Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to wireless telecommunication networks. More specifically, and without limitation, the invention is directed to a method of informing a Security Gateway (SEGW) and/or a Generic Access Network Controller (GANC) about different user types. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has standardized the Generic Access Network (GAN)-concept starting from 3GPP Release-6. The more precise name utilized by 3GPP is “Generic Access to A/Gb Interfaces” and this standardization was based on the Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) de-facto specifications. Two examples of existing solutions for enabling a Mobile Station (MS) to access a GSM Core Network (CN) are: a GAN solution and a GSM-Femto solution. 
       FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram from 3GPP TS 43.318 illustrating an architecture of the GAN  10 . GAN is specified in the 3GPP TS 43.318 and TS 44.318. A mobile station (MS)  11  connects through a WiFi access point (AP) in a generic IP access network  12 . GAN provides a new Radio Access Network (RAN), and the node corresponding to the GERAN Base Station Controller is called the Generic Access Network Controller (GANC)  13 . The GANC  13  includes a Security Gateway (SEGW)  14  and connects to a GSM Core Network (CN)  15 . The MS is a dual-mode, dual-radio handset including for example both WiFi and 3GPP-macro radio support (e.g. GSM, WCDMA or both). The MS connects to the WiFi AP utilizing the WiFi Radio. The GAN standard defines for example how the MS can function in GAN mode and access the services provided by the GSM CN using the Up-interface  16  between the MS and the GANC. 
     The Up-interface  16  may traverse unsafe IP networks and is therefore protected by a secure IP tunnel between the MS  11  and the GANC  13  handled by the SEGW  14 . 
     The current GAN standard may be referred to as “2G-GAN” or “GSM-GAN” because the standard GSM A-interface and Gb-interface are utilized between the GANC and the CN. Work is ongoing to standardize a “3G-GAN” or “WCDMA-GAN” solution. In this case, the GANC will utilize standard WCDMA interfaces such as the lu-cs and the lu-ps interfaces to connect to the CN. The resulting standard can be also called “Generic Access to lu Interfaces” or “GAN-lu”. 
       FIG. 2  is a protocol diagram illustrating a circuit-switched (CS) Domain Control Plane Architecture  20  related to the GAN solution and the Up-interface  16 . The GANC  13  uses normal A-interface signaling towards the Mobile Switching Center (MSC)  21 . The GANC interworks the related protocols, like the Base Station System Application Part (BSSAP)  22 , towards the relevant GAN-protocols, such as Generic Access—Circuit Switched Resources (GA-CSR)  23 , in both directions. 
       FIG. 3  is a signaling diagram illustrating the existing GAN registration procedure between the MS  11  and the GANC  13 . This procedure is well defined, for example, in the 3GPP Technical Specifications for GAN, therefore the procedure will not be described in detail here, although several steps are relevant to the present invention. 
     At step  3 , an IPsec tunnel is established between the MS and the SEGW  14  using IKEv2 signaling. The MS holds a (U)SIM card and the tunnel establishment is authenticated using EAP-SIM or EAP-AKA signaling between the MS and the Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server  25  as requested by the SEGW. The authentication procedure is really performed towards the (U)SIM card in the MS. The AAA contacts an HLR/AuC  26  to retrieve required security keys to be used as part of the EAP-SIM or EAP-AKA signaling. 
     At step  6 , the MS  11  sends a GA-RC REGISTER REQUEST message to the GANC  13  and may indicate some information about the MS capabilities in the GAN Classmark Information Element (IE). 
     At step  7 , the GAN registration attempt is accepted by the GANC  13  and a GA-RC REGISTER ACCEPT message is returned to the MS  11 . The reject and redirect cases as shown in alternative steps  8  and  9  are not relevant to the present invention and are shown only for completeness. 
       FIG. 4  is a signaling diagram illustrating the existing GAN signaling sequence when a periodic Location Update is performed in GAN-mode. The most relevant parts of this sequence are steps  11 - 12  in which the GANC  13  receives a (BSSAP) CIPHER MODE COMMAND and is supposed to trigger signaling towards the MS  11 . These particular steps are used here as an example of how the GANC should act towards the different types of terminals and access points accessing the system. 
       FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram of an architecture of a GSM-Femto access network. The GSM-Femto solution provides small femto cells for the end users by having small GSM radio base stations in, for example, the user&#39;s home premises. The small radio base station is called a Femto Cell Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)  31 . The Femto Cell CPE connects to the network using the proprietary Fp and Abis-over-IP interfaces. The node corresponding to the GERAN BSC is called a Femto BSC  32 . No specific 3GPP standard exists for the GSM-Femto solution. One of the main differences from the GAN solution described above is that MSs do not require any changes because the standard GSM Um-interface is used between the MS and the Femto Cell CPE. The MS connects to the Femto Cell CPE as normally in GERAN. The Femto Cell CPE is then connected to the Femto BSC using the proprietary Fp and Abis-over-IP interfaces. 
