System and method for dynamically routing messages transmitted from mobile platforms

• US 20020046292A1
• Filed: 02/21/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Union Pacific Railroad Company (Union Pacific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nexterna, Inc.
• Inventors: Wilmes, Dave J., Vaiskunas, Thomas J., Tennison, Lynden L., Ebeid, Nader, Adams, Dave D., Conley, Todd M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,522,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5087 wherein the managed service relates to voice services management of VoIP services H04M7/0081
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5093 wherein the managed service relates to messaging or chat services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7414 QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 : Selecting a network or a communication service
• 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 client device has access to multiple data communications networks when sending a message to a server. An included network management functionality evaluates on an individual message by message basis a number of factors and selects one of the networks over which the message is to be communicated to the server. The selection process involves having the network management functionality identify a particular selection rule containing a network clause relating to each potentially useable communications network. The particular selection data comprising each network clause are then evaluated in the context of the message transmission to select for the message the particular one of the networks to be used for the communication.

Claims

1. A method for message routing, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a message for transmission to a remotely located system;

identifying a rule governing transmission of that message;

identifying a plurality of network clauses that correspond to the identified rule, wherein each of the plurality of network clauses is associated with criteria for selecting one of a plurality of networks over which the message may be communicated;

identifying a network clause from the plurality of network clauses whose criteria are satisfiable in the context of sending the received message; and

initiating transmission of the received data message over the network associated with the satisfied network clause.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying a rule comprises the steps of:

receiving with the message a logical name of a rule to be applied to the network selection for that message; and

mapping the logical name to a physical rule.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying a rule comprises the steps of:

noting that the message fails to providing any indication of a rule to be applied; and

selecting a default physical rule to be applied to the network selection for that message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of receiving a message comprises the step of receiving the message from a software application.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the default rule is associated with the software application that originates the message.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

storing the received message; and

wherein the step of initiating transmission of the message is delayed pending selection of the network.

7. A method for message routing, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a data item for transmission over a network;

receiving a transmission criteria for the data item;

identifying a plurality of networks that are available for use in making the transmission;

identifying a network included in the plurality of networks whose use would satisfy the received transmission criteria; and

initiating transmission of the received data item on the identified network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of receiving a transmission criteria comprises the step of:

receiving a rule identifier and conditions for transmission.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of identifying a plurality of network conditions comprises the step of:

mapping the rule identifier to a physical rule, that rule including a plurality of network clauses, each clause being associated with a certain network and specifying the criteria for network selection.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of identifying a network comprises the step of:

selecting one of the plurality of networks the transmission if the criteria for the associated network clause meet the received conditions for transmission.

11. A communications system, comprising:

a mobile client, the mobile client including hardware for supporting the transmission of mobile client data messages over a plurality of wired/wireless data networks, the mobile client executing a number of applications, wherein each application has a need to communicate remotely from the mobile client, the mobile client further operating responsive to receipt of an application originated message for transmission to;

identify a rule governing transmission of that message;

identify a plurality of network clauses that correspond to the identified rule, wherein each of the plurality of network clauses is associated with criteria for selecting one of the plurality of wired/wireless networks over which the message may be communicated;

identify a network clause from the plurality of network clauses whose criteria are satisfiable in the context of sending the received message; and

initiate transmission using the appropriate hardware of the received data message over the network associated with the satisfied network clause.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the mobile client is a laptop computer.

13. The system of claim 11 further including a server in communication with the mobile client over the plurality of wired/wireless networks.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of wired/wireless networks include:

a wired network comprising a local area network; and

a wireless network comprising cellular data communications network.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of wired/wireless networks include:

a wired network comprising a PSTN/Internet network; and

a wireless network comprising a cellular data communications network.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the network management functionality operates to:

identify a rule governing transmission of that data message;

identify a plurality of network clauses that correspond to the identified rule, wherein each of the plurality of network clauses is associated with criteria for selecting one of the plurality of wired/wireless networks over which the data message may be transmitted;

identify a network clause from the plurality of network clauses whose criteria are satisfiable in the context of sending the data message; and

initiate transmission using the appropriate hardware of the received data message over the network associated with the satisfied network clause.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the network management functionality comprises:

a plurality of rules engines for interpreting business rules and selecting a network for data message transmission; and

a kernel implementing a basic rules engine to interpret a set of basic rules to provide a common output for each of the plurality of rules engines.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the network management system further comprises a shared bus to allow the plurality of rules engines to interact with each other in making the network selection determination.

20. The device of claim 19 further including a database for storing historical data relating to, and for use by the rules engines in selecting one of, the plurality of wired/wireless networks.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the historical data comprises network coverage data, network throughput and network performance data.

22. The device of claim 20 further including an interface for receiving real-time data relating to, and for use by the rules engines in selecting one of, the plurality of wired/wireless networks.

16. A mobile communications device, the device comprising:

a plurality of hardware components for supporting the transmission of mobile communications device application data messages over a plurality of wired/wireless data networks; and

a network management functionality governing application access to the hardware components for transmission of data messages, the network management functionality operating to evaluate on an individual data message by data message basis a number of factors and select one of the plurality of wired/wireless networks over which that data message is to be transmitted.