Abstract:
An all Internet protocol (IP) network is disclosed. The all IP network includes an application server autonomous access (ASAA) server having a management policy database, a plurality of diverse IP networks and at least one converged IP communication unit. The ASAA server downloads a plurality of different management policies to respective ones of the diverse IP networks and the converged IP communication unit based on events associated with the converged IP communication unit and the diverse IP networks, such as changes in the location of the converged IP communication unit.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/689,462 filed Jun. 10, 2005, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is related to the management of a plurality of diverse Internet protocol (IP) networks and at least one converged IP communication unit supports at least two communication protocols, each of which is associated with a different type of IP network. More particularly, the present invention is related to a server which downloads management policies to the IP networks and the converged IP communication unit based on events associated with the IP networks and the converged IP communication unit.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Current wireless technology supports network management in the context of individual wireless communication networks. Individual wireless access systems, such as those which implement the global standard for mobile communications (GSM) or wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), provide network management features and platforms for control of their wireless access network elements.  
         [0004]     Many different types of wireless communication networks are being deployed in today&#39;s conventional wireless communication systems including GSM, code division multiple access 2000 (CDMA2000), WCDMA, IEEE 802.11-based networks, or the like. Each type of network is managed by its own network management platform. There is, at best, a limited integration of network management support across multiple wireless communication networks. Thus, coordination of radio and network planning/configuration across diverse wireless communication networks is not provided.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     The present invention is related to an all IP network. The all IP network includes an application server autonomous access (ASAA) server having a management policy database, a plurality of diverse IP networks and at least one converged IP communication unit. The ASAA server downloads a plurality of different management policies to respective ones of the diverse IP networks and the converged IP communication unit based on events associated with the converged IP communication unit and the diverse IP networks, such as changes in the location of the converged IP communication unit. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0006]     A more detailed understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, given by way of example and to be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows an all IP network which is configured to operate in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0008]     Hereafter, the terminology “converged IP communication unit” includes, but is not limited to, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a pager, or any other type of device capable of operating in a wireless environment.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows an all IP network  100  which is configured to operate in accordance with the present invention. The all IP network  100  includes a plurality of diverse IP networks  121 - 125 , an ASAA server  112  and at least one converged IP communication unit  126 . Although it is not explicitly shown in  FIG. 1 , all of the IP networks  121 - 125  and the converged IP communication unit  126  are capable of communicating directly with an IP independent of the ASAA server  112 .  
         [0010]     The diverse IP networks  121 - 125  and the converged IP communication unit  126  are configured to communicate with the ASAA server  112  via wireless communication links  130 . The ASAA server  112 , the IP networks and the converged IP communication unit  126  are IP nodes of the all IP network  100 .  
         [0011]     The diverse IP networks  121 - 125  may include, for example, a wide area network (WAN)  121 , a public land mobile network (PLMN))  122 , a local area network (LAN)  123 , a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) network  124  and a CDMA 2000 network  125 . The diverse IP networks  121 - 125  may also include a network implemented by Bluetooth™, IEEE 802.11 x, IEEE 802.15, ZigBee or the like.  
         [0012]     The diverse IP networks  121 - 125  support IP connectivity and include an entity, (i.e., a processor and/or memory), to which an ASAA management policy  141 - 146  can be downloaded to from management policy database  114  in the ASAA server  112 . The diverse IP networks  121 - 125  may include supporting servers, an authentication device, security nodes, or the like.  
         [0013]     The converged IP communication unit  126  supports at least two communication protocols, each of which is associated with a different type of IP network. The converged IP communication unit  126  is preferably enabled with a session initiation protocol (SIP). A handover function may be provided in the diverse IP networks  121 - 125  and the converged IP communication unit  126  such that, as the converged IP communication unit  126  moves from one network to another, a handover may occur seamlessly.  
         [0014]     The function of the ASAA server  112  is to provide tailored and personalized management functions to the diverse networks  121 - 125  and the converged IP communication device  126 . Management of conventional networks is provided in a static manner such that users are provided with whatever the service provider offers or what the user configures on the user&#39;s own communication device. The present invention provides custom management functionality both at the converged IP communication unit  126  and at the diverse IP networks  121 - 125 .  
         [0015]     In accordance with the present invention, the ASAA server  112  includes a management policy database  114  which includes ASAA management policies  141 - 146  that may be downloaded to the diverse IP networks  121 - 125  and to the converged IP communication unit  126 , respectively. Alternatively, the ASAA management policies  141 - 146  may be maintained in an auxiliary device, such as a personal computer (PC) or auxiliary processor/database that is accessible by the diverse IP networks  121 - 125  and the converged IP communication unit  126 . Components in the management policies  141 - 146  operate alone or in conjunction with the ASAA server  112 .  
