REDUCED AUTHENTICATION TIMES FOR SHARED-MEDIA NETWORK MIGRATION
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- determining when nodes of a computer network join any one of a plurality of field area routers (FARs), which requires a shared-media mesh security key for that joined FAR;
maintaining a database that indicates to which FAR each node in the computer network is currently joined, and to which FARs, if any, each node had previously joined, wherein the nodes are configured to maintain the mesh security key for one or more previously joined FARs in order to return to those previously joined FARs with the maintained mesh security key; and
in response to an updated mesh security key for a particular FAR of the plurality of FARs, distributing the updated mesh security key to nodes having previously joined that particular FAR that are not currently joined to that particular FAR.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a management device in a computer network determines when nodes of the computer network join any one of a plurality of field area routers (FARs), which requires a shared-media mesh security key for that joined FAR. The management device also maintains a database that indicates to which FAR each node in the computer network is currently joined, and to which FARs, if any, each node had previously joined, where the nodes are configured to maintain the mesh security key for one or more previously joined FARs in order to return to those previously joined FARs with the maintained mesh security key. Accordingly, in response to an updated mesh security key for a particular FAR of the plurality of FARs, the management node initiates distribution of the updated mesh security key to nodes having previously joined that particular FAR that are not currently joined to that particular FAR.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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determining when nodes of a computer network join any one of a plurality of field area routers (FARs), which requires a shared-media mesh security key for that joined FAR; maintaining a database that indicates to which FAR each node in the computer network is currently joined, and to which FARs, if any, each node had previously joined, wherein the nodes are configured to maintain the mesh security key for one or more previously joined FARs in order to return to those previously joined FARs with the maintained mesh security key; and in response to an updated mesh security key for a particular FAR of the plurality of FARs, distributing the updated mesh security key to nodes having previously joined that particular FAR that are not currently joined to that particular FAR. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising:
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maintaining, by a node in a computer network, a respective shared-media mesh security key for one or more previously joined field area routers (FARs) when migrating to a current FAR in order to return to those previously joined FARs with the maintained mesh security key; receiving an updated mesh security key for a particular FAR of the previously joined FARs, the updated mesh security key received from a management device configured to maintain a database that indicates to which FAR each node in the computer network is currently joined, as well as to which FARs, if any, each node had previously joined; and migrating back to the particular FAR using the updated mesh security key. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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one or more network interfaces to communicate in a computer network; a processor coupled to the network interfaces and adapted to execute one or more processes; and a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to; determine when nodes of a computer network join any one of a plurality of field area routers (FARs), which requires a shared-media mesh security key for that joined FAR; maintain a database that indicates to which FAR each node in the computer network is currently joined, and to which FARs, if any, each node had previously joined, wherein the nodes are configured to maintain the mesh security key for one or more previously joined FARs in order to return to those previously joined FARs with the maintained mesh security key; and distribute, in response to an updated mesh security key for a particular FAR of the plurality of FARs, the updated mesh security key to nodes having previously joined that particular FAR that are not currently joined to that particular FAR. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus, comprising:
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one or more network interfaces to communicate in a computer network; a processor coupled to the network interfaces and adapted to execute one or more processes; and a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to; maintain a respective shared-media mesh security key for one or more previously joined field area routers (FARs) when migrating to a current FAR in order to return to those previously joined FARs with the maintained mesh security key; receive an updated mesh security key for a particular FAR of the previously joined FARs, the updated mesh security key received from a management device configured to maintain a database that indicates to which FAR each node in the computer network is currently joined, as well as to which FARs, if any, each node had previously joined; and migrate back to the particular FAR using the updated mesh security key. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification