Coordinating a transition of a roaming client between wireless access points using another client in physical proximity
US8102813B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 28, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jan 24, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W88/04
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Systems and methods for handling a transition of a roaming mobile user device (i.e., a roaming client) from one access point (AP) to a target AP, referred to herein as soft inter-AP handoff. This technique involves a second mobile user device that is already connected with the target AP, called a roaming coordinator, assisting in handoff coordination between the APs. This coordination includes assisting the roaming client in establishing a client-to-client connection to relay data traffic during the handoff, while the roaming client establishes a connection with the target AP using traditional techniques. Soft inter-AP handoff allows a faster hand-off between APs than traditional techniques, and may reduce jitter in communications with the roaming device during the transition.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.