Registration scheme for network

• US 6,675,208 B1
• Filed: 08/24/1998
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Chuah, Mooi, Parsons, Philip M., Rai, Girish
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Assistant Examiner(s): KUPSTAS, TOD A
• Application Number:
  US09/138,744
• Time in Patent Office: 1,961 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/227, 709/223, 709/217, 705/80, 705/31, 705/32, 705/33, 705/34
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2212/00 Encapsulation of packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0038 of security context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy

Abstract

A coupled data network with a system for registering end systems is disclosed. A foreign network includes a foreign mobile switching center and a foreign base station. The foreign mobile switching center includes a serving registration server, the foreign base station includes a foreign access hub, and the foreign access hub includes a proxy registration agent. A home network includes a home mobile switching center with a home registration server. A first end system subscribes to the home network and operates within the foreign network. The end system includes an end registration agent, the end registration agent being coupled to the proxy registration agent, the proxy registration agent being coupled to the serving registration server, and the serving registration server being coupled to the home registration server.

Claims

1. A coupled data network comprising:

a foreign network that includes a foreign mobile switching center and a foreign base station linked together using an XTunnel protocol, the foreign mobile switching center including a serving registration server, the foreign base station including a foreign access hub, the foreign access hub including a proxy registration agent for discovering a point of attachment to the network;

a home network that includes a home mobile switching center with a home registration server; and

a first end system subscribed to the home network and operating within the foreign network, the end system including an end registration agent, the end registration agent being coupled to the proxy registration agent, the proxy registration agent being coupled to the serving registration server using the XTunnel protocol, the serving registration server being directly coupled to the home registration server using an XTunnel protocol.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the foreign network is authorized to host the first end system.

3. The network of claim 1, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the first end system is authorized to receive services of the home network.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein the serving registration server includes a module to authenticate that the first end system is a subscriber of the home network.

5. The network of claim 1, wherein:

the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the foreign network is authorized to host the first end system;

the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the first end system is authorized to receive services of the home network; and

the serving registration server includes a module to authenticate that the first end system is a subscriber of the home network.

6. The network of claim 1, wherein:

the foreign access hub including a first serving inter-working function,

said home network further comprises a first home inter-working function, and

a first message being transportable between the first end system and a first communications server directly through the first home inter-working function and through the first serving inter-working function of the foreign access hub in the foreign base station.

7. The network of claim 6, wherein the first message is transportable from the first end system through the first home inter-working function to the first communications server.

8. The network of claim 6, wherein the first end system includes a wireless modem coupleable to the foreign access hub.

9. The network of claim 6, wherein the first home inter-working function is included in the home mobile switching center.

10. The network of claim 6, further comprising:

a second end system subscribed to the home network and operating as a fixed end system within the home network; and

a home base station that includes a home access hub with a second home inter-working function, a second message being transportable between the second end system and a second communications server through the second home inter-working function.

11. The network of claim 6, further comprising:

a second end system subscribed to the home network and operating as a mobile end system within the home network;

the home mobile switching center having a second home inter-working function, the first home inter-working function being included in the home mobile switching center; and

a home base station that includes a home access hub with a second serving inter-working function, a second message being transportable between the second end system and a second communications server through the second serving inter-working function and through the second home inter-working function.

12. The network of claim 6, wherein the first home inter-working function includes a home accounting collection module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first home inter-working function.

13. The network of claim 12, wherein:

the home mobile switching center includes a home accounting server; and

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to a home accounting server.

14. The network of claim 13, wherein:

the home network further includes a home billing processor; and

the home accounting server includes a module to send accounting reports

to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the home accounting server.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein:

the foreign network further includes a foreign accounting server and a foreign billing processor;

the first serving inter-working function includes a foreign accounting collection module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first serving inter-working function, the foreign accounting collection module including a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server, the foreign accounting server including a module to send accounting reports to the foreign billing processor, the foreign billing processor including a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the foreign billing processor.

16. The network of claim 6, wherein:

the home network further includes a home billing processor;

the foreign network further includes a foreign accounting server and a foreign billing processor;

the first serving inter-working function includes a foreign accounting collection module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first serving inter-working function, the foreign accounting collection module including a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server, the foreign accounting server including a module to send accounting reports to the foreign billing processor, the foreign billing processor including a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the foreign billing processor.

