Patent ID: 8812833

Claim:
A network device comprising: a first physical layer (PHY) module configured to operate in a first frequency band; a second physical layer (PHY) module configured to operate in a second frequency band; a security module configured to establish security for the first frequency band responsive to the network device operating in the first frequency band, establish security for the second frequency band prior to the network device switching operation from the first frequency band to the second frequency band, and establish security for the first frequency band and the second frequency band via a single robust security network association (RSNA) authentication; and a session transfer module configured to transfer a session from the first frequency band to the second frequency band, wherein the session resumes in the second frequency band using the security established for the second frequency band prior to the network device switching operation from the first frequency band to the second frequency band, wherein the security module is configured to advertise multiband robust security network association (RSNA) capabilities and policies using (i) a robust security network information element (RSN IE) per frequency band, wherein the RSN IE includes a band identifier for respective frequency band, or (ii) a multiband information element having security suite information; negotiate and select the multiband robust security network association (RSNA) capabilities and policies via a four-way handshake message; and establish security for all frequency bands via the single robust security network association (RSNA) authentication.