Patent ID: 8588742

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for providing services to mobile subscribers, the method comprising: in response to a request received at a gateway device from a mobile subscriber over a radio access network (RAN) for accessing a service provider over an existing broadband network, the gateway device authenticating, using Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP), the mobile subscriber for accessing the RAN, the gateway device interfacing the RAN and the existing broadband network; upon successfully authenticating the mobile subscriber for accessing the RAN, the gateway device acquiring, on behalf of the mobile subscriber, a network address to be assigned to the mobile subscriber, the network address allowing the mobile subscriber to access the service provider over the existing broadband network, wherein acquiring the network address on behalf of the mobile subscriber comprises: receiving at the gateway device a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) discovery request from the mobile subscriber, establishing a Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) tunnel with an L2TP Network Server (LNS) associated with the service provider, establishing a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session with the service provider using the L2TP tunnel, initiating an IP (Internet Protocol) control protocol (IPCP) negotiation with the service provider through the PPP session, and receiving the network address from the service provider from the IPCP negotiation; and transmitting a DHCP offer message to the mobile subscriber, wherein the DHCP offer message includes the network address, wherein the gateway device determines which service provider domain is to be used for the PPP session based upon at least one of an identity of the mobile subscriber and a password associated with the mobile subscriber obtained from the authentication.