Method and system for distributed roaming services for mobile users on wireless mesh networks

• US 20060234701A1
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Azalea Networks
• Inventors: Zhao, Fuyong, Wu, Fang, Wang, Xiao-Dong Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,711,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method and system for distributed roaming in a wireless mesh network are disclosed. Cells are able to track and predict a users movement throughout the network. The user'"'"'s roaming profile is forwarded to predicted future cells before the user actually enters those cells. When the user enters a new cell, roaming is completed without communication to any other cells. Thus, handoff time is reduced and users may more seamlessly move throughout the network coverage area.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining when a device enters an overlap region when moved from an old cell toward a new cell in a mesh network;

retrieving a user'"'"'s roaming profile associated with the device from a router servicing the old cell; and

storing the user'"'"'s roaming profile in a router servicing the new cell, while the device is located within the overlap region.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein determining when a device enters an overlap region comprises:

identifying neighboring routers that detect the device'"'"'s presence; and

labeling the region where the device can be seen by more than one router an overlap region.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the router servicing the old cell is connected to a server storing a plurality of roaming profiles.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the user'"'"'s roaming profile comprises:

an authentication code;

a user name;

a session id; and

a password.

5. A network, comprising:

a plurality of cells, further comprising;

an old cell in which a device exists;

a new cell toward which the device moves;

an overlap region in which the device can be detected by the old cell and the new cell;

a plurality of routers servicing the plurality of cells, wherein;

the router servicing the new cell retrieves a user'"'"'s roaming profile associated with the device from the router servicing the old cell; and

the router servicing the new cell stores the user'"'"'s roaming profile while the device is in the overlap region.

6. The network according to claim 5 further comprising a network management server for designating channel assignments of the routers.

The network according to claim 5 wherein the router servicing the old cell is connected to a server storing a plurality of roaming profiles.

7. The network according to claim 5 wherein the user'"'"'s roaming profile comprises:

an authentication code;

a user name;

a session id; and

a password.