Method and apparatuses for pre-authenticating a mobile user to multiple network nodes using a secure authentication advertisement protocol

摘要

A network device (103) for distributing authentication information between authorized nodes for purposes of concurrently "pre-authenticating" a mobile user (110) at a plurality of points throughout a LAN is disclosed. When a client attempts to access the network through the network device (103), the network device attempts to authenticate the client based on the credentials presented by the user. If authenticated, the client (110) is admitted into the network at the network device (103) and the client's pre-authentication information transmitted to one or more network nodes (105) associated with an authentication group. Upon receipt of the pre-authentication information, the one or more network nodes (105) are authorized to admit the client (110) into the network at those nodes in addition to the network device (103) at which the client was initially authenticated, thereby concurrently pre-authorizing the client (110) at multiple points (103,105) across the network.