CN104053199B - Method, handover management device and wireless network in wireless local inter-network handover - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for switching between wireless local area networks, a switching management device, and a wireless network, which are applied to a roaming management module. The wireless network includes a first wireless local area network and a second wireless local area network. The first wireless local area network includes a first controller. , the second wireless local area network includes a second controller, the client is initially located in the first wireless local area network; receiving a switch request and source location information from the second controller of the second wireless local area network, the source location information records that the source location of the client is the first wireless local area network A wireless local area network; confirming that the client has been switched with the first controller; synchronizing the synchronization related data of the client from the first controller to the second controller; assigning the client to the second wireless local area network at the second controller, After establishing a connection with the client and publishing the routing information that the client is located in the second wireless local area network, receiving the established connection information returned by the second controller. No additional resource synchronization is required for roaming clients.

Description

Method for switching between wireless local area networks, switching management device and wireless network

technical field

The invention relates to wireless network technology, in particular to a method for switching between wireless local area networks, a switching management device and a wireless network.

Background technique

The wireless local area network (WLAN, Wireless Local Area Networks) access system includes an access point (AP, Access Point) and a wireless controller (AC, Access Controller). The wireless control function module of the AC mainly includes radio frequency resource management, and the AP includes management , handover control, security function, and wireless service control and other five parts. The wireless controller completes WLAN user access control, billing information collection, and wireless service management and control. The AC serves as the authentication point for WLAN user access and is connected to the Only authenticated users can access external networks or application servers through the WLAN access network.

In WLAN wireless network applications, three-layer handover includes: the wireless access part manages a certain area as a hotspot, the same or a group of ACs can manage different hotspots or APs, and a hotspot can only belong to one or a group of ACs , Install several ACs within a city. Handover refers to the change of the access point caused by the movement of the Internet user between different APs or different hotspots, and it is necessary to ensure that the service will not be interrupted.

Layer 2 switching includes: the premise of a client switching between 2 APs or multiple APs is that these APs are bound to the same service set identifier (SSID, Service Set Identifier) and the service VLANs are all in the same VLAN , that is, in the same IP address segment, the access attributes of the client, such as the service VLAN to which the client belongs and the obtained IP address, will not change during the switching process, so as to achieve a smooth transition without packet loss or disconnection. Line reconnection phenomenon.

As shown in Figure 1, Layer 2 handover under the same wireless controller AC: the source AP (AP1) and the destination AP (AP2) are on the same AC, the broadcast SSID is the same and they are in the same VLAN. When the client moves from AP1 to the coverage area of AP2, the client's IP and encryption are maintained by the AC. During the switching process, no IP change or re-authentication occurs, only the wireless channel changes.

Layer-3 switching includes: the premise that a client switches between two APs or multiple APs is that these APs are bound to the same SSID and the service VLANs are not in the same VLAN, that is, they are located in different IP address network segments. During the roaming handover process, the access attributes of the client, such as the service VLAN to which the client belongs and the obtained IP address, will change.

As shown in Figure 2, the three-layer handover under the same wireless controller AC: the source AP (AP1) and the destination AP (AP2) are on the same AC, and the broadcast SSID is the same but in different WLANs. When a client moves from AP1 coverage to AP2 coverage, the AC sees the client as still connected from the original VLAN, allowing the client to maintain its original IP and support established IP communications.

When the client roams from the original SSID under WLAN 1 to the same SSID under WLAN 2, its IP will not change due to the change of WLAN, but will still communicate with the original IP in WLAN 1 .

As shown in Figure 3, Layer 3 handover across wireless controllers AC is used when the controllers are divided into different wireless LANs, including:

In addition to passing the authentication information, it is also necessary to ensure that the IP address remains unchanged. When the client moves from the source AP (AP1) of a wireless LAN to the destination AP (AP2) of another wireless LAN, a private communication tunnel will be established between the two ACs, and the source AC (AC1) will transfer the relevant information of the client (IP address, authentication information, etc.) are passed to the destination AC (AC2) through the communication tunnel, and AC2 keeps the client’s IP address unchanged, but for the upper network side, AC1 still maintains the client’s IP address at this time. The data for this IP address will first go to AC1, AC1 forwards the data to AC2 through the communication tunnel, AC2 sends the data to the client, when the client sends data to the network side, AC2 forwards the data to AC1, and passes the data to AC1 sent to the network side.