       FIG. 6  is a protocol diagram illustrating a CS Domain Control Plane Architecture  40  related to the GSM-Femto solution of  FIG. 6 . The Femto BSC  32  uses normal A-interface signaling towards the MSC  21 . The Femto BSC interworks the related protocols, like BSSAP  22 , towards the relevant GSM-protocols such as GSM Radio Resources (GSM RR)  41  in both directions. 
     The security solution applied for the GSM Femto solution is very similar to the solution used in GAN (and as described in  FIG. 3 ). The Femto Cell CPE  31  establishes an IPsec tunnel to the SEGW  14  using the same mechanisms as in GAN. The main difference is that the Femto Cell CPE contains the (U)SIM card that is authenticated towards the AAA server  25 . 
     SUMMARY 
     In different embodiments, the present invention provides user-type information to the SEGW or enables the SEGW to obtain user-type information for different user types so that the SEGW can apply specific security functions based on the user type. The invention is applicable to all solutions where a component such as the SEGW is utilized. The invention may also provide user-type information to a control node such as a GANC or enable the GANC to obtain user-type information for application of security settings toward GAN-clients. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method in a wireless access network for providing a user-type indication to a Security Gateway (SEGW) during a registration procedure for a user. The method includes the steps of receiving in an Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server, a request to authenticate the user; and sending a user-type indication for the user from the AAA server to the SEGW with an authentication success message. The user-type indication may be created in the AAA server or may be obtained by the AAA server from a Home Location Register (HLR). 
     In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method in a wireless access network for determining user-type information in an SEGW during a registration procedure for a user. The method includes the steps of configuring the SEGW with user-type information associated with different International Mobile Station Identities (IMSIs) or IMSI number series; receiving the user&#39;s IMSI in the SEGW during the registration procedure; and determining user-type information for the user based on the user&#39;s IMSI or an associated IMSI number series. 
     In either of the two embodiments above, the registration procedure may be performed in a Generic Access Network (GAN), and the SEGW may also send the user-type information to a Generic Access Network Controller (GANC). 
     In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method in a wireless access network for obtaining user-type information by a controller node during a registration procedure for a user. The method includes the steps of configuring a database with user-type information associated with different IMSIs or IMSI number series; receiving the user&#39;s IMSI in the controller node during the registration procedure; and utilizing the user&#39;s IMSI by the controller node to retrieve the user-type information for the user from the database. 
     In another embodiment, the controller node itself is configured with user-type information associated with different IMSIs or IMSI number series. When the controller node receives the user&#39;s IMSI during the registration procedure, the controller node utilizes the user&#39;s IMSI to determine the user-type information for the user. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a AAA server for providing a user-type indication to an SEGW during a registration procedure for a user. The AAA server includes means for receiving a request to authenticate the user; and means for sending a user-type indication for the user to the SEGW with an authentication success message. The AAA server may create the user-type indication internally, or may obtain the user-type indication from an HLR. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to an apparatus in a SEGW in an access network. The apparatus includes a database configured to associate user-type information with different IMSIs or IMSI number series; means for receiving a user&#39;s IMSI during a registration procedure; and means for determining user-type information for the user based on the user&#39;s IMSI or an associated IMSI number series. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a system in an access network for providing user-type information to a controller node during a registration procedure for a user. The system includes a database configured to associate user-type information with different IMSIs or IMSI number series; means within the controller node for receiving the user&#39;s IMSI during a registration procedure; and means within the controller node for utilizing the user&#39;s IMSI to retrieve the user-type information for the user from the database. 
     Alternatively, the controller node may be configured internally with user-type information associated with different IMSIs or IMSI number series. When the controller node receives the user&#39;s IMSI during the registration procedure, the controller node utilizes the user&#39;s IMSI to determine the user-type information for the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following, the essential features of the invention will be described in detail by showing preferred embodiments, with reference to the attached figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram from 3GPP TS 43.318 illustrating an architecture of the Generic Access Network (GAN); 
         FIG. 2  is a protocol diagram illustrating a circuit-switched (CS) Domain Control Plane Architecture related to the GAN solution of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a signaling diagram illustrating the existing GAN registration procedure between an MS and a GANC; 
