Authenticating between a CDMA network and a GSM network

• US 20040224667A1
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Collins, Bruce, Jain, Nikhil
• Granted Patent: US 7,539,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

A general global gateway (GGG) permits authenticating between a CDMA network and a GSM network such that a mobile station having a subscription in a GSM network can roam into a CDMA network and be authenticated to use the CDMA network. The GGG obtains authentication parameters from the mobile station and determines whether the authentication parameters satisfy GGG authentication criteria. During the authentication process, the mobile station is placed in “SMS only” status until authorized by the GGG. Checks are made during the authentication process to assure the GGG and mobile station agree on the number of GSM network accesses and to assure the mobile station is authorized for GSM access for a time period.

Claims

1. A general global gateway (GGG) configured to support communication between a GSM network and a CDMA network to enable a mobile station (MS) subscribed in the GSM network to communicate using the CDMA network, comprising:

a database configured to store a number of times the mobile station has accessed the GGG; and

a logic unit configured to execute program logic to determine whether a parameter received from the mobile station, the parameter representing a count of a predetermined event that is a mutually agreed upon event between the GGG and mobile station.

2. The GGG of claim 1, wherein the count represents the number of times the mobile station has accessed the GGG is equal to the stored number of times the mobile station has accessed the GGG.

3. The GGG of claim 1, wherein the logic unit is further configured to execute program logic to determine whether a registration notification from the mobile station was received before a GGG timer expires.

4. The GGG of claim 1, further comprising a timer that is used by the GGG to determine a period of time in which the mobile station is authorized to communicate with the GSM network.

5. The GGG of claim 1, further comprising a short message service center (SMSC) configured to send and receive SMS messages to and from the CDMA network.

6. The GGG of claim 1, further comprising a location register configured to store a location of the mobile station to enable a call incoming to the mobile station from the GSM network to route the incoming call to the mobile station through the GGG.

7. A general global gateway (GGG) configured to support communication between a GSM network and a CDMA network to enable a mobile station (MS) subscribed in the GSM network to communicate using the CDMA network, comprising:

means for storing a number of times the mobile station has accessed the GGG; and

means for executing program logic to determine whether a parameter received from the mobile station, the parameter representing the number of times the mobile station has accessed the GGG, is equal to the stored number of times the mobile station has accessed the GGG.

8. The GGG of claim 7, wherein the logic unit is further configured to execute program logic to determine whether a registration notification from the mobile station was received before a GGG timer expires.

9. The GGG of claim 7, further comprising means for determining a period of time in which the mobile station is authorized to communicate with the GSM network.

10. The GGG of claim 7, further comprising means for sending and receiving short message service (SMS) messages to and from the CDMA network.

11. The GGG of claim 7, further comprising means for storing a location of the mobile station to enable a call incoming to the mobile station from the GSM network to route the incoming call to the mobile station through the GGG.

12. A method of wireless communications between a GSM network and a CDMA network to enable a mobile station (MS) subscribed in the GSM network to communicate using the CDMA network, comprising:

storing a number of times the mobile station has accessed a general global gateway (GGG); and

determining whether a parameter received from the mobile station, the parameter representing the number of times the mobile station has accessed the GGG, is equal to the stored number of times the mobile station has accessed the GGG.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining whether a registration notification from the mobile station was received before a GGG timer expires.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a period of time in which the mobile station is authorized to communicate with the GSM network.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending and receiving short message service (SMS) messages to and from the CDMA network when in SMS only mode.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing a location of the mobile station to enable a call incoming to the mobile station from the GSM network to route the incoming call to the mobile station through the GGG.

17. Computer readable media embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer program to perform a method of wireless communications between a GSM network and a CDMA network enabling a mobile station (MS) subscribed in the GSM network to communicate using the CDMA network, the method comprising:

storing a number of times the mobile station has accessed a general global gateway (GGG); and

determining whether a parameter received from the mobile station, the parameter representing the number of times the mobile station has accessed the GGG, is equal to the stored number of times the mobile station has accessed the GGG.

18. The computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

storing an identity of the mobile station; and

obtaining authentication information from the first network based on the identity of the mobile station if the parameter representing the number of times the mobile station has accessed the GGG is equal to the stored number of times the mobile station has accessed the GGG.