         [0016]     Since all of the diverse IP networks  121 - 125  are connected to the ASAA server  112 , it is possible for the converged IP communication unit  126  and the diverse IP networks  121 - 125  to maintain a one-on-one relationship with the ASAA server  112 . As the converged IP communication unit  126  roams between different ones of the diverse IP networks  121 - 125 , different management policies  141 - 146  are dynamically downloaded to the converged IP communication unit  126  and/or the diverse IP networks  121 - 125 .  
         [0017]     The management policies  141 - 146  define procedures and behaviors mandated in the diverse IP networks  121 - 125  and possibly in the converged IP communication unit  126  while roaming in the all IP network  100 . The management policies  141 - 146  may include aspects relating to subscription handling, fault handling, device and network configuration, quality of service levels, user priorities, security and privacy.  
         [0018]     The user of the converged IP communication unit  126  and the provider of the ASAA server  112  may provide inputs into the management policies  141 - 146 . The management policies  141 - 146  may be quite different in many different scenarios that a particular user is involved in. For example, a user may feel comfortable, (i.e., safe), in their home network, resulting in a more relaxed security and privacy policy in comparison to that applied while roaming in an unfamiliar or less trusted network. A management policy may mandate a higher relative QoS or priority, (over other users of the same network), in one diverse IP network as opposed to another. A user may require the entire configuration of their communication device to be different, based upon different networks that they interact with. This device configuration may be downloaded by the ASAA server  112 , or a download may be automatically triggered by the ASAA server  112  upon detecting the presence of the converged IP communication unit  126  in a particular one of the diverse IP networks  121 - 125 .  
         [0019]     The ASAA server  112  may modify the management policies  141 - 146  within a range in response to the centralized view of its position in the hierarchy allowed. For example, in a network where more than one Converged IP communication unit  126  is registered for service, it may be necessary for the ASAA server  112  to modulate the ideal management policy demanded by each user in order to allow a reasonable level of service to all users supported by the ASAA server  112  for a particular one of the diverse IP networks  141 - 146 .  
         [0020]     In this manner, different management policies may be applied in the diverse IP networks  121 - 125  and the converged IP communication unit  126 , depending upon characteristics of the converged IP communication unit  126 , (e.g., location, presence, behavior, or the like.  
         [0021]     The ASAA server  112  registers for events, (such as location, proximity, behavior, or the like), which is input from the diverse IP networks  121 - 125  and the converged IP communication unit  126 . A certain event triggers the download of a management policy  141 - 146  from the ASAA server  112  to the diverse networks  121 - 125  and/or the converged IP communication unit  126 . Location, presence, behavior and other contexts may be identified by entities available to the ASAA server  112 , as know to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, upon detection of a triggering location event, the ASAA server  112  may download a particular configuration management policy, (e.g., use a WLAN in a particular area because it provides the best rate), or a particular security policy, (e.g., do not engage in a specific level of communications on a particular one of the IP networks  121 - 125  unless certificates are guaranteed by a certificate authority, and voice communications are acceptable but only via an IP link via a home office network, or the like.)  
         [0022]     The common platform provided by the all IP network  100  allows for subscriber management functions, (such as activation/deactivation of subscription, accounting, billing, or the like), to be consolidated via the ASAA server  112 . Furthermore, operation, administration and maintenance (OA&amp;M) billing platforms may be connected to the ASAA server  112 . Housekeeping activities, such as memory backup, restoration or upgrades, as applied to the converged IP communication unit  126 , may be managed from the same single management point. Device-specific configurations, (e.g., access control, user preferences, security configuration), may also be managed from a single point.  
         [0023]     In accordance with the present invention, the ASAA server  112  provides management of the diverse IP networks  121 - 125  and the converged IP communication unit  126 . Network management capabilities include, but are not limited to, ASAA device/subscriber management, fault management, radio/frequency planning coordination between the diverse IP networks  121 - 125 , and automatic network selection configurations. The ASAA device/subscriber management within the diverse IP networks  121 - 125  includes, but is not limited to, access control, (e.g., parental controls used in a home network), user preferences, security management, system management functions, (e.g., backup/archive, upgrades, housekeeping functions), and subscriber management, (such as activation/deactivation of subscriptions, accounting, billing, or the like). End-to-end communication mechanisms can be standard-based, (e.g., simple network management protocol (SNMP)).  
         [0024]     Although the features and elements of the present invention are described in the preferred embodiments in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone without the other features and elements of the preferred embodiments or in various combinations with or without other features and elements of the present invention.