Device for topology hiding of a visited network

• US 9,554,418 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2014
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc. (F5 Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc. (F5 Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ridel, Leonid, Flomin, Petro
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Kwang B
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOO, JUVENA W
• Application Number:
  US14/194,277
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

A system for hiding an internal topology of a network having plurality of client and server entities is provided herein. The system comprises a topology hiding node that coordinates communication between systems in two distinct networks: Home Public Land Mobile and Visited Public Land Mobile. The topology hiding node includes long term storage and a short term storage which includes a change list.

A real identity of one system entity is represented by at least one virtual identity allocated from a group of at least two virtual identities, when communicating with the other system entities, and the relation between the virtual identities and the real identities of a current communication session is recorded in the change list and stored in short term storage and the relation between the virtual identities and the real identities of a previous communication sessions is stored in the long term storage.

Claims

1. A topology hiding node device comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory coupled to the processor configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory comprising;

coordinating communication between entities in two networks comprising a Home Public Land Mobile (HPLM) network and a Visited Public Land Mobile (VPLM) network;

representing a real identity of one the entities by at least one virtual identity allocated from a group of at least two virtual identities, when communicating with one or more of the other entities; and

recording a relation between the virtual identity and the real identity of a current communication session in a change list stored in a short term storage (STS), while the relation between the virtual identity and the real identity of a previous communication sessions is stored in a long term storage (LTS).

2. The device of claim 1 wherein when the one the entities did not enter a new visited network when transiting from one cell in the visited network to another cell in visited network the processor is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory further comprising:

checking when the origin host is different from the one that is tracked in the LTS; and

setting a new origin host in a real identity record in the LTS when the origin host is different from the one that is tracked in the LTS.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory for the coordinating communication further comprises:

preparing the change list for a request using a record from the LTS, storing the change list in the STS;

applying the change list on the request; and

sending an update location request to a Home Subscriber Server (HSS).

4. The device of claim 1, wherein in case an outgoing message is sent from the one the entities that is moving from one cell to another in a visited network the processor is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory for the coordinating communication further comprising:

retrieving the change list for the real identity from the STS; and

updating the change list in the LTS.

5. The device of claim 4 further comprising updating the change list in the STS.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein when an outgoing message is sent from the one the entities that just entered a visited network, the processor is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory for the coordinating communication further comprising,

retrieving the real identity from the LTS;

applying the change list on the real identity in an answer which was received from a Home Subscriber Server (HSS); and

sending the answer to the Mobility Management Entity (MME).

7. A method for hiding an internal topology of a network, the method comprising:

coordinating, with a topology hiding device, communication between entities in two networks comprising a Home Public Land Mobile (HPLM) network and a Visited Public Land Mobile (VPLM) network;

representing, with the topology hiding device, a real identity of one the entities by at least one virtual identity allocated from a group of at least two virtual identities, when communicating with one or more of the other entities; and

recording, with the topology hiding device, a relation between the virtual identity and the real identity of a current communication session in a change list stored in a short term storage (STS), while the relation between the virtual identity and the real identity of a previous communication sessions is stored in a long term storage (LTS).

8. The method of claim 7 wherein when the one the entities did not enter a new visited network when transiting from one cell in the visited network to another cell in visited network, then further comprising:

checking, with the topology hiding device, when the origin host is different from the one that is tracked in the LTS; and

setting, with the topology hiding device, a new origin host in a real identity record in the LTS when the origin host is different from the one that is tracked in the LTS.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the coordinating communication further comprises:

preparing, with the topology hiding device, the change list for a request using a record from the LTS;

storing, with the topology hiding device, the change list in the STS; and

applying, with the topology hiding device, the change list on the request, and sending an update location request to a Home Subscriber Server (HSS).

10. The method of claim 7, wherein when an outgoing message is sent from the one of the entities that is moving from one cell to another in a visited network:

retrieving, with the topology hiding device, the change list for the real identity from the STS; and

;

updating, with the topology hiding device, the change list in the LTS.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising updating, with the topology hiding device, the change list in the STS.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein when an outgoing message is sent from the one of the entities that just entered a visited network:

retrieving, with the topology hiding device, the real identity from the LTS;

applying, with the topology hiding device, the change list on the real identity in an answer which was received from a Home Subscriber Server (HSS); and

sending, with the topology hiding device, the answer to the Mobility Management Entity (MME).

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for hiding an internal topology of a network comprising executable code which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform steps comprising:

coordinating communication between entities in two networks comprising a Home Public Land Mobile (HPLM) network and a Visited Public Land Mobile (VPLM) network;

representing a real identity of one the entities by at least one virtual identity allocated from a group of at least two virtual identities, when communicating with one or more of the other entities; and

recording a relation between the virtual identity and the real identity of a current communication session in a change list stored in a short term storage (STS), while the relation between the virtual identity and the real identity of a previous communication sessions is stored in a long term storage (LTS).

14. The medium of claim 13 wherein when the one the entities did not enter a new visited network when transiting from one cell in the visited network to another cell in the visited network, then further comprising:

checking when the origin host is different from the one that is tracked in the LTS; and

setting a new origin host in a real identity record in the LTS when the origin host is different from the one that is tracked in the LTS.

15. The medium of claim 13 wherein the coordinating communication further comprises:

preparing a change list for the request using a record from the LTS;

storing the change list in the STS; and

applying the change list on a real request, and sending an update location request to a Home Subscriber Server (HSS).

16. The medium of claim 13, wherein when an outgoing message is sent from the one of the entities that is moving from one cell to another in a visited network:

retrieving the change list for the real identity from the STS; and

;

updating the change list in the LTS.

17. The medium of claim 16 further comprising updating the change list in the STS.

18. The medium of claim 13, wherein when an outgoing message is sent from the one the entities that just entered a visited network:

retrieving the real identity from the LTS;

applying the change list on the real identity in an answer which was received from a Home Subscriber Server (HSS); and

sending the answer to the Mobility Management Entity (MME).