Patent ID: 7969953

Claim:
One or more non-transitory computer-readable media (“media”) having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of allowing a mobile device to maintain communication connectivity with a first 802.11 compliant network (“WiFi network”) and a second WiFi network during a handoff between the first WiFi network and the second WiFi network, the method comprising: negotiating security association information with a routing device; creating a first encrypted communication tunnel to the routing device from a first software module within the mobile device using a first IP address, wherein the first IP address is assigned by a first wireless access point within the first WiFi network; establishing a first communication session between the mobile device and the first wireless access point within the first WiFi network through the first encrypted tunnel, wherein the first software module within the mobile device acts as a logical wireless interface between the mobile device and the first wireless access point; creating a second encrypted communication tunnel to the routing device from a second software module within the mobile device using a second IP address and the negotiated security association information, wherein the second IP address is assigned by a second wireless access point within the second WiFi network; establishing a second communication session between the mobile device and the second wireless access point within the second WiFi network through the second encrypted communication tunnel, wherein the second software module within the mobile device acts as a logical wireless interface between the mobile device and the second wireless access point; multiplexing data communicated through the first encrypted communication tunnel between the first software module and the first wireless access point and data communicated through the second encrypted communication tunnel between the second software module and the second wireless access point; communicating a data packet through the second encrypted communication tunnel between the second software module and the second wireless access point; and disabling the first encrypted communication tunnel after data packet is communicated through the second encrypted communication tunnel.