Seamless roaming for dual-mode WiMax/WiFi stations
First Claim
1. In a mobile station operating in a multi-protocol wireless network environment that supports a first wireless communication protocol and a second wireless communication protocol wherein the network environment allows the mobile station to seamlessly roam utilizing the first and second wireless communication protocols, a method comprising:
- establishing a first link layer connection using the first wireless communication protocol; and
establishing a second link layer connection using the second wireless communication protocol;
wherein a single mobile identifier corresponding to the mobile station is used in the first and second link layer connections.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An exemplary embodiment providing for one or more improvements includes a method for use in a mobile station operating in a multi-protocol wireless network environment that supports a first wireless communication protocol and a second wireless communication protocol wherein the network environment allows the mobile station to seamlessly roam utilizing the first and second wireless communication protocols. The method includes establishing a first link layer connection using the first wireless communication protocol; and establishing a second link layer connection using the second wireless communication protocol wherein a single mobile identifier, corresponding to the mobile station, is used in the first and second connections.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. In a mobile station operating in a multi-protocol wireless network environment that supports a first wireless communication protocol and a second wireless communication protocol wherein the network environment allows the mobile station to seamlessly roam utilizing the first and second wireless communication protocols, a method comprising:
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establishing a first link layer connection using the first wireless communication protocol; and
establishing a second link layer connection using the second wireless communication protocol;
wherein a single mobile identifier corresponding to the mobile station is used in the first and second link layer connections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A mobile station operable to establish a first link layer connection of a first wireless communication protocol and a second link layer connection of a second wireless communication protocol, the mobile station comprises:
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a first wireless network interface corresponding to the first wireless communication protocol;
a second wireless network interface corresponding to the second wireless communication protocol;
a memory;
one or more processors;
a first wireless network interface driver, stored in the memory, that comprises instructions operable to cause the first wireless network interface and the processor to establish the first link layer connection of the first wireless communication protocol;
a second wireless network interface driver, stored in the memory, that comprises instructions operable to cause the second wireless network interface and the processor to establish the second link layer connection of the second wireless communication protocol;
a common network interface layer, stored in the memory, that is operative to present a common link layer interface to upper layers of a protocol stack and is further operative to switch between the first and second wireless network interfaces for communication; and
and one or more translation layers operative to translate between the first wireless communication protocol and the common network interface layer and further operative to translate between the second wireless communication protocol and the common network interface layer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A mobile station comprising:
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means for establishing a first link layer connection using a first wireless communication protocol;
means for establishing a second link layer connection using a second wireless communication protocol;
means for selecting the first or second wireless communication protocol for active communications; and
means for presenting a common link layer interface to a network protocol layer implemented in the mobile station;
wherein a single mobile identifier corresponding to the mobile station is used in the first and second link layer connections.
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18. In an access point that operates in a multi-protocol wireless network comprising a wireless domain controller implementing a common roaming protocol, a method comprising:
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detecting a roam event message of a first roaming protocol;
translating the roam event message into the common roaming protocol; and
transmitting the translated roam event message to the wireless domain controller in the multi-protocol wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An access point operative in a multi-protocol wireless network comprising a wireless domain controller implementing a common roaming protocol, comprising
a network interface; -
a wireless network interface;
a memory;
one or more processors; and
an access point application, stored in the memory, comprising instructions operative to cause the one or more processors and the access point to;
detect a roam event message of a first roaming protocol;
translate the roam event message into the common roaming protocol; and
transmit the translated roam event message to a wireless domain controller in a multi-protocol wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. An access point that operates in a multi-protocol wireless network comprising a wireless domain controller implementing a common roaming protocol, comprising:
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means for detecting a roam event message of a first roaming protocol;
means for translating the roam event message into the common roaming protocol; and
means for transmitting the translated roam event message to the wireless domain controller in the multi-protocol wireless network.
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23. A wireless domain compromising:
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a first plurality of wireless access points that utilize a first wireless communication protocol and a common wireless network management protocol;
a second plurality of wireless access points that utilize a second wireless communication protocol and the common wireless network management protocol; and
a wireless domain controller that communicates with the first and the second plurality of wireless access points via the common wireless network management protocol wherein the first plurality of wireless access points are operable to translate wireless network management messages between the first wireless communication protocol and the common wireless network management protocol, and wherein the second plurality of wireless access points are operable to translate wireless network management messages between the second wireless communication protocol and the common wireless network management protocol. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification