access points communicate AAA commands to the router to achieve respective authentications;

means for communicating information associated with the session between the interface and the service node in a format used by the service node to communicate with the radio access network of the macro wireless network; and

providing macro network services to the session of the micro wireless network through the interface.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the macro network services comprise locations or services.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the macro network services comprise push services.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the macro network services comprise traffic management services.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the macro network services comprise handoff services.

16. A system for providing services to a communication session anchored to a micro wireless network, comprising:

logic encoded in media; and

the logic operable to provide at a router of the micro wireless network an interface for communication with a service node of a macro wireless network coupled to the micro wireless network, the interface of a same type as used by a radio access network of the macro wireless network to communicate with the service node, to communicate information associated with the session between the interface and the service node in a format used by the service node to communicate with the radio access network of the macro wireless network and to provide macro network services to the session of the micro wireless network through the interface, wherein the interface is provided in the router that is associated with the service node and that is operable to provide an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) function for one or more access points, whereby the access points communicate AAA commands to the router to achieve respective authentications.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the macro network services comprise locations or services.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the macro network services comprise push services.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the macro network services comprise traffic management services.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the macro network services comprise handoff services.