Patent ID: 7315519

Claim:
In a wireless local area network (“WLAN”) which includes a Layer- 2 entity, a method for assigning an internet protocol (“IP”) address to a mobile terminal upon entering a basic service area (“BSA”) served by said Layer- 2 entity, comprising: said Layer- 2 entity determining, on behalf of said mobile terminal, whether said mobile terminal should continue using a current IP address or begin using a new IP address; and if said Layer- 2 entity determines that said mobile terminal should continue using said current IP address, said Layer- 2 entity issuing an instruction, to said mobile terminal, to continue using said current IP address; and said mobile terminal issuing a Layer- 2 service request to said Layer- 2 entity upon entering said BSA; said Layer- 2 entity determining whether said mobile terminal should continue using said current IP address or begin using a new IP address from said Layer- 2 entity, wherein said Layer- 2 service request is formatted to include a current IP address field.