Wireless backhauling system using a mono-tunnel for fast-moving mobile domains

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more network interfaces, wherein at least one interface is connected to a Layer-3 network;
• a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and configured to execute one or more processes;
• and
• a memory configured to store a process that is executable by the processor, the process when executed configured to:
• form a first Layer-2 tunnel between the apparatus and a first wireless access point, and a second Layer-2 tunnel between the apparatus and a second wireless access point, wherein the first wireless access point communicates wirelessly with a first mobile node of a mobile system via a first wireless connection, wherein the mobile system comprises a mobile domain that is connected to a plurality of onboard devices;
• generate a mapping that associates at least one onboard device of the mobile system with the first wireless access point and an identifier for the mobile system, based on traffic conveyed via the first Layer-2 tunnel and associated with the onboard device, wherein the first wireless access point adds a Layer-2 tunnel header to the traffic that indicates the identifier for the mobile system;
• receive, from the second wireless access point via the second Layer-2 tunnel, an indication that the mobile system is roaming from the first wireless connection to a second wireless connection between the second wireless access point and a second mobile node of the mobile system, the indication including the identifier for the mobile system, wherein the second mobile node of the mobile system notifies the second wireless access point that the mobile system is roaming to the second wireless access point, in part by sending the identifier for the mobile system to the second wireless access point;
• and
• update the mapping to associate the onboard device of the mobile system with the second wireless access point, based on the indication that the mobile system is roaming.

A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program instructions that cause a gateway to a Layer-3 network to execute a process comprising:

• forming, by the gateway to the Layer-3 network, a first Layer-2 tunnel between the gateway and a first wireless access point, and a second Layer-2 tunnel between the gateway and a second wireless access point, wherein the first wireless access point communicates wirelessly with a first mobile node of a mobile system via a first wireless connection, wherein the mobile system comprises a mobile domain that is connected to a plurality of onboard devices;
• generating, by the gateway, a mapping that associates at least one onboard device of the mobile system with the first wireless access point and an identifier for the mobile system, based on traffic conveyed via the first Layer-2 tunnel and associated with the onboard device, wherein the first wireless access point adds a Layer-2 tunnel header to the traffic that indicates the identifier for the mobile system;
• receiving, at the gateway and from the second wireless access point via the second Layer-2 tunnel, an indication that the mobile system is roaming from the first wireless connection to a second wireless connection between the second wireless access point and a second mobile node of the mobile system, the indication including the identifier for the mobile system, wherein the second mobile node of the mobile system notifies the second wireless access point that the mobile system is roaming to the second wireless access point, in part by sending the identifier for the mobile system to the second wireless access point;
• and
• updating, by the gateway, the mapping to associate the onboard device of the mobile system with the second wireless access point, based on the indication that the mobile system is roaming.