Enabling seamless user mobility in a short-range wireless networking environment

• US 6,633,761 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reefedge Networks LLC (IPNav)
• Original Assignee: Reefedge Inc. (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Singhal, Sandeep Kishan, Gopal, Ajei Sarat, Gopal, Inder Sarat
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US09/637,742
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436, 455/437, 455/438, 455/439, 455/422, 455/432, 455/440, 455/443, 455/403, 455/550, 455/517, 455/426, 370/331, 370/332, 709/225, 709/203
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 Address allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0019 adapted for mobile IP [MIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention provides methods, systems, and computer program instructions for enabling a variety of devices, particularly low-power hand-held devices, to travel seamlessly through a networking environment such as that encountered within a building by establishing connectivity to a plurality of network access points. The illusion of seamless network connectivity is provided by having these access points coordinate with a core server to perform user authentication, device address assignment, and handoff services.

Claims

1. A method of enabling seamless user mobility in a short-range wireless networking, environment, comprising the steps of:

providing one or more portable client devices, each of the client devices equipped with a short-range wireless communications capability for communicating in the short-range wireless networking environment;

providing a plurality of Handoff Management Points (HMPs), each of the HMPs equipped with a short-range wireless link for communication with the client devices and a link to a networking environment wherein one or more application programs residing on one or more application server can be accessed;

providing a Handoff Core Server to manage the HMPs;

dynamically making a selected one of the HMPs operational, further comprising the steps of;

obtaining an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the selected HMP;

discovery by the selected HMP, an identity of the Handoff Core Server; and

initiating, by the selected HMP, an HMP presence protocol exchange with the Handoff Core Server, further comprising the step of sending a registration request to the Handoff Core Server to register the selected HMP with the Handoff Core Server;

obtaining a registration response from the Handoff Core Server; and

if the registration response is successful, periodically refreshing the selected HMP'"'"'s registration with the Handoff Core Server.

2. A method of enabling seamless user mobility in a short-range wireless networking environment comprising the steps of:

providing one or more portable client devices, each of the client devices equipped with a short-range wireless communications capability for communicating in the short-range wireless networking environment;

providing a plurality of Handoff Management Points (HMPs), each of the HMPs equipped with a short-range wireless link for communication with the client devices and a link to a networking environment wherein one or more application programs residing on one or more application servers can be accessed;

providing a Handoff Core Server to the manage the HMPs, wherein the Handoff Core Server maintains a record of a current location of each client device;

receiving at least one of (1) traffic generated by a particular client device and (2) traffic destined for a particular client device at the Handoff Core Server; and

filtering the received traffic, by the Handoff Core Server, according to one or more of;

(1) a destination of the traffic (2) a current location of the particular client device; and

(3) an identity of a user of the particular client device.

3. A method of enabling seamless user mobility in a short-range wireless networking environment comprising the steps of:

providing one or more portable client device each of the client devices equipped with a short-range wireless communications capability for communicating in the short-range wireless networking environment;

providing a plurality of Handoff Management Points (HMPs), each of the HMPs equipped with a short-range wireless link for communication with the client devices and a link to a networking environment wherein one or more application programs residing on one or more application servers can be accessed;

providing a Handoff Core Server to manage the HMPs;

detecting, by a particular HMP, an establishment of a new communication channel with a selected client device;

issuing a channel establishment notification to the Handoff Core Server, responsive to the detecting step; and

updating, by the Handoff Core Server, an Active User Location (AUL) Registry, responsive to receiving the channel establishment notification.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the establishment is an explicit establishment.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the establishment is an implicit establishment.

6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

detecting, by the particular HMP, a termination of an existing communication channel with a particular client device;

issuing a channel termination notification to the Handoff Core Server, responsive to the step of detecting the termination; and

updating, by the Handoff Core Server, the AUL Registry, responsive to receiving the channel termination notification.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the termination is an explicit termination.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the termination is an implicit termination.

9. A system for enabling seamless user mobility in a wireless networking environment, comprising:

one or more portable user devices, each equipped with a short-range wireless communications capability for communicating in the wireless networking environment;

one or more application programs residing on one or more application servers;

a plurality of Handoff Management Points (HMPs), each equipped with a wireless link for communication with the user devices and a link to a networking environment wherein the application programs and application servers reside;

a Handoff Core Server (HCS) to manage the HMPs;

means for dynamically registering each HMP with the HCS as the HMP becomes operational, wherein an installation and configuration of the operational HMP requires no incremental intervention by a human;

means for making a selected user device known to a first HMP when the selected user device comes into communication range with the first HMP;

means for handing the selected user device off from the fix HMP to a second HMP when the selected user device leaves the communication range of the first HMP and enters communication range of the second HMP; and

means for maintaining, during and after the handing off, any on-going session that may be operating between the selected user device and one or more of the application programs.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the means for maintaining further comprises:

means for assigning an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the selected user device when the selected user device is in the communication range of the first HMP; and

means for continuing to use the IP address for the selected user device when the selected user device is in the communication range of the second HMP.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the means for assigning further comprises means for storing the IP address for the selected user device at the HCS, and wherein the means for continuing to use further comprises means for retrieving the stored IP address from the HCS.

