CONNECTING IMSI-LESS DEVICES TO THE EPC

• US 20180227840A1
• Filed: 02/09/2018
• Published: 08/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Michael F. Starsinic
• Inventors: STARSINIC, Michael F.
• Granted Patent: US 10,812,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/654 International mobile subscriber identity [IMSI] numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Capillary network devices (i.e., IMSI-less devices) may connect to an EPC through a home WLAN. A WLAN can be configured by the homeowner to accept responsibility for the traffic or a WLAN can indicate to a network that it will allow the traffic if the traffic is sponsored by an application server or if it is compensated for the traffic by the network operator. Where an IMSI-less device has a business relationship with a network operator, a WLAN can allow the device to authenticate with the network and obtain a device identifier from the network. Where an IMSI-less device has a business relationship with a SCS that has a business relationship with the network operator, the WLAN can allow the device to authenticate with the network.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method, comprising:

a wireless local area network system receiving a request from a device to access a server accessible via a network;

the wireless local area network system determining the device does not have a subscriber identity required for communication over the network;

the wireless local area network system communicating authentication information in connection with establishing communication over the network, the authentication information specifying limits for providing the device with access to the network.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the authentication information specifying limits for providing the device with access to the network comprises information specifying one or more of the following:

an identifier for an access point the device is permitted to access; and

an identifier for an application server the device is permitted to contact.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2,

wherein the identifier for an access point the device is permitted to access comprises a name of an access point.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the wireless local area network system identifying a relationship exists between the device and an operator of the network.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein the authentication information specifying limits for providing the device with access to the network comprises a plurality of the following:

a device identifier, a subscription identifier, an identifier for an access point the device is permitted to access;

an identifier for an application server the device is permitted to contact;

an identifier of a wireless local area network the device is permitted to connect through.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the wireless local area network system identifying no relationship exists between the device and an operator of the network.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 7, wherein the authentication information specifying limits for providing the device with access to the network comprises a plurality of the following:

a device identifier, a subscription identifier, an identifier for an access point the device is permitted to access;

an identifier for an application server the device is permitted to contact;

an identifier specifying the device is permitted to communicate only with sponsored services;

an identifier specifying a quality of service level the device should be provided.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

the wireless local area network system communicating a request to create a gateway control session, the request to create a gateway control session comprising a subscription identity comprised in the authentication information.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the request to create a gateway control session comprises a credit control request message.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 10, wherein a subscription-ID attribute value pair is defined to be the subscription identity comprised in the authentication information.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 10, wherein a subscription-ID attribute value pair is populated with a value that identifies the wireless local area network system.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the request to create a gateway control session further comprises a user equipment info attribute value pair.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 13, wherein the user equipment info attribute pair comprises a value identified by the device.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the request to create a gateway control session further comprises a sponsorship requirement attribute value pair identifying a sponsor for the request.

4. The computer implemented 2,

wherein the identifier for an application server the device is permitted to contact comprises a name of an application server.

16. A wireless local area network system access node, comprising:

a computing processor;

computing memory communicatively coupled with the computing processor, the computing memory having stored therein executable computing instructions for performing operations, comprising;

receiving a request from a device to access a server, the server being accessible via an evolved packet core network;

determining the device does not have a subscriber identity required for communication over the evolved packet core network; and

communicating authentication information in connection with establishing communication over the evolved packet core network, the authentication information specifying limits for providing the device with access to the evolved packet core network.

17. The wireless local area network system access node of claim 16, wherein the computing memory has stored therein executable instructions for performing operations further comprising:

searching the computing memory for previously provisioned information establishing parameters for accessing the evolved packet core network; and

generating the authentication information from the previously provisioned information establishing parameters for accessing the evolved packet core network.

18. The wireless local area network system access node of claim 17, wherein the computing memory has stored therein executable instructions for performing operations further comprising:

identifying from the previously provisioned information a relationship exists between the device and an operator of the network; and

identifying from the previously provisioned information authentication information specifying limits for providing the device with access to the evolved packet core network, the authentication information comprising a plurality of the following;

a device identifier, a subscription identifier, an identifier for an access point the device is permitted to access;

an identifier for an application server the device is permitted to contact;

an identifier of a wireless local area network the device is permitted to connect through.

19. The wireless local area network system access node of claim 17, wherein the computing memory has stored therein executable instructions for performing operations further comprising:

identifying from the previously provisioned information no relationship exists between the device and an operator of the network; and

identifying from the previously provisioned information authentication information specifying limits for providing the device with access to the evolved packet core network, the authentication information comprising a plurality of the following;

a device identifier, a subscription identifier, an identifier for an access point the device is permitted to access;

an identifier for an application server the device is permitted to contact;

an identifier specifying the device is permitted to communicate only with sponsored services;

an identifier specifying a quality of service level the device should be provided.

20. A system, comprising:

a computing processor;

computing memory communicatively coupled with the computing processor, the computing memory having stored therein executable computing instructions for performing operations, comprising;

receiving a request from a device to access a server, the server being accessible via an evolved packet core network;

determining the device does not have an IMSI required for communication over the evolved packet core network;

searching computing memory for information specifying limits for communication by the device over the evolved packet core network;

searching computing memory for information specifying an entity responsible for charges associated with communication by the device over the evolved packet core network; and

communicating authentication information in connection with establishing communication over the evolved packet core network, the authentication information specifying limits for providing the device with access to the evolved packet core network.

21. A device, comprising:

a computing processor;

computing memory communicatively coupled with the computing processor, the computing memory having stored therein executable computing instructions for performing operations, comprising;

receiving information specifying a services capability server and an access point name;

storing the received information specifying a services capability server and an access point name;

generating and transmitting to a wireless local area network a request to access a server accessible via an evolved core network;

transmitting to the wireless local area network the received information specifying a services capability server and an access point name,

wherein the services capability server identifies a services capability server adapted to provide services to the device, and

wherein the access point name identifies a gateway device adapted to route communications via the evolved core network.