US Patent 7421268 Method for fast roaming in a wireless network

A roaming service method for a fast and secure wireless network is provided. In an embodiment of the present invention, an AP, which an STA associates with, transmits proactive keys needed for roaming to neighbor APs of the AP. When the STA moves to one of the neighbor APs, a reassociation is carried out between the STA and the neighbor AP using the already provided proactive key. In another embodiment of the present invention, an authentication server transmits proactive keys needed for roaming to neighbor APs to which the STA is likely to move, so that when the STA moves to one of the neighbor APs, a reassociation is carried out between the STA and the neighbor AP using the already provided proactive key.