Patent ID: 8102813

Claim:
A method of a roaming mobile user device transitioning from a first wireless access point to a second wireless access point, comprising: (a) when the roaming mobile user device is within range of the second wireless access point, the roaming mobile user device initiating a transition from the first wireless access point to the second wireless access point, the transition including a handoff of the roaming mobile user device from the first wireless access point to the second wireless access point, the handoff including terminating a connection between the roaming mobile user device and the first wireless access point, and establishing a new connection between the roaming mobile user device and the second wireless access point; (b) during the transition, the roaming mobile user device transmitting and receiving communications with the second wireless access point through a second mobile user device in physical proximity to the roaming mobile user device, the second mobile user device having a connection to the second wireless access point, the transmitting and receiving of communications with the second wireless access point through the second mobile user device being performed in parallel with and during the handoff of the roaming mobile user device from the first wireless access point to the second wireless access point, and being performed after the connection to the first wireless access point has been terminated and before the new connection to the second wireless access point has been established, wherein the act (b) comprises encrypting and/or decrypting data using one or more data encryption keys negotiated prior to the transition and wherein the act (b) comprises transmitting and receiving data with the second wireless access point through the second mobile user device during the transition; and (c) after completion of the transition from the first wireless access point to the second wireless access point, the roaming mobile user device terminating communications with the second wireless access point through the second mobile user device.