Patent Abstract:
A 3G authentication apparatus includes: a WLAN communication section which receives a notification of reception of a connection request sent from a WLAN access network in response to the connection request from a mobile unit to connect to a WLAN capable of interworking with a mobile network; a communication section for obtaining, from a user information storing device, information indicating a service available in the mobile communication network to the mobile unit that has sent the connection request, on the basis of the notification of reception of the connection request; and a filter setting section which generates filter information by associating a user authentication ID identifying a mobile unit with an IP address obtained at the communication section. The filter information generated by the filter setting section is sent to the WLAN access network through the WLAN communication section. Thus, traffic in a network such as a WLAN in an interworking system between networks such as a mobile communication network and a WLAN can be reduced.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an interworking system between networks of different types such as between a mobile communication network as typified by a W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access) network and a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) and, in particular, to a transmission control technique in packet communication. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Engineers are working to develop a system that interworks between a mobile phone capable of communicating in a wide area and a wireless LAN service which enables fast data communication in a relatively small area to cause them to complement each other. Architectures of interworking systems that implement scenarios for accessing packet services of a mobile communication network through a WLAN are standardized in the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project). Requirements concerning access to packet service of a mobile communication network over a WLAN are described in TS 22.234 Ver. 6.2.0 “Requirements on 3GPP system to Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interworking”, Chapter 5, Sep. 27, 2004, http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/22234.htm. The architecture is described in TS 23.234 Ver. 6.3.0 “3GPP system to Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interworking”, Chapter 6, Jan. 7, 2005, http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/23234.htm. The authentication method is described in TS 33.234 Ver. 6.3.0 “Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interworking security”, Chapter 6, Dec. 23, 2004, http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/33234.htm. 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram showing a configuration of an interworking system built with a conventional technology. A terminal  901  is capable of making packet access to both of a mobile communication network and a WLAN. 
     The terminal  901  corresponds to UE (User Equipment) in the 3GPP specifications. A WLAN access network  902  is a packet network using a protocol such as IP (Internet Protocol) and converts a radio signal in a WLAN into a packet signal in a wired network. The WLAN access network corresponds to WLAN AN (Access Network) in the 3GPP specifications. A DHCP server (not shown) in the WLAN access network  902  performs address assignment operation. 
     A WLAN gateway  903  is connected to the WLAN access network  902  and communicates WLAN control data and user data to and from the WLAN access network  902 . The WLAN gateway  903  corresponds to WAG (Wireless Access Gateway) in the 3GPP specifications. A packet data gateway  904  is connected to the WLAN gateway  903  and relays packet data to a public packet-switched network  912 . The packet data gateway  904  relays packet data from the public packet-switched network  912  to the WLAN and relays packet data from the WLAN to the public packet-switched network  912 . The packet data gateway  904  corresponds to PDG (Packet Data Gateway) in the 3GPP specifications. 
     A base station  905  in a mobile communication network converts a radio signal from the terminal  901  into a wired signal and transmits the converted signal. The base station  905  corresponds to Node B in the 3GPP specifications. A radio network controller  906  is connected with the base station  905  and performs radio terminal control and transmits control data and user data on the mobile communication network. The radio network controller  906  corresponds to RNC (Radio Network Controller) in the 3GPP specifications. A packet controller  907  is connected to the radio network controller  906 , controls packet transmission within the mobile communication network and manages the status of terminals  901  that relates to packet transmission. The packet controller  907  corresponds to SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) in the 3GPP specifications. A mobile network packet gateway  908  is connected to the packet controller  907  and relays packet data from the mobile communication network to the public packet-switched network  912  (the Internet). The mobile network packet gateway  908  corresponds to GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) in the 3GPP specifications. 
     A service server  914  is a server that manages services provided by the mobile communication network. When the services are accessed from the WLAN, the service server  914  is accessed through the packet data gateway  904 . A 3G authentication apparatus  909  is connected to the WLAN access network  902  and the packet data gateway  904  and transfers authentication data provided from the terminal  901  and authentication information for the terminal  901 . The 3G authentication apparatus  909  corresponds to AAA Server in the 3GPP specifications. A user information storing device  910  stores information about a service provided to a user under an agreement between the user and the carrier of the mobile communication network or the WLAN. The user information storing device  910  is connected with the packet controller  907 , the mobile network packet gateway  908 , and the 3G authentication apparatus  909 . 
