Methods and systems for enabling seamless roaming of mobile devices among wireless networks
First Claim
1. A method for enabling a mobile device to roam among access points in a wireless local area network, the mobile device capable of communicating with the access points, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
- establishing a secure connection from the mobile device through an initial access point to an initial gateway server;
providing connection information to a target gateway server from the initial gateway server about the secure connection, based on a triggering event that initiates a transfer of the mobile device from the initial access point to a target access point associated with the target gateway server; and
receiving the connection information at the target gateway server to maintain the secure connection from the mobile device through the target access point back to the initial gateway server.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile device roams between homogenous or heterogenous wireless networks while maintaining a communication connection with a home network server for the mobile device. A gateway system for a wireless local area network (WLAN) includes gateway servers and manages roaming of a mobile device between homogenous wireless networks. The gateway system maintains a secure connection to a home gateway server for the mobile device while the mobile device roams between homogenous WLAN'"'"'s. A network gateway manages roaming of a mobile device between heterogenous network systems. The network gateway obtains an access identifier from another heterogenous network system so the mobile device can roam to the other heterogenous network system while maintaining its connection to the home network gateway for the mobile device.
537 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for enabling a mobile device to roam among access points in a wireless local area network, the mobile device capable of communicating with the access points, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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establishing a secure connection from the mobile device through an initial access point to an initial gateway server;
providing connection information to a target gateway server from the initial gateway server about the secure connection, based on a triggering event that initiates a transfer of the mobile device from the initial access point to a target access point associated with the target gateway server; and
receiving the connection information at the target gateway server to maintain the secure connection from the mobile device through the target access point back to the initial gateway server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A gateway system for enabling a mobile device to roam among access points in a wireless local area network, the mobile device capable of communicating with the access points, the gateway system comprising:
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an initial gateway server, and a target gateway server in communication with the initial gateway server;
wherein;
the initial gateway server establishes a secure connection from the mobile device through an initial access;
the initial gateway server provides connection information to the target gateway server about the secure connection, based on a triggering event that initiates a transfer of the mobile device from the initial access point to a target access point associated with the target gateway server; and
the target gateway server receives the connection information to maintain the secure connection from the mobile device through the target access point back to the initial gateway server. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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17. A computer program product that includes a computer usable medium having computer program instructions stored thereon for enabling a mobile device to roam among access points in a wireless local area network, the mobile device capable of communicating with the access points, such that the computer program instructions, when performed by a digital processor, cause the digital processor to:
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establish a secure connection from the mobile device through an initial access point to an initial gateway server;
provide connection information to a target gateway server from the initial gateway server about the secure connection, based on a triggering event that initiates a transfer of the mobile device from the initial access point to a target access point associated with the target gateway server; and
receive the connection information at the target gateway server to maintain the secure connection from the mobile device through the target access point back to the initial gateway server.
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18. A method for enabling a mobile device to roam between a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the first wireless network substantially heterogeneous with the second wireless network, both the first wireless network and the second wireless network capable of communicating with an intermediary network, and the mobile device capable of accessing the first wireless network and the second wireless network, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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receiving a request at the first wireless network to access the second wireless network, the request being on behalf of the mobile device and indicating a network system specifying the second wireless network;
through the intermediary network, obtaining an access identifier for the second wireless network, the access identifier for use by the mobile device when accessing the second wireless network; and
providing the access identifier for the mobile device to use when accessing the second wireless network.
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25. A network gateway for enabling a mobile device to roam between a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the first wireless network substantially heterogeneous with the second wireless network, both the first wireless network and the second wireless network capable of communicating with an intermediary network, and the mobile device capable of accessing the first wireless network and the second wireless network, the network gateway comprising:
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a digital processor that hosts and executes a gateway application for receiving a request to access the second wireless network, the gateway application and the mobile device associated with the first wireless network, and a communications interface coupled with the gateway application, the gateway application configuring the digital processor to;
receive the request through the communication interface and the initial wireless network to access the second wireless network, the request being on behalf of the mobile device and indicating a network system specifying the second wireless network;
obtain through the communications interface and the intermediary network an access identifier for the second wireless network, the access identifier for use by the mobile device when accessing the second wireless network, and provide through the communications interface the access identifier to the mobile device to use when accessing the second wireless network.
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32. A computer program product that includes a computer usable medium having computer program instructions stored thereon for enabling a mobile device to roam between a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the first wireless network substantially heterogeneous with the second wireless network, both the first wireless network and the second wireless network capable of communicating with an intermediary network, and the mobile device capable of accessing the first wireless network and the second wireless network, such that the computer program instructions, when performed by a digital processor, cause the digital processor to:
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receive a request at the first wireless network to access the second wireless network, the request being on behalf of the mobile device and indicating a network system specifying the second wireless network;
through the intermediary network, obtain an access identifier for the second wireless network, the access identifier for use by the mobile device when accessing the second wireless network; and
provide the access identifier to the mobile device to use when accessing the second wireless network.
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Specification