Selective authentication of user devices in wireless communication networks

• US 9,137,742 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2011
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Zhu, Lei, Pope, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arani, Taghi
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, PHY ANH TRAN
• Application Number:
  US13/033,446
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

What is disclosed is a method of operating a communication system, where a user device receives wireless access for a communication session over a first wireless communication network. The method includes receiving a registration request transferred by the user device for wireless access from a second wireless communication network, and in response to the registration request, processing an authentication status for the communication session of the first wireless communication network to authenticate the communication session in the second wireless communication network.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:

receiving wireless access for a communication session over a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless communication network;

receiving a registration request transferred by a user device for wireless access from another wireless communication network, different from the CDMA wireless communication network;

receiving authentication information for the communication session from Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) equipment in the CDMA wireless communication network over the CDMA wireless communication network;

wherein the authentication information comprises at least one of user device authentication information, user authentication information, or network authentication information;

in response to the registration request, processing the authentication information for the communication session over the CDMA wireless communication network to selectively bypass an associated authentication process in the other wireless communication network to authenticate the communication session in the other wireless communication network, wherein the other wireless communication network comprises one of;

a Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless communication network or a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) wireless communication network;

processing an activity level of AAA equipment in the other wireless communication network to select the associated authentication process in the other wireless communication network to bypass, wherein the activity level of the AAA equipment in the other wireless communication network comprises at least one of a registration drop rate, a registration incomplete rate, and a processor utilization level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network authentication information comprises Internet protocol (IP) authentication information;

and

wherein the AAA equipment in the other wireless communication network comprises home agent (HA) equipment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the authentication information for the communication session over the CDMA wireless communication network comprises checking an authorization cache of the CDMA wireless communication network.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

in response to successfully authenticating the communication session in the other wireless communication network, clearing the authorization cache of the CDMA wireless communication network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

exchanging communications with the user device for the communication session over the CDMA wireless communication network using a CDMA wireless communication mode; and

exchanging further communications with the user device for the communication session over the other wireless communication network using another wireless communication mode.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein exchanging further communications with the user device for the communication session over the other wireless communication network using the other wireless communication mode comprises maintaining the same communication session for the communications over the CDMA wireless communication network and the further communications over the other wireless communication network.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the user device comprises a multi-mode wireless communication device, wherein a first mode of the multi-mode wireless communication device comprises the CDMA wireless communication mode, and wherein a second mode of the multi-mode wireless communication device comprises the other wireless communication mode.

8. A communication system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, wherein the memory stores computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising;

receiving wireless access for a communication session over a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless communication network;

receiving a registration request transferred by a user device for wireless access from another wireless communication network, different from the CDMA wireless communication network;

receiving authentication information for the communication session from Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) equipment in the CDMA wireless communication network over the CDMA wireless communication network;

wherein the authentication information comprises at least one of user device authentication information, user authentication information, or network authentication information; and

in response to the registration request, processing the authentication information for the communication session over the CDMA wireless communication network to selectively bypass an associated authentication process in the other wireless communication network to authenticate the communication session in the other wireless communication network, wherein the other wireless communication network comprises one of;

a Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless communication network or a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) wireless communication network;

processing an activity level of AAA equipment in the other wireless communication network to select the associated authentication process in the other wireless communication network to bypass, wherein the activity level of the AAA equipment in the other network comprises at least one of a registration drop rate, a registration incomplete rate, and a processor utilization level.

9. A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:

exchanging communications with a user device for a communication session over a CDMA wireless communication network using a CDMA wireless communication mode;

receiving a handover request transferred by the user device for transition of the communication session from the CDMA wireless communication network to another wireless communication network;

in response to the handover request, receiving authentication information for the communication session over the CDMA wireless communication network from Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) equipment in the CDMA wireless communication network;

wherein the authentication information comprises at least one of user device authentication information, user authentication information, or network authentication information;

processing at least a first portion of the authentication information for the communication session over the CDMA wireless communication network to selectively bypass an associated authentication process in the other wireless communication network to authenticate the communication session in the other wireless communication network, wherein the other wireless communication network comprises one of;

a Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless communication network or a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) wireless communication network;

processing an activity level of AAA equipment in the other wireless communication network to select the associated authentication process in the other wireless communication network to bypass, wherein the activity level of the AAA equipment in the other wireless network comprises at least one of a registration drop rate, a registration incomplete rate, and a processor utilization level;

and

exchanging further communications with the user device for the communication session over the other wireless communication network using another wireless communication mode.