Method and apparatus for handoff of a connection between network devices

A network communication system, the system comprising:

• a first connection initiator device coupled to a network, having a first network address, and configured to communicate with a mobile client broadcasting within a first service area of the first connection initiator, the first connection initiator being further configured to receive a first connection request from the mobile client that includes a client identifier value for the mobile client and, responsive to the first connection request, obtain a second network address corresponding to the client identifier value and establish a first connection between the first and second network addresses, the first connection initiator being further configured to detect that the mobile client has left the first service area and, responsive thereto, transmit a disconnect message having a predetermined handoff code to the second network address and transmit a user moved message to a predetermined network broadcast address, where the user moved message includes a first set of call state information from the first connection initiator that pertains to the first connection;
• a connection endpoint device coupled to the network, having the second network address, and configured to establish the first connection between the first and second network addresses, the connection endpoint being further configured to receive the disconnect message having the predetermined handoff code and, responsive thereto, store a second set of call state information from the connection endpoint that pertains to the first connection along with the client identifier value, and the connection endpoint being still further configured to receive a handoff request message from a third network address, where the handoff request message contains the client identifier value, and, responsive thereto, retrieve the second set of call state information and establish a second connection between the second and third network addresses using the second set of call state information;
• and
• a second connection initiator device coupled to the network, having the third network address, the second connection initiator being configured to receive the user moved message transmitted to the predetermined network broadcast address and store the first set of call state information along with the client identifier value, the second connection initiator being further configured to communicate with the mobile client broadcasting within a second service area of the second connection initiator, receive a second connection request from the mobile client that includes the client identifier value, and, responsive thereto, retrieve the first set of call state information, send the tunnel handoff request message to the second network address, and establish the second connection between the second and third network addresses using the first set of call state information.