     When a user moves from an area covered by the mobile communication network to the WLAN in the system while making packet access using the terminal  901  capable of accessing both of the mobile communication network and WLAN, mobility transparency to its correspondent node  913  must be ensured in order to maintain communication. To that end, the system has a home address management device  911 . The correspondent node  913  is a terminal with which the terminal  901  is performing packet communication. Examples of the correspondent node  913  include a server provided on the Internet. The home address management device  911  relays data transmission from the correspondent node  913  and changes the transfer destination of data in accordance with the location to which the terminal  901  is moving. The position of the terminal  901  is managed and registered using Mobile IP. 
     The following is a description of a method for the terminal  901  to switch to packet communication over the WLAN when the terminal  901  enters an area of the WLAN while performing packet communication with the correspondent node  913  over the mobile communication network in the system described above. 
       FIG. 10  shows operation for switching from the mobile communication network to the WLAN. The terminal  901  is performing IP packet communication with the correspondent node  913  through nodes of the mobile communication network and the home address management device  911  (S 80 ). The IP address of the terminal  901  used within the mobile communication network is assigned by the mobile network packet gateway  908 . The IP address is referred to as the remote IP address. The home address management device  911  manages the set of the home IP address which is the address of the terminal  901  in the home network and the remote IP address of the terminal  901 . The home address management device  911  encapsulates IP packets directed from the correspondent node  913  to the home IP address of the terminal  901  and transmits the encapsulated IP packets. Similarly, the home address management device  911  encapsulates IP packets output from the terminal  901  and then transmits them to the correspondent node  913 . 
     In the mobile communication network, an IP tunnel is created between nodes and IP packets are encapsulated before transmission. GTP (GPRS Tunneling Protocol) is used between the mobile network packet gateway  908  and the packet controller  907  and between the packet controller  907  and the radio network controller  906 . In the radio network controller  906 , IP packets are converted into a logical channel or transport channel as appropriate and then transferred to the base station  905  using IP transport. The base station  905  converts packets into a physical channel of W-CDMA to communicate with the terminal  901 . 
     When the terminal  901  enters a WLAN area (S 82 ), the terminal  901  detects the radio field of the WLAN and authentication processing for the terminal  901  to use an access point is performed in the WLAN access network  902  (S 84 ). Then, processing for authenticating the user is performed between the WLAN access network  902  and the 3G authentication apparatus  909  (S 86 ). In this processing, the 3G authentication apparatus  909  accesses the user information storing device  910  to authenticate whether the user is a subscriber of an interworking service. After completion of the authentication, the DHCP server in the WLAN access network  902  assigns an IP address to be used for IP communication to the terminal  901  (S 88 ). The IP address assigned here is referred to as the local IP address. 
     Then, the terminal  901  sends a PDG address resolution request to the packet data gateway  904  (S 90 ). The packet data gateway  904  is a gateway for a terminal to perform IP packet communication with the correspondent node  913  over the WLAN from the mobile communication network. The packet gateway  904  assigns to the terminal  901  an IP address for the terminal  901  to use the WLAN from the mobile communication network. 
     The terminal  901  sends a tunnel creation request to the packet data gateway  904  for communication over the WLAN (S 92 ). In response to the tunnel creation request, the packet data gateway  904  communicates with the 3G authentication apparatus  909  to perform an authentication completion determining process to determine whether the terminal  901  has been authenticated as a subscriber of the interworking service (S 94 ). Then, authentication setting is performed between the packet data gateway  904  and the WLAN gateway  903  to set information concerning the authenticated terminal  901  in the WLAN gateway  903  (S 96 ). The authentication setting enables control such that packet data received from an unauthenticated terminal is prevented from being transmitted to the data packet gateway  904 . 
     After the authentication setting, tunnel attributes are exchanged between the terminal  901  and the packet data gateway  904  to create a tunnel between them (S 98 ). After the tunnel is created, the terminal  901  registers its remote IP address in the home address management device  911  through the packet data gateway  904  (S 100 ). After the remote IP address is registered, the remote address management device  911  changes the destination of packet transmitted from the correspondent node  913  to the terminal  901  associated with the new remote IP address. 
     After connection to the WLAN is established in this way (S 102 ), the terminal  901  disconnects communication over the mobile communication network that was used before the terminal  901  enters the WLAN area. This processing is initiated by issuing a 3G disconnection to the packet controller  907  (S 104 ). 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     In the interworking system described above, the packet data gateway  904  has the capability of accessing the service server  914  to enable a service of the mobile communication network to be received from the WLAN. However, traffic from the WLAN gateway  903  to the packet data gateway  904  occurs both when the service server  914  is accessed and when the public packet-switched network  912  is accessed. The traffic can cause congestion between the packet data gateway  904  and the WLAN gateway  903 . 
