Patent ID: 7586879
Filing Date: 2009-09-08
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of allowing a client to roam from a first wireless access node to a second wireless access node within a wireless network, the method comprising: providing the client by a first access node, a first communication path to and from a destination; the client roaming from the first wireless access node to the second wireless access node; detecting the client by the second access node, seeking access to the system, the second wireless access node wirelessly connected to a back bone network through a second gateway; requesting client information by the second access node, including an IP address of the client from the second gateway, the request including a MAC address of the client; performing a look up by the second gateway, of an anti-address resolution protocol (AARP) table, obtaining the IP address of the client based on the MAC address of the client; receiving by the second wireless access node, the IP address of the client from the second gateway; providing by the second wireless access node, the client a second communication path to and from the destination, the second communication path able to include wired and wireless communication links; and aiding in routing of information through the second communication path between the client and the destination based upon detection of the client; wherein if the second gateway does not have the client information, then the second gateway requests the client information from another gateway; and wherein if none of the gateways have information regarding the client, then an IP address of the client is obtained by the first wireless access node by at least one of: pinging the broadcast address, snooping IP datagrams originating from a MAC address of the client, the first wireless access node inspecting a DHCP acknowledgment packet.