The client's original SSID under VLAN100 of AC1 roams to the same SSID under VLAN200 of AC2. The client's IP will not change due to the change of VLAN, and it still communicates with the IP in VLAN100.

The above technologies use equipment provided by the same manufacturer to form a network, which is limited by the number of AC ports and equipment processing performance, and the switching function is mainly completed when the number of AC groups is small.

The existing technology has the following problems: the number of network ports of the AC is generally 8 to dozens, and a large number of network ports and transmission resources are occupied by the mesh connection, and data synchronization information and routing configuration information will also occupy the resources of the AC; The devices use different protocols, so switching between ACs is limited to devices from the same manufacturer. For a service area, there are nearly a hundred sets of ACs, and it is difficult to form a network when the hundreds of sets of ACs are provided by several manufacturers.

Contents of the invention

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for switching between wireless local area networks, a switching management device, and a wireless network to solve the problem that in the prior art, when there are many ACs in a wireless network, the mesh connection and synchronization between ACs will take up A flaw in the massive resources of AC.

In order to solve the above technical problems, the embodiment of the present invention provides a method for switching between wireless local area networks, which is applied to the roaming management module in the wireless network. The wireless network also includes: a first wireless local area network, a second wireless local area network, a first wireless local area network The local area network includes a first controller, the second wireless local area network includes a second controller, and the client is initially located in the first wireless local area network; the method includes: receiving a switch request and source location information from the second controller of the second wireless local area network, the The source location information records that the source location of the client is the first wireless local area network; confirming that the client has switched with the first controller; synchronizing the synchronization related data of the client from the first controller to the second controller; The second controller assigns the client to the second wireless local area network, establishes a connection with the client, and after releasing the routing information that the client is located in the second wireless local area network, receives the established connection information returned by the second controller.

In the method, after receiving the established connection information returned by the second controller, the method further includes: notifying the first controller to disconnect the client.

In the method, after receiving the established connection information returned by the second controller, the method further includes: notifying the billing system that the authentication point is the second controller.

In the method, confirming that the client has switched with the first controller specifically includes: the roaming management module sends a client switching confirmation request to the first controller; receives a confirmation reply returned by the first controller; The controller sends a message confirming switching with the first controller.

In the method, synchronizing the synchronization-related data of the client from the first controller to the second controller specifically includes: synchronizing session information and user information as the synchronization-related data from the first controller to the second controller controller.

A switch management device, applied to a wireless network, the wireless network further includes: a first wireless local area network, a second wireless local area network, the first wireless local area network includes a first controller, the second wireless local area network includes a second controller, and a client Initially located in the first wireless local area network; the roaming management module includes: a handover request unit, configured to receive a handover request and source location information from a second controller of the second wireless local area network, and the source location information records that the source location of the client is the first A wireless local area network; a confirmation unit, used to confirm with the first controller that the client has switched; a synchronization unit, used to synchronize the synchronization related data of the client from the first controller to the second controller; and the controller an interaction unit, configured to receive a response from the second controller after the second controller assigns the client to the second wireless local area network, establishes a connection with the client, and publishes routing information that the client is located in the second wireless local area network. information about the established connection.

The device further includes: a charging interaction unit, configured to notify the charging system that the authentication point is the second controller after receiving the established connection information returned by the second controller.

In the device, the synchronization unit includes: a session synchronization unit, configured to synchronize session information as the synchronization related data from the first controller to the second controller; a user synchronization unit, configured to use user information as the synchronization data. Relevant data is synchronized from the first controller to the second controller.

A wireless network, comprising: a roaming management module, a first wireless local area network, a second wireless local area network, the first wireless local area network includes a first controller, the second wireless local area network includes a second controller, and a client is initially located in the first wireless local area network; The roaming management module includes: a handover request unit, configured to receive a handover request from a second controller of the second wireless local area network and source location information, the source location information records that the source location of the client is the first wireless local area network; a confirmation unit, It is used to confirm with the first controller that the client has been switched; the synchronization unit is used to synchronize the synchronization related data of the client from the first controller to the second controller; the interaction unit with the controller is used for The second controller assigns the client to the second wireless local area network, establishes a connection with the client, and after releasing the routing information that the client is located in the second wireless local area network, receives the established connection information returned by the second controller.

In the wireless network, the synchronization unit includes: a session synchronization unit, configured to synchronize session information as the synchronization related data from the first controller to the second controller; a user synchronization unit, configured to use user information as the synchronization related data. Synchronization related data is synchronized from the first controller to the second controller.

