Mobile network operator (mno) control of wifi qos via eap/diameter

Abstract

A mobile network operator (MNO) may control WiFi QoS. 3GPP has specified control mechanisms for various levels of quality of service (QoS) over the cellular access and core network. Embodiments described herein provide differentiation of WiFi QoS based on MNO requirements. In particular, extensible authentication protocol (EAP) and diameter messages may be extended to include a wireless local area network QoS parameter. This may be used by user equipment to set the uplink 802.11e User Priority (UP) for offloaded or evolved packet core-routed WiFi traffic.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory coupled with the processor, the apparatus further comprising communications circuitry in communication with a first and second server, the memory having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to effectuate operations comprising:
 receiving, from the first server, a policy, the policy being a wireless local area network (WLAN) quality of service (QoS) policy for the apparatus, the policy being provided by the first server based at least in part upon one or more of an identified traffic flow of messages between the apparatus and the second server on an access network, an identity of the access network, and an identity of the apparatus; and   receiving one or more traffic flows in accordance with the policy,   wherein the first server is a wireless access network server, and the second server is a 3GPP server.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the WLAN QoS policy is specific to the apparatus based on subscriber information associated with the apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first server is a trusted wireless access network server, and the second server is a 3GPP AAA server. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , the operations further comprising setting a user priority for WLAN uplink traffic flows in accordance with the WLAN QoS policy. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the policy comprises a non-seamless WLAN offload (NSWO) indication and the apparatus further offloads traffic in accordance with the policy. 
     
     
         6 . A method for a user equipment (UE) comprising:
 receiving, from a first server, a policy, the policy being a wireless local area network (WLAN) quality of service (QoS) policy for the apparatus, the policy being provided by the first server based at least in part upon one or more of an identified traffic flow of messages between the apparatus and a second server on an access network, an identity of the access network, and an identity of the apparatus; and   receiving one or more traffic flows in accordance with the policy,   wherein the first server is a wireless access network server, and the second server is a 3GPP server.   
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the WLAN QoS policy is specific to the UE based on subscriber information associated with the UE. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the first server is a trusted wireless access network server, and the second server is a 3GPP AAA server. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 6  further comprising setting a user priority for WLAN uplink traffic flows in accordance with the WLAN QoS policy. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the policy comprises a non-seamless WLAN offload (NSWO) indication and the apparatus further offloads traffic in accordance with the policy. 
     
     
         11 . A method for a network system, the network system is configured to communicate with a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:
 transmitting, from a first server to the UE, a policy, the policy being a wireless local area network (WLAN) quality of service (QoS) policy for the apparatus, the policy being provided by the first server based at least in part upon one or more of an identified traffic flow of messages between the apparatus and a second server on an access network, an identity of the access network, and an identity of the apparatus; and   receiving one or more traffic flows in accordance with the policy,   wherein the first server is a wireless access network server, and the second server is a 3GPP server.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the WLAN QoS policy is specific to the UE based on subscriber information associated with the UE. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the first server is a trusted wireless access network server, and the second server is a 3GPP AAA server. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the policy comprises a non-seamless WLAN offload (NSWO) indication and the apparatus further offloads traffic in accordance with the policy.