Patent ID: 9668135
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: H04W

Claim:
1. A method for access network signaling protocol interworking for user authentication, the method comprising: in a Diameter signaling router (DSR) including at least one message processor: receiving, from a broadband network gateway (BNG) in an access network, a first message formatted according to a signaling protocol of the access network and containing an authentication payload formatted according to an authentication protocol, wherein the signaling protocol of the access network comprises a remote authentication dial in user service (RADIUS) protocol and the first message comprises a RADIUS access request message carrying an extensible authentication protocol (EAP) payload; in response to receiving the first message, formulating a second message formatted according to a signaling protocol of a cellular network, the second message including the authentication payload formatted according to the authentication protocol, wherein the signaling protocol of the cellular network comprises a Diameter protocol and the second message comprises a Diameter EAP request (DER) message carrying the EAP payload; forwarding the second message formatted according to the signaling protocol of the cellular network to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server in the cellular network that implements the authentication protocol, the second message including the authentication payload formatted according to the authentication protocol; and receiving, from the AAA server and in response to the DER message, a Diameter EAP answer (DEA) message.