Predictive roaming between subnets

• US 10,064,105 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aerohive Networks Incorporated (Extreme Networks, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Changming, Kang, Yong, Zeng, Jianlin, Reddy, Sreekanth
• Primary Examiner(s): Faroul, Farah
• Application Number:
  US15/412,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20170134991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/088 among core entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0016 Hand-off preparation specially adapted for end-to-end data sessions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0061 of neighbour cell information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/008375 based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/087 for preserving data network PoA address despite hand-offs
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A network device of a subnet determines predictive roaming information for a wireless client. Predictive roaming information can identify the wireless client and a home network subnet of the wireless client. The network device provides predictive roaming information associated with a wireless client to neighboring subnets. Neighboring subnets store received predictive roaming information, and use the predictive roaming information if the wireless client roams to them.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving at a first wireless access point predictive roaming information indicating a home subnet uniquely associated with a first wireless client from the home subnet, when the first wireless client is connected with a second wireless access point of the home subnet;

detecting at the first wireless access point a new wireless client attempting to access network services through the first wireless access point;

determining if the new wireless client is the first wireless client using the predictive roaming information;

if it is determined the new wireless client is the first wireless client using the predictive roaming information;

determining if the first wireless access point is in the home subnet using the predictive roaming information;

if it is determined the first wireless access point is out of the home subnet;

establishing a tunnel from the first wireless access point to a home agent in the home subnet;

using the tunnel to the home agent in the home subnet to provide the first wireless client access to the network services through the first wireless access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tunnel is established as part of layer 2 routing.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if it is determined the new wireless client is not the first wireless client;

determining if a connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is idle;

if it is determined the connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is idle, assigning a new IP address to the new wireless client in a subnet associated with the first wireless access point.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if it is determined the new wireless client is not the first wireless client;

determining if a connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is idle;

if it is determined the connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is active;

detecting a neighboring wireless access point to the first wireless access point;

sending home agent information indicating an association of the new wireless client to a home agent of a subnet associated with the first wireless access point to the neighboring wireless access point.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if it is determined the new wireless client is not the first wireless client;

determining if a connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is idle;

if it is determined the connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is active;

detecting a neighboring wireless access point to the first wireless access point;

sending home agent information indicating an association of the new wireless client to a home agent of a subnet associated with the first wireless access point to the neighboring wireless access point, wherein the neighboring wireless access point is associated with the subnet associated with the first wireless access point.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if it is determined the new wireless client is not the first wireless client;

determining if a connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is idle;

if it is determined the connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is active;

detecting a neighboring wireless access point to the first wireless access point;

sending home agent information indicating an association of the new wireless client to a home agent of a subnet associated with the first wireless access point to the neighboring wireless access point, wherein the neighboring wireless access point is associated with a different subnet from the subnet associated with the first wireless access point.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predictive roaming information includes connection information used to provide the first wireless client access to the network services.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the predictive roaming information is cached at the first wireless access point.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at the first wireless access point home agent information of the home agent in the home subnet uniquely associated with the first wireless client;

using the home agent information to establish the tunnel to the home agent in the home subnet.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the tunnel to the home agent in the home subnet uniquely associated with the first wireless client is established through a home agent of a subnet associated with the first wireless access point.

11. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory storing applications, when executed by the one or more processors, configured to cause the one or more processors to;

receive at a first wireless access point predictive roaming information indicating a home subnet uniquely associated with a first wireless client from the home subnet, when the first wireless client is connected with a second wireless access point of the home subnet;

detect at the first wireless access point a new wireless client attempting to access network services through the first wireless access point;

determine if the new wireless client is the first wireless client using the predictive roaming information;

determine if the first wireless access point is in the home subnet using the predictive roaming information if it is determined the new wireless client is the first wireless client using the predictive roaming information;

establish a tunnel from the first wireless access point to a home agent in the home subnet if it is determined the first wireless access point is out of the home subnet;

use the tunnel to the home agent in the home subnet to provide the first wireless client access to the network services through the first wireless access point.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the tunnel is established as part of layer 2 routing.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the applications are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

determine if a connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is idle if it is determined the new wireless client is not the first wireless client;

assign a new IP address to the new wireless client in a subnet associated with the first wireless access point if it is determined the connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is idle.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the applications are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

determine if a connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is idle if it is determined the new wireless client is not the first wireless client;

detect a neighboring wireless access point to the first wireless access point if it is determined the connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is active;

send home agent information indicating an association of the new wireless client to a home agent of a subnet associated with the first wireless access point to the neighboring wireless access point if it is determined the connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is active.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the applications are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

determine if a connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is idle if it is determined the new wireless client is not the first wireless client;

detect a neighboring wireless access point to the first wireless access point if it is determined the connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is active;

send home agent information indicating an association of the new wireless client to a home agent of a subnet associated with the first wireless access point to the neighboring wireless access point, wherein the neighboring wireless access point is associated with the subnet associated with the first wireless access point if it is determined the connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is active.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the applications are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

determine if a connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is idle if it is determined the new wireless client is not the first wireless client;

detect a neighboring wireless access point to the first wireless access point, if it is determined the connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is active;

send home agent information indicating an association of the new wireless client to a home agent of a subnet associated with the first wireless access point to the neighboring wireless access point, wherein the neighboring wireless access point is associated with a different subnet from the subnet associated with the first wireless access point if it is determined the connection of the new wireless client to the first wireless access point is active.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the predictive roaming information includes connection information used to provide the first wireless client access to the network services.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the applications are further configured to cause the one or more processors to cache the predictive roaming information at the first wireless access point.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the applications are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

receive at the first wireless access point home agent information of the home agent in the home subnet uniquely associated with the first wireless client;

use the home agent information to establish the tunnel to the home agent in the home subnet.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the tunnel to the home agent in the home subnet uniquely associated with the first wireless client is established through a home agent of a subnet associated with the first wireless access point.