     The present invention has been made in light of these circumstances and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication management apparatus, a communication controller, and a wireless communication system for reducing traffic and minimizes congestion in a network such as a WLAN in an interworking system between a mobile communication network and a WLAN. 
     A communication management apparatus according to the present invention includes: a connection request reception notification receiving section which receives a notification of reception of a connection request from a mobile unit of a mobile communication network which is sent by a communication controller of another network capable of interworking with the mobile communication network upon reception by the communication controller of the connection request; a service information obtaining section which obtains information indicating a service available to the mobile unit that has sent the connection request in the mobile communication network, on the basis of the notification of reception of the connection request; a filter information generating section which generates filter information by associating information identifying the mobile unit with an IP address to be used in the service indicated by the information obtained at the service information obtaining section; and a filter information transmitting section which transmits the filter information generated by the filter information generating section to the communication controller of the another network. 
     With this configuration, because filter information including an IP address used in a service available to the mobile unit in the mobile communication network is generated and sent to the communication controller of the other network, the communication controller of the other network can determine on the basis of the filter information and the destination of packets sent from the mobile unit whether access is made for using the service of the mobile communication network or for other purpose. Based on the determination, the communication controller can choose whether or not to transfer the packets to the gateway in the other network that has the capability of accessing the mobile communication network. Thus, the problem that all packets are transferred to the gateway can be avoided and consequently traffic and congestion in the other network can be reduced. 
     A communication management apparatus of the present invention includes: a connection request reception notification receiving section which receives a notification of reception of a connection request from a mobile unit of a mobile communication network which is sent by a communication controller of another network capable of interworking with the mobile communication network upon reception by the communication controller of the connection request; a service information obtaining section which obtains information indicating a service available to the mobile unit that has sent the connection request in the mobile communication network, on the basis of the notification of reception of the connection request; a filter information generating section which generates filter information by associating information identifying the mobile unit with a port number to be used in the service indicated by the information obtained at the service information obtaining section; and a filter information transmitting section which transmits the filter information generated by the filter information generating section to the communication controller of the another network. 
     Thus, like the aspect of the invention described earlier, this aspect of the invention enables determination as to whether access is for using a service of the mobile communication network or for other purpose on the basis of the filter information and the port number of packets sent from the mobile unit. 
     The communication management apparatus may include: an IP address setting section which sets an IP address when information indicating a service is obtained by the service information obtaining section, the IP address identifying in the another network the mobile unit that has sent the connection request. 
     With the configuration described above in which an IP address that identifies a mobile unit in the other network is set when information indicating a service is obtained, the setting of the IP address indicates that the mobile unit can use the service of the mobile communication network. Thus, subsequent additional authentication is not needed and therefore the time required for establishing connection to the other network can be reduced. 
     An authentication apparatus of the present invention includes: a connection request reception notification receiving section which receives a notification of reception of a connection request from a mobile unit of a mobile communication network which is sent by a communication controller of another network capable of interworking with the mobile communication network upon reception by the communication controller of the connection request; an authentication section which performs authentication, based on the notification of reception of the connection request, as to whether the mobile unit that has sent the connection request is allowed to connect to the another network; a service information obtaining section which obtains information indicating a service available in the mobile communication network to the mobile unit that has sent the connection request when the mobile unit is authenticated by the authentication section; and a filter information generating section which generates filter information by associating information identifying the mobile unit with an IP address to be used in the service indicated by the information obtained at the service information obtaining section; and a filter information transmitting section which transmits the filter information generated by the filter information generating section to the communication controller of the another network. 
     With this configuration, the communication controller of the other network, like the communication management apparatus described earlier, can determine on the basis of filter information and the destination of packets sent from the mobile unit whether access is for using a service of the mobile communication network or for other purpose. Based on the determination, the communication controller can choose whether or not to transfer the packets to the gateway in the other network that has the capability of accessing the mobile communication network. Thus, the problem that all packets are transferred to the gateway can be avoided and consequently traffic can be reduced and congestion minimized in the other network. 
     A communication controller which controls a network of the present invention includes: a connection request receiving section which receives a connection request from a mobile unit; a filter information obtaining section which obtains filter information in which an IP address used in a service available to the mobile unit in a mobile communication network that differs from the network is associated with identification information identifying the mobile unit; and a packet controlling section which, upon transmission of packets from the mobile unit, reads an IP address from filter information containing identification of the mobile unit that has sent the packets and, when the destination of the packets sent from the mobile unit matches the IP address read from the filter information, transfers the packets to a gateway having the capability of relaying packets from a public packet-switched network to the network and being connected to the mobile communication network, and when the destination does not match the IP address, transfers the packets to the public packet-switched network without passing the packets through the gateway. 