The beneficial effects of the technical solution of the present invention are as follows: during the roaming process of the client, a unified roaming management module is used to realize the synchronization of the client between different wireless local area networks, and the network side directly communicates with the client in the current wireless local area network after the handover is successful. Therefore, the AC in the wireless network does not need to implement a mesh connection with other ACs and synchronize and transmit data based on the mesh connection, which saves the resources of the AC and the wireless network.

Description of drawings

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the principle of Layer 2 handover under the same wireless controller AC;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the principle of three-layer handover under the same wireless controller AC;

Fig. 3 shows the schematic diagram of the principle of three-layer switching across controllers;

Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the principle of a method for implementing client switching between different wireless local area networks;

Fig. 5 shows a schematic flow chart of switching from the first wireless local area network to the second wireless local area network.

Detailed ways

In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and advantages to be solved by the present invention clearer, the following will describe in detail with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

The present invention relates to three-layer switching across ACs. The ACs in the wireless network do not distinguish between manufacturers and models, and use a set of broadband authentication and billing system and the same SSID. The AC has the function of Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS, Broadband Remote Access Server) , which is also applicable to the situation where the BRAS and AC are separated.

As shown in Figure 4, the wireless network includes: national-level billing system, national-level Radius/Portal server, roaming service provider server, connected to various provincial networks through the national backbone network;

Provincial network includes: provincial billing system, provincial Radius/Portal server, connected to each metropolitan area network through provincial backbone network;

The metropolitan area network includes: transmission network, the transmission network adopts AC to access the metropolitan area network, and each transmission network accesses different clients through AP.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a method for switching between wireless local area networks, which is applied to a roaming management module (SMM, Switch Management Module) in the wireless network. As shown in FIG. 5, the wireless network includes: a first wireless local area network and a second wireless local area network In a local area network, the first wireless local area network includes a first controller, the second wireless local area network includes a second controller, and the client is initially located in the first wireless local area network;

Methods include:

Step 1, receiving a handover request and source location information from the second controller of the second wireless local area network, the source location information records that the source location of the client is the first wireless local area network;

Step 2, confirming with the first controller that the client has switched;

Step 3, synchronizing the synchronization-related data of the client from the first controller to the second controller;

Step 4: After the second controller assigns the client to the second wireless local area network, establishes a connection with the client, and publishes the routing information that the client is located in the second wireless local area network, receive the information returned by the second controller. Establish connection information.

Using the provided technology, during the roaming process of the client, a unified roaming management module is used to realize the synchronization of the client between different wireless LANs. Therefore, the AC in the wireless network does not need to implement a mesh connection with other ACs and synchronize and transmit data based on the mesh connection, which saves the resources of the AC and the wireless network.

The network networking mode is consistent with the existing network, but a roaming management module SMM is added to the network (for example, deployed in a broadband authentication and billing system). In the technology provided by the embodiment, the main functions of the SMM include: receiving the AC before switching The transmitted information is the success information; the SMM receives the handover request, transmits the synchronization related data of the client to the switched AC, and receives the success information; and, the SMM is responsible for the change of the roaming handover route between ACs.

In a preferred embodiment, after receiving the established connection information returned by the second controller, it further includes: notifying the first controller to disconnect the client.

In a preferred embodiment, the switching request is sent by the client to an AP connected to the client, and sent by the AP to the second controller.

There is a network connection between the roaming management module and the billing system.

In a preferred embodiment, after receiving the established connection information returned by the second controller, it further includes:

The billing system is informed that the authentication point is the second controller.

In a preferred embodiment, confirming with the first controller that the client has switched, specifically includes:

The roaming management module sends a client switching confirmation request to the first controller;

receiving a confirmation answer returned by the first controller;

Sending a message to the second controller that the handover has been confirmed with the first controller.

In a preferred embodiment, synchronizing the synchronization-related data of the client from the first controller to the second controller specifically includes:

Session information and user information are synchronized from the first controller to the second controller as the synchronization related data.

After the second controller assigns the client to the second wireless local area network, establishes a connection with the client, and publishes the routing information that the client is located in the second wireless local area network, the data sent by the network side to the client's IP address will be sent to the second controller.

In an application scenario, as shown in Figure 5, the process of switching the client from the first wireless local area network (VLAN100) to the second wireless local area network (VLAN200) includes:

Step 1, the client roams from the source AP to the destination AP.

