Interface selection in a wireless communication network

• US 20040009751A1
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Michaelis, Oliver, Lioy, Marcello
• Granted Patent: US 7,065,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/62
• 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

This disclosure is directed to techniques for selection of wireless network interfaces for data communication within an access terminal. The techniques may rely on a set of interface selection rules to identify network interfaces that are eligible to serve a particular communication application or the type of traffic forwarded on behalf of another device. In addition, each network interface may be assigned a priority. Upon identifying eligible interfaces, e.g., interfaces that satisfy all of the interface selection rules, the techniques may involve selection of the eligible interface having the highest priority. The assigned priority may be dynamically adjusted based on the connection state of the interfaces, prioritization according to changes in system latency, interface cost, and the like.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

assigning priorities to wireless network interfaces;

selecting one of the wireless network interfaces for access by an access terminal based on interface selection rules and the priorities; and

updating the priorities assigned to the wireless network interfaces based on status of the interfaces.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the interface selection rules based on an application requesting the access.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the access comprises transmission of packets via the selected wireless network interface, the method further comprising selecting one of the wireless network interfaces for each of the packets based on the interface selection rules and the priorities.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising updating the priorities assigned to the wireless network interfaces according to the connection states of the interfaces.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying one of more of the wireless network interfaces that satisfy the interface selection rules; and

in the event more than one of the wireless network interfaces are identified, selecting the identified wireless network interface to which the highest priority is assigned.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the wireless network interfaces are in a connected state; and

updating the priorities so that at least some of the wireless network interfaces in the connected state carry higher priorities than at least some of the wireless network interfaces not in the connected state.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the interface selection rules with each of the wireless network interfaces, and storing the associations in a data structure in an order generally unrelated to the priorities assigned to the interfaces.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting one of the wireless network interfaces using different sets of the interface selection rules for different applications requesting the access.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning the priorities based at least in part on connection states and relative costs of the wireless network interfaces.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network interfaces include at least one long-range wireless network interface and at least one short-range wireless network interface.

11. An access terminal that assigns priorities to wireless network interfaces, selects one of the wireless network interfaces for access based on interface selection rules and the priorities, and updates the priorities assigned to the wireless network interfaces based on status of the interfaces.

12. The access terminal of claim 11, wherein the access terminal selects the interface selection rules based on at least one of an application requesting the access and the type of traffic forwarded on behalf of another device.

13. The access terminal of claim 11, wherein the access comprises transmission of packets via the selected wireless network interface, and wherein the access terminal selects one of the wireless network interfaces for each of the packets based on the interface selection rules and the priorities.

14. The access terminal of claim 13, wherein the access terminal updates the priorities assigned to the wireless network interfaces according to the connection states of the interfaces.

15. The access terminal of claim 11, wherein the access terminal identifies one of more of the wireless network interfaces that satisfy the interface selection rules, and, in the event more than one of the wireless network interfaces are identified, selects the identified wireless network interface to which the highest priority is assigned.

16. The access terminal of claim 11, wherein the access terminal determines whether the wireless network interfaces are in a connected state, and updates the priorities so that at least some of the wireless network interfaces in the connected state carry higher priorities than at least some of the wireless network interfaces not in the connected state.

17. The access terminal of claim 11, wherein the access terminal associates the interface selection rules with each of the wireless network interfaces, and stores the associations in an order unrelated to the priorities assigned to the interfaces.

18. The access terminal of claim 11, wherein the access terminal selects one of the wireless network interfaces using different sets of the interface selection rules for different applications requesting the access.

19. The access terminal of claim 11, wherein the access terminal assigns the priorities based at least in part on connection states and relative costs of the wireless network interfaces.

20. The access terminal of claim 11, wherein the wireless network interfaces include at least one long-range wireless network interface and at least one short-range wireless network interface.

21. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to assign priorities to wireless network interfaces in an access terminal, select one of the wireless network interfaces for access based on interface selection rules and the priorities, and update the priorities assigned to the wireless network interfaces based on status of the interfaces.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions cause the access terminal to select the interface selection rules based on at least one of an application requesting the access and the type of traffic forwarded on behalf of another device.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the access comprises transmission of packets via the selected wireless network interface, and wherein the instructions cause the access terminal to select one of the wireless network interfaces for each of the packets based on the interface selection rules and the priorities.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions cause the access terminal to update the priorities assigned to the wireless network interfaces according to the connection states of the interfaces.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions cause the access terminal to identify one of more of the wireless network interfaces that satisfy the interface selection rules, and, in the event more than one of the wireless network interfaces are identified, select the identified wireless network interface to which the highest priority is assigned.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions cause the access terminal to determine whether the wireless network interfaces are in a connected state, and update the priorities so that at least some of the wireless network interfaces in the connected state carry higher priorities than at least some of the wireless network interfaces not in the connected state.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions cause the access terminal to associate the interface selection rules with each of the wireless network interfaces, and store the associations in an order unrelated to the priorities assigned to the interfaces.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions cause the access terminal to select one of the wireless network interfaces using different sets of the interface selection rules based one at least one of an application requesting the access and the type of traffic forwarded on behalf of another device.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions cause the access terminal to assign the priorities based at least in part on connection states and relative costs of the wireless network interfaces.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the wireless network interfaces include at least one long-range wireless network interface and at least one short-range wireless network interface.

31. A device comprising:

means for assigning priorities to wireless network interfaces;

means for selecting one of the wireless network interfaces for access by an access terminal based on interface selection rules and the priorities; and

means for updating the priorities assigned to the wireless network interfaces based on status of the interfaces.

32. A computer-readable medium comprising a data structure that defines a set of interface selection rules for selection of wireless network interfaces for access by an access terminal, wherein the interface selection rules are associated with each of the wireless network interfaces, the wireless network interfaces are assigned priorities, and the associations are arranged within the data structure in an order unrelated to the priorities assigned to the wireless network interfaces.

33. A method comprising:

assigning explicit priorities to rule classes in an access control list (ACL); and

selecting wireless network interfaces associated with the rule classes for access by an access terminal based on rules set forth in the ACL and the explicit priorities.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising updating the priorities assigned to the rule classes based on status of the interfaces.

35. An access terminal that assigns explicit priorities to rule classes in an access control list (ACL), and selects wireless network interfaces associated with the rule classes for access by the access terminal based on rules set forth in the ACL and the explicit priorities.

36. The access terminal of claim 35, wherein the device updates the priorities assigned to the rule classes based on status of the interfaces.

37. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions to cause a processor within an access terminal to assign explicit priorities to rule classes in an access control list (ACL), and select wireless network interfaces associated with the rule classes for access by the access terminal based on rules set forth in the ACL and the explicit priorities.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the instructions cause the processor to update the priorities assigned to the rule classes based on status of the interfaces.

39. A computer-readable medium comprising a data structure defining an access control list containing multiple rule classes for selection of wireless communication interfaces, and explicit priorities associated with the rule classes.