Enhancement of AAA routing initiated from a home service network involving intermediary network preferences

• US 7,298,725 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Rune, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban; Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, CHARLES CHIANG
• Application Number:
  US10/960,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20060077925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/236, 370/351, 370/349, 370/355, 370/356, 370/357, 370/385, 370/395.3, 370/395.31, 370/328, 370/401, 370/420, 370/463, 370/331, 370/241, 455/552.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.1, 455/432.1, 455/424, 455/425, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/561, 455/436, 455/443, 455/444, 455/434, 455/456.2, 455/437, 455/445, 455/450, 455/452.1, 455/455, 455/456.3, 455/464, 455/509, 455/525, 375/356, 375/355
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Enhanced routing of an authentication, authorization, or accounting-related (AAA) message between a local access network being accessed by a roaming mobile terminal and a home service network is described. A list of one or more intermediary service networks use in routing an AAA message between the mobile terminal and the home service network is generated or retrieved and stored. The list is used in routing the AAA message, whether originated from the local access network or originated from the home network.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing routing of an authentication, authorization, or accounting-related (AAA) message related to a roaming mobile terminal from a home service network to a local access network being accessed or otherwise serviced by the roaming mobile terminal, comprising:

storing in the home service network a list of one or more intermediary service networks for use in routing the AAA message from the home service network towards a local access network associated with the mobile terminal;

the home service network including the list with the AAA message; and

using the one or more intermediary service networks on the list to convey the AAA message towards the local access network,

wherein the AAA message is a first AAA message, and wherein when the home service network receives a second AAA message from the local access network routed through one or more selected intermediary service networks to the home service network, each selected intermediary service network or each of a subset of the selected intermediary service networks having added to the AAA message an associated intermediary service network identifier, the home service network receives the second AAA message and generates the list using the associated intermediary service network identifier included by each selected one or more intermediary networks.

2. The method in claim 1, wherein each intermediary service network is identified in the list using a domain name or a fully-qualified domain name of an AAA server of the intermediary service network.

3. The method in claim 1, further comprising:

using the generated list to route the first AAA message towards the local access network using the one or more intermediary service networks included on the generated list.

4. The method in claim 1, further comprising:

each listed intermediary service network receiving the first AAA message and routing the first AAA message directly towards the local access network or routing the first AAA message towards another intermediary service network on the list.

5. The method in claim 4, further comprising:

each listed intermediary service network removing its associated identifier from the list before routing the first AAA message directly towards the local access network or routing the first AAA message towards another intermediary service network on the list.

6. The method in claim 1, wherein the associated identifier includes one or both of a domain name or fully-qualified domain name of the intermediary network or a domain name or fully-qualified domain name of an AAA server of the intermediary network.

7. The method in claim 6, further comprising:

storing in the home service network a list of one or more intermediary service networks and a corresponding AAA server for each of the listed intermediary service networks for routing the first AAA message from the home service network towards the local access network associated with the mobile terminal, and

using the one or more intermediary service networks and the one or more corresponding AAA servers on the list to convey the first AAA message towards the local access network.

8. The method in claim 1, wherein the home service network initiates sending of the first AAA message without having received the second AAA message.

9. The method in claim 1, wherein the intermediary service networks on the list of one or more intermediary service networks are mandatory for use in routing the first AAA message from the home service network towards the local access network.

10. An apparatus in a home service network for enhancing routing of an authentication, authorization, or accounting-related (AAA) related to a roaming mobile terminal from a home service network to a local access network being accessed or otherwise serviced by the roaming mobile terminal, comprising:

a home service network memory for storing a list of one or more intermediary service networks for routing the AAA message from the home service network towards a local access network associated with the mobile terminal, and

data processing circuitry for performing the following tasks;

including the list with the AAA message, and

directing the AAA message towards the local access network using the one or more intermediary service networks on the list,

wherein the AAA message is a first AAA message, and wherein the data processing circuitry is configured to receive a second AAA message from the local access network and generate the list and use one or more identifiers associated with and included in the second AAA message by one or more intermediary networks used to convey the second AAA message to the home service network.

11. The apparatus in claim 10, wherein each intermediary service network is identified in the list using a domain name or a fully-qualified domain name of an AAA server of the intermediary service network.

12. The apparatus in claim 10, wherein the data processing circuitry is configured to route the first AAA message towards the local access network using the one or more intermediary service networks included on the generated list.

13. The apparatus in claim 10, wherein the associated identifier includes one or both of a domain name or fully-qualified domain name of the intermediary network or a domain name fully-qualified domain name of an AAA server of the intermediary network.

14. The apparatus in claim 10, wherein the memory is configured to store a list of one or more intermediary service networks and a corresponding AAA server for each of the one or more intermediary service networks for routing the AAA message from the home service network towards the local access network, and wherein the home service network is configured to convey the AAA message towards the local access network via the listed intermediary service networks and corresponding AAA servers.

15. The apparatus in claim 10, wherein the intermediary service networks on the list of one or more intermediary service networks are mandatory for use in routing an AAA message from the home service network towards the local access network.

16. A system comprising:

a roaming mobile terminal;

a local access network currently serving the mobile terminal;

one or more intermediary service networks; and

a home service network for enhancing routing of an authentication, authorization, or accounting-related (AAA) message from a home service network to the local access network including;

means for storing in the home service network a list of one or more intermediary service networks for use in routing the AAA message from the home service network towards the local access network;

means for including the list with the AAA message; and

means for using the one or more intermediary service networks on the list to convey the AAA message towards the local access network,

wherein the AAA message is a first AAA message, and wherein when the local access network originates a second AAA message routed through a selected one or more preferred intermediary service networks to the home service network, each selected intermediary service network includes means for adding to the second AAA message an associated identifier.

17. The system in claim 16, wherein each intermediary service network is identified in the list using a domain name or a fully-qualified domain name of an AAA server of the intermediary service network.

18. The system in claim 16, wherein the home service network includes means for generating the list from the second AAA message using the associated identifier included by the selected one or more intermediary networks.

19. The system in claim 16, wherein the means for storing is configured to store a list of one or more intermediary service networks and a corresponding AAA server for each of the one or more intermediary service networks for use in routing the AAA message towards the local access network, and wherein the means for using is configured to use the one or more intermediary service networks and the one or more corresponding AAA servers on the list to convey the AAA message towards the local access network.

20. The system in claim 16, wherein the intermediary service networks on the list of one or more intermediary service networks is mandatory for use in routing the AAA message from the home service network towards the local access network.