Patent Application
20120317224
In this digital age, modern telecommunication service providers and device manufacturers are increasingly relying on public and/or private IP networks, including the Internet, as a core part of their technology. For example, many telecommunications service providers now offer a suite of Voice over IP (“VoIP”) services, as well as various data services, that utilize IP networks and/or IP-based wireless access networks (e.g., access networks based on IEEE 802.16 (“WiMAX”), IEEE 802.20 Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), 802.11 wireless fidelity (“Wi-Fi”), Bluetooth, and similar standards) for at least part of their infrastructure. Likewise, device manufacturers are producing the next generation of mobile devices (e.g. wireless handhelds, wireless handsets, mobile phones, personal digital assistances, notebook computers, and similar devices) that are enabled to send and receive information utilizing IP-based telecommunications services. In fact, many of today's modern mobile devices are able to function as “dual-mode devices” that take advantage of both cellular network technologies and IP-based technologies.
Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology has developed as part of this trend to incorporate IP solutions into mobile device telecommunication systems. UMA technology has recently been accepted into Release 6 of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and is also referred to as Generic Access Network (GAN) technology. In various implementation schemes, UMA allows wireless service providers to merge cellular networks, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks and IP-based wireless networks into one seamless service (with one mobile device, one user interface, and a common set of network services for both voice and data). One goal of UMA is to allow subscribers to move transparently between cellular networks and IP-based wireless networks with seamless voice and data session continuity, much like they can transparently move between cells within the cellular network. Seamless in-call handover between the IP-based wireless network and the cellular network ensures that the user's location and mobility do not affect the services delivered to the user.
At an operational level, UMA technology effectively creates a parallel radio access network, the UMA network, which interfaces to the mobile core network using standard mobility-enabled interfaces. For example, UMA can replace a system's GSM radio technology on the lower protocol layers with a wireless LAN, or similar technology. A call or other communication may be tunneled to the Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of a mobile service provider via an access point (e.g., a WiFi access point connected to a modem via the Internet) and gateway (e.g., a UMA network controller). In many cases, the mobile core network remains unchanged, making it much easier to maintain full service and operational transparency and allowing other aspects of the service infrastructure to remain in place. For example, in many systems that utilize UMA, the existing service provider's business support systems (BSS), service delivery systems, content services, regulatory compliance systems, and operation support systems (OSS) can support the UMA network without change. Likewise, service enhancements and technology evolution of the mobile core network apply transparently to both cellular access and UMA.
As the incorporation of IP solutions, such as UMA, into mobile device telecommunication systems expands, wireless service providers and wireless users may face various obstacles. One challenge involves properly configuring or troubleshooting access points as they are deployed or when they are operating in the field. For example, as the number of access points deployed in the field grows, a larger number of access points may need periodic servicing, including changing or updating the configuration of individual access points. Because of the larger number of access points that may need support, service support may become increasingly difficult to provide.
The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding of, and enabling description for, various embodiments of the technology. One skilled in the art will understand that the technology may be practiced without these details. In some instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments of the technology. It is intended that the terminology used in the description presented below be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain embodiments of the technology. Although certain terms may be emphasized below, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this Detailed Description section.
In a communication or set of communications 106, the access point 104 receives IP packets from the mobile device 108. These IP packets are then transported through the IP network 114 to a signaling gateway 116, which in the example of
The network system 100 of
Referring to
In general, the described network system 200 accepts registration requests and communication connections from the mobile device 206. The accepted registration requests can be requests to either the cellular telephone network 202 or to the IP-based network 204. Accordingly, to handle requests to the cellular telephone network 202, the cellular telephone network 202 includes one or more cell towers 208 that are configured to accept cellular communications 210 from the mobile device 206. The cell towers 208 are connected to a base station controller 212 (such as a base station controller/radio network controller (BSC/RNC)) via a private network 214. The private network 214 can include a variety of connections (not shown) such as T1 lines, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), various network switches, and other similar components.
The base station controller 212 controls communication traffic to a carrier core network 216, where all communications are managed (including both cellular and IP-based). Components of the carrier core network 216 in this example include a switch (e.g., a mobile switching center or MSC) 218, which is configured to control data/call flows and perform load balancing, as well as other functions. The carrier core network 216 may also include a variety of system databases such as an operation support subsystem (OSS) database 220, a business support system (BSS) database 222, and home location register (HLR) 224 or other central subscriber database that contains details of a carrier's subscribers for billing, call logging, etc.