17. The network of claim 1, wherein:

the foreign access hub including a serving inter-working function, the serving inter-working function including a foreign accounting collection module;

said home mobile switching center further comprising a home inter-working function, the home inter-working function including a home accounting collection module; and

said first end system subscribing to the wireless data network and coupleable to the foreign access hub, the home and serving accounting collection modules collecting accounting data on message traffic transported between the first end system and a communications server through the home inter-working function and through the serving inter-working function.

18. The network of claim 17, wherein the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported from the first end system through the home inter-working function to the communications server.

19. The network of claim 17, wherein:

the foreign mobile switching center includes a foreign accounting server; and

the foreign accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server.

20. The network of claim 17, wherein:

the home mobile switching center includes a home accounting server;

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the home accounting server.

21. The network of claim 20, wherein:

the home network further includes a home billing processor, and

the home accounting server includes a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module, to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the home accounting server.

22. The network of claim 21, wherein:

the foreign, network further includes a foreign accounting server and a foreign billing processor;

the foreign accounting collection module includes a sub-module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first serving inter-working function, the foreign accounting collection module further including a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server, the foreign accounting server including a module to send accounting reports to the foreign billing processor, the foreign billing processor including a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the foreign billing processor.

23. The network of claim 17, wherein:

the foreign network further includes a foreign accounting server and a foreign billing processor;

the foreign accounting collection module includes a sub-module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first serving inter-working function, the foreign accounting collection module further including a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server, the foreign accounting server including a module to send accounting reports to the foreign billing processor, the foreign billing processor including a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the foreign billing processor.

24. The network of claim 17, wherein:

the foreign mobile switching center includes a foreign accounting server;

the home mobile switching center includes a home accounting server;

the foreign accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to a foreign accounting server; and

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting, reports to a home accounting server.

25. The network of claim 1, wherein

the foreign access hub further includes a serving inter-working function,

the home mobile switching center including a home inter-working function;

and

a message being transportable between the first end system and the home inter-working function through the serving inter-working function using a protocol that ensures in sequence delivery of data packets.

26. A data network coupled to a foreign network that includes a foreign mobile switching center and a foreign base station linked together using an XTunnel protocol, the foreign mobile switching center including a serving registration server, the foreign base station including a foreign access hub, the foreign access hub including a proxy registration agent for discovering a point of attachment to the network, the data network comprising:

a home network that includes a home mobile switching center with a home registration server;

a first mobile end system subscribed to the home network and operating within the foreign network, the first mobile end system including an end registration agent, the end registration agent being coupled to the proxy registration agent, the proxy registration agent being coupled to the serving registration server, the serving registration server being directly coupled to the home registration server using an XTunnel protocol.

27. The network of claim 26, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the foreign network is authorized to host the first end system.

28. The network of claim 26, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the first end system is authorized to receive services of the home network.

29. The network of claim 26, wherein:

the home network includes a first home inter-working function; and

a first message being transportable between the first end system and a fast communications server through the I first home inter-working function and through a first serving inter-working function of the foreign access hub in the foreign base station.

30. The network of claim 29, wherein the first message is transportable from the first end system through the first home inter-working function to the first communications server.

31. The network of claim 29, wherein the first home inter-working function is included in the home mobile switching center.

32. The network of claim 29, further comprising:

a second end system subscribed to the home network and operating as a fixed end system within the home network; and

a home base station that includes a home access hub with a second home inter-working function, a second message being transportable between the second end system and a second communications server through the second home inter-working function.

33. The network of claim 29, further comprising:

a second end system subscribed to the home network and operating as a mobile end system within the home network;

the home mobile switching center having a second home inter-working function, the first home inter-working function being included in the home mobile switching center; and

a home base station that includes a home access hub with a second serving inter-working function, a second message being transportable between the second end system and a second communications server through the second serving inter-working function and through the second home inter-working function.

34. The network of claim 29, wherein the first home inter-working function includes a home accounting collection module, to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first home inter-working function.

35. The network of claim 34, wherein:

the home mobile switching center that includes a home accounting server; and

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to a home accounting server.

36. The network of claim 35, wherein:

the home network further includes a billing processor; and

the home accounting server includes a module to send accounting reports to the billing processor, the billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the home accounting server.

