Method and system for switching station in centralized WLAN when WPI is performed by access controller

A system for switching an station when a WPI is performed by an access controller in a centralized WLAN, wherein the switching system comprises the access controller, a destination wireless terminal point, an associated wireless terminal point and the station, the station is re-associated with the access controller through the destination wireless terminal point, the access controller instructs the associated wireless terminal point to delete the station, and the access controller instructs the destination wireless terminal point to add the station,

• wherein the station listens passively to a beacon frame of the destination wireless terminal point and acquires parameters of the destination wireless terminal point including a WAPI information element which comprises suites of WAI authentication and key management and suites of ciphers supported by the destination wireless terminal point;
• or
• the station transmits actively a probe request frame to the destination wireless terminal point, the destination wireless terminal point transmits a probe response frame to the station upon reception of the probe request frame of the station, and the station acquires relevant parameters of the destination wireless terminal point comprising a WAPI information element which comprises suites of WAI authentication and key management and suites of ciphers supported by the destination wireless terminal point upon reception of the probe response frame;
• in a local MAC mode, the station transmits a link authentication request frame to the destination wireless terminal point to request for verifying a link to the destination wireless terminal point, and the destination wireless terminal point transmits a link authentication response frame to the station in response to the link authentication request frame of the station;
• or in a split MAC mode, the station transmits a link authentication request frame to the access controller to request for verifying a link to the access controller, and the access controller transmits a link authentication response frame to the station in response to the link authentication request frame of the station;
• and
• upon successful verification of the link, the station transmits a re-association request frame containing an identifier of the currently associated wireless terminal point, an identifier of the access controller and an WAPI information element to the access controller to request for being re-associated with the access controller, wherein the WAPI information element determines a suite of WAI authentication and key management and a suite of ciphers selected by the station, which are the same as those suites selected by the station upon initial association with the access controller, and the access controller parses the re-association request frame of the station and transmitting a re-association response frame to the station.

A method for switching a station when a WPI is performed by an access controller in a centralized WLAN, comprising:

• a step 1 of re-associating the station with the access controller through a destination wireless terminal point;
• a step 2 of the access controller instructing an associated wireless terminal point to delete the station;
• and
• a step 3 of the access controller instructing the destination wireless terminal point to add the station,
• wherein the step 1 comprises:
• a step 11 of the station transmitting actively a probe request frame to the destination wireless terminal point, the destination wireless terminal point transmitting a probe response frame to the station upon reception of the probe request frame of the station, and the station acquiring relevant parameters of the destination wireless terminal point comprising a WAPI information element which comprises suites of WAI authentication and key management and suites of ciphers supported by the destination wireless terminal point upon reception of the probe response frame;
• a step 12 of the station, in a local MAC mode, transmitting a link authentication request frame to the destination wireless terminal point to request for verifying a link to the destination wireless terminal point, and the destination wireless terminal point transmitting a link authentication response frame to the station in response to the link authentication request frame of the station;
• or in a split MAC mode, transmitting a link authentication request frame to the access controller to request for verifying a link to the access controller, and the access controller transmitting a link authentication response frame to the station in response to the link authentication request frame of the station;
• and
• a step 13 of the station, upon successful verification of the link, transmitting a re-association request frame containing an identifier of the currently associated wireless terminal point, an identifier of the access controller and an WAPI information element to the access controller to request for being re-associated with the access controller, wherein the WAPI information element determines a suite of WAI authentication and key management and a suite of ciphers selected by the station, which are the same as those suites selected by the station upon initial association with the access controller, and the access controller parsing the re-association request frame of the station and transmitting a re-association response frame to the station.