         FIG. 4  is a signaling diagram illustrating the existing GAN signaling sequence when a periodic Location Update is performed in GAN-mode; 
         FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram of an architecture of a GSM-Femto access network; 
         FIG. 6  is a protocol diagram illustrating a CS Domain Control Plane Architecture related to the GSM-Femto solution of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a functional block diagram of an architecture of a combined GAN-GSM-Femto access network suitable for use in implementing the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a protocol diagram illustrating a CS Domain Control Plane Architecture related to the combined GAN-GSM-Femto access network of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a functional block diagram of an architecture of a GAN-WCDMA-Femto access network suitable for use in implementing the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a protocol diagram illustrating a CS Domain Control Plane Architecture related to the GAN-WCDMA-Femto access network of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a signaling diagram illustrating two different types of GAN Registrations performed by the Femto Cell CPE towards the GANC; 
         FIG. 12  is a signaling diagram illustrating an existing method of performing IKEv2 signaling and EAP-SIM/AKA authentication; 
         FIG. 13  is a signaling diagram illustrating an extension of  FIG. 12  to implement an HLR-based configuration for informing the SEGW of different User types; 
         FIG. 14  is a signaling diagram illustrating an extension of  FIG. 12  to implement an AAA-based configuration for informing the SEGW of different User types; and 
         FIG. 15  is a signaling diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention for providing User-type information to the GANC. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 7  is a functional block diagram of an architecture of a combined GAN-GSM-Femto access network  50  suitable for use in implementing the present invention. To develop an access solution with advantages over either the GAN solution or the GSM-Femto solution, one can combine the two solutions, utilizing the best properties of each. The combined solution allows existing MSs to be utilized because the Um-interface is used between the MS  11  and a modified Femto Cell CPE  51 . The Femto Cell CPE in the combined solution is modified to include a GAN-client, enabling the Up-interface to be used to connect the Femto Cell CPE  51  to the GANC  13 . The standardized Up-interface requires some modifications, and thus a so-called Up+interface is utilized. The GANC uses the normal GSM interfaces towards the CN  15  and the other support nodes as in the normal GAN solution. 
       FIG. 8  is a protocol diagram illustrating a CS Domain Control Plane Architecture  60  related to the combined GAN-GSM-Femto access network of  FIG. 7 . The Femto Cell CPE  51  is extended both with BSC functionality  61  and with a GAN-client  62 . The BSC functionality is needed to terminate the GSM RR protocol from the MS  11  and the GAN-client is needed to interwork between GSM RR and the GA-CSR protocol. The GANC  13  then interworks between the GA-CSR and the BSSAP protocols. 
     The security solution applied for the GAN-GSM-Femto network  50  is very similar to the solution used in GAN and in GSM-Femto. The Femto Cell CPE  51  establishes an IPsec tunnel to the SEGW  14  using the same mechanisms as in GAN. The main difference towards GAN is that the Femto Cell CPE contains the (U)SIM card that is authenticated towards the AAA server  25  (and this is exactly the same as in the GSM-Femto solution). 
       FIG. 9  is a functional block diagram of an architecture of a GAN-WCDMA-Femto access network  70  suitable for use in implementing the present invention. In this case, the normal lu interface is utilized between the GANC and the mobile core network side and the air interface to the MSs is the Uu-interface. A modified Femto Cell CPE  71  is modified to include UTRAN Radio Network Controller (RNC) functionality. 
       FIG. 10  is a protocol diagram illustrating a CS Domain Control Plane Architecture  80  related to the WCDMA-Femto access network of  FIG. 9 . As noted, the modified Femto Cell CPE  71  is modified to include UTRAN RNC functionality in the Radio Resource Control (RRC)  81 , Radio Link Control (RLC)  82 , and Media Access Control (MAC)  83  layers. 
       FIG. 11  is a signaling diagram illustrating two different types of GAN Registrations performed by the Femto Cell CPE  51  towards the GANC  13 . The two types of registrations are called CPE GAN Registration and MS GAN Registration. The CPE GAN Registration is performed when the Femto Cell CPE  51  is powered on and the associated femto cell is created. After the Femto Cell CPE  51  sends a (CPE) GA-RC REGISTER REQUEST message to the GANC  13 , the GANC returns a (CPE) GA-RC REGISTER ACCEPT message with GAN system information needed for femto cell setup by the Femto Cell CPE. 
     The MS GAN Registration is performed by the Femto Cell CPE  51  when it detects that an MS  11  is trying to access the femto cell. This normally happens when the MS performs a Location Updating procedure via the femto cell because the femto cell has a different Location Area Identifier (LAI) compared to macro cells in the area. After the Femto Cell CPE  51  sends a (MS) GA-RC REGISTER REQUEST message to the GANC  13 , the GANC returns a (MS) GA-RC REGISTER ACCEPT message with GAN system information. After this, the MS can access services provided by the GANC, i.e., the MS has access to both the MSC and the SGSN. 
     The GANC  13  is able to combine these two procedures. In other words, the GANC is able to find out that the MS GAN REGISTRATION relates to a specific CPE GAN REGISTRATION (since the same IPsec tunnel is used). 