37. The network of claim 36, wherein:

the foreign network further includes a foreign accounting server and a foreign billing processor;

the first serving inter-working function includes a foreign accounting collection module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first serving inter-working function, the foreign accounting collection module including a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server, the foreign accounting server including a module to send accounting reports to the foreign billing processor, the foreign billing processor including a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills, based on the accounting reports, from the foreign billing processor.

38. The network of claim 29, wherein:

the home network further includes a home billing processor;

the foreign network further includes a foreign accounting server and a foreign billing processor;

the first serving inter-working function includes a foreign accounting collection module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first serving inter-working function, the foreign accounting collection module including a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server, the foreign accounting server including a module to send accounting reports to the foreign billing processor, the foreign billing processor including a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the foreign billing processor.

39. The network of claim 26, wherein the foreign access hub includes a serving inter-working function, the serving inter-working function including a serving accounting collection module;

the home mobile switching center further comprising a home inter

working function, the home inter-working function including a home accounting

collection module; and

the first end system subscribing to the wireless data network and coupleable to the foreign access hub, the home and serving accounting collection modules collecting accounting data on message traffic transported between the first end system and a communications server through the home inter-working function and through the serving inter-working function.

40. The network of claim 39, wherein the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to collect accounting dam on message traffic transported from the first end system through the home inter-working function to the communications server.

41. The network of claim 39, wherein:

the home mobile switching center includes a home accounting server;

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module, to periodically send accounting reports to the home accounting server.

42. The network of claim 41, wherein:

the home network further includes a home billing processor; and

the home accounting server includes a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor;

the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the home accounting server.

43. The network of claim 42, wherein:

the foreign network further includes a foreign accounting server and a foreign billing processor;

the foreign accounting collection includes a sub-module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first serving inter-working function, the foreign accounting collection module further including a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server, the foreign accounting server including a module to send accounting reports to the foreign billing processor, the foreign billing processor including a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the foreign billing processor.

44. The network of claim 39, wherein:

the foreign network further includes a foreign accounting server and a foreign billing processor;

the foreign accounting collection module includes a sub-module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first serving inter-working function, the foreign accounting collection module further including a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server, the foreign accounting server including a module to send accounting reports to the foreign billing processor, the foreign billing processor including a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the foreign billing processor.

45. The network of claim 39, wherein:

the foreign mobile switching center includes a foreign accounting server;

the home mobile switching center includes a home accounting server;

the foreign accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to a foreign accounting server; and

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to a home accounting server.

46. The network of claim 26, wherein the foreign access hub includes a serving inter-working function,

the home mobile switching center including a home inter-working function;

and

a message being transportable between the first end system and the home inter-working function through the serving inter-working function using a protocol that ensures in sequence delivery of data packets.

47. A coupled data network comprising:

a foreign network that includes a foreign mobile switching center and a foreign base station linked together using an XTunnel protocol, the foreign mobile switching center including a serving registration server, the foreign base station including a foreign access hub, the foreign access hub including a proxy registration agent for discovering a point of attachment to the network; and

a home network that includes a home mobile switching center with a home registration server;

said home network having a first end system subscribed to the home network and operating within the foreign network, said proxy registration agent receiving a request for mobile service from an end registration agent of the first end system, the proxy registration agent being coupled to the serving registration server using the XTunnel protocol, the serving registration server being directly coupled to the home registration server using an XTunnel protocol.

48. A data network coupled to a foreign network that includes a foreign mobile switching center and a foreign base station linked together using an XTunnel protocol, the foreign mobile switching center including a serving registration server, the foreign base station including a foreign access hub, the foreign access hub including a proxy registration agent for discovering a point of attachment to the network, the data network comprising:

a home network that includes a home mobile switching center with a home registration server;

said home network having a first mobile end system subscribed to the home network and operating within the foreign network;

said home registration server being directly to a serving registration server using an XTunnel protocol, the serving registration server being directly coupled to the proxy registrations agent which receives a request for mobile service from the first mobile end system.

49. A coupled data network, comprising:

a foreign network that includes a foreign mobile switching center and a foreign base station linked together using an XTunnel protocol, the foreign mobile switching center including a serving registration server, the foreign base station including a foreign access hub, the foreign access hub including a proxy registration agent for discovering a point of attachment to the data network, said foreign network operating with a first end system;

said proxy registration agent receiving a request for mobile service from an end registration agent of the first end system, the proxy registration agent being directly coupled to the serving registration server using the XTunnel protocol, the serving registration server being directly coupled to a home registration server in a home network using the XTunnel protocol.