MAINTAINING CONSISTENT NETWORK CONNECTIONS WHILE MOVING THROUGH WIRELESS NETWORKS

摘要

A proxy server provides an anchor point for access network changes in a wireless environment. One example embodiment uses the concept of proxy server in order to preserve a uniform connectivity to a gateway service node while roaming across different networks through a handover mechanism. In one embodiment, the client connects to a proxy server through one access network, and the proxy server manages and keeps track of the user session toward the gateway service node. The client then connects to any packet service network, including Internet, through the proxy. When the client moves from one network to another, it indicates the change to the proxy and proxy, using a handover mechanism, switches the access network while maintaining the user session toward the gateway service node. The handover mechanism involved is efficient, with minimal messaging overhead, and preserves the application layer IP address of the client. Therefore, the data connections do not suffer from interruptions due to roaming through different networks and the service is seamlessly continued.