Managing network service access

• US 7,808,947 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US11/963,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20080095129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/328
• 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 comprising:

receiving an access request at an access node, the access request comprising a mobile identifier corresponding to a mobile subscriber, the access request requesting creation of a context for data packet communication to allow the mobile subscriber to access a network service;

determining that the mobile subscriber can access the network service according to validation information;

assigning, by the access node, a target access point to the mobile subscriber, the target access point allowing a node to create the context for data packet communication for the mobile subscriber; and

sending an access acceptance message to the node to initiate the creation of the context, the access acceptance message identifying the target access point.

2. The method of claim 1, the target access point configured to provide the mobile subscriber with access to a traffic destination.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying the mobile identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, the target access point identified by a domain name associated with a communication network accessible using the target access point.

5. The method of claim 1, the validation information describing a time during which the mobile subscriber is allowed access the network service.

6. The method of claim 1, the validation information describing a prepaid service that the mobile subscriber is allowed to access the network service.

7. The method of claim 1, the validation information indicating that the mobile subscriber is a valid user of the network service.

8. The method of claim 1, the access node comprising an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server.

9. The method of claim 1, the node comprising a Gateway General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) support node.

10. The method of claim 1, the context for data packet communication comprising a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context.

11. An apparatus comprising:

an input operable to;

receive an access request at an access node, the access request comprising a mobile identifier corresponding to a mobile subscriber, the access request requesting creation of a context for data packet communication to allow the mobile subscriber to access a network service;

a processor coupled to the input and operable to;

determine that the mobile subscriber can access the network service according to validation information;

assign, by the access node, a target access point to the mobile subscriber, the target access point allowing a node to create the context for data packet communication for the mobile subscriber; and

an output coupled to the processor and operable to;

send an access acceptance message to the node to initiate the creation of the context, the access acceptance message identifying the target access point.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, the target access point configured to provide the mobile subscriber with access to a traffic destination.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, the processor operable to verify the mobile identifier.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, the target access point identified by a domain name associated with a communication network accessible using the target access point.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, the validation information describing a time during which the mobile subscriber is allowed access the network service.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, the validation information describing a prepaid service that the mobile subscriber is allowed to access the network service.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, the validation information indicating that the mobile subscriber is a valid user of the network service.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, the access node comprising an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, the node comprising a Gateway General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) support node.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, the context for data packet communication comprising a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context.