Controlling wireless local area network access

An apparatus configured to operate as a wireless access controller (WAC) of a wireless access network (WAN), wherein a plurality of user equipment (UEs) are connected to the WAN, the apparatus comprising:

• a database unit configured to monitor resource usage of the WAN by each user equipment (UE) of the plurality of UEs and maintain a database of resource usage by each UE;
• a transceiver configured to communicate with a gateway between the WAN and a telecommunications network;
• and
• a resource request processor configured to:
• receive, via the transceiver, a resource request from the gateway between the WAN and the telecommunications network, the resource request identifying a UE of the plurality of UEs and indicating a required change in resource usage for the UE;
• and
• determine whether the WAN is capable of accommodating the required change in resource usage for the UE based on available resources of the WAN;
• if the required change in resource usage is not possible by the WAN:
• send in response to the resource request, via the transceiver, a resource response to the gateway indicating that the required change in resource usage is not possible, in order for the gateway to respond to a bearer request that the bearer request cannot be fulfilled;
• if the required change in resource usage is possible by the WAN:
• cause the database unit to update database records for resource usage by the UE to accommodate the required change in resource usage;
• and
• send in response to the resource request, via the transceiver, a resource response to the gateway indicating that the required change in resource usage is possible, in order for the gateway to respond to the bearer request that the bearer request can be fulfilled.

An apparatus configured to operate as a gateway between a wireless access network (WAN) and a telecommunications network, wherein the WAN configures a plurality of user equipment (UEs) for operation in the WAN, the apparatus comprising:

• a first transceiver configured to communicate with a wireless access controller (WAC) of the WAN, wherein the WAC monitors resource usage of the WAN by each user equipment (UE) of the plurality of UEs and maintains a database of resource usage by each UE;
• a second transceiver configured to communicate with a node of the telecommunications network;
• and
• a bearer request processor configured to:
• receive, via the second transceiver, from the node of the telecommunications network, a bearer request, the bearer request being a request to create, modify, or terminate a bearer associated with a UE of the plurality of UEs;
• send in response to the bearer request, via the first transceiver, a status request to the WAC regarding the WAN;
• receive, via the first transceiver a status response from the WAC in reply to the status request, the status response indicating at least one of available resources of the WAN and current resource usage in the WAN by the plurality of UEs;
• determine, based on the status response, whether the WAN can accommodate a required change in resource usage to create, modify, or terminate the bearer associated with a UE to fulfil the bearer request;
• and
• send, via the second transceiver, a bearer response to the node of the telecommunications network indicating whether or not it is possible to fulfil the bearer request based on the request for the required change in the resource usage in the WAN.

A method in a gateway between a wireless access network (WAN) and a telecommunications network, wherein the WAN configures a plurality of user equipment (UEs) for operation in the WAN, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a node of the telecommunications network, a bearer request, the bearer request containing any one of a request to create, modify, or terminate a bearer associated with a user equipment (UE) of the plurality of UEs;
• sending, in response to the bearer request, a resource request to a wireless access controller (WAC) of the WAN, the resource request identifying the UE and indicating a required change in resource usage for the UE in order to fulfil the bearer request, wherein the WAC monitors resource usage of the WAN by each user equipment (UE) of the plurality of UEs and maintains a database of resource usage by each UE;
• receiving a resource response from the WAC, wherein the resource response is a reply to the resource request, and when the WAN is capable of accommodating the required change in the resource usage for the UE based on available resources of the WAN, the WAC updates the database of the resource usage with the required change and indicates accommodation of the required change in the resource response;
• and
• sending a bearer response to the node of the telecommunications network, wherein the bearer response is generated from the resource response to indicate whether or not it is possible to fulfil the bearer request based on the request for the required change.

A method in a wireless access controller (WAC) of a wireless access network (WAN), wherein a plurality of user equipment (UEs) are connected to the WAN, the method comprising:

• monitoring resource usage of the WAN by each user equipment (UE) of the plurality of UEs;
• maintaining a database of resource usage by each of the UEs;
• receiving a resource request from a gateway between the WAN and a telecommunications network, the resource request identifying a UE of the plurality of UEs and indicating a required change in resource usage for the UE;
• and
• determining whether the WAN is capable of accommodating the required change in resource usage for the UE based on available resources of the WAN;
• if the required change in resource usage is not possible by the WAN:
• sending, in response to the resource request, a resource response to the gateway indicating that the required change in resource usage is not possible, in order for the gateway to respond to a bearer request that the bearer request cannot be fulfilled;
• if the required change in resource usage is possible by the WAN:
• updating database records for resource usage by the UE to accommodate the required change in resource usage;
• and
• sending, in response to the resource request, a resource response to the gateway indicating that the required change in resource usage is possible, in order for the gateway to respond to the bearer request that the bearer request can be fulfilled.

