Global virtual local area network for voice communication sessions in a wireless local area network

• US 8,619,715 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2012
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Kezys, Vytautas Robertas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jae Y
• Application Number:
  US13/426,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20120177008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• 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 8/087 for preserving data network PoA address despite hand-offs
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A communication network has a first wireless access point (AP) in a first subnet segment and a second wireless AP in a second subnet segment, and provides a virtual local area network (VLAN) which spans the first and the second subnet segments. A mobile device associates with the first wireless AP using a first extended set service identifier (ESSID). In response to identifying a request to establish a communication session, the mobile device reassociates with the first wireless AP using a second ESSID, for accessing the VLAN to establish and maintain the communication session.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating communication sessions for a mobile communication device in a communication network, the communication network having a first wireless access point in a first subnet segment and a second wireless access point in a second subnet segment, the method comprising:

associating with the first wireless access point using a first extended set service identifier (ESSID);

in response to identifying a request to establish a communication session involving the mobile communication device;

reassociating with the first wireless access point using a second ESSID which is different from the first ESSID;

establishing and maintaining the communication session for the mobile communication device while being associated with the first wireless access point using the second ESSID; and

in a handoff to the second wireless access point during the communication session, associating with the second wireless access point using the second ESSID.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network has a virtual local area network (VLAN) which spans the first and the second subnet segments, the method further comprising:

accessing the VLAN to establish and maintain the communication session.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after terminating the communication session, reassociating with an access point of the communication network using the first ESSID.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first subnet segment has a first IP subnet address range and the second subnet segment has a second IP subnet address range different from the first IP subnet address range.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication session comprises a voice communication session.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network has a virtual local area network (VLAN) which spans the first and the second subnet segments, the method further comprising:

prior to the communication session being established, receiving an assignment of an IP address of the first subnet segment;

after reassociating with the first wireless access point using the second ESSID, accessing the VLAN; and

receiving an assignment of a new IP address in the global VLAN.

8. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium;

computer instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium;

the computer instructions being executable by one or more processors of a mobile communication device for facilitating communication sessions for a mobile communication device in a communication network, the communication network having a first wireless access point in a first subnet segment and a second wireless access point in a second subnet segment, the computer instructions being further executable for;

associating with the first wireless access point using a first extended set service identifier (ESSID);

in response to identifying a request to establish a communication session involving the mobile communication device;

reassociating with the first wireless access point using a second ESSID which is different from the first ESSID;

establishing and maintaining the communication session for the mobile communication device while being associated with the first wireless access point using the second ESSID; and

in a handoff to the second wireless access point during the communication session, associating with the second wireless access point using the second ESSID.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the communication network has a virtual local area network (VLAN) which spans the first and the second subnet segments, the computer instructions being further executable for:

for the communication session, accessing the VLAN using the second ESSID.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

after terminating the communication session, reassociating with an access point of the communication network using the first ESSID.

11. A mobile communication device configured to communicate in a wireless network which is part of a communication network, the communication network having a first wireless access point in a first subnet segment and a second wireless access point in a second subnet segment, the mobile communication device comprising:

one or more processors;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors;

the one or more processors being operative to;

associate with the first wireless access point via the wireless transceiver using a first extended set service identifier (ESSID);

identify a request to establish a communication session involving the mobile communication device;

in response to the identifying;

reassociate with the first wireless access point via the wireless transceiver using a second ESSID which is different from the first ESSID;

establish and maintain the communication session via the wireless transceiver while being associated with the first wireless access point using the second ESSID; and

in a handoff to the second wireless access point during the communication session, associate with the second wireless access point via the wireless transceiver using the second ESSID.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 11, wherein the communication network has a virtual local area network (VLAN) which spans the first and the second subnet segments, the one or more processors being further operative to:

for the communication session, access the VLAN using the second ESSID.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

after terminating the communication session, reassociate with an access point of the communication network via the wireless transceiver using the first ESSID.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 11, wherein the first subnet segment has a first IP subnet address range and the second subnet segment has a second IP subnet address range different from the first IP subnet address range.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 11, wherein the communication session comprises a voice communication session.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 11, wherein the wireless network comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN).

17. The mobile communication device of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

prior to the communication session being established, receive an assignment of an IP address of the first subnet segment; and

after reassociating with the second wireless access point, receive an assignment of a new IP address.