Systems and methods for reducing the amount of time required to reconnect to a computing network

A system for reducing the amount of time required for a computing device to reconnect to a computing network, the system comprising:

• a DHCP module programmed to initiate a DCHP request to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server;
• a network-access module programmed to, while waiting for the DHCP server to resolve the DHCP request:
• identify a prior IP address previously used by the computing device to access the computing network;
• use the prior IP address to reconnect to the same computing network prior to receiving a response to the DHCP request from DHCP server in order to reduce the amount of time required to reconnect to the computing network;
• a network-discovery module programmed to probe the computing network to ensure that the prior IP address is not currently in use by other devices within the computing network;
• wherein the network-access module is further programmed to:
• identify at least one process on the computing device that requires access to the computing network;
• estimate a connection length required by the process;
• determine, based on the connection length required by the process, whether to allow the process to access the computing network prior to resolution of the DHCP request;
• at least one memory device configured to store the DHCP module, the network-access module, and the network-discovery module;
• at least one processor configured to execute the DHCP module, the network-access module, and the network-discovery module.

A computer-readable memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to:

• initiate a DHCP request to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server;
• while waiting for the DHCP server to resolve the DHCP request:
• identify a prior IP address previously used by the computing device to access a computing network;
• probe the computing network to ensure that the prior IP address is not currently in use by other devices within the computing network;
• use the prior IP address to reconnect to the same computing network prior to receiving a response to the DHCP request from the DHCP server in order to reduce the amount of time required to reconnect to the computing network;
• identify at least one process on the computing device that requires access to the computing network;
• estimate a connection length required by the process;
• determine, based on the connection length required by the process, whether to allow the process to access the computing network prior to resolution of the DHCP request.