Service in WLAN inter-working, address management system, and method

• US 8,374,580 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2011
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redwood Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tan, Chee Bing, Cheng, Hong, Tan, Pek-Yew
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US13/292,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20120082111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/432.1, 455/432.3, 455/450, 455/436, 455/442, 370/235, 370/310, 370/338, 370/393, 370/395.5, 370/395.52, 370/401
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/086 using security domains
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

An address management method is provided, for use when a mobile terminal accesses a service from a WLAN access network, wherein the service is provided in a 3GPP network or in a service provider network via the 3GPP network. First, the mobile terminal connects to the WLAN access network. Second, the mobile terminal sends a tunnel setup request message from the WLAN access network to a network entity located in the 3GPP network, wherein the tunnel setup request message includes a service request identifier for accessing a requested service and a mobile terminal identifier. Third, the network entity receives the tunnel setup request message, and allocates an address for use by the mobile terminal to access the requested service based on the service request identifier and the mobile terminal identifier.

Claims

1. An address management method which is used when a mobile terminal accesses a service from a WLAN access network, the service being provided in a 3GPP network, the address management method comprising:

a sending step in which the mobile terminal sends a tunnel setup request message from the WLAN access network to a network entity which is located in the 3GPP network, the tunnel setup request message including a service request identifier for accessing a requested service and a mobile terminal identifier; and

an allocation step in which the network entity receives the tunnel setup request message, and allocates an address for use by the mobile terminal to access the requested service based on the service request identifier and the mobile terminal identifier.

2. The address management method according to claim 1 wherein the allocation step further comprises a query step in which the network entity, after receiving the tunnel setup request message and before allocating the address, queries a node in the 3GPP network or a node in an external network whether access for the requested service by the mobile terminal is allowed, based on user subscription information.

3. The address management method according to claim 2, wherein the node in the 3GPP network or the node in the external network being queried allocates the address for use by the mobile terminal to access the requested service, and provides the network entity with the address.

4. The address management method according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment step in which QoS adjustment is performed between the WLAN access network and a WLAN server which is connected to the network entity.

5. The address management method according to claim 4, wherein the QoS adjustment is performed via a policy server which performs policy control in the 3GPP network.

6. The address management method according to claim 1, further comprising an obtaining step in which the mobile terminal obtains an address of the network entity, based on information on the 3GPP network.

7. The address management method according to claim 1, further comprising an address sending step in which the network entity sends the allocated address to the mobile terminal.

8. An address management system having a mobile terminal and a network entity, wherein the mobile terminal accesses a service from a WLAN access network, the service being provided in a 3GPP network, wherein

the mobile terminal comprises:

a sending unit for sending a tunnel setup request message from the WLAN access network to the network entity which is located in the 3GPP network, the tunnel setup request message including a service request identifier for accessing a requested service and a mobile terminal identifier, and

the network entity comprises;

an allocation unit for receiving the tunnel setup request message, and allocating an address for use by the mobile terminal to access the requested service based on the service request identifier and the mobile terminal identifier.

9. The address management system according to claim 8 wherein the allocation unit further comprises a query unit for, after receiving the tunnel setup request message and before allocating the address, querying a node in the 3GPP network or a node in an external network whether access for the requested service by the mobile terminal is allowed, based on user subscription information.

10. The address management system according to claim 9, wherein the node in the 3GPP network or the node in the external network being queried allocates the address for use by the mobile terminal to access the requested service, and provides the network entity with the address.

11. The address management system according to claim 8, wherein the network entity further comprises an adjustment unit for performing QoS adjustment between the WLAN access network and a WLAN server which is connected to the network entity.

12. The address management system according to claim 11, wherein the QoS adjustment is performed via a policy server which performs policy control in the 3GPP network.

13. The address management system according to claim 11, wherein the mobile terminal further comprises an obtaining unit for obtaining an address of the network entity, based on information on the 3GPP network.

14. The address management system according to claim 11, wherein the network entity further comprises an address sending unit for sending the allocated address to the mobile terminal.

15. A mobile terminal for accessing a service from a WLAN access network, the service being provided in a 3GPP network, the mobile terminal comprising:

a sending unit for sending a tunnel setup request message from the WLAN access network to a network entity which is located in the 3GPP network, the tunnel setup request message including a service request identifier for accessing a requested service and a mobile terminal identifier.

16. The mobile terminal according to claim 15, further comprising an obtaining unit for obtaining an address of the network entity, based on information on the 3GPP network.

17. The mobile terminal according to claim 15, further comprising a receiving unit for receiving from the network entity an address for accessing the requested service, the address being allocated based on the service request identifier and the mobile terminal identifier.