System, apparatus and method for seamless roaming through the use of routing update messages

A method for managing seamless roaming of a wireless node of a plurality of nodes forming a wireless network, the method comprising:

• detecting, by a first node of the plurality of nodes, receipt of a Disassociation message from the wireless node, the Disassociation message being adapted to cease a current communication path between the first node and the wireless node in order to establish a new communication path between a second node of the plurality of nodes and the wireless node;
• recovering, by the first node, addressing information from the Disassociation message by extracting a media access control (MAC) address of the second node targeted for communications with the wireless node from the Disassociation message;
• placing, by the first node, the MAC address of the second node within a second message;
• and
• transmitting, by the first node, the second message to at least two of the plurality of nodes other than the first node and the second node, the second message being a Route Update message, the Route Update message comprises (i) a transaction identifier that identifies a communication session associated with the new communication path that differs from the current communication path, and (ii) the MAC address of the second node that the wireless node associates after roaming is completed.

A method for managing seamless roaming of a wireless third tier node being a battery powered electronics device with wireless connectivity between a plurality of second tier nodes partially forming a wireless network with one of the plurality of second tier nodes being a flat panel television, the method comprising:

• detecting receipt of a first message from the wireless third tier node by a second tier node of the plurality of second tier nodes, the first message being a Disassociation message and being adapted to disconnect communications for the second tier node with, the wireless third tier node during roaming at which time the wireless third tier node is seeking to establish a new communication path with a selected second tier node of the plurality of second tier nodes;
• recovering addressing information from the first message by the second tier node by analyzing one or more reserved fields within the Disassociation message, the addressing information identifying the selected second tier node of the plurality of second tier nodes;
• placing, by the second tier node, the addressing information extracted from the first message within a second message;
• and
• transmitting, by the second tier node, the second message to at least another second tier node of the plurality of nodes other than the second tier node and the selected second tier node, the second message being a Route Update message, the Route Update message comprises (i) a transaction identifier that identifies a communication session associated with the new communication path to be established with the selected second tier node, (ii) a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the selected second tier node that the third tier node is associated with after completing roaming.

A first wireless electronic device implemented within a network including a second wireless electronic device both operating as an access point in a wireless mesh network, the first wireless electronic device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations of
• detecting receipt of a first message from a wireless node that is disconnecting a communication path with the first wireless network, wherein the first message being either a Association message or a Disassociation message,
• recovering addressing information from the first message, the addressing information includes a media access control (MAC) address of the second wireless electronic device,
• placing the addressing information recovered from the first message within a second message, and
• transmitting the second message to other wireless electronic devices operating as access points within the wireless mesh network to update routing tables for the other wireless electronic devices, the second message being a Route Update message, the Route Update message comprises (i) a transaction identifier that identifies a communication session associated with a new communication path that differs from the current communication path, and (ii) the MAC address of the second wireless electronic device that the wireless node associates after roaming is completed.