Capability exchange during an authentication process for an access terminal

摘要

In one embodiment, during an authentication process between a network device and an access terminal, an authentication message for access to the network is received. The network device is configured to allow access to an IP network. The network device determines one or more capabilities of the access terminal from the authentication message. An action is then performed based on the one or more capabilities of the access terminal. The action may include using the capabilities to set up a session with the access terminal. Also, the network device may send its own capabilities to the access terminal in an authentication response. Accordingly, a capability negotiation between the access terminal and network device may be provided during an authentication process. This may facilitate a faster session setup as capabilities are exchanged during authentication can be used in the configuration of the session.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving at a network element located between an access terminal and a network an authentication request from the access terminal, the authentication request comprising a request to authenticate the access terminal to the network and including an indication of capabilities of the access terminal, wherein the access terminal capabilities comprise robust header compression (ROHC) capabilities; sending an authentication response to the access terminal in response to the authentication request, the authentication response including an indication of network capabilities of the network element; and configuring a session between the network element and with the access terminal using the indication of access terminal ROHC capabilities and the network capabilities exchanged during authentication of the access terminal to the network.