System and Method for Providing Source Awareness in a Wireless Application Protocol Network Environment

• US 20060248225A1
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Rourke, Ghris, Batz, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,787,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/12 Application layer protocols, e.g. WAP [Wireless Application Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A method for communicating in a wireless application protocol (WAP) network environment is provided that includes receiving a request packet at a WAP gateway and positioning an identifier into the request packet. A content switch then identifies the identifier and correlates the identifier to a source that generated the request packet. An internet protocol (IP) address associated with the source is positioned in the request packet before communicating the request packet to a next destination.

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51. A method for enlisting one or more end users in an environment in which wireless application protocol (WAP) communications occur, comprising:

enlisting one or more end users in a billing plan associated with network communications;

generating a bill associated with one or more of the end users, the bill being based on the billing plan; and

facilitating network communications for one or more of the end users in response to the end users being enlisted in the billing plan, whereby the network communications includes a protocol that comprises;

receiving a request packet;

positioning an identifier into the request packet;

identifying the identifier and correlating the identifier to a source that generated the request packet; and

positioning an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the source in the request packet before communicating the request packet to a next destination.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising providing a table that includes one or more identifiers that correlate to one or more sources respectively, wherein each of the sources is operable to generate one or more request packets in the WAP network environment.

53. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

receiving the request packet after the IP address associated with the source has been positioned; and

matching one or more IP addresses with one or more source profiles in order to provide one or more networking services to one or more selected sources.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the matching is performed by accessing and querying a database.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the matching is performed by proxying RADIUS flows associated with a selected one or more sources.

56. The method of claim 53, further comprising authenticating the source associated with the request packet.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising authorizing the source associated with the request packet.

58. The method of claim 56, further comprising providing accounting services for the source associated with the request packet.

59. The method of claim 51, further comprising providing a communications link for a mobile station associated with the source.

60. An apparatus for communicating in a wireless application protocol (WAP) network environment, comprising:

a content switch coupled to a gateway and operable to identify an identifier, which is positioned by the gateway, and to correlate the identifier to a source that generated the request packet, the content switch being further operable to receive the request packet and to position an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the source in the request packet before communicating the request packet to a next destination.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the gateway comprises the content switch, and wherein the content switch comprises a table that includes one or more identifiers that correlate to one or more sources respectively, whereby each of the sources is operable to generate one or more request packets in the WAP network environment.

62. The apparatus of claim 60, further comprising:

a client service packet gateway (CSPG) operable to receive the request packet after the IP address associated with the source has been positioned by the content switch and to match one or more IP addresses with one or more source profiles in order to provide one or more networking services to one or more selected sources.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the CSPG and the content switch are included in the gateway.

64. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the matching is performed by the CSPG by accessing and querying a database.

65. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the matching is performed by the CSPG by proxying RADIUS flows associated with a selected one or more sources.

66. The apparatus of claim 60, further comprising:

a radio access network (RAN) packet gateway operable to provide a communications link between a mobile station associated with the source and the gateway.

67. The apparatus of claim 60, further comprising:

a database coupled to the content switch and operable to store a table that includes one or more identifiers that correlate to one or more sources respectively, and wherein each of the sources is operable to generate one or more request packets in the WAP network environment.

68. An apparatus for communicating in a wireless application protocol (WAP) network environment, comprising:

a client service packet gateway (CSPG) operable to receive a request packet after an internet protocol (IP) address associated with a source has been positioned by a content switch and to match one or more IP addresses with one or more source profiles in order to provide one or more networking services to one or more selected sources, the content switch being operable to identify an identifier and to correlate the identifier to the source that generated the request packet, the content switch being further operable to receive the request packet and to position the IP address associated with the source in the request packet before communicating the request packet to a next destination.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the matching is performed by the CSPG by accessing and querying a database operable to store a table that includes one or more identifiers that correlate to one or more sources respectively, and wherein the matching is performed by the CSPG by proxying RADIUS flows associated with a selected one or more sources.

70. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the matching is performed by the CSPG by proxying RADIUS flows associated with a selected one or more sources.