     The present invention relates to the use of common nodes in the different embodiments described above. The common nodes and related principles as follows: 
     1. SEGW (Security Gateway) 
     All the embodiments described herein utilize IPsec tunnels to access the network. These IPsec tunnels are established between the MS  11  and SEGW  14  (in GAN) or between the Home Access Point (HAP, e.g. Femto Cell CPE) and the SEGW. This means that the SEGW is one common node between these embodiments. The different embodiments, however, have different types of security requirements that the SEGW must enforce on the IPsec tunnels. These requirements are related for example to the number of TCP connections/UDP-streams in the tunnel or total bandwidth allowed in the tunnel. One clear reason for the differences is that in GAN, there is a single IPsec tunnel for each MS, and in the other solutions, all the MSs accessing one HAP share the same IPsec tunnel. 
     2. GANC (GAN Controller) or Other Controller Node 
     There are standardization efforts ongoing for solutions other than GAN that use the SEGW  14 , and all solutions include some form of gateway or controller node for controlling MS registration. Although the present invention is described herein in terms of the GAN, it should be understood that the invention is applicable to any type of gateway or controller node that controls MS registration and communicates with the SEGW. 
     The GAN, the GAN-GSM-Femto network, and the GAN-WCDMA-Femto network all contain the GANC  13 . There are however some functional differences in how the GANC functions for example towards a GAN-enabled MS and a HAP utilizing the GAN. The GANC may apply some security settings towards GAN-clients. 
     Another exemplary difference is related to the Cipher Mode Control procedure as described in 3GPP TS 48.008 and used in the context of the “GAN A/Gb”. The cipher mode control procedure enables the MSC  21  to pass cipher mode information to the GANC  13  to select and load the user data and signaling encryption device with the appropriate key. 
     However, in GAN mode, all the communication between the MS  11  and the SEGW  14  is encrypted using the IPsec tunnel and there is no need for the encryption keys. This means that when the GANC receives the CIPHER MODE COMMAND message, it only sends the algorithm to be used and a “key index” to the MS, which stores the information for possible future use after a handover to GERAN. The CIPHER MODE COMMAND message also includes the encryption key, called Kc, that is normally used by the BSC and BTS to encrypt the air interface towards the MS. As described above, however, the GANC does not forward the Kc key. 
     There is a different need in the GAN-GSM-Femto network for the handling of the Cipher Mode Control procedure. In this case, the IPsec tunnel is only used to encrypt the traffic between the GANC  13  and the HAP  71 . The air interface between the MS  11  and the HAP is a standard GSM air interface and this means that the “Kc” information is needed in the HAP to be able to cipher/decipher this air interface towards the MS. 
     Thus, the GANC  13  needs to know whether the GAN Registration and all associated traffic-related procedures relate to a GAN-MS or to an MS accessing via the HAP  71 . 
     There is no known solution for informing the common node SEGW  14  about the different user types. 
     One possible solution for informing the common node GANC  13  of the user types is to extend the GAN Classmark information that is included in the GA-RC REGISTER REQUEST message to indicate “HAP” or “MS behind HAP”. The GANC may then use this information to act differently towards the GAN-MS or “MS behind HAP” (and towards the “HAP” as well). This approach, however, has several problems. First, the approach depends on the MS (or GAN-client) accessing the system to set this information correctly. This is not acceptable because a faked GAN-client could set the setting to lower the security restrictions applied and to receive sensitive information (like the “Kc” from the network). Secondly, this approach does not provide the user-type indication to the SEGW  14 . 
     To solve the second problem, a protocol may be implemented between the GANC  13  and the SEGW  14  so that the GANC can inform the SEGW about the user type based on the information the GANC received from the client. However, this would also be a security risk in the case of a malicious client. Furthermore, such an approach would mean that the client has already accessed the network without the SEGW knowing the user type. Since the SEGW is the entry point to the mobile network and the first point of contact where the user&#39;s identity is verified, security settings need to be applied from the SEGW. 
     In the present invention, the network is configured with information about an association between an (U)SIM and the user type. For this reason, the network does not have to rely on the client indicating a specific user type. The invention enables the SEGW  14  to retrieve information about different user types and to apply specific security functions based on the user type. Thus, the invention is applicable to all solutions where a component such as the SEGW  14  is used. For example, the inventive concepts described herein are applicable, at least, for the following solutions:
         Interworking WLAN (I-WLAN);   In this case the SEGW is the Packet Data Gateway (PDG).   Untrusted Non-3GPP IP access in SAE/LTE;   In this case the SEGW is the evolved Packet Data Gateway (ePDG).   GSM-Femto, WCDMA-Femto, and LTE-Femto;   UMA/GAN; and   Combination of UMA/GAN and GSM/WCDMA-Femto.       