     Determination is made on the basis of filter information obtained at the filter information obtaining section and the destination of packets sent from the mobile unit as to whether access is for using a service of the mobile communication network or for other purpose and, when the service of the mobile communication network is not used, the packets are not transferred to the gateway. Thus, traffic in the network can be reduced. 
     A wireless communication system of the present invention includes a communication controller which controls packet communication in a network capable of interworking with a mobile communication network and an authentication apparatus which performs authentication as to whether a mobile unit is allowed to connect to the network, wherein, the authentication apparatus includes: a connection request reception notification receiving section which receives a notification of reception of a connection request, the notification being provided from the communication controller upon reception by the communication controller of the connection request from a mobile unit to connect to the network; a service information obtaining section which obtains information indicating a service available in the mobile communication network to the mobile unit that has sent the connection request, on the basis of the notification of reception of the connection request; a filter information generating section which generates filter information by associating information identifying the mobile unit with an IP address to be used in the service indicated by the information obtained at the service information obtaining section; and a filter information transmitting section which transmits the filter information generated by the filter information generating section to the communication controller of the network; and the communication controller includes: a packet controlling section which, upon transmission of packets from the mobile unit, reads an IP address from filter information containing identification of the mobile unit that has sent the packets and, when the destination of the packets sent from the mobile unit matches the IP address read from the filter information, transfers the packets to a gateway having the capability of relaying packets from a public packet-switched network to the network and being connected to the mobile communication network, and when the destination does not match the IP address, transfers the packets to the public packet-switched network without passing the packets through the gateway. 
     With this configuration, the wireless communication system, like the communication controller described earlier, can determine whether access is for using a service of a mobile communication network or for other purpose and, when the service of the mobile communication network is not used, packets are not transferred to the gateway. Thus, traffic in the network can be reduced. 
     A communication management method of the present invention includes: a connection request reception notification receiving step of receiving a notification of reception of a connection request from a mobile unit of a mobile communication network which is sent by a communication controller of another network capable of interworking with the mobile communication network upon reception by the communication controller of the connection request; a service information obtaining step of obtaining information indicating a service available in the mobile communication network to the mobile unit that has sent the connection request, on the basis of the notification of reception of the connection request; a filter information generating step of generating filter information by associating information identifying the mobile unit with an IP address to be used in the service indicated by the information obtained at the service information obtaining step; and a filter information transmitting step of transmitting the filter information generated at the filter information generating step to the communication controller of the another network. 
     With this configuration, the communication controller of the other network can determine on the basis of the filter information and the destination of packets sent from the mobile unit whether access is for using a service of the mobile communication network or for other purpose. Base on the determination, problem that all packets are transferred to the gateway can be avoided and consequently traffic can be reduced and congestion minimized in the other network. Various configurations of the communication management apparatus of the present invention may also be applied to the communication management method of the present invention. 
     A communication method of the present invention is a communication method in a network comprising a communication controller which controls packet communication in a network capable of interworking with a mobile communication network and an authentication apparatus which performs authentication as to whether a mobile unit is allowed to connect to the network, the communication method including: a connection request reception notification transmitting step of, by the communication controller, transmitting a notification of reception of a connection request to the authentication apparatus upon reception by the communication controller of the connection request from a mobile unit to connect to the network; a service information obtaining step of, by the authentication apparatus, obtaining information indicating a service available to the mobile unit that has sent the connection request in the mobile communication network, on the basis of the notification of reception of the connection request; a filter information generating step of, by the authentication apparatus, generating filter information by associating information identifying the mobile unit with an IP address to be used in the service indicated by the information obtained at the service information obtaining step; a filter information transmitting step of, by the authentication apparatus, transmitting the filter information generated at the filter information generating step to the communication controller of the network; and a packet controlling step of, by the communication controller, upon transmission of packets from the mobile unit, reading an IP address from filter information containing identification of the mobile unit that has sent packets and, when the destination of the packets sent from the mobile unit matches the IP address read from the filter information, transferring the packets to a gateway relaying packets from a public packet-switched network to the network and being connected to the mobile communication network, and when the destination does not match the IP address, transferring the packets to the public packet-switched network without passing the packets through the gateway. 
