Authentication Bridge Module for WiMax Interworking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smaller service providers face challenges in deploying WiMax infrastructure due to high deployment costs, and existing non-WiMax infrastructure is often incompatible with WiMax infrastructure, limiting their ability to offer WiMax access services to subscribers.
Innovation Solution
A bridge module is introduced to perform interworking between different authentication domains, allowing service providers to leverage existing non-WiMax infrastructure by performing a first authentication procedure in the WiMax domain and a second authentication procedure in the service provider domain, enabling WiMax access services without the need for expensive WiMax equipment deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If smaller service providers deploy WiMax infrastructure, then they can provide WiMax access services to subscribers, but the deployment cost becomes prohibitively high
Solution Approach 1:
An authentication bridge module is introduced as an intermediary component that enables interworking between WiMax authentication domain and non-WiMax authentication domains. The bridge module translates authentication messages between different domains, allowing service providers to leverage existing non-WiMax infrastructure while providing WiMax access services, thereby avoiding the need to deploy expensive WiMax-specific authentication infrastructure.
2Quantity of substance
If service providers use existing non-WiMax infrastructure, then deployment cost is reduced, but the infrastructure becomes incompatible with WiMax authentication domain
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication bridge module serves as a translator between incompatible authentication domains. It receives authentication requests from the WiMax authentication domain and forwards them to the non-WiMax authentication domain in a compatible format, and vice versa. This enables service providers to use their existing non-WiMax infrastructure while maintaining compatibility with WiMax authentication requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge module transforms authentication parameters and message formats between different authentication domains. It converts WiMax-specific authentication parameters into formats compatible with non-WiMax infrastructure, and vice versa, enabling interworking without requiring changes to the underlying non-WiMax infrastructure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a bridge module performs authentication procedures in both WiMax and service provider domains, then interworking between authentication domains is enabled, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system is segmented into distinct functional components: the WiMax authentication domain, the service provider authentication domain, and the bridge module. Each component maintains its own authentication logic and procedures, reducing the complexity burden on any single component. The bridge module only handles translation and coordination, keeping its complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
To interwork between a first authentication domain and a second authentication domain, a bridge module performs a first authentication procedure in the first authentication domain for a mobile station, wherein the first authentication domain is part of a wireless access network. Based on information collected in the first authentication procedure, the bridge module performs a second authentication procedure is performed, on behalf of the mobile station, in the second authentication domain.