Fast handover method, apparatus, and medium

Abstract

A fast handover apparatus, method, and medium for performing a fast handover in a wireless LAN environment. The fast handover method includes (a) determining whether a beacon signal input from an access point (AP) to a mobile node (MN) contains border information indicating that the AP is located at the border of its subnet, the AP connecting the MN to a wired network; and (b) selectively performing a handover between subnets based on the determination results obtained in (a). Accordingly, unnecessary communications between an MN and an AR are prevented by providing predetermined information, based on which the MN can determine whether to perform only an L 2 handover or both the L 2 handover and an L 3 handover.

1 . A repeater, which connects a mobile node and an access router, periodically broadcasting predetermined information for determining whether a handover in an IP layer is required to a cell in which the mobile node belongs. 
   
   
       2 . The repeater of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined information indicates that the repeater is located on a border of a subnet managed by the access router. 
   
   
       3 . The repeater of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined information is recorded in a reserved field of a capability information field of a frame body field of an IEEE 802.11 beacon frame. 
   
   
       4 . The repeater of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined information is recorded in a subtype field of a frame control field of an IEEE 802.11 management frame. 
   
   
       5 . A recording medium having recorded thereon a frame in which a repeater, connecting a mobile node and an access router, periodically broadcasts to a cell in which the mobile node belongs to, wherein the frame comprises predetermined information for determining whether the mobile node requires a handover in an IP layer. 
   
   
       6 . The recording medium of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined information indicates that the repeater is located on a border of a subnet managed by the access router. 
   
   
       7 . The recording medium of  claim 5 , wherein the frame is an IEEE802.11 beacon frame and the predetermined information is recorded in a reserved field of a capability information field of a frame body field of the IEEE 802.11 beacon frame. 
   
   
       8 . The recording medium of  claim 5 , wherein the frame is an IEEE 802.11 management frame and predetermined information is recorded in a subtype field of a frame control field of the IEEE 802.11 management frame.