     With this configuration, the communication controller of the other network can determine on the basis of the filter information and the destination of packets sent from the mobile unit as to whether access is for using a service of the mobile communication network or for other purpose. Based on the determination, problem that all packets are transferred to the gateway can be avoided and consequently traffic can be reduced and congestion minimized in the other network. Various configurations of the communication management apparatus of the present invention may also be applied to the communication method of the present invention. 
     As will be described below, there are other modes of the present invention. Therefore the disclosure of the present invention is intended to provide some embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a configuration of a 3G authentication apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing an architecture of an interworking system between a WLAN and a mobile communication network according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a configuration of a WLAN gateway according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is an operation sequence diagram showing a flow of interworking between a WLAN and a mobile communication network according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a filter setting notification according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram showing a WAG management table according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing operation of a filter setting section according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart of operation of a WAG management section according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram showing an architecture of a conventional interworking system between a WLAN and a mobile communication network; and 
         FIG. 10  is an operation sequence diagram showing a flow of conventional interworking between a WLAN and a mobile communication network. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A wireless communication system in which a 3G authentication apparatus, a WLAN gateway, and a mobile communication network interwork with a WLAN will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the detailed description and drawings do not limit the present invention. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the attached claims. 
       FIG. 1  shows a configuration of a 3G authentication apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention. The 3G authentication apparatus has the function of a communication management apparatus. Before describing the 3G authentication apparatus in detail, a wireless communication system to which the 3G authentication apparatus is applied will be descried. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an architecture of a wireless communication system applied to the present embodiment in which a mobile communication network and a WLAN interwork each other. A terminal  101  is a terminal that has access to both mobile communication network and WLAN. The terminal  101  corresponds to UE in the 3GPP specifications. 
     A WLAN access network  102  is a packet network using a protocol such as IP and converts a radio signal in the WLAN to a packet signal in a wired network. The WLAN access network  102  corresponds to WLAN AN in the 3GPP specifications. A DHC server (not shown) in the WLAN access network  102  performs operation for assigning addresses. 
     A WLAN gateway  103  is connected to the WLAN access network  102 , the 3G authentication apparatus  109 , and a public packet-switched network  112 . The WLAN gateway  103  corresponds to WAG in the 3GPP specifications. The WLAN gateway  103  communicates control data and user data of the WLAN to and from the WLAN access network  102 . The WLAN gateway  103  exchanges with the 3G authentication apparatus  109  authentication information required for user authentication, and filter setting information for creation of a tunnel. A packet data gateway  104  is connected to the WLAN gateway  103 . The packet data gateway  104  relays packet data to the public packet-switched network  112 . That is, the packet data gateway  104  relays packet data from the public packet-switched network  112  to the WLAN and packet data from the WLAN to the public packet-switched network  112 . The packet data gateway  104  corresponds to PDG in the 3GPP specifications. 
     A base station  105  converts a radio signal sent from the terminal  101  into a wired signal and transfers the converted signal in the mobile communication network. The base station  105  corresponds to Node B in the 3GPP specifications. A radio network controller  106  is connected to the base station  105  using IP and performs terminal control relating to wireless communications and transmits control data and user data in the mobile communication network. The radio network controller  106  corresponds to RNC of the 3GPP specifications. The radio network controller  106  and the base station  105  may be interconnected using ATM. 
     A packet controller  107  is connected to the radio network controller  106  through IP. The packet controller  107  performs packet transmission control on the mobile communication network and manages the status of the terminal  101  relating to packet transmission. The packet controller  107  corresponds to SGSN in the 3GPP specifications. The packet controller  107  and the radio network controller  106  may be interconnected using ATM. 
     A mobile network packet gateway  108  is connected to the packet controller  107 . The mobile network packet gateway  108  relays packet data from the mobile communication network to the public packet-switched network  112 . The mobile network packet gateway  108  corresponds to GGSN in the 3GPP specifications. 
     A service server  114  is a server that manages services provided by the mobile communication network. When the service server  114  is to be accessed from the WLAN, the service server  114  is accessed through the packet data gateway  104 . 
     The 3G authentication apparatus  109  is connected to the WLAN access network  102  and the WLAN gateway  103 . The 3G authentication apparatus  109  communicates authentication data from the terminal  101  and filter setting information used for creating a tunnel. The 3G authentication apparatus  109  corresponds to AAA Server in the 3GPP specifications. 
     A user information storing device  110  is connected to the packet controller  107 , the mobile network packet gateway  108 , and the 3G authentication apparatus  109 . The user information storing device  110  stores information about a service provided by the communication carrier of the mobile communication network or the WLAN to a user under a service agreement between the carrier and the user. 
