Method for implementing a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) gateway system

• US 7,873,347 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Redknee Inc.
• Original Assignee: Redknee Inc.
• Inventors: Zabawskyj, Bohdan Konstantyn, Morel, Daniel Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): THIER, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/603,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20040258031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,770 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-411, 379111-134, 379/144.01
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1457 using an account
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/146 using digital cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1467 involving prepayment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• 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: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/59 based on real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8214 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 : with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 : Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 : General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 : Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2013 : Fixed data network, e.g. PDN, ATM, B-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 : WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 : Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 : Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 : Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/782 : Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 : Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 : Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements

Abstract

The invention of present provides for a real-time authentication and billing gateway for WLAN traffic. Notably, the improved method for implementing a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) gateway system enables telecommunications network operators (and like entities) to rate and bill for services accessed by the wireless user. The logic of the invention supports and furthers the art in regards to advanced real-time rating/billing in addition to providing for a variety of replenishment mechanisms for casual users via pre-paid vouchers and credit cards.

Claims

1. In a wireless local area network (WLAN) gateway system comprising:

an access gateway connected to a server;

a session controller connected to said access gateway;

a charging element connected to said session controller;

said charging element maintaining charging details associated with a mobile handset;

a rating element connected to said session controller;

said rating element maintaining rating profile information associated with said mobile handset;

an interface connected to said access gateway for connecting said mobile handset to said access gateway via said interface;

a computing device connected to said access gateway via a WLAN access network;

a method for providing access to said server from said computing device comprising;

receiving at said access gateway authentication information for a subscriber associated with said computing device;

sending a first message from said access gateway to said mobile handset; and

,

if no reply to said first message is received within a configurable interval from said subscriber then denying said computing device access to said server; and

if a reply to said first message is received, then permitting said computing device to access said server and, during said access;

sending an instruction from said access gateway to said rating element, to determine a rate for packets carried between said computing device and said WLAN access network to establish a rate of charge for each of said packets according to a different classification assigned to each of said packets; and

sending an instruction from said access gateway to said charging element representing charging details associated with the access of said server by said computing device;

said charging details based on said rate.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said access gateway is an authentication, authorization and accounting gateway.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said gateway is an AAA server.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said MAN system further comprises a messaging interface connected to said access gateway and wherein said messaging interface is a short message peer-to-peer (“

SMPP”

) interface configured to send and receive instructions to and from said mobile handset for modifying at least one of subscriber preferences respective to said rate of charge and sending information concerning the subscriber'"'"'s identity for the purpose of non-repudiation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first message is a short message (“

SM”

) configured to send information concerning an identity of said subscriber for the purpose of non-repudiation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said WLAN system further comprises a messaging interface connected to said access gateway and wherein said messaging interface is an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) gateway configured to send and receive instructions from said mobile handset for at least one of modifying subscriber preferences to said rate of charge and sending information concerning the subscriber'"'"'s identity for the purpose of non-repudiation.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said mobile handset accesses said (USSD) gateway via a home location register.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving one or more additional messages from said handset at said access gateway;

said additional messages including instructions to modify subscriber preferences associated with said access of said server via said gateway.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said charging details include incrementing a charge associated with charging detail record (CDR).

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said charging details include decrementing a voucher balance.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said charging details include decrementing a credit card balance.

12. A wireless local area network (WLAN) gateway system, comprising:

an access gateway connected to a server;

a session controller connected to said access gateway;

a charging element connected to said session controller;

said charging element maintaining charging details associated with a mobile handset;

a rating element connected to said session controller;

said rating element maintaining rating profile information associated with said mobile handset;

an interface connected to said access gateway for connecting a mobile handset to said access gateway via said interface;

a computing device connected to said access gateway via a WLAN access network;

said system configured to perform a method for providing access to said server from said computing device comprising;

receiving at said access gateway authentication information for a subscriber associated with said computing device;

sending a first message from said access gateway to said mobile handset; and

,

if no reply to said first message is received within a configurable interval from said subscriber then denying said computing device access to said server; and

if a reply to said first message is received, then permitting said computing device to access said server; and

, during said access;

sending an instruction from said access gateway to said rating element to determine a rate for packets carried between said computing device and said WLAN access network to establish a rate of charge for each of said packets according to a different classification assigned to each of said packets; and

sending an instruction from said access gateway to said charging element representing charging details associated with the access of said server by said computing device;

said charging details based on said rate.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said access gateway is an authentication, authorization and accounting gateway.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said gateway is an AAA server.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said WLAN system further comprises a messaging interface connected to said access gateway and wherein said messaging interface is a short message peer-to-peer (“

SMPP”

) interface configured to send and receive instructions to and from said mobile handset for at least one of modifying subscriber preferences respective to said rate of charge and sending information concerning the subscriber'"'"'s identity for the purpose of non-repudiation.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said first message is a short message (“

SM”

) configured to send information concerning an identity of said subscriber for the purpose of non-repudiation.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein said WLAN system further comprises a messaging interface connected to said access gateway and wherein said messaging interface is an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) gateway configured to send and receive instructions from said mobile handset for at least one of modifying subscriber preferences to said rate of charge and sending information concerning the subscriber'"'"'s identity for the purpose of non-repudiation.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said mobile handset accesses said (USSD) gateway via a home location register.

19. The system of claim 12 further comprising the step of receiving one or more additional messages from said handset at said access gateway;

said additional messages including instructions to modify subscriber preferences associated with said access of said server via said gateway.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein said charging details include incrementing a charge associated with charging detail record (CDR).

21. The system of claim 12 wherein said charging details include decrementing a voucher balance.

22. The system of claim 12 wherein said charging details include decrementing a credit card balance.