Method and apparatus for providing mobile and other intermittent connectivity in a computing environment

A method, performed by a computing device while the computing device is operational, for enabling secure data communication over at least one data communication network or subnetwork of the type that carries Internet Protocol (IP) data, said method comprising:

• establishing access to at least one data communications network or subnetwork carrying IP data;
• using said network or subnetwork access to establish secure data communications with another computing device;
• disassociating access from said network or subnetwork;
• subsequent to said disassociating step, reestablishing access to said network or subnetwork;
• participating in a DHCP process with said network or subnetwork;
• learning, at least in part in response to said DHCP process, that said computing device has reestablished access to said network or subnetwork;
• based at least in part on said learning, informing said another computing device of said reestablished access;
• and
• using said reestablished access to continue said secure data communications with said another computing device.

A method for allowing a mobile computing device to move between plural IP-based networks, comprising:

• connecting the mobile computing device to at least one network;
• using a dynamically-supplied IP address to enable secure data communications providing application and/or transport layer sessions between said mobile computing device and another computing device;
• then migrating the mobile computing device to a further network while said mobile computing device is operational;
• determining, based at least in part on a DHCP process performed on said further network, that said mobile computing device may have moved;
• and
• in response to said determining, taking further action to continue said secure data communications including said application and/or transport layer sessions between said moved mobile computing device and said another computing device over said further network without terminating said application and/or transport layer sessions.

A method for allowing a mobile computing device to roam across IP-based networks, comprising:

• connecting the mobile computing device to at least one network medium used for data communications;
• using a network layer address to facilitate secure IP-based data communications including application and/or transport layer sessions between said mobile computing device and another computing device at least in part via said network medium;
• then connecting the mobile computing device to a further network medium without first rebooting said mobile computing device;
• performing a DHCP process over said further network medium;
• discovering, based at least in part on said DHCP process, that said mobile computing device has roamed;
• and
• based at least in part on said discovering, using a further network layer address to continue said secure IP-based data communications between said mobile computing device and said another computing device without terminating application and transport layer sessions therebetween.

A system for enabling secure data communication comprising:

• plural data communication networks or subnetworks of the type that carry Internet Protocol (IP) data;
• a mobile computing device that, while operational, roams among said plural data communication networks or subnetworks;
• and
• another computing device that communicates with said mobile computing device via said plural data communications networks or subnetworks,
• wherein said mobile computing device comprises:
• at least one wireless data communications device for establishing access to said at least one data communications network or subnetwork carrying IP data and for using said network or subnetwork to institute secure wireless data communications with said another computing device, and upon said mobile computing device wirelessly roaming while operational to a further network or subnetwork carrying IP data, for establishing access with said further network or subnetwork to enable said mobile computing device to communicate over said further network or subnetwork,
• a listener that participates in a DHCP process with said further network or subnetwork;
• a detector coupled to said listener, said detector learning, at least in part in response to said DHCP process, that said mobile computing device is enabled to communicate over said further network or subnetwork and, based at least in part on said learning, using said access to said further network or subnetwork to continue said secure data communications between the mobile computing device and said another computing device.