System and method for service provider specific remote access via neutral host networks

Abstract

Present systems and methods provide ways to provide access services to connecting wireless devices particularly for (but not limited to) neutral host networks. Steps include executing authentication between a connecting wireless device and a service provider, receiving an address of a remote gateway from the service provider, and providing access service for the wireless device including forwarding data received from the wireless device to the indicated remote gateway address in forwarding wireless device associated data received from the remote gateway address to the wireless device. Other ways are also disclosed.

1 . A method for using a Neutral Host Network (NHN) to provide access services to connecting Wireless Devices (WD), comprising:
 in a NHN, executing authentication between a connecting WD and a Service Provider (SP);   receiving an address of a remote gateway (RG) from the SP;   providing access service for the WD including forwarding data received from the WD to the indicated RG address; and   forwarding WD associated data received from the RG address to the WD.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the NHN utilizes at least one of MulteFire, LTE, and 5G radio technology. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the forwarding steps includes IP forwarding. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the NHN applies a network tunnel to the RG. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SP is a participating service provider (PSP). 
     
     
         6 . The network of  claim 5 , wherein the SP provides at least one of an online sign-up (OSU) service and an Internet of things (JOT) service. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing access service includes providing a service for at least one of an OSU service and an TOT service. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving information about the RG from the SP, and forwarding an indication of the information to the WD, wherein the received information includes at least one of the address of the RG and instructions about authentication of the WD towards the RG. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the NHN utilizes at least one of MulteFire, LTE, and 5G radio technology; and   the NHN applies a network tunnel to the RG.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the forwarding steps includes IP forwarding;   the SP is a participating service provider (PSP);   the SP provides at least one of an online sign-up (OSU) service and an Internet of things (IOT) service; and   the providing access service includes providing a service for at least one of an OSU service and an IOT service.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the forwarding steps includes IP forwarding; and   the providing access service includes providing a service for at least one of an OSU service and an IOT service.   
     
     
         12 . A method for a service provider (SP) to provide access services via a neutral host network (NHN), comprising:
 in a first authenticating step, authenticating a connecting Wireless Device (WD) via an NHN, the WD connecting for access service, the first authentication constituting an access authentication;   providing an address of a remote gateway (RG) to the NHN; and   receiving and transmitting data with the WD via the NHN and via the RG.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the authentication is based on a device certificate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, in a second authenticating step, authenticating the WD via the RG for a RG session authentication, wherein the second authentication authenticates the UE with the SP such that the SP can associate data transmitted through the RG with the appropriate UE. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the RG is associated with a tunnel connection between the UE and the SP, and wherein the tunnel is shared. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first authentication is performed via a AAA server associated with the SP, and wherein the first authentication grants access to the NHN by the WD. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising detecting misuse of the RG based access service by an authenticated WD and transmitting a signal to the NHN to disconnect the WD from the NHN. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the NHN utilizes at least one of MulteFire, LTE, and 5G radio technology;   the SP is a participating service provider (PSP);   the SP provides at least one of an online sign-up (OSU) service and an Internet of things (IOT) the providing access service includes providing a service for at least one of an OSU service and an IOT service.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising, in a second authenticating step, authenticating the WD via the RG for a RG session authentication, wherein the second authentication authenticates the UE with the SP such that the SP can associate data transmitted through the RG with the appropriate UE.