Method and apparatus of gateway aggregate

• US 20020129120A1
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc., Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Acer, Inc., Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: Tseng, Kuo-Chou
• Application Number:
  US09/848,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20020129120A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/12 Application layer protocols, e.g. WAP [Wireless Application Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

The objective of the present invention is to provide a method and a computer apparatus for integrating a plurality of gateways and to provide such a gateway aggregate so that a larger service capacity can be accomplished. In one embodiment, the gateways are implemented into low-priced personal computers with minor service capacity in order to lower the cost of the inventive gateway aggregate as compared to prior art. The computer apparatus serves as a portal for mobile devices through which roaming users can get connected to network servers accessible to the gateways and exchange data therewith. Furthermore, the portal computer apparatus distinguishes between connection-oriented and connectionless transmissions and has the two different data transmissions handled properly.

Claims

1. A combination of gateways using wireless application protocol (WAP) for mediating between a mobile device and network resources, comprising:

a plurality of gateways connecting to said network and having access to said network resources; and

a computer apparatus connecting to said gateways in parallel

for receiving a message from said mobile device;

for forwarding said message for further processing to one of said gateways that is selected according to a predetermined rule;

for receiving the response of said selected gateway to said message; and

for forwarding said response to said mobile device.

2. The combination of gateways according to claim 1, wherein the network utilizes hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).

3. The combination of gateways according to claim 1, wherein said network resources reside in a server.

4. The combination of gateways according to claim 1, wherein said computer apparatus connects to each of said gateways through a plurality of ports respectively.

5. The combination of gateways according to claim 1, wherein said computer apparatus dynamically creates a full-duplex channel linking said mobile device and said selected gateway when said message is connection-oriented.

6. The combination of gateways according to claim 1, wherein said computer apparatus creates a half-duplex channel linking said mobile device and said selected gateway when said message is connectionless.

7. The combination of gateways according to claim 1, wherein said rule is based on a comparison between the service loadings of each of said gateways.

8. The combination of gateways according to claim 1, wherein said rule is to select for said message the least loaded one of said gateways.

9. The combination of gateways according to claim 1, wherein said gateways are preferably low-priced personal computers.

10. A method for integrating a plurality of gateways that mediate between a mobile device utilizing first transmission protocol and network resources utilizing second transmission protocol, comprising:

providing said gateways connecting to said network and having access to said network resources; and

providing a computer apparatus connecting to said gateways in parallel

for receiving a message from said mobile device;

for forwarding said message for further processing to one of said gateways that is selected according to a predetermined rule;

for receiving the response of said selected gateway to said message; and

for forwarding said response to said mobile device.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising providing a plurality of ports through which said computer apparatus connects to each of said gateways respectively.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said rule is based on a comparison between the service loadings of each of said gateways.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein said rule is to select the least loaded gateway among said gateways.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein said gateways are preferably low-priced personal computers.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said first transmission protocol is wireless application protocol (WAP).

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein said second transmission protocol is hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said rule is to select the least loaded gateway among said gateways.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein said gateways are preferably low-priced personal computers.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein said first transmission protocol is wireless application protocol (WAP).

17. A method for operating a plurality of gateways connecting in parallel to a computer apparatus that mediate, as one gateway, between a mobile device utilizing first transmission protocol and network resources utilizing second transmission protocol, comprising:

providing on said computer apparatus hardware and software components

for receiving a message from said mobile device;

for forwarding said message for further processing to one of said gateways that is selected according to a predetermined rule;

for receiving the response of said selected gateway to said message; and

for forwarding said response to said mobile device.