Step 2, the client sends a handover request to the destination AC through the destination AP and provides source location information.

Step 3, the destination AC sends a handover request and provides source location information to the roaming management module SMM.

In step 4, the SMM sends a client handover confirmation request to the source AC.

Step 5, the source AC sends a confirmation reply to the SMM.

In step 6, the SMM sends a message to the destination AC that the handover has been confirmed with the source AC.

Step 7, with the cooperation of SMM, the source AC synchronizes the information to the destination AC, that is, synchronizes the client's synchronization-related data from the first controller to the second controller, specifically including: using session information and user information as the synchronization-related Data is synchronized from the first controller to the second controller.

In step 8, the destination AC generates user information and assigns a VLAN to the client, that is, assigns the client to the second wireless local area network, and activates the client.

Step 9: The destination AC establishes a connection with the client, publishes new routing information, and the data sent from the network side to the client will be sent to AC2, which will then be sent to the client through AP2.

Step 10, the destination AC sends connected information to the SMM.

In step 11, the SMM sends disconnection information to the source AC.

Step 12, disconnect the source AC from the client.

When a client roams from a source AP (AP1) of a WLAN to a destination AP (AP2) of another WLAN, a communication tunnel will be established between the two ACs and the SMM.

The source AC (AC1) will pass the client's relevant information (IP address, authentication information, etc.) to the destination AC (AC2) through the communication tunnel. AC2 will keep the client's IP address unchanged, but the authentication point will change and notify the billing at the same time System changes or registration of certification points. For the upper network side, the route with the client IP address of AC1 needs to be changed to AC2, and all data sent to this IP address is changed to AC2.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a handover management device, which is applied to a wireless network. The wireless network further includes: a first wireless local area network and a second wireless local area network. The first wireless local area network includes a first controller, and the second wireless local area network includes a second wireless local area network. a controller, the client is initially located in the first wireless local area network;

The roaming management module includes:

A handover request unit, configured to receive a handover request from the second controller of the second wireless local area network and source location information, the source location information records that the source location of the client is the first wireless local area network;

A confirmation unit, configured to confirm with the first controller that the client has switched;

a synchronization unit, configured to synchronize the synchronization-related data of the client from the first controller to the second controller;

an interaction unit with the controller, configured to receive the second WLAN after the second controller assigns the client to the second WLAN, establishes a connection with the client, and publishes routing information that the client is located in the second WLAN. Established connection information returned by the controller.

In a preferred embodiment, also include:

The charging interaction unit is configured to notify the charging system that the authentication point is the second controller after receiving the established connection information returned by the second controller.

In a preferred embodiment, the confirmation unit includes:

a request sending unit, configured to send a client switching confirmation request to the first controller;

A confirmation receiving unit, configured to receive a confirmation answer returned by the first controller;

A message sending unit, configured to send a message to the second controller confirming that the handover has been confirmed with the first controller.

In a preferred embodiment, the synchronization unit includes:

a session synchronization unit, configured to synchronize session information as said synchronization related data from the first controller to the second controller;

A user synchronization unit, configured to synchronize user information as the synchronization related data from the first controller to the second controller.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless network, as shown in Figure 4, including: a roaming management module, a first wireless local area network, a second wireless local area network, the first wireless local area network includes a first controller, and the second wireless local area network includes a second controller device, the client is initially located in the first wireless local area network;

The roaming management module includes:

A handover request unit, configured to receive a handover request from the second controller of the second wireless local area network and source location information, the source location information records that the source location of the client is the first wireless local area network;

A confirmation unit, configured to confirm with the first controller that the client has switched;

a synchronization unit, configured to synchronize the synchronization-related data of the client from the first controller to the second controller;

an interaction unit with the controller, configured to receive the second WLAN after the second controller assigns the client to the second WLAN, establishes a connection with the client, and publishes routing information that the client is located in the second WLAN. Established connection information returned by the controller.

In a preferred embodiment, the synchronization unit includes:

a session synchronization unit, configured to synchronize session information as said synchronization related data from the first controller to the second controller;

A user synchronization unit, configured to synchronize user information as the synchronization related data from the first controller to the second controller.

