Abstract: Techniques are provided to support roaming of wireless devices in a network such that the wireless devices can keep their Internet Protocol (IP) addresses as they roam within and across mobility sub-domains. When a wireless device roams from one access switch to another access switch, a tunneling endpoint apparatus in the wireless device's home mobility sub-domain is configured to serve as the point of presence for the roamed wireless device. Traffic for the roamed wireless device is tunneled from the access switch where the wireless device has roamed (where it is currently attached) to the tunneling endpoint apparatus. When the wireless device roams across mobility sub-domains, then traffic is tunneled from the access switch where the wireless device is currently attached to the tunneling endpoint apparatus in that mobility sub-domain (called a “foreign” mobility sub-domain) to the tunneling endpoint apparatus in the wireless device's home mobility sub-domain.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for seamless integration of wired and wireless functionality packet forwarding in network. A plurality of access switches are provided in each of a plurality of mobility sub-domains that are part of a mobility domain of a network. Each access switch serves one or more Internet Protocol (IP) subnets, each comprising a plurality of IP addresses. An access switch obtains an IP address for a wireless device according to the one or more IP subnets that the access switch serves. The access switch sends an association advertisement message to indicate the IP address of the wireless device and to enable other access switches and routers to compute a path to the wireless device. When a wireless device obtains an IP address, it can keep the same IP address as it roams in the mobility domain.

Abstract: In one embodiment, detecting a wireless network access request, forwarding data associated with the detected wireless network access request to a first multipoint Generic Routing Encapsulation (mGRE) tunnel, receiving authentication information associated with the detected wireless network access request, receiving authentication status information for the detected wireless network access request, and forwarding data associated with the detected wireless network access request to a second multipoint Generic Routing Encapsulation (mGRE) tunnel connected to a predetermined internet protocol (IP) subnet when the received authentication status information includes a successful authentication, are provided.

Abstract: Method and system for providing continuous data forwarding during a failure mode in a wireless data network including detecting a control plane failure mode of a network switch, maintaining data path between one or more network entities with the network switch, detecting the network switch recovery from the control plane failure mode, and re-authenticating the one or more network entities over the data network is disclosed without disrupting data traffic forwarding.

Abstract: In one embodiment, detecting a wireless network access request, forwarding data associated with the detected wireless network access request to a first multipoint Generic Routing Encapsulation (mGRE) tunnel, receiving authentication information associated with the detected wireless network access request, receiving authentication status information for the detected wireless network access request, and forwarding data associated with the detected wireless network access request to a second multipoint Generic Routing Encapsulation (mGRE) tunnel connected to a predetermined internet protocol (IP) subnet when the received authentication status information includes a successful authentication, are provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for processing encrypted wireless station data at a network device includes receiving from an access point, one or more frames comprising wireless station data fragmented into a plurality of encrypted protocol data units. The frames are configured to identify the encrypted protocol units associated with the wireless station data. The method further includes decrypting the encrypted protocol data units and forwarding the wireless station data. An apparatus for processing encrypted wireless station data, a method for transmitting encrypted multicast data for a wireless client, and a method for processing encrypted wireless station data at an access point are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handoff of a wireless client from a first network device to a second network device in a wired network are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving data from a new wireless client at the second network device and transmitting a request for a route update for the new wireless client to the wired network. Prior to network convergence for the route update, data traffic for the new wireless client is received from the first network device and forwarded to the new wireless client. Context information for the new wireless client is transmitted from the second network device to other network devices in a proximity group of the second network device.

Abstract: Method and system for providing continuous data forwarding during a failure mode in a wireless data network including detecting a control plane failure mode of a network switch, maintaining data path between one or more network entities with the network switch, detecting the network switch recovery from the control plane failure mode, and re-authenticating the one or more network entities over the data network is disclosed without disrupting data traffic forwarding.