Managing network service access

• US 7,324,489 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2003
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Iyer, Jayaraman R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phunkulh; Bob A.
• Application Number:
  US10/368,718
• Time in Patent Office: 1,806 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels

Abstract

Managing network service access includes receiving a packet data service request. The packet data service request is associated with a mobile subscriber and a service identifier that can bypass validation for accessing a traffic destination. Access is requested from an access node in response to the packet data service request. The access node maps a target access point to the mobile subscriber, where the target access point provides the mobile subscriber with access to the traffic destination. An access acceptance message is received from the access node, where the access acceptance message identifies the target access point. A packet data context is created by associating the target access point with the mobile subscriber to allow the mobile subscriber to access the traffic destination.

Claims

1. A method for managing network service access, comprising:

receiving a packet data service request, the packet data service request associated with a mobile subscriber and a service identifier, the service identifier operable to bypass validation for accessing a traffic destination;

requesting access from an access node in response to the packet data service request, the access node operable to assign a target access point to the mobile subscriber, the target access point operable to provide the mobile subscriber with access to the traffic destination;

receiving an access acceptance message from the access node, the access acceptance message identifying the target access point; and

creating a packet data context by associating the target access point with the mobile subscriber to allow the mobile subscriber to access the traffic destination.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a packet data context response to the mobile subscriber, the packet data context response comprising the target access point, the target access point comprising a domain name associated with a communication network accessible using the target access point.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the target access point according to a user profile at the access node, the user profile comprising information associated with the mobile subscriber and one or more target access points.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile subscriber is associated with a mobile identifier selected from the group consisting of a password, a user name, a user identifier, a serial number, a login name, a login number, a telephone number, and an access code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the target access point comprises an Access Point Name (APN) identifying the traffic destination.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating access to the traffic destination at the access node, the access node operable to assign to the mobile subscriber the target access point associated with the traffic destination in response to the authentication.

7. A system for managing network service access, comprising:

an input operable to receive a packet data service request, the packet data service request associated with a mobile subscriber and a service identifier, the service identifier operable to bypass validation for accessing a traffic destination; and

a processor operable to;

request access from an access node in response to the packet data service request, the access node operable to assign a target access point to the mobile subscriber, the target access point operable to provide the mobile subscriber with access to the traffic destination;

receive an access acceptance message from the access node, the access acceptance message identifying the target access point; and

create a packet data context by associating the target access point with the mobile subscriber to allow the mobile subscriber to access the traffic destination.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further operable to transmit a packet data context response to the mobile subscriber, the packet data context response comprising the target access point, the target access point comprising a domain name associated with a communication network accessible using the target access point.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the access node is operable to select the target access point according to a user profile, the user profile comprising information associated with the mobile subscriber and one or more target access points.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the mobile subscriber is associated with a mobile identifier selected from the group consisting of a password, a user name, a user identifier, a serial number, a login name, a login number, a telephone number, and an access code.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the target access point comprises an Access Point Name (APN) identifying the traffic destination.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the access node is operable to:

authenticate access to the traffic destination; and

assign to the mobile subscriber the target access point associated with the traffic destination in response to the authentication.

13. A system for managing network service access, comprising:

means for receiving a packet data service request, the packet data service request associated with a mobile subscriber and a service identifier, the service identifier operable to bypass validation for accessing a traffic destination;

means for requesting access from an access node in response to the packet data service request, the access node operable to assign a target access point to the mobile subscriber, the target access point operable to provide the mobile subscriber with access to the traffic destination;

means for receiving an access acceptance message from the access node, the access acceptance message identifying the target access point; and

means for creating a packet data context by associating the target access point with the mobile subscriber to allow the mobile subscriber to access the traffic destination.

14. A system for managing network service access, comprising:

a gateway support node operable to;

receive a packet data service request, the packet data service request associated with a mobile subscriber and a service identifier, the service identifier operable to bypass validation for accessing a traffic destination, the mobile subscriber associated with a mobile identifier selected from the group consisting of a password, a user name, a user identifier, a serial number, a login name, a login number, a telephone number, and an access code;

request access from an access node in response to the packet data service request, the access node operable to assign a target access point to the mobile subscriber, the target access point operable to provide the mobile subscriber with access to the traffic destination, the target access point comprising an Access Point Name (APN) identifying the traffic destination;

receive an access acceptance message from the access node, the access acceptance message identifying the target access point;

create a packet data context by associating the target access point with the mobile subscriber to allow the mobile subscriber to access the traffic destination; and

transmit a packet data context response to the mobile subscriber, the packet data context response comprising the target access point, the target access point comprising a domain name associated with a communication network accessible using the target access point; and

the access node further operable to;

select the target access point according to a user profile, the user profile comprising information associated with the mobile subscriber and one or more target access points;

authenticate access to the traffic destination; and

assign to the mobile subscriber the target access point associated with the traffic destination in response to the authentication.