Inter-working function for a communication system

• US 20030236982A1
• Filed: 06/20/2002
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hsu, Raymond T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,630,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/171
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Inter-Working Function (IWF) for interfacing between a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and a communication system. The IWF may contain sufficient information to authenticate a user access to the WLAN, or the IWF may need to request authentication from the communication system. In one embodiment, the IWF sends an access challenge to the WLAN for a user. The IWF may then pass a response to the challenge on to the communication system for authentication. The IWF allows the WLAN to use the authentication capability of the communication system for local authentication.

Claims

1. A Inter-Working Function (IWF) apparatus comprising:

a processing unit;

a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interface unit coupled to the processing unit and adapted for communication with a WLAN; and

an Access Control (AC) interface unit coupled to the processing unit and adapted for communication with a cellular communication network.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

a first protocol unit adapted for preparing messages corresponding to a first protocol; and

a second protocol unit adapted for preparing messages corresponding to a second protocol.

3. A method for interfacing a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) with a communication system, comprising:

requesting an access request from the WLAN for a user of the communication system;

determining an authentication status of the user; and

providing a response indicating the authentication status to the WLAN.

4. The method as in claim 3, wherein determining an authentication status of the user further comprises:

sending an access challenge message to the WLAN; and

receiving an access response from the WLAN.

5. The method as in claim 4, wherein determining the authentication status further comprises:

sending an authentication request to the communication system; and

receiving the authentication status for the user from the communication system.

6. The method as in claim 5, wherein the authentication request includes the access response from the WLAN.

7. The method as in claim 5, further comprising:

receiving security information from the communication system for the user; and

generating an encryption key for the user in response to the security information.

8. The method as in claim 3, further comprising:

generating an encryption key for the user.

9. An apparatus for interfacing a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) with a communication system, comprising:

means for requesting an access request from the WLAN for a user of the communication system;

means for determining an authentication status of the user; and

means for providing a response indicating the authentication status to the WLAN.