Wireless Re-authentication Bundling for Fast Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems experience significant delays due to the repetitive authentication process when a mobile access terminal moves from one access point to another, which is inefficient and time-consuming, especially in scenarios like hot-spot pass-through or toll stations where frequent connections are needed.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a method where a mobile access terminal bundles a re-authentication request with an upper layer message as an association request, reducing the number of messages exchanged during the re-authentication and link setup process by using Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) with rapid commit, enabling faster re-authentication and link setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile access terminal performs full authentication process with each access point, then security and authentication reliability are ensured, but connection setup time and message processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs full authentication in advance when the mobile access terminal first connects to the network, establishing authentication credentials that can be reused. When moving between access points, the terminal uses pre-established credentials for rapid re-authentication rather than performing full authentication again, thus maintaining security while reducing connection setup time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the authentication process into two distinct phases: initial full authentication that establishes security credentials, and subsequent rapid re-authentication that uses those credentials. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high security standards while significantly reducing the time required for handover between access points.
2Reliability
If the mobile access terminal exchanges multiple messages for re-authentication and link setup, then authentication security is maintained, but message processing time and network overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines re-authentication messages with link setup messages into a single integrated message exchange. Instead of sending separate messages for authentication verification and link establishment, the system merges these functions into one consolidated message flow, reducing the total number of roundtrip exchanges from 16 to just 1 while maintaining authentication security through the use of pre-established credentials.
3Reliability
If the system performs complete authentication and link setup procedures, then connection reliability is ensured, but the number of message exchanges and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time-consuming full authentication process from the regular handover procedure. The complete authentication is performed once initially and stored as reusable credentials, while subsequent handovers only require lightweight verification of these pre-established credentials. This extraction eliminates the need to repeat complex authentication sequences during normal operations, reducing message processing complexity while maintaining connection reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes generating at least one of a re-authorization request or a re-authentication with an extensible authentication protocol. The method also includes generating an upper layer message. The method further includes bundling the upper layer message and the least one of the re-authorization request or the re-authentication request as an association request. The method further includes transmitting the association request to an access point.