Predictive and Nomadic Roaming of Wireless Clients Across Different Network Subnets

摘要

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.

主权项

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 is adapted to establish 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 adapted to identify wireless clients connected with the neighboring wireless 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 adapted to identify 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 adapted to establish 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.