Node and method for providing authentication of a wireless device in a roaming state

1. A method, in a physical node located in a visiting wireless network, for providing authentication of a wireless device, the method comprising:

the physical node located in the visiting network receiving, from a base station of the visiting wireless network, an attach request for the wireless device, wherein the wireless device is in a roaming state within the visiting wireless network, said wireless device being registered to a home wireless network, and wherein the physical node comprises a virtual representation of a functionality of at least one core network node controlled by the home wireless network, said at least one core network node located in the home wireless network;

the physical node located in the visiting network authenticating an identity of the wireless device based on an authentication procedure of the home wireless network, wherein the authentication is controlled by the virtual representation of the functionality of the at least one core network node controlled by the home wireless network; and

if the identity of the wireless device is deemed to be authenticated, the physical node located in the visiting network sending, to the base station of the visiting network, a verification message, said verification message indicating an authenticity of the wireless device and further indicating roaming services, via the virtual representation of the functionality, to be applied to the wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one core network node comprises any node configured to provide authentication or identification of a wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one core network node comprises a Mobility Management Entity, MME, a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node, SGSN, a S4-SGSN, a Packet Data Network Gateway, PGW, a Serving Gateway, SGW, a Home Subscriber Server, HSS, and/or a Home Location Register, HLR.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical node is located within a Operational Support System, OSS, a Business Support System, BSS, a Management and Network Orchestration, MANO, and/or a Network Virtualization Functions Infrastructure, NVFI.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving data communications for and/or from the wireless device; and

handling the data communications according to the virtual representation of the functionality of the at least one core network node controlled by the home wireless network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual representation of the functionality is designated for use for an identified application and/or an identified type of data traffic.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a functionality required to carry out the received attach request or a subsequent communication request, is not present in the virtual representation;

accessing the required functionality from the home wireless network; and

implementing the required functionality within the physical node.

8. A physical node, located in a visiting wireless network, for providing authentication of a wireless device, the physical node comprising a processor and a memory, said memory comprising instructions executable by said processor whereby said physical node is operative to:

receive, from a base station of the visiting wireless network, an attach request for the wireless device, wherein the wireless device is in a roaming state within the visiting wireless network, said wireless device being registered to a home wireless network, and wherein the physical node comprises a virtual representation of a functionality of at least one core network node controlled by the home wireless network, said at least one core network node located in the home wireless network;

authenticate an identity of the wireless device based on an authentication procedure of the home wireless network, wherein the authentication is controlled by the virtual representation of the functionality of the at least one core network node controlled by the home wireless network; and

if the identity of the wireless device is deemed to be authenticated, send, to the base station of the visiting network, a verification message, said verification message indicating an authenticity of the wireless device and further indicating roaming services, via the virtual representation of the functionality, to be applied to the wireless device.

9. The node of claim 8 , wherein the at least one core network node comprises any node configured to provide authentication or identification of a wireless device.

10. The node of claim 8 , wherein the at least one core network node comprises a Mobility Management Entity, MME, a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node, SGSN, a S4-SGSN, a Packet Data Network Gateway, PGW, a Serving Gateway, SGW, a Home Subscriber Server, HSS, and/or a Home Location Register, HLR.

11. The node of claim 8 , wherein the physical node is located within a Operational Support System, OSS, a Business Support System, BSS, a Management and Network Orchestration, MANO, and/or a Network Virtualization Functions Infrastructure, NVFI.

12. The node of claim 8 , wherein the physical node is further operative to:

receive data communications for and/or from the wireless device; and

handle the data communications according to the virtual representation of the functionality of the at least one core network node controlled by the home wireless network.

13. The node of claim 8 , wherein the virtual representation of the functionality is designated for use for an identified application and/or an identified type of data traffic.

14. The node of claim 8 , wherein the node is further operative to:

determine a functionality required to carry out the received attach request or a subsequent communication request, is not present in the virtual representation;

access the required functionality from the home wireless network; and

implement the required functionality within the physical node.