12. The system according to claim 9, further comprising means for re-registering each dynamically registered HMP after expiration of a particular period of time.

13. Computer program instructions embodied on one or more computer readable media, the computer program instructions being adapted for causing a computer system to generate executable code for a computer program, the computer program enabling seamless user mobility in a wireless networking environment, the computer program instructions comprising:

computer program instructions for dynamically registering a plurality of Handoff Management Points (HMPs) with a Handoff Core Server (HCS) as the HMP becomes operational, wherein each HMP is equipped with a wireless link for communication with a plurality of user devices and a link to a networking environment wherein a plurality of application programs and application servers reside, wherein each of the user devices being is equipped with a short-range wireless communications capability for communicating in the wireless networking environment, and wherein an installation and configuration of the operational HMP requires no incremental intervention by a human;

computer program instructions for causing thee HCS to manage the HMPs;

computer program instructions for making a selected user device known to a first HMP when the selected user device comes into communication range with the first HMP;

computer program instructions for handing the selected user device off from the first HMP to a second HMP when the selected user device leaves the communication range of the first HMP and enters communication range of the second HMP; and

computer program instructions for maintaining, during and after the handing off, any on-going session that may be operating between the selected user device and one or more of the application programs.

14. The computer program instructions according to claim 13, wherein the computer program instructions for maintaining further comprise:

computer program instructions for assigning an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the selected user device when the selected user device is in the communication range of the first HMP; and

computer program instructions for continuing to use the IP address for the selected user device when the selected user device is in the communication range of the second HMP.

15. The computer program instructions according to claim 14, wherein the computer program instructions for assigning further comprises computer program instructions for storing the IP address for the selected user device at the HCS, and wherein the computer program instructions for continuing to use further comprises computer program instructions for retrieving the stored IP address from the HCS.

16. The computer program instructions according to claim 13, further comprising computer program instructions for re-registering each dynamically registered HMP after expiration of a particular period of time.

17. A system for enabling seamless user mobility in a short-range wireless networking environment, comprising:

one or more portable client devices, each of the client devices equipped with a short-range wireless communications capability for communicating in the short-range wireless networking environment;

a plurality of Handoff Management Points (HMPs), each of the HMPs equipped with a short-range wireless link for communication with the client devices and a link to a networking environment wherein one or more application programs residing on one or more application servers can be accessed;

Handoff Core Server to manage the HMPs;

means for dynamically making a selected one of the HMPs operational, further comprising;

means for obtaining an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the selected HMP;

means for discovering, by the selected HMP, an identity of the Handoff Core Server; and

means for initiating, by the selected HMP, an HMP presence protocol exchange with the Handoff Core Server, further comprising means for sending a registration request to the Handoff Core Server to register the selected HMP with the Handoff Core Server;

means for obtaining a registration response from the Handoff Core Server; and

means for periodically refreshing the selected HMP'"'"'s registration with the Handoff Core Server if the registration response is successful.

18. A system for enabling seamless user mobility in a short-range wireless networking environment, comprising:

one or more portable client devices, each of the client devices equipped with a short-range wireless communications capability for communicating in the short-rage wireless networking environment;

a plurality of Handoff Management Points (HMPs), each of the HMPs equipped with a short-range wireless link for communication with the client devices and a link to a networking environment wherein one or more application programs residing on one or more application servers can be accessed;

a Handoff Core Server to manage the HMPs, wherein the Handoff Core Server maintains a record of a current location of each client device;

means for receiving at least one of (1) traffic generated by a particular client device and (2) traffic destined for a particular client device at the Handoff Core Server; and

means for filtering the received traffic, by the Handoff Core Server, according to one or more of;

(1) a destination of the traffic;

(2) a current location of the particular client device; and

(3) an identity of a user of the particular client device.

19. A system for enabling seamless user mobility in a short-range wireless networking environment, comprising:

one or more portable client devices, each of the client devices equipped with a short-range wireless communications capability for communicating in the short-range wireless networking environment;

a plurality of Handoff Management Points (HMPs), each of the HMPs equipped with a short-range wireless link for communication with the client devices and a link to a networking environment wherein one or more application programs residing on one or more application servers can be accessed;

a Handoff Core Server to manage the HMPs;

means for detecting, by a particular HMP, an establishment of a new communication channel with a selected client device;

means for issuing a channel establishment notification to the Handoff Core Server, responsive to the means for detecting; and

means for updating, by the Handoff Core Server, an Active User Location (AUL) Registry, responsive to receiving the channel establishment notification.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the establishment is an explicit establishment.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the establishment is an implicit establishment.

22. The system according to claim 19, further comprising:

means for detecting, by the particular HMP, a termination of an existing communication channel with a particular client device;

means for issuing a channel termination notification to the Handoff Core Server, responsive to the means for detecting the termination; and

means for updating, by the Handoff Core Server, the AUL Registry, responsive to receiving the channel termination notification.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the termination is an explicit termination.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the termination is an implicit termination.