The advantage of adopting this solution is that the unified roaming management module SMM is used to manage the client to switch between different wireless LANs. Even in the case of many ACs, the synchronization process will not be affected: SMM and the first controller Establish control tunnels with the second controller through routers respectively. The source AC uses the session information and user information of the client as synchronization related data from the first controller to the second controller through the control tunnel and SMM synchronization, and the destination AC generates user information. Assign a VLAN to the client and establish a connection with the client; the SMM informs the billing system that the subsequent authentication point is the second controller, and the second controller is responsible for sending and receiving data with the client, so that each AC does not need to consider the connection with the client. Other ACs establish communication and data paths based on mesh connections, without providing additional resources for roaming clients to achieve synchronization.

The above description is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be pointed out that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the principle of the present invention, some improvements and modifications can also be made, and these improvements and modifications can also be made. It should be regarded as the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (6)

1. A kind of 1. method in wireless local inter-network handover, applied to the roaming management module in wireless network, it is characterised in that Wireless network further includes：First WLAN, the second WLAN, the first WLAN include the first controller, the Two WLANs include second controller, and client is initially located at the first WLAN；

   Method includes：

   Receive the handover request and source location information of the second controller from the second WLAN, the source location information note The source position for having carried client is the first WLAN；

   Confirm that client has switched between the first controller, including：Roaming management module sends client to the first controller End switching confirmation request；The confirmation for receiving the return of the first controller is answered；To second controller send with the first controller Between confirm switching message；

   The synchronous related data of the client is synchronized to second controller from the first controller, including：By session information and User information is synchronized to second controller as the synchronous related data from the first controller；

   The client is distributed to the second WLAN in second controller, establishes and connects with the client, and send out Cloth client is located at after the routing iinformation of the second WLAN, and receive second controller return has established link information.
2. 2. according to the method described in claim 1, it is characterized in that, receive second controller return established link information it After further include：

   Notify to take out stitches between the first controller and client.
3. 3. according to the method described in claim 1, it is characterized in that, receive second controller return established link information it After further include：

   Notify charge system, authentication points are second controllers.
4. 4. a kind of handover management device, it is characterised in that applied to wireless network, the wireless network further includes：First is wireless LAN, the second WLAN, the first WLAN include the first controller, and the second WLAN includes the second control Device, client are initially located at the first WLAN；

   Roaming management module includes：

   Handover request unit, for receiving the handover request and source position letter of the second controller from the second WLAN Breath, the source position that the source location information describes client is the first WLAN；

   Confirmation unit, for confirming that client has switched between the first controller, including：Roaming management module is controlled to first Device processed sends client switching confirmation request；The confirmation for receiving the return of the first controller is answered；Sent to second controller The message of switching is confirmed between the first controller；

   Synchronization unit, for the synchronous related data of the client to be synchronized to second controller from the first controller；It is synchronous Unit includes：

   Session synchronization unit, for being synchronized to the second control from the first controller using session information as the synchronous related data Device；User's synchronization unit, for being synchronized to the second control from the first controller using user information as the synchronous related data Device；

   It is and described for distributing the client to the second WLAN in second controller with controller interactive unit Client establishes connection, and issue client terminal is located at after the routing iinformation of the second WLAN, receives second controller What is returned has established link information.
5. 5. device according to claim 4, it is characterised in that further include：

   Charging interactive unit, for receive second controller return established link information after, notify charge system certification Point is second controller.
6. A kind of 6. wireless network, it is characterised in that including：Roaming management module, the first WLAN, the second wireless local Net, the first WLAN include the first controller, and the second WLAN includes second controller, and client is initially located at One WLAN；

   Roaming management module includes：

   Handover request unit, for receiving the handover request and source position letter of the second controller from the second WLAN Breath, the source position that the source location information describes client is the first WLAN；

   Confirmation unit, for confirming that client has switched between the first controller, including：Roaming management module is controlled to first Device processed sends client switching confirmation request；The confirmation for receiving the return of the first controller is answered；Sent to second controller The message of switching is confirmed between the first controller；

   Synchronization unit, for the synchronous related data of the client to be synchronized to second controller from the first controller；

   It is and described for distributing the client to the second WLAN in second controller with controller interactive unit Client establishes connection, and issue client terminal is located at after the routing iinformation of the second WLAN, receives second controller What is returned has established link information；

   Synchronization unit includes：

   Session synchronization unit, for being synchronized to the second control from the first controller using session information as the synchronous related data Device；

   User's synchronization unit, for being synchronized to the second control from the first controller using user information as the synchronous related data Device.