Patent ID: 8077682
Filing Date: 2011-12-13
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A communications system, comprising: a gateway connected to a wired network; and a plurality of access points associated with, and controlled by, the gateway, wherein each access point is configured (a) to wirelessly communicate with and receive association requests from wireless clients for connection to the wired network through the access point (b) to send session information requests to the gateway in response to received association requests and (c) to process session information setting commands received from the gateway, wherein the gateway is configured (i) to maintain session information that currently exists for each wireless client connected to the wired network through an access point associated with the gateway, the session information including a session key associated with each wireless client and an associated access point, and (ii) to respond to a session information request from a given access point by providing that access point with currently existing session information, if any, maintained by the gateway for the wireless client requesting association with that access point; and wherein each access point is configured to maintain the session key per associated wireless client.