Predictive and nomadic roaming of wireless clients across different network subnets

• US 9,338,816 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2015
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• 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:
  US14/697,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20150245410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 370/331, 370/332
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• 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 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• 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 system comprising:

a home agent in a current network subnet configured to;

detect a neighboring wireless network access point in a first network subnet different than the current network subnet;

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

receive predictive roaming information identifying wireless clients connected with the neighboring wireless network access point in the first subnet;

store the predictive roaming information;

the second network device in the current network subnet configured to;

connect with a first wireless client;

receive identifying information from the first wireless client;

compare the identifying information of the first wireless client with the stored predictive roaming information;

establish a first network connection, including a tunnel 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, wherein all network traffic associated with the first wireless client passes through the tunnel network connection, wherein the tunnel network connection enables the first wireless client to retain a network address associated with the current network subnet while connected with the first network subnet, if it is determined that the identifying information matches at least a portion of the stored predictive roaming information;

send a query message identifying a home network subnet associated with the first wireless client, if it is determined that the identifying information does not match at least a portion of the stored predictive roaming information;

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

establish 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 system of claim 1, wherein in establishing the first network connection, the second network device in the current network subnet is configured to establish a network tunnel with the first network device in the first network subnet using the tunneling information.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the network tunnel is a generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein in establishing the first network connection, the second network device in the current network subnet is configured to select a previously created network tunnel between the first network device and the second network device in the current network subnet to carry network traffic associated with the first wireless client.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the previously created network tunnel carries network traffic associated with a second wireless client between the first network device in the first network subnet and the second network device in the current network subnet.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network device is configured to intercept network traffic addressed to the first wireless client and forward the network traffic to the second network device in the current network subnet.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second network device is further configured to intercept outbound network traffic from the first wireless client and forward the outbound network traffic to the first network device, and to forward inbound network traffic from the first network device to the first wireless client.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second network device in the current network subnet is connected with the first wireless client via a wireless network connection.

9. The system 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.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the identifier includes a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the first wireless client.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the predictive roaming information includes connection information, the connection information establishing network connections with wireless clients previously connected with the neighboring wireless network access point in the first subnet.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the second network device is configured to send the query message to the home agent in the current network, wherein the home agent propagates the query message to at least one additional home agent associated with the home network subnet.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the second network device is further configured to:

monitor the first network connection to detect an idle state of the first wireless client;

disassociate the first wireless client with the first network connection and assign the first wireless client an address in the current network subnet, in response to the detection of the idle state of the first wireless client.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second network device is further configured to:

determine if at least a portion of the first network connection between the first network device and the second network device is used by an additional wireless client, in response to the detection of the idle state of the first wireless client;

break down the portion of the first network connection between the first network device and the second network device, if it is determined that the portion of the first network connection between the first network device and the second network device is not used by an additional wireless client.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the home agent is further configured to:

detect a third wireless network access point neighboring the second network device;

in response to establishing the 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, forward at least the portion of the stored predictive roaming information to the third wireless network access point.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the third wireless network access point is in the current network subnet.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the third wireless network access point is in an additional network subnet.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the second network device is further configured to:

receive a list of network devices in the first network subnet;

select one of the list of network devices as the first network device according to a load balancing criterion.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the load balancing criterion is at least one of:

a round-robin selection;

network traffic associated with each network device;

number of tunnels associated with each network device;

processor load associated with each network device;

memory associated with each network device;

network band width associated with each network device; and

network quality of service metrics associated with each network device.

20. A system comprising:

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

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

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

means for storing the predictive roaming information;

means for connecting with a first wireless client;

means for receiving identifying information from the first wireless client;

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

means for establishing a first network connection, including a tunnel 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, wherein all network traffic associated with the first wireless client passes through the tunnel network connection, wherein the tunnel network connection enables the first wireless client to retain a network address associated with the current network subnet while connected with the first network subnet, if it is determined that the identifying information matches at least a portion of the stored predictive roaming information;

means for sending a query message identifying a home network subnet associated with the first wireless client, if it is determined that the identifying information does not match at least a portion of the stored predictive roaming information;

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

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.