Virtual operator based AAA in wireless LAN hot spots with ad-hoc networking support

Abstract

Sound and effective authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) schemes for convenient and secure mobile wireless accesses are of great importance given the increased popularity and business opportunities in public wireless LAN hot spots. One possible scheme, which uses the mobile users' service providers as the single point of contact for all AAA transactions, is emerging as a very promising solution. We refer to such service providers as "virtual operators". In this paper, we discuss various existing virtual operator AAA solutions and present our solution that is entirely based on IP. By converging both the AAA process and data transmission at the IP layer, our solution is extremely flexible and extensible. Compared with existing solutions, it works across multiple air interfaces and is interoperable with wireless LAN cards from different vendors. Further, it supports the scenario where access points use intermediate mobile terminals and ad-hoc networking to extend their service coverage. Service credits can be properly assigned to these intermediate terminals as incentives for providing relay services. Our solution is especially useful for a public access LAN environment where multiple wireless access technologies, a diverse set of wireless products and different types of wireless operators may coexist to provide mobile users with convenient and comprehensive wireless access solutions.