Patent ID: 9549317
Date: 2017-01-17
CPC Classifications: H04L,H04W

Claim:
1. A machine-implemented method at a network element to provide a communication between a wireless access network controlled by an access point (AP) device and a packet core network, comprising: providing a mobility gateway device between the AP device and the packet core network and between a radio network controller of a radio access network and the packet core network; coupling a client device to a radio access network controller of a radio access network, wherein the radio access network controller is communicably coupled to the mobility gateway device; establishing an IP secure tunnel between the AP device and a mobility gateway device, coupling the AP device with a packet core network, wherein the AP device is communicably coupled to the client device in the wireless network and wherein the mobility gateway device is further communicably coupled to a mobile network gateway of the wireless network; receiving a request for an authentication for the client device from the AP device, the request for the authentication having a first identifier information, wherein the request for an authentication is associated with an authentication protocol; receiving a request for an IP address for the client device having a second identifier information from the AP device, wherein the request for the IP address is associated with a first communication protocol and the second identifier is associated with the second communication protocol; authenticating, by a mobile network operator's authentication process, the client device through the IP secure tunnel between the mobility gateway device and the AP device, while the client device is roaming in the wireless network; mapping the first identifier information and the second identifier information using the mobility gateway device; providing the first identifier information and the second identifier information through the secure tunnel; comparing the first identifier information to the second identifier information for the client device, wherein the authentication protocol is different from the first communication protocol and the first identifier information is received as part of the authentication request associated with the authentication protocol different from the IP address request associated with the first communication protocol; and determining whether to provide the IP address from the mobility gateway device for the client device through an access point based on the step of comparing; providing the IP address through the IP secure tunnel to the client device if the first identifier information and the second identifier information are related; communicating the IP address from the mobility gateway device to the packet core network and to a controller of the wireless access network controlled by AP device; and maintaining a communication session with a remote entity using the IP address while the client device roams between the wireless access network controlled by an access point and the packet core network, wherein the mobility of the client device is managed by the mobility gateway device, and wherein the mobility gateway device determines whether the client device is attempting to establish a connection with the Internet or operator services of the mobile network operator.