Method for performing handoff in wireless network

a wireless network and wireless network technology, applied in the direction of data switching network, wireless commuication services, assess restrictions, etc., can solve the problems of additional delay in the handoff process, increased reassociation delay, and increased handoff latency, so as to minimize the latencies of hando

US20050141457A1Inactive Publication Date: 2005-06-30SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD +1
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2005-06-30
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

A method for minimizing handoff latencies when a handoff is performed in a wireless network. An access point (AP) or base station associated to a current wireless station (STA) allows information required for a reassociation to the STA to be propagated to handoff-capable neighboring APs or base stations. When the STA moves, a neighboring AP or base station performs the reassociation to the STA on the basis of context. When a handoff procedure is performed, the time taken to receive context of a corresponding STA is reduced, such that a fast handoff can be implemented.
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Description

PRIORITY

[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 703,516, which claims priority to a provisional application entitled “A METHOD FOR FAST AND SECURE WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK HANDOFFS”, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Nov. 8, 2002 and assigned Ser. No. 60 / 425,109, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

[0002] This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. 60NANB1D0113 awarded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The U.S. Government has certain rights in the invention.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a method for performing a handoff in a fast and secure wireless network, and more particularly to a method for minimizing handoff latencies.

[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0006] Conventionally, a local area network (LAN) is a collection of personal terminals, main fram...

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Embodiment Construction

[0042] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings. In the following description, the present invention proposes the preferred embodiment to achieve the above and other objects. However, other embodiments of the present invention can be drawn from the following description of the present invention.

[0043] According to an aspect of the present invention, a proactive caching technique is adopted to reduce a reassociation delay. In order for the proactive caching technique to be adopted, a procedure of propagating state information of a corresponding wireless station (STA), i.e., context, from a prior-access point (AP) to potential APs is performed irrespective of a handoff process. The potential APs are a set of APs with which the STA can associate from the prior AP of the STA. In order for the context of the STA to be sent to the potential APs as described above, the potential APs may be managed on each AP. Fo...