25. Computer program instructions embodied on one or more computer readable media, the computer program instructions being adapted for causing a computer system to execute a computer program, the computer program enabling seamless user mobility in a short-range wireless networking environment, the computer program instructions comprising:

computer program instructions for dynamically making a selected one of a plurality of Handoff Management Points (HMPs) operational, wherein each of the HMPs is equipped with a short-range wireless link for communication wit one or more portable client devices and a link to a networking environment wherein one or more application programs residing on one or more application servers can be accessed, each of the client devices equipped with a short-range wireless communications capability for communicating in the short-range wireless networking environment, and wherein the computer program instructions for dynamically making further comprises;

computer program instructions for obtaining an Interment Protocol (IP) address for the selected HMP;

computer program instructions for discovering, by the selected HMP, an identity of a Handoff Core Server that manages the HMPs; and

computer program instructions for initiating, by the selected HMP, an HMP presence protocol exchange with the Handoff Core Server, further comprising computer program instructions for sending a registration request to the Handoff Core Server to register the selected HMP with the Handoff Core Server;

computer program instructions for obtaining a registration response from the Handoff Core Server; and

computer program instructions for periodically refreshing the selected HMP'"'"'s registration with the Handoff Core Server if the registration response is successful.

26. Computer program instructions embodied on one or more computer readable media, the computer program instructions being adapted for causing a computer system to execute a computer program, the computer program enabling seamless user mobility in a short-range wireless networking environment, the computer program instructions comprising:

computer program instructions for managing, by a Handoff Core Server that maintains a record of a current location of each of one or more client devices, a plurality of Handoff Management Points (HMPs), wherein each of the HMPs is equipped with a short-range wireless link for communication with the client devices and a link to a networking environment wherein one or more application programs residing on one or more application servers can be accessed, each of the client devices equipped with a short-range wireless communications capability for communicating in the short-range wireless networking environment;

computer program instructions for receiving at least one of (1) traffic generated by a particular client device and (2) traffic destined for a particular client device at the Handoff Core Server; and

computer program instructions for filtering he received traffic, by the Handoff Core Server, according to one or more of;

(1) a destination of the traffic;

(2) a current location of the particular client device; and

(3) an identity of a use of the particular client device.

27. Computer program instructions embodied on one or more computer readable media, the computer program instructions being adapted for causing a computer system to execute a computer program, the computer program enabling seamless user mobility in a short-range wireless networking environment, the computer program instructions comprising:

computer program instructions for detecting, by a particular one of a plurality of Handoff Management Points (HMPs), an establishment of a new communication channel with a selected one of one or more client devices, each of the client devices equipped with a short-range wireless communications capability for communicating in the short-range wireless networking environment and each of the HMPs equipped with a short-range wireless link for communication with the client devices and a link to a networking environment wherein one or more application programs residing on one or more application servers can be accessed;

computer program instructions for issuing a channel establishment notification to a Handoff Core Server that manages the HMPs, responsive to the computer program instructions for detecting; and

computer program instructions for updating, by the Handoff Core Server, an Active User Location (AUL) Registry, responsive to receiving the channel establishment notification.

28. The computer program instructions according to claim 27, wherein the establishment is an explicit establishment.

29. The computer program instructions according to claim 27, wherein the establishment is an implicit establishment.

30. The computer program instructions according to claim 27, further comprising:

computer program instructions for detecting, by the particular HMP, a termination of an existing communication channel with a particular client device,

computer program instructions for issuing a channel termination notification to the Handoff Core Server, responsive to the computer program instructions for detecting the termination; and

computers instructions for updating, by the Handoff Core Sever, the AUL Registry, responsive to receiving the channel termination notification.

31. The computer program instructions according to claim 30, wherein the termination is an explicit termination.

32. The computer program instructions according to claim 30, wherein the termination is an implicit termination.

33. A method for enabling seamless user mobility in a wireless networking environment, comprising steps of:

providing a plurality of Handoff Management Points (HMPs), each equipped with a wireless link for communication with one or more portable user devices and a link to a networking environment wherein one or more application programs and one or more application servers reside, wherein each of the user devices is equipped with a short-range wireless communications capability for communicating in the wireless networking environment and wherein the one or more application programs reside on the one or more application serves;

providing a Handoff Core Server (HCS) to manage the HMPs;

dynamically registering each HMP with the HCS as the HMP becomes operational, wherein an installation and configuration of the operational HMP requires no incremental intervention by a human;

making a selected user device known to a first HMP when the selected user device comes into communication range with the first HMP;

handing the selected user device off from the fast HMP to a second HMP when the selected user device leaves the communication range of the first HMP and enters communication range of the second HMP; and

maintaining, during and after the handing off, any on-going session that may be operating between the selected user device and one or more of the application programs.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the maintaining step further comprises the steps of:

assigning an Internet Protocol (EP) address to the selected user device when the selected user device is in the communication range of the first HMP; and

continuing to use the IP address for the selected user device when the selected use device is in the communication range of the second HMP.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the assigning step further comprises the step of storing the IP address for the selected user device at the HCS, and the step of continuing to use further comprises the step of retrieving the stored IP address from the HCS.

36. The method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of re-registering each dynamically registered HMP after expiration of a particular period of time.