Predictive and nomadic roaming of wireless clients across different network subnets

• US 8,483,183 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2012
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aerohive Networks Incorporated (Extreme Networks, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Changming, Kang, Yong, Zeng, Jianlin, Reddy, Sreekanth
• Primary Examiner(s): Faroul, Farah
• Application Number:
  US13/528,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20120281630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/331, 370/332
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/088 among core entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0016 Hand-off preparation specially adapted for end-to-end data sessions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0061 of neighbour cell information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/008375 based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/087 for preserving data network PoA address despite hand-offs
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Wireless access points detect neighboring wireless access points in different subnets. Upon connecting with a wireless client, a wireless access point determines predictive roaming information for the wireless client. Predictive roaming information identifies the wireless client; its home network subnet; and includes connection information associated with the wireless client. The wireless access point forwards the predictive roaming information associated with a wireless client to neighboring wireless access points while the wireless client is still connected with the wireless access point. Neighboring wireless access points store received predictive roaming information. Upon connecting with a wireless client, a neighboring wireless access point determines if the wireless client matches the stored predictive roaming information. If so, the neighboring wireless access point uses the predictive roaming information to quickly connect with the wireless client and to establish a tunnel to redirect network traffic associated with the wireless client through to its home subnet.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a neighboring wireless network access point;

determining if the neighboring wireless network access point is connected in a first network subnet different than a current network subnet;

providing tunneling information to the neighboring wireless network access point in response to the determination that the neighboring wireless network access point is connected in the first network subnet, wherein the tunneling information establishes a connection between a first network device in the first network subnet and a second network device in the current network subnet;

connecting with a first wireless client via a first network connection;

determining predictive roaming information that identifies the first wireless client;

providing the predictive roaming information to the neighboring wireless network access point while connected with the first wireless clients

receiving a query message that identifies a home network subnet associated with the first wireless client sent in response to the determination that the identifying information does not match at least a portion of the predictive roaming information;

sending a response to the query message including additional tunneling information that establishes a network connection between a third network device in the home network subnet and the second network device in the current network subnet;

establishing a second network connection from the first wireless client to the third network device in the home network subnet via the second network device in the current network subnet, wherein all network traffic associated with the first wireless client passes through the third network device in the home network subnet via the second network connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network device in the first network subnet is the neighboring wireless access point.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network device in the current network subnet is a wireless access point.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network device is connected with the first wireless client via the first network connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network connection is a wireless network connection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predictive roaming information includes an identifier associated with the first wireless client and independent of an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the first wireless client.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the identifier includes a Medium Access Control (MAC) address of the first wireless client.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the predictive roaming information includes connection information that establishes a network connection with the first wireless client.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the connection information includes a session key.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the session key encrypts and decrypts data communicated by the first wireless client via the first network connection.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the connection information includes virtual Local Area Network (LAN) information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the virtual Local Area Network (LAN) information includes a virtual LAN identifier.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a neighboring wireless network access point comprises receiving a beacon signal from the neighboring wireless access point.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the beacon signal includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the neighboring wireless access point.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the predictive roaming information to the neighboring wireless network access point comprises:

establishing a network tunnel with the neighboring wireless access point;

communicating the predictive roaming information with the neighboring wireless access point via the network tunnel.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein:

in response to the determination that the neighboring wireless network access point is connected in the first network subnet, associating the neighboring wireless access point with a neighbor list; and

wherein providing the predictive roaming information to the neighboring wireless network access point while connected with the first wireless client comprises;

selecting a plurality of wireless access points associated with the neighbor list, wherein the selected plurality of wireless access points includes the neighboring wireless access point;

providing the predictive roaming information to the selected plurality of wireless access points while connected with the first wireless client.

17. A system comprising:

a means for detecting a neighboring wireless network access point;

a means for determining if the neighboring wireless network access point is connected in a first network subnet different than a current network subnet;

a means for providing tunneling information to the neighboring wireless network access point in response to the determination that the neighboring wireless network access point is connected in the first network subnet, wherein the tunneling information establishes a connection between a first network device in the first network subnet and a second network device in the current network subnet;

a means for connecting with a first wireless client via a first network connection;

a means for determining predictive roaming information that identifies the first wireless client;

a means for providing the predictive roaming information to the neighboring wireless network access point while connected with the first wireless client;

a means for receiving a query message that identifies a home network subnet associated with the first wireless client sent in response to the determination that the identifying information does not match at least a portion of the predictive roaming information;

a means for sending a response to the query message including additional tunneling information that establishes a network connection between a third network device in the home network subnet and the second network device in the current network subnet;

a means for establishing a second network connection from the first wireless client to the third network device in the home network subnet via the second network device in the current network subnet, wherein all network traffic associated with the first wireless client passes through the third network device in the home network subnet via the second network connection.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for providing the predictive roaming information to the neighboring wireless network access point comprises:

a means for establishing a network tunnel with the neighboring wireless access point;

a means for communicating the predictive roaming information with the neighboring wireless access point via the network tunnel.

19. A system comprising:

a means for detecting a neighboring wireless network access point in a first network subnet different than a current network subnet;

a means for receiving tunneling information from the neighboring wireless network access point, wherein the tunneling information establishes a network connection between a first network device in the first network subnet and a second network device in the current network subnet;

a means for receiving predictive roaming information that identifies wireless clients connected with the neighboring wireless access point in the first network subnet;

a means for storing the predictive roaming information;

a means for connecting with a first wireless client;

a means for receiving identifying information from the first wireless client;

a means for comparing the identifying information of the first wireless client with the stored predictive roaming information;

a means for establishing a first network connection from the first wireless client to the first network device in the first network subnet via the second network device in the current network subnet in response to the determination that the identifying information matches at least a portion of the stored predictive roaming information, wherein network traffic associated with the first wireless client passes through the first network device in the first network subnet via the first network connection;

a means for sending a query message that identifies a home network subnet associated with the first wireless client in response to the determination that the identifying information does not match at least a portion of the stored predictive roaming information;

a means for receiving a response to the query message including additional tunneling information that establishes a network connection between a third network device in the home network subnet and the second network device in the current network subnet;

a means for establishing a second network connection from the first wireless client to the third network device in the home network subnet via the second network device in the current network subnet, wherein network traffic associated with the first wireless client passes through the third network device in the home network subnet via the second network connection.