Method and apparatus for enabling access to applications integrated with a visited network

1. A method comprising:

an application server receiving a request for service from a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) that is associated with a home network, wherein the home network comprises both a home subscriber server (HSS) and a bootstrapping server function (BSF), wherein the HSS and the BSF are communicatively coupled with one another via a Zh-type reference point;

the application server authenticating the WTRU at least in part by:

redirecting the WTRU to an identity provider (IDP) that is co-located with a network application function (NAF) (IDP/NAF), wherein the IDP/NAF and the BSF are communicatively coupled with one another via a Zn-type reference point; and

receiving an assertion from the WTRU that the IDP/NAF has authenticated the WTRU, wherein the assertion is based on user security settings retrieved from the BSF by the IDP/NAF over the Zn-type reference point; and

subsequent to authenticating the WTRU, the application server:

retrieving user-specific Sh-reference-point-type data from the HSS via the IDP/NAF over (i) the Zn-type reference point between the IDP/NAF and the BSF and (ii) the Zh-type reference point between the BSF and the HSS; and

providing the requested service to the WTRU based on the retrieved user-specific Sh-reference-point-type data.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identity provider is OpenID.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identity provider is Liberty Alliance.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the IDP/NAF is located in the home network.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the IDP/NAF is not located in the home network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the application server and the IDP/NAF are communicatively coupled with one another via a Single Sign On (SSO) reference point; and

the application server retrieving the user-specific Sh-reference-point-type data from the HSS via the IDP/NAF is further over the SSO reference point between the application server and the IDP/NAF.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Zh-type reference point is selected from the group consisting of a Zh reference point and an enhanced Zh (eZh) reference point.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Zn-type reference point is selected from the group consisting of a Zn reference point and an enhanced Zn (eZn) reference point.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the retrieved user security settings comprise application-specific user security settings.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the retrieved user-specific Sh-reference-point-type data comprises one or more of user-profile data, user-group-list data, user-service-related data, user-location data, and user-charging data.

11. An application server comprising:

a processor configured to:

receive a request for service from a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) that is associated with a home network, wherein the home network comprises both a home subscriber server (HSS) and a bootstrapping server function (BSF), wherein the HSS and the BSF are communicatively coupled with one another via a Zh-type reference point,

authenticate the WTRU at least in part by:

redirecting the WTRU to an identity provider (IDP) that is co-located with a network application function (NAF) (IDP/NAF), wherein the IDP/NAF and the BSF are communicatively coupled with one another via a Zn-type reference point, and

receiving an assertion from the WTRU that the IDP/NAF has authenticated the WTRU, wherein the assertion is based on user security settings retrieved from the BSF by the IDP/NAF over the Zn-type reference point, and

subsequent to authenticating the WTRU:

retrieve user-specific Sh-reference-point-type data from the HSS via the IDP/NAF over (i) the Zn-type reference point between the IDP/NAF and the BSF and (ii) the Zh-type reference point between the BSF and the HSS; and

provide the requested service to the WTRU based on the retrieved user-specific Sh-reference-point-type data.

12. The application server of claim 11 , wherein the identity provider is OpenID.

13. The application server of claim 11 , wherein the identity provider is Liberty Alliance.

14. The application server of claim 11 , wherein the IDP/NAF is located in the home network.

15. The application server of claim 11 , wherein the IDP/NAF is not located in the home network.

16. The application server of claim 11 , wherein:

the application server and the IDP/NAF are communicatively coupled with one another via a Single Sign On (SSO) reference point; and

the application server retrieving the user-specific Sh-reference-point-type data from the HSS via the OP/NAF is further over the SSO reference point between the application server and the OP/NAF.

17. The application server of claim 11 , wherein the Zh-type reference point is selected from the group consisting of a Zh reference point and an enhanced Zh (eZh) reference point.

18. The application server of claim 11 , wherein the Zn-type reference point is selected from the group consisting of a Zn reference point and an enhanced Zn (eZn) reference point.

19. The application server of claim 11 , wherein the retrieved user security settings comprise application-specific user security settings.

20. The application server of claim 11 , wherein the retrieved user-specific Sh-reference-point-type data comprises one or more of user-profile data, user-group-list data, user-service-related data, user-location data, and user-charging data.