REDUCING DATA LOSS DURING HANDOFFS IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
A method for reducing data loss when a client device performs a handoff from a first radio station to a second radio station. The method includes detecting imminence of the handoff using one or more criteria. The method also includes buffering incoming data upon the imminence of the handoff to generate buffered incoming data, the incoming data being addressed to the client device. The method further includes transmitting the buffered incoming data to the client device through the second radio station if the handoff is completed and if the buffered incoming data is not discarded.
1 . A method for reducing data loss when a client device performs a handoff from a first radio station to a second radio station, the method comprising:
detecting imminence of the handoff using one or more criteria;
buffering incoming data upon the imminence of the handoff to generate buffered incoming data, the incoming data being addressed to the client device; and
transmitting the buffered incoming data to the client device through the second radio station if the handoff is completed and if the buffered incoming data is not discarded.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more criteria pertain to at least one of signal strength, channel loading, and communication quality.
3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
measuring a time duration of the buffering the incoming data; and
discarding the buffered incoming data if the time duration reaches an incoming-data buffering duration threshold.
4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
monitoring the size of the buffered incoming data; and
discarding the buffered incoming data if the size of the buffered incoming data reaches an incoming-data buffering size threshold.
5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
measuring a time duration before the client device registers information pertaining to the second radio station with an authentication mechanism; and
rejecting connection between the client device and the second radio station if the client device fails to register the information pertaining to the second radio station within an authentication duration threshold.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the information pertaining to the second radio station includes an IP address provided by the second radio station.
7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising buffering outgoing data upon the imminence of the handoff to generate buffered outgoing data, the outgoing data being originated from the client device, the buffering the outgoing data being performed by at least one of the client device and a device connected with the client device.
8 . The method of claim 7 further comprising:
measuring a time duration of the buffering the outgoing data; and
discarding the buffered outgoing data if the time duration reaches an outgoing-data buffering duration threshold.
9 . The method of claim 7 further comprising:
monitoring the size of the buffered outgoing data; and
discarding the buffered outgoing data if the size of the buffered outgoing data reaches an outgoing-data buffering size threshold.
10 . The method of claim 7 further comprising transmitting the buffered outgoing data through the second radio station if the handoff is completed and if the buffered outgoing data is not discarded.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first radio station and the second radio station represents at least one of a wireless access point of a wireless network and a base transceiver station of a cellular network.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first radio station and the second radio station are implemented based on different communication standards.
13 . A system for reducing data loss when a client device performs a handoff from a first radio station to a second radio station, the system comprising:
a detecting mechanism configured to determine imminence of the handoff; and
a server buffer configured to buffer incoming data to generate buffered incoming data upon the imminence of the handoff, the incoming data being addressed to the client device,
wherein the buffered incoming data is to be transmitted to the client device through the second radio station if the handoff is completed and if the buffered incoming data is not discarded.
14 . The system of claim 13 wherein the detecting mechanism is implemented in at least one of the client device and a server and is configured to determine the imminence of the handoff based on one or more criteria pertaining to at least one of signal strength, channel loading, and communication quality.
15 . The system of claim 13 further comprising:
a server buffering timer configured to measure a time duration that the incoming data is buffered; and
a deleting mechanism configured to delete the buffered incoming data from the server buffer if the time duration reaches an incoming-data buffering duration threshold.
16 . The system of claim 13 further comprising:
a counter configured to monitor the size of the buffered incoming data; and
a deleting mechanism configured to delete the buffered incoming data from the server buffer if the size of the buffered incoming data reaches an incoming-data buffering size threshold.
17 . The system of claim 13 further comprising:
an authentication timer configured to measure a time duration before the client device registers information pertaining to the second radio station; and
an authentication mechanism configured to store an authentication duration threshold and to reject connection between the client device and the second radio station if the client device fails to register the information pertaining to the second radio station with the authentication mechanism within the authentication duration threshold.
18 . The system of claim 17 wherein the information pertaining to the second radio station includes an IP address provided by the second radio station.
19 . The system of claim 13 further comprising a client buffer configured to buffer outgoing data upon the imminence of the handoff to generate buffered outgoing data, the outgoing data being originated from the client device, the client buffer being implemented in at least one of the client device and a device connected with the client device.
20 . The system of claim 19 further comprising:
a client buffering timer configured to measure a time duration that the outgoing data is buffered; and
a deleting mechanism configured to delete the buffered outgoing data from the client buffer if the time duration reaches an outgoing-data buffering duration threshold.
21 . The system of claim 19 further comprising:
a counter configured to monitor the size of the buffered outgoing data; and
a deleting mechanism configured to delete the buffered outgoing data from the client buffer if the size of the buffered outgoing data reaches an outgoing-data buffering size threshold.
22 . The system of claim 19 wherein the buffered outgoing data is to be transmitted through the second radio station if the handoff is completed and if the buffered outgoing data is not discarded.
23 . The system of claim 13 wherein at least one of the first radio station and the second radio station represents at least one of a wireless access point of a wireless network and a base transceiver station of a cellular network.
24 . The system of claim 13 wherein the first radio station and the second radio station are implemented based on different communication standards.