Roaming Network Stations Using A Mac Address Identifier To Select New Access Point
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
InventorMichael John Vidion Moreton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is disclosed a method of helping mobile stations such as voice over IP devices to roam between wireless access points, by each access point transmitting the MAC address of a spanning tree algorithm root switch of the local network domain. This MAC address is used by mobile stations to detect if two access points are in a common network domain.
Claims22
A method of enabling stations to roam between network access points, each access point belonging to one of a plurality of network domains, comprising:
- for each network domain, providing a unique domain identifier and transmitting said identifier across the domain for reception by said access points;
- each access point transmitting said identifier for reception by said stations;
- at a station, receiving identifiers from at least first and second access points;
- and
- at said station, comparing said received identifiers to determine if the first and second access points are in the same network domain.
A network comprising:
- a plurality of network domains, each domain having a unique domain identifier;
- a plurality of mobile stations;
- in each network domain, at least one access point, each access point being adapted to transmit said identifier for reception by said mobile stations,
- each station being adapted to receive identifiers from first and second access points and to compare said identifiers to determine if said first and second access points are in the same network domain.
A wireless mobile station adapted to receive unique network domain identifiers from at least first and second wireless access points, and to compare the identifiers to determine if the first and second access points are on the same network domain.
A wireless access point for use in any one of a plurality of network domains, adapted to receive from said domain a unique domain identifier and to transmit said identifier to mobile stations for determining if two different access points are on the same network domain.
A method of enabling mobile stations to roam between wireless network access points, each access point belonging to a domain of a network, comprising the steps of:
- operating a spanning tree algorithm on each domain such that access points in a common domain are aware of a single root switch for that domain;
- and
- each access point transmitting a MAC address of the root switch for reception by said mobile stations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.