Sharing of NAS information between PoPs
First Claim
1. A method for providing roaming capabilities to a user in a computer network having two or more Points-of-Presence (PoPs), wherein one of the PoPs is designated as the user'"'"'s home PoP, the method comprising:
- maintaining a network access servers (NAS) list at the user'"'"'s home PoP; and
periodically transferring the NAS list from the user'"'"'s home PoP to a central database, for updating of the central database of all NASes known to the computer network and subsequent update of the two or more PoPs, such that a current version of the central database of all NASes known to the computer network is maintained at each of the two or more PoPs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for handling access requests at multiple PoPs using the sharing of NAS information between the PoPs, enabling each PoP to maintain its own, independent, database of user records. When an access request is received, it is forwarded to a specific PoP designated as the user'"'"'s “home PoP”. This home PoP is the only PoP to contain the user'"'"'s records. The home PoP may then handle the access request by utilizing a local NAS list, the local NAS list being synchronized with other NAS lists in the network and providing information on all the “known” NASes throughout the entire network. This allows for a user to roam between PoPs, while reducing the bandwidth and security concerns that have existed in the past when users chose to roam. The NAS lists may then be updated via a central Network Control Console.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for providing roaming capabilities to a user in a computer network having two or more Points-of-Presence (PoPs), wherein one of the PoPs is designated as the user'"'"'s home PoP, the method comprising:
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maintaining a network access servers (NAS) list at the user'"'"'s home PoP; and periodically transferring the NAS list from the user'"'"'s home PoP to a central database, for updating of the central database of all NASes known to the computer network and subsequent update of the two or more PoPs, such that a current version of the central database of all NASes known to the computer network is maintained at each of the two or more PoPs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for providing roaming capabilities to a user in a computer network having two or more Points-of-Presence (PoPs), wherein one of the PoPs is designated as the user'"'"'s home PoP, the apparatus comprising:
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a NAS list maintenance module configured to maintain a network access servers (NAS) list at the user'"'"'s home PoP; and a NAS list transfer module coupled to the NAS list maintenance module and configured to periodically transfer the NAS list from the user'"'"'s home PoP to a central database, for updating of the central database of all NASes known to the computer network and subsequent update of the two or more PoPs, such that a current version of the central database of all NASes known to the computer network is maintained at each of said the or more PoPs. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for providing roaming capabilities to a user in a computer network having two or more Points-of-Presence (PoPs), wherein one of the PoPs is designated as the user'"'"'s home PoP, the apparatus comprising:
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means for maintaining a network access servers (NAS) list at the user'"'"'s home PoP; means for periodically transferring the NAS list from the user'"'"'s home PoP to a central database, for updating of the central database of all NASes known to the computer network and subsequent update of the two or more PoPs, such that a current version of the central database of all NASes known to the computer network is maintained at each of the two or more PoPs. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification