System and apparatus for converging WiMAX and WiFi networks

A system for converging Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) networks, comprising:

• an interworking adaptor (IWA), wherein the IWA is capable of communicating with an access point (AP)/access controller (AC) of the WiFi network and also capable of communicating with an access service network gateway (ASN GW) of the WiMAX network, and the IWA is configured to perform access control on a terminal STA/MS accessing the ASN GW from the WiFi network,
• wherein the IWA is configured to receive an access authentication message from the AP/AC, wherein the access authentication message carries identity information of the terminal STA/MS;
• and forward the access authentication message and the identity information of the STA/MS carried in the access authentication message to the ASN GW;
• and
• the ASN GW is configured to forward the access authentication message and the identity information of the STA/MS carried in the access authentication message to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server, so that the AAA server performs access authentication on the STA/MS, and the IWA is further configured to receive an access authentication response message from the ASN GW, and forward the access authentication response message to the AP/AC.

A network convergence apparatus, comprising:

• a first transceiver module, configured to receive an access authentication message from an access point (AP)/access controller (AC) of a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) network, wherein the access authentication message carries identity information of a terminal STA/MS;
• a second transceiver module, configured to forward the access authentication message received by the first transceiver module and the identity information of the STA/MS carried in the access authentication message to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server in a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network, and receive an access authentication response message from the AAA server;
• and
• an access authentication request module, configured to send an access authentication request message to the AP/AC,
• wherein the first transceiver module is further configured to forward the access authentication response message received by the second transceiver module to the AP/AC.

A network convergence apparatus, comprising:

• a first transceiver module, configured to receive an access authentication message from an access point (AP)/access controller (AC) of a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) network, wherein the access authentication message carries identity information of a terminal STA/MS;
• a second transceiver module, configured to forward the access authentication message received by the first transceiver module and the identity information of the STA/MS carried in the access authentication message to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server in a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network, and receive an access authentication response message from the AAA server;
• an access authentication request module, configured to send an access authentication request message to the AP/AC, the first transceiver module is further configured to forward the access authentication response message received by the second transceiver module to the AP/AC;
• and
• a MIP registration module, configured to forward an MIP registration request to a home agent (HA) in the WiMax network through the second transceiver module according to a MIP registration request received by the first transceiver module,
• wherein the second transceiver module is further configured to receive a MIP registration response from the HA;
• and
• the MIP registration module is further configured to establish, according to the MIP registration response received by the second transceiver module, a MIP tunnel between the MIP registration module and the HA when the MIP registration is successful.