     The 3G authentication apparatus  109  according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to  FIG. 1 . The 3G authentication apparatus  109  includes multiple communication interfaces for connecting to the user information storing device  110 , the WLAN gateway  103 , and the WLAN access network  102 . The 3G authentication apparatus  109  according to the embodiment differs from an authentication apparatus of a conventional art in that the 3G authentication apparatus  109  assigns a local IP address to a terminal, sets a filter for the WLAN gateway, and notifies the settings. 
     An HSS communication section  203  has the function of communicating with the user information storing device  110  and checks information about a service provided by the communication carrier of the mobile communication network or the WLAN to a user under a service agreement between the carrier and the user. A WAG communication section  204  has the function of communicating with the WLAN gateway  103 . A WLAN communication section  201  has the function of communicating traffic involved in authentication to and from the WLAN access network  102 . 
     A 3G authentication management section  202  performs user authentication processing in the mobile communication network and the WLAN. When authentication is successful, the 3G authentication management section  202  requests a terminal address determining section  205  to assign a local IP address to the terminal  101 . The 3G authentication management section  202  then provides the local IP address assigned to the terminal  101  and the result of authentication of the user to a filter setting section  206 . The terminal address determining section  205  has the function of determining a local IP address that the terminal  101  can use in an area of the WLAN. The filter setting section  206  generates a filter setting notification based on the local IP address of the terminal  101  received from the 3G authentication management section  202  and the user&#39;s authentication information. The generated filter setting notification is sent to the WLAN gateway  103  through the WAG communication section  204 . 
       FIG. 3  shows in detail a configuration of the WLAN gateway  103  used in the embodiment. The WLAN gateway  103  includes multiple communication interfaces for connecting to the packet data gateway  104 , the 3G authentication apparatus  109 , the WLAN access network  102 , and the public packet-switched network  112 . 
     A WLAN communication section  301  has the function of transmitting traffic involved in packet communication that uses the WLAN to and from the WLAN access network  102 . A PDG communication section  303  has the function of communicating with the packet data gateway  104  and transmits traffic involved in packet communication that uses the WLAN. A public packet-switched network communication section  305  has the function of transmitting traffic involved in packet communication that uses the WLAN to the public packet-switched network  112 . A 3G authentication apparatus communication section  304  has the function of communicating with the 3G authentication apparatus  10  and receives a filter setting notification. 
     A WAG management section  302  has the functions of updating a WAG management table in accordance with filter setting notification received from the 3G authentication apparatus  109  and setting a filter that determines whether packets should be passed to the packet data gateway  104 . In particular, the WAG management section  302  in the present embodiment has the functions of separating IP packets according to IP address or port number from which they were transmitted or to which they are to be transmitted, to transfer them to either the 3G network side ( 105 ,  106 ,  107 ,  108  and  110 ) or the wireless LAN side ( 102 ,  103 ,  104  and  114 ) and notifying the setting to other devices. 
     Operation according to the embodiment will be described below. An overview of the present invention will be described first. In the wireless communication system of the present embodiment, when a user enters an area of the WLAN from an area of the mobile communication network while communicating over the mobile communication network, the 3G authentication apparatus  109  assigns a local IP address to be used in the WLAN access network  102  to the terminal  101 , on the basis of user authentication and service authentication in the mobile communication network and the WLAN. Then, the 3G authentication apparatus  109  notifies to the WLAN gateway  102  a filter setting that limits packets that are permitted to pass, on the basis of the service authentication. Details of the operation will be described below with reference to drawings. 
       FIG. 4  is an operation sequence diagram showing a process flow for switching traffic of packet communication from the mobile communication network to the WLAN when the terminal  101  performing packet communication moves from the mobile communication network into an area of the WLAN. 
     The terminal  101  that is using the mobile communication network performs IP packet communication with the correspondent node  113  through the base station  105 , the radio network controller  106 , the packet controller  107 , and the mobile network packet gateway  108  (S 10 ). The IP address of the terminal  101  has been assigned by the mobile network packet gateway  108 . The IP address is an address with which the correspondent node  113  can uniquely identify the terminal  101  and is the remote IP address in the present embodiment. 
     Packet communication in the mobile communication network is performed by creating an IP tunnel between nodes and by encapsulating the IP packets for transmission. GTP is used between the mobile network packet gateway  108  and the packet controller  107  and between the packet controller  107  and the radio network controller  106 . The IP packets are converted into a logical channel or transport channel as appropriate in the radio network controller  106  and are transferred to the base station  105  by using IP transport. The base station  105  converts the channel into a physical channel of W-CDMA and communicates with the terminal  101 . 
