Patent ID: 7669230

Claim:
A method for switching a wireless client between a plurality of access points in a network, the method comprising: performing an authentication procedure with the wireless client and a first access point in the network; the first access point generating encryption key information during the authentication procedure; broadcasting the encryption key information from the first access point to a plurality of other access points in the network, including a second access point; the wireless client contacting the second access point within a predetermined time period after the broadcasting step; encrypting data with the wireless client, using the encryption key information, to obtain encrypted data; communicating the encrypted data between the wireless client and the second access point; decrypting the encrypted data with the second access point, using the encryption key information received from the first access point; after decrypting the encrypted data with the second access point, performing a re-authentication procedure with the wireless client and the second access point; the second access point generating second encryption key information during the re-authentication procedure; and broadcasting the second encryption key information from the second access point to a plurality of other access points in the network.