Flexible architecture for wireless communication networks

• US 7,768,958 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Hui, David, Satarasinghe, Prasanna, Linden, Antti, Baker, John, Zhou, Yong, Greenwood, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper; Vincent P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Casca; Fred A
• Application Number:
  US10/302,137
• Time in Patent Office: 2,811 Days
• Field of Search: 370/353, 370/352, 370/356, 370/328, 370/338, 370/340, 370/331, 455/406, 455/428, 455/433, 455/443, 455/445, 455/446, 455/451
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a system and method for providing a flexible architecture for attaching computing devices to wireless networks.

Claims

1. A Wireless Access Internet Network architecture for providing users direct and roaming access to a communications network, the architecture comprising:

a wireless client wherein the wireless client provides an authentication and includes;

a radio link adaptation layer and a radio interface;

a plurality of wireless servers in communication with the wireless client wherein at least two of the plurality of wireless servers are in communication with each other and allow respective wireless clients within one network of the at least two of the plurality of wireless servers to roam within the other network of the at least two of the plurality of wireless servers and wherein each of the wireless servers include;

a charging module;

a Home Location Register (HLR) signaling module;

a Domain Naming System (DNS)/Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service (RADIUS) module;

a radio link adaptation layer and a radio access point in communication with the radio interface;

a data network in communication with the plurality of wireless servers; and

a RADIUS server connected to the wireless server wherein the wireless server transmits accounting data to the RADIUS server.

2. The architecture of claim 1 further including a second wireless client in communication with at least one of the plurality of wireless servers.

3. The architecture of claim 1, further including:

a wireless mobile device with a cellular protocol; and

a base station system (BSS) in communication with the wireless mobile device and connected to the data network wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless servers can transmit messages from the wireless client to the wireless mobile device through the data network and the BSS.

4. The architecture of claim 1 further including:

a wireless mobile device with a wireless protocol;

a receiving system in communication with the wireless mobile device; and

a SGSN in communication with the receiving system and connected to the data network wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless servers can transmit messages from the wireless client to the wireless mobile device through the data network, the SGSN and the receiving system.

5. The architecture of claim 1 further including a charge and billing gateway device in communication with the plurality of wireless servers wherein the plurality of wireless servers transmit charge and billing information to the gateway device.

6. The architecture of claim 5 wherein the charge and billing information is formatted in a call detail record.

7. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the RADIUS server connected to the wireless server wherein the authentication includes a User ID and a password and wherein the wireless server transmits the User ID and password to the RADIUS server and the wireless server receives an appropriate approve/deny message back from the RADIUS server.

8. The architecture of claim 1 further including the HLR connected to the wireless server wherein the wireless sewer transmits an authentication information request message to the HLR and receives requested authentication data back from the HLR.

9. The architecture of claim 1 wherein the plurality of wireless servers allow the wireless client to roam while keeping a data session active.

10. The architecture of claim 1 wherein the plurality of wireless servers transfer messages for the wireless client while the wireless client is roaming from a home network to a roaming network.

11. The architecture of claim 1 further including:

a GPRS Gateway Support Node (GGSN) in communication with the plurality of wireless servers; and

a virtual private network in communication with the GGSN, wherein the wireless client is allowed access to the virtual private network through the GGSN.

12. A method for transmitting wireless messages from a Wireless Access Internet Network architecture for providing users direct and roaming access to a communications network, the method comprising:

transmitting a message from a wireless client wherein the message is transmitted through a radio link adaptation layer and a radio interface;

receiving the message by at least one of a plurality of wireless servers in communication with the wireless client through a radio link adaptation layer and a radio access point in communication with the radio interface wherein at least two of the plurality of wireless servers are in communication with each other and allow respective wireless clients within one network of the at least two of the plurality of wireless servers roam to within the other network of the at least two of the plurality of wireless servers and wherein each of the plurality of wireless servers include;

a charging module;

a Home Location Register (HLR) signaling module;

a Domain Naming System (DNS)/Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service (RADIUS) module; and

transmitting the authentication message from the at least one of the plurality of wireless servers to a data network; and

transmitting accounting data from the wireless servers to a RADIUS server.

13. The method of claim 12 further including transmitting from a second wireless client to the at least one of the plurality of wireless servers.

14. The method of claim 12 further including:

transmitting a plurality of messages from a wireless mobile device with a cellular protocol;

and

receiving the plurality of messages at a base station system (BSS) in communication with the wireless mobile device and connected to the data network wherein the at least one of the plurality of wireless servers call transmit messages from the wireless client to the wireless mobile device through the data network and the BSS.

15. The method of claim 12 further including:

transmitting a plurality of messages from a wireless mobile device with a wireless protocol;

receiving the plurality of messages at a receiving system in communication with the wireless mobile device; and

transmitting the plurality of messages from the receiving system to a SGSN in communication with the receiving system and connected to the data network wherein the at least one of the plurality of wireless server can transmit messages from the wireless client to the wireless mobile device through the data network, the SGSN and the receiving system.

16. The method of claim 12 further including transmitting billing information to a charge and billing gateway device in communication with the at least one of the plurality of wireless server.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the transmitting the billing information is formatted in a call detail record.

18. The method of claim 12 further including transmitting a User ID and Password to the RADIUS server connected to the wireless server and receiving an appropriate approve/deny message back from the RADIUS server.

19. The method of claim 12 further including transmitting an authentication information request message to the HLR connected to the wireless server and receiving requested authentication data back from the HLR.

20. The method of claim 12 further including allowing the wireless client to roam while keeping a data session active.

21. The method of claim 12 further including transferring messages for the wireless client while the wireless client is roaming from a home network to a roaming network.

22. The method of claim 12 further including:

transmitting messages from the plurality of wireless servers to a GPRS Gateway Support Node (GGSN); and

transmitting messages from the GGSN to a virtual private network, wherein the wireless client is allowed access to the virtual private network through the GGSN.

23. A Wireless Access Internet Network architecture for providing users direct and roaming access to a communications network, the architecture comprising:

a wireless client wherein the wireless client provides an authentication and includes;

a client wireless protocol module;

a client radio link adaptation layer configured to be in communication with the client wireless protocol module; and

a client radio subsystem configured to be in communication with the client radio link adaptation layer, wherein the wireless client is configured to be in communication with a plurality of wireless servers over a radio interface,

wherein at least two of the plurality of wireless servers are in communication with each other and allow respective wireless clients within one network of the at least two of the plurality of wireless servers to roam within the other network of the at least two of the plurality of wireless servers and wherein each of the wireless servers include;

a charging module;

a Home Location Register (HLR) signaling module;

a Domain Naming System (DNS)/Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service (RADIUS) module; and

a data network in communication with the plurality of wireless servers;

a server wireless protocol module;

a server radio link adaption layer configured to communicate with the server wireless protocol module; and

a server radio subsystem configured to communicate with the client radio subsystem through a radio access point over the radio interface.