SECURE ACCESS METHOD, AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUS, FOR ACCESSING A PRIVATE DATA COMMUNICATION NETWORK

摘要

A method (152), and associated apparatus (10), for accessing a private IP network (14) with a wireless host (32) by way of a wireless access network (52). Once authenticated and permitted access to the private IP network (14), the wireless host (32) becomes a virtual host of the private IP network (14). A wireless host identifier (WHI) is used to identify the wireless host (32). Permission to communicate by way of wireless access network (52) is confirmed by an authentication procedure (162). The WHI is thereafter provided to the private IP network (14). If the WHI is of a selected value, permission to access the private IP network (14) is granted. An IP address used to address data to the wireless host (32) is allocated by the private IP network (14) once access to the private IP network (14) is granted.