The sample network system 200 of
When the mobile device 206 attempts to access the IP network 204 (i.e., to initiate an IP-based communication), information (e.g., data, voice, SMS, etc.) is initially formatted in the cellular system's 202 native protocol and then encapsulated into Internet Protocol (IP) packets, which are transmitted to the access point 226 and routed through the IP network 204 to a security gateway 236. In contrast to non-IP communication requests, such transmissions bypass the cellular telephone system's 202 existing network of radio towers. The security gateway 236 controls access to a network controller 238, which communicates with a data store 240 for logging and accessing communications data. Thus, one function of the network controller 238 is to manage access to the carrier network 216 when dealing with an IP-based communication (in a similar manner to that performed by the base station controller 212 for a non-IP-based communication).
In one example, authentication of a request for access by the mobile device 206 over the IP network 204 is handled by the security gateway 236, which communicates with an authentication, access and authorization (AAA) module 240 that is most likely associated with the carrier network 216. Challenges and responses to requests for access by the mobile device 206 are communicated between the HLR 224 and the AAA module 242. When authorization is granted, the security gateway 236 communicates the assignment of an IP address to the mobile device 206 that requested access. Once the security gateway 236 passes the IP address to the mobile device 206, the public IP address assigned to the mobile device 206 is passed to the network controller 238.
In another authorization example, upon receiving an identifier from the mobile device 206, the network controller 238 may query the data store 242 to determine if the mobile device 206 is authorized for accessing the IP network 204. Sample identifiers that may be utilized to determine access include a media access control (MAC) address associated with an access point, a mobile device or subscriber identifier (such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI)), an Internet Protocol (IP) address (or “Public IP address”) associated with the access point, a fully qualified domain name (FQDN), or other similar types of information. The data store 242 may be a single database, table, or list, or a combination of databases, tables, or lists, such as one for IP addresses 244, one of MAC addresses 246, and one for FQDNs 248. The data store 242 may include “blocked” identifiers as well as “authorized” identifiers. Authorized accesses to the IP-based wireless telecommunications network may be maintained by the network controller 238 in an authorized session table or similar data construct.
In some cases, the signaling portion of a communication (e.g., the portion of the communication that governs various overhead aspects of the communication such as, for example, when the call starts, when the call stops, initiating a telephone ring, etc.) is routed through the network controller 238 to the switch 218, while the voice bearer portion of the communication (e.g., the portion of the communication that contains the actual content (either data or voice information) of the communication) is routed through the network controller 238 to a media gateway 250. In other words, the media gateway 250 controls the content flow between the service provider and the mobile device 206, while the switch 218 controls the signaling flow (or controls overhead-related flow) between the service provider and the mobile device 216.
Customers of a wireless service provider often do not know much about the technology that they are using. In particular, customers who own or operate an access point do not know much about its operation and accordingly cannot give service support representatives accurate information regarding their access point. For example, a customer who is not computer literate may be unable to make necessary configuration changes to his or her access point even with the guidance of a technician. Alternatively, many computer-literate customers can make changes to their access points, but few, if any, keep records of changes they make, making it difficult for a customer to remember what has changed in order to narrow the search for the cause of an issue resulting from one of their changes. Further, an access point provider may, on occasion, wish to update the functionality of the access points it has provided. For example, a hacker may have discovered a security flaw or the provider may simply desire to release new features to access point owners. Changing access point functionality often requires the application of an update. Customers may not apply these updates due to lack of time or interest, or may not be knowledgeable enough about access points that they feel comfortable deploying an update to their access point. Either of these situations could leave a customer's access point vulnerable to hostile attacks that can cause serious problems.
In contrast to conventional access points, aspects of individual access points 104 (
A. Representative Access Point
In operation, the access point 300 serves as a communication link between mobile devices connected to the wireless telecommunication component 306 and a computer network coupled to the input/output component 304. In some embodiments, such a communication link includes a non-cellular (or WiFi) wireless link. In other embodiments, the communication link includes a cellular wireless link that is established at an access point (and not a cell tower). For example, the access point 300 can include an IP-enabled femtocell or other type of consumer premises equipment (CPE). The status report 310, accordingly, pertains to information regarding the communication link between the mobile devices and the computer network. It will be appreciated that in other examples, other components may be added to or omitted from the access point 300, and a status report may reflect such an addition or omission. For example, an access point may also be integrated with a broadband modem (see, e.g.,
B. Triggering Events
Alternatively, the access point may automatically or semi-automatically initiate the upload of a status report based on the occurrence of other types of trigger events, such as when the access point detects a conflict on its communication channel, when congestion occurs at the access point, when the access point detects that a certain interval has passed since the last time it uploaded a configuration, when an alarm condition occurs, or when any other condition chosen by the access point manufacturer or service provider is satisfied. Further, under some circumstances, the service provider or someone operating on behalf of the service provider may remotely initiate the upload of a status report.
