Fast handoff for wireless devices in a wired-wireless network
First Claim
1. A method for handoff of a wireless client from a first switch to a second switch in a wired network, the first and second switches in communication with a plurality of access points, the method comprising:
- receiving data from the wireless client at the second switch via one of the access points following an inter-switch roam;
transmitting from the second switch, a request for a route update for the wireless client to the wired network, in response to said received data;
prior to network convergence for said route update, receiving at the second switch, data traffic destined for the wireless client from the first switch and forwarding said data traffic to the wireless client;
receiving information identifying other switches in a proximity group; and
transmitting context information for the wireless client from the second switch to said other switches in said proximity group, wherein said other switches in said proximity group are in communication with access points located within a specified radio frequency range of at least one of the access points in communication with the second switch.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for handoff of a wireless client from a first network device to a second network device in a wired network are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving data from a new wireless client at the second network device and transmitting a request for a route update for the new wireless client to the wired network. Prior to network convergence for the route update, data traffic for the new wireless client is received from the first network device and forwarded to the new wireless client. Context information for the new wireless client is transmitted from the second network device to other network devices in a proximity group of the second network device.
25 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for handoff of a wireless client from a first switch to a second switch in a wired network, the first and second switches in communication with a plurality of access points, the method comprising:
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receiving data from the wireless client at the second switch via one of the access points following an inter-switch roam; transmitting from the second switch, a request for a route update for the wireless client to the wired network, in response to said received data; prior to network convergence for said route update, receiving at the second switch, data traffic destined for the wireless client from the first switch and forwarding said data traffic to the wireless client; receiving information identifying other switches in a proximity group; and transmitting context information for the wireless client from the second switch to said other switches in said proximity group, wherein said other switches in said proximity group are in communication with access points located within a specified radio frequency range of at least one of the access points in communication with the second switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for handoff of a wireless client from a switch in a wired network, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor configured for transmitting a request for a route update to the wired network upon receiving data from the wireless client via an access point following an inter-switch roam, receiving data traffic destined for the wireless client from the switch prior to network convergence for said route update and forwarding said data traffic to the wireless client, receiving information identifying other switches in a proximity group; and
transmitting context information for the wireless client to said other switches in said proximity group; andmemory for storing information identifying said other switches in said proximity group and said context information for the wireless client received from the switch prior to receiving said data from the wireless client; wherein said other switches in said proximity group are in communication with access points located within a specified radio frequency range of at least one of the access points in communication with the second switch. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for handoff of a wireless client from a first switch to a second switch in a wired network, the first and second switches in communication with a plurality of access points, the apparatus comprising:
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means for transmitting a request for a route update for a wireless client to the wired network, in response to receiving data from a wireless client at the second switch via one of the access points following an inter-switch roam; means for forwarding to the wireless client, data traffic received for the wireless client from the first switch prior to network convergence for said route update; and means for transmitting context information for the wireless client from the second switch to other switches in a proximity group of the second switch; wherein said other switches in said proximity group are in communication with access points located within a specified radio frequency range of at least one of the access points in communication with the second switch. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification