Patent ID: 7929948

Claim:
A method for secure communications in a wireless network, said wireless network including at least one sever and at least a first access point and a second access point, each of said first access point and said second access point being capable of providing to at least one station an access to said wireless network, said at least one station being capable of roaming from a first network access to a second network access, said at least one station being provided with said access to said wireless network by said first access point during said first network access, said at least one station being provided with said access to said wireless network by said second access point during said second network access, a first security key being generated in said wireless network during said first network access, said method comprising: sending, by said first access point, a second security key to said second access point, said second security key based at least in part on information contained in said first security key, said second key capable of being used by said second access point to accommodate a fast roaming, in which said second network access can be provided without acquiring a further security key from said server; and generating, by said first access point, a third security key, said third security key based at least in part on information contained in said first security key, said third security key capable of being used to establish a secure communication between said at least one station and said first access point.