     When the terminal  101  enters the WLAN area (S 12 ), the terminal  101  detects the radio field of the WLAN. The terminal  101  performs an authentication process for the terminal  101  to use an access point within the WLAN access network  102  (S 14 ). Then, user authentication processing is performed between the WLAN access network  102  and the 3G authentication apparatus  109  (S 16 ). In doing this, the 3G authentication apparatus  109  accesses the user information storing device  110  to authenticate whether the user is a subscriber to an interworking service. After the authentication is successfully completed, the terminal address determining section  205  in the 3G authentication apparatus  109  determines a local IP address to be used by the terminal  101  in the WLAN access network  102 . The 3G authentication apparatus  109  sends the local IP address to the terminal  101  (S 18 ). Thus, the local IP address is assigned to the terminal  101 . 
     The 3G authentication management section  202  of the 3G authentication apparatus  109  then provides the local IP address assigned to the terminal  101  and the result of authentication of the user to the filter setting section  206 . The filter setting section  206  of the 3G authentication apparatus  109  generates a filter setting notification on the basis of the local IP address of the terminal  101  and the user&#39;s authentication information received from the 3G authentication management section  202  (S 20 ). Then, the 3G authentication apparatus  109  provides the filter setting notification to the WLAN gateway  103  through the WAG communication section  204  (S 22 ). 
       FIG. 5  shows an example of data in a filter setting notification  500  generated. The filter setting notification  500  contains a user authentication ID  501 , a 3G user identifier  502 , a local IP address  503 , a pass IP address  504 , and a pass port number  505 . The user authentication ID  501  is an ID required for authentication of a user having an interworking service agreement. The 3G user identifier  502  is a fixed user identifier IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) assigned to the terminal  101  in the mobile communication network. The user authentication ID  501  may be omitted and the 3G user identifier  502  alone may be set. The local IP address  503  is an address determined by the terminal address determining section  205  and is information for identifying the terminal  101  in the WLAN. The pass IP address  504  and the pass port number  505  are required for the user to access the service server  114  in the mobile communication network that provides a service under an agreement with the user, on the basis of service authentication performed with the user information storing device  110 . 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram showing operation of the 3G authentication apparatus  109  for generating the filter setting notification  500 . When the terminal  101  that is performing packet communication over the mobile communication network switches traffic transmission from the mobile communication network to the WLAN (S 40 ), the 3G authentication management section  202  performs user authentication processing (S 42 ). If the authentication is successful, the terminal address determining section  205  assigns a local IP address to be used by the terminal  101  in the WLAN access network  102  (S 44 ). The 3G authentication management section  202  notifies the assigned local IP address and information concerning user authentication and service authentication to the filter setting section  206 . The filter setting section  206  generates the filter setting notification  500  based on the local IP address of the terminal  101  and the user and service authentication information received from the 3G authentication management section  202  (S 46 ). The 3G authentication apparatus  109  then sends the notification to the WLAN gateway  103  through the WAG communication section  204  (S 48 ). 
     If the authentication by the 3G authentication management section  202  fails (NO at S 42 ), it means that the terminal  101  does not have an interworking service agreement, therefore the traffic transmission switching to the WLAN is rejected (S 50 ). The rejected user keeps performing the packet communication over the mobile communication network (S 52 ). 
     In  FIG. 4 , the WAG management section  302  of the WLAN gateway  103  which has received the filter setting notification  500  updates a WAG management table in accordance with the filter setting notification  500  (S 24 ). With this, a filter is set for limiting the passage of packets to the packet data gateway  104 . 
       FIG. 6  shows details of a WAG management table  600 . The WAG management table  600  contains a user identification ID  601 , a 3G user identifier  602 , a local IP address  603 , a pass IP address  604 , and a pass port number  605 . These items of information are the same as those in the filter setting notification  500 . These items of information are maintained in the WAG management table  600  until the user disconnects the packet communication. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the WAG management table  600  manages these items of information for multiple users that are in connection with the WLAN. 
       FIG. 8  shows filtering control operation performed by the WAG management section  302 . While the WLAN gateway  103  is operating as an access gateway (S 60 ), the WAG management section  302  receives the filter setting notification  500  from the 3G authentication apparatus  109  (S 62 ). The WAG management section  302  updates the WAG management table  600  on the basis of the information in the notification (S 64 ). Then, the WAG management section  302  checks the pass IP address  604  and the pass port number  605  in the updated WAG management table  600  (S 66 ). If the pass IP address  604  or the pass port number  605  is set (YES at S 66 ), the WAG management section  302  performs filtering control so that traffic directed from the local IP address  503  associated with the user to the pass IP address  604  or the pass port number  605  is transferred to the packet data gateway  104  (S 68 ). 