     Different embodiments of the present invention are used to illustrate how the SEGW  14  becomes aware of the user-type information, and how the GANC  13  becomes aware of this information. The SEGW may be informed utilizing an HLR-based configuration, an AAA-based configuration, or an SEGW-based configuration. The GANC may be informed by the SEGW after the SEGW learns the information through one of the configurations noted. Alternatively, the GANC may be informed utilizing a GANC-based configuration or a GAN database-based configuration. It should also be noted that the above embodiments may be combined in different ways. 
       FIG. 12  is a signaling diagram illustrating an existing method of performing IKEv2 signaling and EAP-SIM/AKA authentication in the GAN solution. The authentication procedure of  FIG. 12  is reproduced from Figure A.1 of the technical specification 3GPP TS 43.318 v8.0.0, and will not be discussed further except in the context of modifications and extensions associated with the different embodiments of the present invention described below. 
     The description below presumes that the different “User types” are coordinated between the different nodes. For example, the SEGW  14  and the GANC  13  are aware of the different user types and have predefined logic that is dependent upon the user type. User types may include, for example, “Home Access Point”, “GSM HAP”, “WCDMA HAP”, “LTE HAP”, and the like. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Allowed 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Allowed 
                 Allowed 
               
               
                 User 
                 Band-width 
                 No. of 
                 No. of 
                 Allowed 
                 Allowed Dest. 
                 Allowed 
                 no. of 
                 packets 
               
