VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK WITH MOBILE NODES

摘要

A virtual private network has an internal secured portion which connects to an external portion, the network via at least a first gateway and via a second gateway. There are a plurality of workstations including at least one mobile workstation in the external portion. The network automatically changes the point through which the mobile workstation communicates with the internal portion of the network from the first gateway to the second gateway, in response to movement of the mobile workstation. Context information is transferred to the second gateway. The context information includes an identifier of the mobile workstation and may also include material for defining secure communication means by which information is transferable securely between the mobile workstation in the external portion of the network and the internal portion of the network, via the second gateway.