     If neither the pass IP address  604  nor the pass port number  605  is set (NO at S 66 ), the WAG management section  302  performs filtering control so that traffic from the local IP address  503  associated with the user is not transferred to the packet data gateway  104  but to the public packet-switched network  112  (S 70 ). 
     In  FIG. 4 , the terminal  101  issues a PDG address resolution request to the packet data gateway  104 , which acts as the gateway for the terminal  101  to perform IP packet communication with the correspondent node  113  in the mobile communication network over the WLAN (S 26 ). The packet data gateway  104  assigns an IP address to the terminal  101  for using the WLAN in the mobile communication network. The IP address uniquely identifies the terminal  101  in the mobile communication network. 
     The terminal  101  sends a tunnel creation request to the packet data gateway  104  over the WLAN (S 28 ). A tunnel of IP is created between the terminal  101  and the packet data gateway  104  (S 30 ). In the present embodiment, the 3G authentication apparatus  109  has sent the filter setting notification  500  to the WLAN gateway  103  (S 22 ) and filter setting has already completed in the WLAN gateway  103 . Therefore, the packet data gateway  104  does not need to obtain information about service subscription of the user and perform authentication anew for setting a filter in the 3G authentication apparatus  109 . 
     After the tunnel is created, the terminal  101  registers the remote IP address in the home address management device  111  through the packet data gateway  104  (S 32 ). Once the remote IP address is registered, the home address management device  111  changes the destination of packets sent from the correspondent node  113  to the terminal  101  associated with the new remote IP address. For access to a server on the Internet from the terminal other than access to a service server provided by the mobile communication network, the filter set by the WAG management section  302  prevents traffic to the packet data gateway  104  and causes the traffic to flow from the WLAN gateway  103  directly to the public packet-switched network  112 . 
     After the connection to the WLAN is thus established (S 34 ), the terminal  101  disconnects transmission over the mobile communication network used before entering the WLAN area. This disconnection process is initiated by issuing a 3G disconnection to the packet controller  107  (S 36 ). 
     The wireless communication system according to the present embodiment has been described in which the 3G authentication apparatus, the WLAN gateway, and the mobile communication network interwork with the WLAN. 
     The wireless communication system according to the present invention enables the WLAN gateway  103  to control traffic transmission of packet communication used from the WLAN and to prevent traffic other than traffic that accesses the service server  114  provided by the mobile communication network from being transmitted to the packet data gateway  104 . Thus, the wireless communication system has the effect of reducing traffic transmitted over the WLAN and minimizing the congestion. 
     In the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment, the 3G authentication apparatus  109  generates the filter setting notification  500  containing a local IP address of the terminal  101 , a pass IP address and pass port number based on the result of user authentication, and provides the notification  500  to the WLAN gateway  103 . The WAG management section  302  of the WLAN gateway  103  is enabled to set a filter based on the information in the notification  500 . The 3G authentication apparatus  109  may set a local IP address and a filter collectively on the basis of the result of authentication and may directly communicate the information about the setting to the WLAN gateway  103 . Thus, once mutual authentication is performed, the need for an additional authentication process during creation of a tunnel for traffic transmission over the WLAN can be eliminated and the time required authentication for connecting to the WLAN can be reduced. Because the 3G authentication apparatus  109  provides the filter setting to the WLAN gateway  103  without waiting for operation of the terminal  101 , the WAG management section update processing S 24  can be started ahead of time. Thus, the possibility of discontinuity in realtime communication such as videoconference or video delivery over the Internet can be reduced. 
     Furthermore, because the WAG management section  302  of the WLAN gateway  103  changes the transfer destination of IP packets in accordance with a setting of the filter, the amount of IP packets flowing into the public packet-switched network can be reduced and the load in the public packet-switched network, which is a high-cost network, can be reduced. 
     While the embodiment of the present invention preferable as of the date of preparation of this application has been described above, it will be understood that various modification can be made to the embodiment and it is intended to cover in the attached claims all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     As has been described above, the present invention has an advantageous effect that traffic in another network can be reduced and congestion can be minimized, and is useful as an interworking system between networks of different types such as between a mobile communication network and a WLAN (Wireless LAN) or as an authentication apparatus used in such a system.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7