A method in a gateway between a wireless access network (WAN) and a telecommunications network, wherein the WAN configures a plurality of user equipment (UEs) for operation in the WAN, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a node of the telecommunications network, a bearer request, the bearer request containing any one of a request to create, modify, or terminate a bearer associated with a user equipment (UE) of the plurality of UEs;
• sending, in response to the bearer request, a status request to a wireless access controller (WAC) of the WAN, wherein the WAC monitors resource usage of the WAN by each user equipment (UE) of the plurality of UEs and maintains a database of resource usage by each UE;
• receiving a status response from the WAC in reply to the status request, the status response indicating at least one of available resources of the WAN and current resource usage in the WAN by the plurality of UEs;
• determining, based on the status response, whether the WAN can accommodate a required change in resource usage to create, modify, or terminate the bearer associated with a UE to fulfil the bearer request;
• and
• sending a bearer response to the node of the telecommunications network indicating whether or not it is possible to fulfil the bearer request based on the request for the required change in the resource usage in the WAN.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing computer readable code which, when run on an apparatus of a gateway between a wireless access network (WAN) and a telecommunications network, where the WAN configures a plurality of user equipment (UEs) for operation in the WAN, causes the gateway to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, from a node of the telecommunications network, a bearer request, the bearer request containing any one of a request to create, modify, or terminate a bearer associated with a user equipment (UE) of the plurality of UEs;
• sending, in response to the bearer request, a resource request to a wireless access controller (WAC) of the WAN, the resource request identifying the UE and indicating a required change in resource usage for the UE in order to fulfil the bearer request, wherein the WAC monitors resource usage of the WAN by each user equipment (UE) of the plurality of UEs and maintains a database of resource usage by each UE;
• receiving a resource response from the WAC wherein the resource response is a reply to the resource request, and when the WAN is capable of accommodating the required change in the resource usage for the UE based on available resources of the WAN, the WAC updates the database of the resource usage with the required change and indicates accommodation of the required change in the resource response;
• and
• sending a bearer response to the node of the telecommunications network, wherein the bearer response is generated from the resource response to indicate whether or not it is possible to fulfil the bearer request based on the request for the required change.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing computer readable code which, when run on an apparatus of a wireless access controller (WAC) of a wireless access network (WAN), where a plurality of user equipment (UEs) are connected to the WAN, causes the WAC to perform operations comprising:

• monitoring resource usage of the WAN by each user equipment (UE) of the plurality of UEs;
• maintaining a database of resource usage by each of the UEs;
• receiving a resource request from a gateway between the WAN and a telecommunications network, the resource request identifying a UE of the plurality of UEs and indicating a required change in resource usage for the UE;
• and
• determining whether the WAN is capable of accommodating the required change in resource usage for the UE based on available resources of the WAN;
• if the required change in resource usage is not possible by the WAN:
• sending, in response to the resource request, a resource response to the gateway indicating that the required change in resource usage is not possible, in order for the gateway to respond to a bearer request that the bearer request cannot be fulfilled;
• if the required change in resource usage is possible by the WAN:
• updating database records for resource usage by the UE to accommodate the required change in resource usage;
• and
• sending, in response to the resource request, a resource response to the gateway indicating that the required change in resource usage is possible, in order for the gateway to respond to the bearer request that the bearer request can be fulfilled.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing computer readable code which, when run on an apparatus of a gateway between a wireless access network (WAN) and a telecommunications network, where the WAN configures a plurality of user equipment (UEs) for operation in the WAN, causes the gateway to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, from a node of the telecommunications network, a bearer request, the bearer request containing any one of a request to create, modify, or terminate a bearer associated with a user equipment (UE) of the plurality of UEs;
• sending, in response to the bearer request, a status request to a wireless access controller (WAC) of the WAN, wherein the WAC monitors resource usage of the WAN by each user equipment (UE) of the plurality of UEs and maintains a database of resource usage by each UE;
• receiving a status response from the WAC in reply to the status request, the status response indicating at least one of available resources of the WAN and current resource usage in the WAN by the plurality of UEs;
• determining, based on the status response, whether the WAN can accommodate a required change in resource usage to create, modify, or terminate the bearer associated with a UE to fulfil the bearer request;
• and
• sending a bearer response to the node of the telecommunications network indicating whether or not it is possible to fulfil the bearer request based on the request for the required change in the resource usage in the WAN.