EAP Authentication Attach Type Indicator for Network Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless networks fail to seamlessly interwork when a wireless device moves between different types of networks, such as 3GPP and WiMax, leading to service interruptions and performance impacts on user equipment and networks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that uses an EAP authentication request with an attach type indicator to differentiate between initial network attachments and handovers, allowing for seamless interworking between 3GPP and WiMax networks by modifying the Network Access Identifier (NAI) format to include an 'Attach Type' attribute, which informs the gateway whether the request is for a new connection or a handover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wireless networks are used without attach type indication, then the network authentication process is simple, but service interruptions occur when wireless devices move between different network types
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication protocol is segmented by introducing an attach type indicator that divides authentication scenarios into initial attachment and handover cases. This segmentation allows the network to apply different handling procedures for each case, ensuring service continuity during handovers while maintaining standard authentication for initial attachments.
Solution Approach 2:
The attach type indicator is embedded in the EAP authentication request message in advance, allowing the gateway to pre-determine the appropriate authentication handling procedure. This preliminary indication prevents service interruptions by enabling the network to prepare for handover scenarios before the actual handover occurs.
2Productivity
If network interworking between 3GPP and WiMax is implemented without attach type differentiation, then the authentication process remains uniform, but handover performance deteriorates with service interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The unified authentication protocol is segmented by introducing an attach type indicator that distinguishes between initial attachment and handover scenarios. This allows the system to optimize handover efficiency by applying specific handling procedures for handover cases while maintaining the overall uniformity of the EAP authentication framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The EAP authentication request message parameters are modified by adding an attach type indicator field. This parameter change enables the gateway to differentiate between initial attachment and handover requests, thereby improving handover efficiency without fundamentally changing the authentication mechanism.
3Reliability
If the EAP authentication request is modified to include attach type indicator, then service continuity during handover is improved, but the authentication message format becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication message is segmented by adding a specific attach type indicator field to the EAP request. This segmentation provides clear information about the authentication scenario type without significantly complicating the overall message format, as the indicator is a distinct field within the existing EAP framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The attach type information is preliminarily embedded in the authentication request message, allowing the gateway to immediately determine the appropriate handling procedure. This preliminary inclusion of information prevents the need for additional signaling messages, thereby maintaining message format simplicity while improving service continuity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for interworking between two different networks are presented. In one embodiment, a method for wireless communication includes requesting a network access from an access point of a first network, and transmitting an EAP authentication request from the access point to a user end. An EAP authentication request response is sent from the user end to the access point. The EAP authentication request response includes an attach type indicator that indicates to a gateway associated with the access point whether the attach request is an initial attachment or a handover from a second network.