Once the trigger event 405 occurs, a secure connection is negotiated between the access point 300 and the server 400. For example, the access point 300 can retrieve the URL 312 (
C. Status Reports
The status report may contain information about the configuration, settings, status, and other information about the access point, including the communication link provided by the access point. For example, the status report may contain information such as the number of mobile devices that are connected to the wireless telecommunication side of an access point (including over a period of time), the number of populated/unpopulated 8P8C/RJ-11/RJ-45 jacks at the access point, the number of devices that have attempted to connect to the access point, and the number of such attempts which have been successful/unsuccessful. This information may also include connection and lease times associated with mobile devices, IP and MAC addresses of these devices, and the types of applications that have been historically run by such devices. Other information can include other access points or wireless telecommunication networks neighboring the access point, the signal strengths of these access points, the number of available channels at these access points, whether these access points (or networks) are locked, the type of stations that are connected to adjacent access points or networks, as well as the call history (i.e., to customer service) associated with these and other access points. Further, status reports can provide link or signal quality indicators associated with specific connections, intervals, etc.
Status reports may also be user-configured, for example, allowing a customer to select which type of information is contained in a status report and ultimately communicated to the server. Further, status reports may be communicated (from the server) to various other components, including the HLR.
In general, the server 400 stores the status report received from the access point in a database (not shown) so that it may be accessed in the future. The information stored in the database may include the identity of the access point providing the status report, the date and time that the status report was generated, and the contents of the status report. Below is a representative status report that may be transmitted to a server from an access point in an XML format. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the content, format, and organization of the status report could be varied significantly from that shown below without affecting the functionality described herein.
D. Response Messages
Returning to
E. Service Support
A service support representative can use a computer coupled to a computer network (e.g., IP network 114 (
F. Configuration Files
In addition to or in lieu of a response message, a configuration file may be downloaded from the server 400 to the access point 300 in order to add new settings to the access point or to change the existing settings of the access point.
Once the configuration file is received by the access point 300, the access point processes the received file and applies the new or changed settings to its configuration. Adding or changing a setting may trigger the access point to reboot in order to make the settings operational. After applying the settings, the access point sends a communication 530 containing a status report with the access point's settings to the server 400. Sending a status report to the server enables the server to confirm that the settings have been correctly applied. After receiving the status report and verifying that the access point is correctly configured, the server 400 sends a confirmation message 540 to the access point. In several embodiments, the server cannot initiate the transmission of a configuration file, but can only send such a configuration file upon receiving a status report. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the server can only send a configuration file or response when directed to do so by a carrier network (e.g., via an HLR).
G. Disabling/Enabling Status Reporting
One of the settings that may be sent in a configuration file is a setting that disables the access point from sending a status report to a server when events occur that would normally have triggered the sending a status report. This change to access point behavior occurs when the setting DISABLE_STATUS_REPORT is changed to “OFF” at the access point. When the DISABLE_STATUS_REPORT setting is “OFF” an access point will send status reports to a server only when specifically requested to do so by a user or operator. The user or operator may request the access point to send a status report using a computer that is coupled to the access point 300. The disable status report setting may be particularly useful to a service provider to control the number of status reports that they receive from access points that are within the service provider's network. The service provider is able to thereby selectively determine which groups of access points need to be monitored and control the frequency of access point monitoring.
H. Firmware Upgrading
On a periodic basis, the firmware of the access point may need to be updated. Updating the firmware may be necessary, for example, to correct a security vulnerability, to correct or improve performance problems at an access point, to add new functionality or to change existing functionality, or to address other service provider, manufacturer, or third party issues.
It will be appreciated that although the process described in
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof, means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling of connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.
The above detailed description of embodiments of the system is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the system to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the system are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the system, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, some network elements are described herein as performing certain functions. Those functions could be performed by other elements in the same or differing networks, which could reduce the number of network elements. Alternatively or additionally, network elements performing those functions could be replaced by two or more elements to perform portions of those functions. In addition, while processes, message/data flows, or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or subcombinations. Each of these processes, message/data flows, or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times. Further any specific numbers noted herein are only examples: alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the actual implementation of a database may take a variety of forms, and the term “database” is used herein in the generic sense to refer to any data structure that allows data to be stored and accessed, such as tables, linked lists, arrays, etc.
The teachings of the methods and system provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.
Any patents and applications and other references noted above, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the technology can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the technology.
These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description describes certain embodiments of the technology, and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the technology disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the technology should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the technology with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims.
While certain aspects of the technology are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventors contemplate the various aspects of the technology in any number of claim forms. For example, while only one aspect of the invention is recited as embodied in a computer-readable medium, other aspects may likewise be embodied in a computer-readable medium. Accordingly, the inventors reserve the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the technology.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/862,595, filed Oct. 23, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US07/82285 | 10/23/2007 | WO | 00 | 7/9/2012 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60862595 | Oct 2006 | US |
