# US 10,313,323 B2 · User equipment identity valid for heterogeneous networks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,313,323 B2 - Document ID: US10313323B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/504,044 - Filed: 2014-08-28 - Published: 2017-09-14 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-28 - Assignees: Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy - Applicants: Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy - Inventors: Mika Forssell; Jari Pekka Mustajarvi; Hans Thomas Hoehne; Subramanya Chandrashekar; Gyorgy Tamas Wolfner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10313323B2 ## CPC - H04L 63/0815: {providing single-sign-on or federations} - H04L 63/0281: {Proxies} - H04L 63/0892: {by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols} - H04W 8/26: Network addressing or numbering for mobility support - H04W 12/069: using certificates or pre-shared keys - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method and apparatus may be configured to determine a network identity that is valid for the first network and a second network. The method may also include assigning the network identity to a user equipment. The method may also providing the network identity to one of the second network and a user equipment. The first network and the second network may be based on different technologies. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: determining, by a network node of a first network, a network identity that is valid for the first network and a second network; assigning the network identity to a user equipment, wherein the network identity is configured to identify the network identity as corresponding to a temporary offload identifier for authorizing offloading; and providing the network identity to at least one node of the second network and the user equipment, wherein the first network and the second network are based on different technologies. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first network corresponds to a Radio-Access-Network, and the second network corresponds to a Wireless-Local- Area-Network. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the assigning the network identity to the user equipment comprises assigning the identity when the user equipment associates with the first network or the second network after inactivity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising releasing the network identity from the user equipment after the user equipment detaches from the first network and the second network. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the network identity is configured in a way that it can be identified by the second network or the user equipment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the network identity comprises routing information. ### Claim 7 An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor, and at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code, the at least one non-transitory memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: determine a network identity that is valid for a first network and a second network; assign the network identity to a user equipment; wherein the network identity is configured to identify the network identity as corresponding to a temporary offload identifier for authorizing offloading; and provide the network identity to at least one node of the second network and the user equipment, wherein the first network and the second network are based on different technologies. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus comprises one of a home- service- subscriber or a node of a Radio-Access-Network. ### Claim 9 A method, comprising: receiving, by a user equipment, an assigned network identity, wherein the network identity is configured to identify the network identity as corresponding to a temporary offload identifier for authorizing offloading, wherein the network identity originates from a first network and is valid for the first network and a second network, and the first network and the second network are based on different technologies; and providing, by the user equipment, the network identity to the second network. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising determining, by the user equipment, that network traffic of the user equipment is to be offloaded from the first network to the second network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising offloading the network traffic of the user equipment to the second network after the second network authorizes offloading. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the first network corresponds to a Radio-Access-Network, and the second network corresponds to a Wireless-Local- Area- Network. ### Claim 13 An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor, and at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code, the at least one non-transitory memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receive an assigned network identity, wherein the network identity is configured to identify the network identity as corresponding to a temporary offload identifier for authorizing offloading, wherein the network identity originates from a first network and is valid for the first network and a second network and the first network and the second network are based on different technologies; and provide the network identity to the second network. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a user equipment. ### Claim 15 A computer program product, embodied on a non- transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product configured to control a processor to perform a process comprising: receiving, by a user equipment, an assigned network identity, wherein the network identity is configured to identify the network identity as corresponding to a temporary offload identifier for authorizing offloading, wherein the network identity originates from a first network and is valid for the first network and a second network, and the first network and the second network are based on different technologies; and providing, by the user equipment, the network identity to the second network. ### Claim 16 A method, comprising: receiving, by a network node, a network identity, wherein the network identity is configured to identify the network identity as corresponding to a temporary offload identifier for authorizing offloading, wherein a user equipment is associated with a first network, and the network node corresponds to a node of a second network, the network identity is valid for the first network and the second network, and the first network and the second network are based on different technologies. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the method further comprises determining whether the user equipment is authorized to offload traffic from the first network to the second network. ### Claim 18 An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor, and at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code, the at least one non-transitory memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receive a network identity, wherein the network identity is configured to identify the network identity as corresponding to a temporary offload identifier for authorizing offloading, wherein a user equipment is associated with a first network, and the apparatus corresponds to a node of a second network, the network identity is valid for the first network and the second network, and the first network and the second network are based on different technologies.