               
                 Type 
                 (Kbit/sec) 
                 TCP 
                 UDP 
                 Dest. ports 
                 IP/sub net 
                 Protocols 
                 IPsec SA 
                 per second 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Default 
                 100 
                 2 
                 2 
                 14001- 
                 192.160.0.0/16 
                 TCP, 
                 2 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 14010 
                 192.159.1.50 
                 UDP 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 24000- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 24500 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 53 
               
               
                 GSM 
                 200 
                 4 
                 4 
                 12000- 
                 192.168.0.0/16 
                 TCP, 
                 4 
                 100 
               
               
                 HAP 
                   
                   
                   
                 12400 
                   
                 UDP 
               
               
                 WCDM 
                 1000 
                 6 
                 6 
                 12500- 
                 192.169.0.0/16 
                 TCP/ 
                 8 
                 500 
               
               
                 A HAP 
                   
                   
                   
                 13000 
                   
                 UDP, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 SCTP 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Table 1 above provides an example of how the SEGW  14  may be configured for the different “user types”. These examples define limitations for each IPsec tunnel. For example, the exemplary table can be read so that user type “GSM HAP” is allowed to use a bandwidth of 200Kbits/second. 
     The ‘user type’ itself provides certain information about how the nodes should act. Other information per user type may be related, for example, to security settings. Exemplary settings for the GANC  13  are shown in Table 2 below. These examples define limitations for each GAN registration in the GANC. For example, the exemplary table can be read so that user type “GSM HAP” is allowed to send 200 messages per second. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Allowed 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 messages 
               
               
                   
                   
                 per 
               
               
                   
                 User type 
                 second 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Default 
                 20 
                   
               
               
                   
                 GSM HAP 
                 200 
               
               
                   
                 WCDMA 
                 1000 
               
               
                   
                 HAP 
               
               
                   
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       FIG. 13  is a signaling diagram illustrating an extension of  FIG. 12  to implement the HLR-based configuration for informing the SEGW  14  of different User types. A new “User type” indication  91  is created in the HSS/HLR  26  and returned to the AAA server  25  together with the security information in step  10 . The “User Type” indication  91  may be based on an individual IMSI or on an associated IMSI number series. Methods of creating the User-type indication other than variations of the IMSI-number series are also possible. The AAA server then returns the “User type” information to the SEGW in step  17  and the SEGW utilizes this information to differentiate between different user types. 
       FIG. 14  is a signaling diagram illustrating an extension of  FIG. 12  to implement the AAA-based configuration for informing the SEGW  14  of different User types. In this embodiment, the new “User type” indication  91  is created in the AAA server  25  rather than the HLR/HSS  26 . Again, the User type indication may be based on an individual IMSI or an associated IMSI number series, although other methods of creating the User-type indication are also possible. The AAA server then returns the “User type” information to the SEGW in step  17  and the SEGW utilizes this information to differentiate between different user types. 
     In the embodiment utilizing an SEGW-based configuration, the new “User type” indication  91  is created in the SEGW  14  and, again, may be based on an individual IMSI or an IMSI number series. The SEGW utilizes this information to differentiate between different user types. One drawback with this approach would be the required O&amp;M. Typically a number of (distributed) SEGWs would exist, and all of them would need to be configured with user-type information associated with different IMSIs or IMSI number series and kept updated. 
       FIG. 15  is a signaling diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention for providing User-type information to the GANC  13 .  FIG. 15  is a signaling diagram illustrating an extension of the GAN Registration procedure of  FIG. 3  to implement the embodiment in which the SEGW  14  provides the User-type information to the GANC. At step  93 , the SEGW obtains the User-type indication  91  through one of the embodiments above. At step  94 , the SEGW provides the User-type information to the GANC. The GANC then utilizes this information to differentiate between different user types. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the new “User type” indication  91  is created in the GANC  13  and, again, may be based on an individual IMSI or an IMSI number series. The GANC utilizes this information to differentiate between different user types. One drawback with this approach would be the required O&amp;M. Typically a number of GANCs would exist, and all of them would need to be configured with user-type information associated with different IMSIs or IMSI number series and kept updated. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the new “User type” indication is created in a GAN database that is accessible from the GANC  13 . The GANC queries the GAN database during the GAN registration procedure of  FIG. 3 . Again, the User-type information may be based on an individual IMSI or an associated IMSI number series. The GANC then utilizes this information to differentiate between different user types. 
     Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, although the exemplary embodiments described herein utilized the GAN-GSM-Femto access network of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the invention may also be implemented utilizing the GAN-WCDMA-Femto access network of  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The specification contemplates any and all modifications that fall within the scope of the invention defined by the following claims.

Technology Category: 5