System and signaling method for interworking wireless LAN and portable internet

• US 8,054,814 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Choi, Song-In, Jeon, Byoung-Chun, Jung, Dong-Soo, Ahn, Jee-Hwan, Kim, Kyung-Soo, Jun, Sun-Mi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mui; Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAN, CLEMENCE S
• Application Number:
  US11/926,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20080130600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Disclosed is an interworking device for interworking with a first network and supporting signaling between a terminal and a second network. The interworking device sets a first wireless data path with the first network. The interworking device sets a first radio link with the terminal, receives an authentication message through a first radio link, and transmits the authentication message to an authentication server of the second network through the first wireless data path. When the authentication server finishes authentication, the interworking device sets a second wireless data path with the terminal. Accordingly, the interworking device provides an Internet service to the terminal during movement.

Claims

1. A method for an interworking device to interwork with a first network to support signaling between a terminal and a second network, the method comprising:

setting, with the first network, a first wireless data path following a first wireless communication protocol;

setting a first radio link following a second wireless communication protocol with the terminal;

receiving an authentication message through the first radio link;

transmitting the authentication message to an authentication server of the second network through the first wireless data path so that the authentication server of the second network may perform an authentication process for the terminal;

setting a second wireless data path following the second wireless communication protocol with the terminal when the authentication process performed by the authentication server of the second network is finished;

after the setting of the second wireless data path, receiving a first address allocation message from the terminal through the second wireless data path;

transmitting the first address allocation message to an address allocation server of the second network through the first wireless data path so that the address allocation server of the second network may allocate a first network address for the terminal;

receiving the first network address through the first wireless data path; and

transmitting the first network address to the terminal through the second wireless data path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

the first wireless communication protocol supports a handover, and the second wireless communication protocol does not support a handover.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method comprises:

transmitting a second address allocation message to an address allocation server of the first network through the first wireless data path to allow the address allocation server of the first network to allocate a second network address; and

receiving the second network address through the first wireless data path.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein

the setting of the first wireless data path comprises:

setting a second radio link following the first wireless communication protocol with a base station of the first network;

transmitting a first network authentication message to an authentication server of the first network through the second radio link to allow the authentication server of the first network to perform an authentication process; and

setting the first wireless data path following the first wireless communication protocol with the first network when the authentication process performed by the authentication server of the first network is finished.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein

the transmitting of the authentication message to the authentication server of the second network comprises transmitting the authentication message to the authentication server of the second network through the first wireless data path by passing it through the first network, and

the transmitting of the first address allocation message to the address allocation server of the second network comprises transmitting the first address allocation message to the address allocation server of the second network through the first wireless data path by passing it through the first network.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the method comprises:

transmitting a second address allocation message to an address allocation server of the first network through the first wireless data path to allow the address allocation server of the first network to allocate a second network address;

receiving the second network address through the first wireless data path;

transmitting a third address allocation message to the address allocation server of the second network through the first wireless data path by passing it through the first network to allow the address allocation server of the second network to allocate a third network address; and

receiving the third network address through the first wireless data path.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein

the setting of the first wireless data path comprises:

setting a second radio link following the first wireless communication protocol with a base station of the first network;

transmitting a first network authentication message to an authentication server of the first network through the second radio link to allow the authentication server of the first network to perform an authentication process; and

setting the first wireless data path following the first wireless communication protocol with the first network when the authentication process performed by the authentication server of the first network is finished.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein

the transmitting of the authentication message to the second network comprises designating a destination address of the authentication message as a network address of the authentication server of the second network, and designating a path so that the authentication message may be passed through the first network through the first wireless data path.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein

the transmitting of the first address allocation message to the address allocation server of the second network comprises designating a destination address of the address allocation message as a network address of the address allocation server of the second network, and setting a path so that the first address allocation message may be passed through the first network through the first wireless data path.

10. A system for interworking a first network to connect a second network to a terminal, the system comprising:

a base station connected to the first network through a cable, and transmitting/receiving signals through a radio channel;

a first network authentication server for performing an authentication process for the first network;

a second network authentication server, distinct from the first network authentication server, for performing an authentication process for the second network; and

an interworking device comprising a first matcher, a second matcher and an interworker,

wherein the first matcher transmits a first authentication message to the first network authentication server according to control by the interworker, and sets a first wireless data path following a first wireless communication protocol with the first network when the first network authentication server finishes an authentication process according to the first authentication message, and

the second matcher receives a second authentication message from the terminal, transmits the second authentication message to the second network authentication server through the interworker by passing it through the first network, and sets a second wireless data path following a second wireless communication protocol with the terminal when the second network authentication server finishes an authentication process according to the second authentication message.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the system comprises:

a first network address allocation server for allocating a first network address for the interworking device; and

a second network address allocation server for allocating a second network address for the terminal.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein

the interworker comprises:

an authentication client for requesting the first network authentication server to authenticate the first matcher through the first authentication message; and

an authentication relay for transmitting the second authentication message to the second network authentication server through the first wireless data path by passing it through the first network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein

the interworker comprises:

an address allocation client for requesting the first network address allocation server to allocate a network address for the first matcher through the first wireless data path; and

an address allocation relay for transmitting an address allocation message to the second network address allocation server through the first wireless data path by passing it through the first network when the second matcher receives the address allocation message from the terminal through the second wireless data path.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein after the setting of the second wireless data path, the second matcher receives a first address allocation message from the terminal through the second wireless data path, transmits the first address allocation message to an address allocation server of the second network through the interworker by passing it through the first wireless data path so that the address allocation server of the second network may allocate a first network address for the terminal, and

wherein the first matcher receives the first network address through the first wireless data path, and transmitting the first network address to the terminal through the interworker by passing it through the second wireless data path.