Dynamic router functionality in cellular networks

• US 10,085,195 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2016
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VEEA Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Virtuosys Limited (Veea, Inc.)
• Inventors: Speight, Timothy James
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thai
• Application Number:
  US15/293,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20170111840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/08 Load balancing or load distribution transferring a connection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A wireless remote communication unit is described. The wireless remote communication unit comprises: at least one transceiver configured to communicate with a cellular network node using either a first technology employed with mesh connectivity via at least one other wireless remote communication unit or a second technology employed with a direct connection to the cellular network node; and a processor coupled to the at least one transceiver and configured to select internet connectivity using either: a first internet protocol, IP, address associated with mesh functionality to route low priority, high delay tolerant data via an edge router and the cellular network node; or a second IP address associated with direct connection to the cellular network node for high priority, low delay tolerant data.

Claims

1. A wireless remote communication unit comprising:

at least one transceiver configured to communicate with a cellular network node using either a first technology employed with mesh connectivity via at least one other wireless remote communication unit or a second technology employed with a direct connection to the cellular network node; and

a processor coupled to the at least one transceiver and configured to;

determine whether the mesh connectivity exceeds a threshold for a traffic requirement of the wireless remote communication unit;

release, in response thereto, a direct connection to the cellular network node; and

select internet connectivity using a first internet protocol, IP, address associated with mesh functionality to route low priority, high delay tolerant data via both the cellular network node and the at least one other wireless remote communication unit configured as an edge router coupled to the cellular network node.

2. An integrated circuit for a wireless remote communication unit, the integrated circuit comprising:

at least one transceiver port configured to communicate with a cellular network node using either a first technology employed with mesh connectivity via at least one other wireless remote communication unit or a second technology employed with a direct connection; and

a processor coupled to the at least one transceiver port and configured to;

determine whether the mesh connectivity exceeds a threshold for a traffic requirement of the wireless remote communication unit;

release, in response thereto, a direct connection to the cellular network node; and

select internet connectivity using a first internet protocol, IP, address associated with mesh functionality to route low priority, high delay tolerant data via both the cellular network node and the at least one other wireless remote communication unit configured as an edge router coupled to the cellular network node.

3. A method for a wireless remote communication unit, the method comprising:

communicating with a cellular network node using either a first technology employed with mesh connectivity via at least one other wireless remote communication unit or a second technology employed with a direct connection;

determining whether the mesh connectivity exceeds a threshold for the wireless remote communication unit'"'"'s traffic requirement; and

in response thereto,

releasing a direct connection to the cellular network node, and

selecting internet connectivity for communication using a first internet protocol, IP, address associated with mesh functionality to route low priority, high delay tolerant data via both the cellular network node and the at least one other wireless remote communication unit configured as an edge router coupled to the cellular network node.

4. A non-transitory tangible computer program product comprising executable code stored therein for selecting internet connectivity, wherein the code is operable for, when executed at a wireless remote communication unit enable the wireless remote communication unit to perform:

communicating with a cellular network node using either a first technology employed with mesh connectivity via at least one other wireless remote communication unit or a second technology employed with a direct connection;

determining whether the mesh connectivity exceeds a threshold for the wireless remote communication unit'"'"'s traffic requirement; and

in response thereto,

releasing a direct connection to the cellular network node, and

selecting internet connectivity for communication using a first internet protocol, IP, address associated with mesh functionality to route low priority, high delay tolerant data via both the cellular network node and the at least one other wireless remote communication unit configured as an edge router coupled to the cellular network node.

5. A wireless communication system comprising:

at least one cellular network node; and

multiple wireless remote communication units operably connectable to the at least one cellular network node;

wherein a wireless remote communication unit comprises;

at least one transceiver configured to communicate with a cellular network node using either a first technology employed with mesh connectivity via at least one other wireless remote communication unit or a second technology employed with a direct connection; and

a processor coupled to the at least one transceiver and configured to;

determine whether the mesh connectivity exceeds a threshold for a traffic requirement of the wireless remote communication unit;

release, in response thereto, a direct connection to the cellular network node; and

select internet connectivity using a first internet protocol, IP, address associated with mesh functionality to route low priority, high delay tolerant data via both the cellular network node and the at least one other wireless remote communication unit configured as an edge router coupled to the cellular network node.