An IP-based corporate network architecture and method for providing
seamless secure mobile networking across office WLAN, home WLAN, public
WLAN, and 2.5G/3G cellular networks for corporate wireless data users.
The system includes Internet roaming clients (IRCs), a secure mobility
gateway (SMG), optional secure IP access (SIA) gateways, and a virtual
single account (VSA) server. The IRC is a special client tool installed
on a mobile computer (laptop or PDA) equipped with a WLAN adaptor and a
cellular modem. It is responsible for establishing and maintaining a
mobile IPsec tunnel between the mobile computer and a corporate intranet.
The SMG is a mobile IPsec gateway installed between the corporate
intranet and the Internet. It works in conjunction with the IRC to
maintain the mobile IPsec tunnel when the mobile computer is connected on
the Internet via a home WLAN, a public WLAN, or a cellular network. The
SIA gateway is a special IPsec gateway installed in the middle of the
wired corporate intranet and an office WLAN. It works with the IRC to
ensure data security and efficient use of corporate IP addresses when the
mobile computer is connected to the office WLAN. The VSA server manages
authentication credentials for every corporate user based on a virtual
single account concept. The Internet Roaming system can provide secure,
always-on office network connectivity for corporate users no matter where
they are located using best available wireless networks.