Method and system for providing network connectivity and mobility while roaming

• US 7,002,932 B1
• Filed: 01/12/2001
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company), Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Young, Albert, Chen, Bofu
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US09/759,848
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/328, 370/241, 370/349, 370/331, 370/352, 370/401, 370229-234, 370/332, 370/344, 370/348, 370/337, 370/315, 370/319, 370/395.52, 370/465, 370/466, 370/312, 370/353, 370/354, 370/386, 370/389, 370/392, 370/400, 455/338, 455/403, 455/434, 455/416, 455/432.1, 455/445, 709/227, 709/329, 379/201.03
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

A method and system for providing network connectivity and mobility for a roaming client. Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, an access point (AP) is enabled with a smart agent and associated protocol. The smart agent is capable of monitoring the AP link status to the backbone network and where applicable the capability to capture the TCP/IP information. Further, the smart agent located at the AP has the capability of sending the AP connection and network status information to a client when that client associates with the AP, or when the AP'"'"'s network status or configuration changes. The effect of the invention is to provide a radically simple user experience in networking connectivity and mobility in both wired and wireless network infrastructures.

Claims

1. In a communication network including a subnetwork coupled to a backbone network, said subnetwork including an access point (AP) and a plurality of clients associated with said AP, a method of exchanging network information, comprising the steps of:

a) at said AP, automatically monitoring network status of said AP on a continual basis over said communication network, said AP coupled to said backbone network;

b) automatically and dynamically generating network status information for said AP based upon step a); and

c) from said AP, automatically sending said network status information for said AP without pre-notification to each of said plurality of clients when there is a change in said network status of said AP, said plurality of clients coupled wirelessly to said AP.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said change of network status in step c) includes a failed communications link between said AP and said backbone network.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said change of network status in step c) includes a change of IP address for an electronic device taken essentially from the group consisting essentially of:

said AP, a mask associated with said subnetwork, and a gateway associated with said subnetwork.

4. The method as described in claim 1, comprising the further step of:

d) automatically sending said network status information for said AP to a first client of said plurality of clients when said first client is newly associating with said AP.

5. The method as described in claim 4, wherein a smart agent implements said steps a), b), c) and d), said smart agent located in said AP.

6. The method as described in claim 4, wherein said first client has previously associated with a second AP, said first client having an IP address associated with a second subnetwork, said second subnetwork including a second mask, a second gateway, and said second AP.

7. The method as described in claim 4, wherein said first client, before associating with said AP, does not have any current association with any AP or any subnetwork, nor any IP address.

8. The method as described in claim 4, wherein said access point, said plurality of stations, and said smart agent are substantially compliant with a version of the IEEE 802.11 communications protocol.

9. The method as described in claim 4, wherein said steps c) and d) are implemented through a layer 2 communication protocol.

10. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said network status information is taken from a group consisting essentially of:

AP Internet Protocol (IP) address;

AP IP address type;

subnet mask information;

subnet IP address;

subnet gateway information;

subnet gateway IP address; and

AP link status to said backbone network.

11. In a communication network including a subnetwork coupled to a backbone network, said subnetwork including an access point (AP) and a plurality of clients associated with said AP, a method of exchanging network information, comprising the steps of:

a) at said AP, automatically monitoring network status of said AP on a continual basis over said communication network, said AP coupled to said backbone network;

b) automatically and dynamically generating network status information for said AP based upon step a); and

c) from said AP, automatically sending said network status information for said AP without pre-notification to each of said plurality of clients when there is a change in said network status of said AP, said plurality of clients coupled wirelessly to said AP; and

d) from said AP, automatically sending said network status information for said AP to a first client of said plurality of clients when said first client is newly associating with said AP.

12. The method as described in claim 11, wherein a smart agent implements said steps a), b), c), and d), said smart agent located in said AP.

13. The method as described in claim 12, wherein said access point, said plurality of stations, and a smart agent located in said AP that implements said steps a), b), c) and d) are substantially compliant with a version of the IEEE 802.11 communications protocol.

14. The method as described in claim 11, wherein said change of network status in step c) includes a failed communications link between said AP and said backbone network.

15. The method as described in claim 11, wherein said change of network status includes a change of IP address for an electronic device taken essentially from the group consisting essentially of:

said AP, a mask associated with said subnetwork, and a gateway associated with said subnetwork.

16. The method as described in claim 11, wherein said first client has previously associated with a second AP, said first client having an IP address associated with a second subnetwork, said second subnetwork including a second mask, a second gateway, and said second AP.

17. The method as described in claim 11, wherein said first client, before associating with said AP, does not have any current association with any AP or any subnetwork, nor any IP address.

18. The method as described in claim 11, wherein said network status information is taken from a group consisting essentially of:

AP Internet Protocol (IP) address;

AP IP address type;

subnet mask information;

subnet IP address;

subnet gateway information;

subnet gateway IP address; and

AP link status to said backbone network.

19. The method as described in claim 11, wherein said steps c) and d) are implemented through a layer 2 communication protocol.

20. A computer system comprising a processor, a memory unit, and a display screen wherein said memory contains instructions that when executed implement a method of exchanging network information, comprising steps of:

a) at said AP, automatically monitoring network status of said AP on a continual basis over said communication network, said AP coupled to said backbone network;

b) automatically and dynamically generating network status information for said AP based upon step a); and

c) from said AP, automatically sending said network status information for said AP without pre-notification to each of said plurality of clients when there is a change in said network status of said AP, said plurality of clients coupled wirelessly to said AP.

21. The computer system as described in claim 20, wherein said change of network status in step c) includes a failed communications link between said AP and said backbone network.

22. The computer system as described in claim 20, wherein change of network status in step c) includes a change of IP address for an electronic device taken essentially from the group consisting essentially of:

said AP, a mask associated with said subnetwork, and a gateway associated with said subnetwork.

23. The computer system as described in claim 20, comprising the further step of:

d) automatically sending said network status information for said AP to a first client of said plurality of clients when said first client is newly associating with said AP.

24. The computer system as described in claim 23, wherein a smart agent implements said steps a), b), c) and d), said smart agent located in said AP.

25. The computer system as described in claim 23, wherein said first client has previously associated with a second AP, said first client having an IP address associated with a second subnetwork, said second subnetwork including a second mask, a second gateway, and said second AP.

26. The computer system as described in claim 23, wherein said first client, before associating with said AP, does not have any current association with any AP or any subnetwork, nor any IP address.

27. The computer system as described in claim 23, wherein said access point, said plurality of stations, and said smart agent are substantially compliant with a version of the IEEE 802.11 communications protocol.

28. The computer system as described in claim 23, wherein said steps c) and d) are implemented through a layer 2 communication protocol.

29. The computer system as described in claim 20, wherein said network status information is taken from a group consisting essentially of:

AP Internet Protocol (IP) address;

AP IP address type;

subnet mask information;

subnet IP address;

subnet gateway information;

subnet gateway IP address; and

AP link status to said backbone network.