Managing data packet routing for heterogeneous communication links

• US 20040081135A1
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Texas A&M University System
• Original Assignee: Texas A&M University System
• Inventors: Narayanan, Deepa, Goats, Lawrence S. III, Salinas, Jose?apos;, Ewing, Richard E., Wall, James A.
• Application Number:
  US10/449,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20040081135A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/351
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• 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 45/302 Route determination based on requested QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/306 Route determination based on the nature of the carried application
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Managing data packet routing includes receiving data packets and determining available communication links, which include heterogeneous communication links. One or more of the available communication links are selected in accordance with one or more rules. A virtual path is generated from the selected available communication links, and the data packets are communicated along the virtual path.

Claims

1. A method for managing data packet routing, comprising:

receiving a plurality of data packets;

determining a plurality of available communication links, the available communication links comprising at least two heterogeneous communication links;

selecting one or more of the available communication links in accordance with one or more rules;

generating a virtual path from the selected available communication links; and

communicating the plurality of data packets along the virtual path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the plurality of data packets comprises receiving the plurality of data packets generated by one or more applications.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the plurality of data packets along the virtual path comprises communicating the plurality of data packets to a plurality of communication devices, the plurality of communication devices comprising at least two heterogeneous communication devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting one or more of the available communication links in accordance with the one or more rules comprises:

determining a characteristic of an operational environment associated with the available communication links;

applying a rule of the one or more rules, the rule corresponding to the characteristic; and

selecting one or more of the available communication links in accordance with the application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting one or more of the available communication links in accordance with the one or more rules comprises:

determining a characteristic associated with the plurality of data packets;

applying a rule of the one or more rules, the rule corresponding to the characteristic; and

selecting one or more of the available communication links in accordance with the application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving, the plurality of data packets comprises receiving the plurality of data packets at a paramedic station, the plurality of data packets comprising medical information about a patient; and

communicating the plurality of data packets along the virtual path comprises communicating the plurality of data packets to a physician station.

7. A system for managing data packet routing, comprising:

an interface operable to receive a plurality of data packets; and

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to;

determine a plurality of available communication links, the available communication links comprising at least two heterogeneous communication links;

select one or more of the available communication links in accordance with one or more rules;

generate a virtual path from the selected available communication links; and

communicate the plurality of data packets along the virtual path.

8. The system of claim 7, the interface operable to receive the plurality of data packets by receiving the plurality of data packets generated by one or more applications.

9. The system of claim 7, the processor operable to communicate the plurality of data packets along the virtual path by communicating the plurality of data packets to a plurality of communication devices, the plurality of communication devices comprising at least two heterogeneous communication devices.

10. The system of claim 7, the processor operable to select one or more of the available communication links in accordance with the one or more rules by:

determining a characteristic of an operational environment associated with the available communication links;

applying a rule of the one or more rules, the rule corresponding to the characteristic; and

selecting one or more of the available communication links in accordance with the application.

11. The system of claim 7, the processor operable to select one or more of the available communication links in accordance with the one or more rules by:

determining a characteristic associated with the plurality of data packets;

applying a rule of the one or more rules, the rule corresponding to the characteristic; and

selecting one or more of the available communication links in accordance with the application.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the interface is operable to receive the plurality of data packets by receiving the plurality of data packets at a paramedic station, the plurality of data packets comprising medical information about a patient; and

the processor is operable to communicate the plurality of data packets along the virtual path by communicating the plurality of data packets to a physician station.

13. Logic for managing data packet routing, the logic embodied in a medium and operable to:

receive a plurality of data packets;

determine a plurality of available communication links, the available communication links comprising at least two heterogeneous communication links;

select one or more of the available communication links in accordance with one or more rules;

generate a virtual path from the selected available communication links; and

communicate the plurality of data packets along the virtual path.

14. The logic of claim 13, operable to receive the plurality of data packets by receiving the plurality of data packets generated by one or more applications.

15. The logic of claim 13, operable to communicate the plurality of data packets along the virtual path by communicating the plurality of data packets to a plurality of communication devices, the plurality of communication devices comprising at least two heterogeneous communication devices.

16. The logic of claim 13, operable to select one or more of the available communication links in accordance with the one or more rules by:

determining a characteristic of an operational environment associated with the available communication links;

applying a rule of the one or more rules, the rule corresponding to the characteristic; and

selecting one or more of the available communication links in accordance with the application.

17. The logic of claim 13, operable to select one or more of the available communication links in accordance with the one or more rules by:

determining a characteristic associated with the plurality of data packets;

applying a rule of the one or more rules, the rule corresponding to the characteristic; and

selecting one or more of the available communication links in accordance with the application.

18. The logic of claim 13, operable to:

receive the plurality of data packets by receiving the plurality of data packets at a paramedic station, the plurality of data packets comprising medical information about a patient; and

communicate the plurality of data packets along the virtual path by communicating the plurality of data packets to a physician station.

19. A system for managing data packet routing, comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of data packets;

means for determining a plurality of available communication links, the available communication links comprising at least two heterogeneous communication links;

means for selecting one or more of the available communication links in accordance with one or more rules;

means for generating a virtual path from the selected available communication links; and

means for communicating the plurality of data packets along the virtual path.

20. A method for managing data packet routing, comprising:

receiving a plurality of data packets generated by one or more applications, the plurality of data packets received at a paramedic station, the plurality of data packets comprising medical information about a patient;

determining a plurality of available communication links, the available communication links comprising at least two heterogeneous communication links;

selecting one or more of the available communication links in accordance with one or more rules by;

determining a first characteristic of an operational environment associated with the available communication links, applying a first rule of the one or more rules, the first rule corresponding to the first characteristic, and selecting one or more of the available communication links in accordance with the application; and

determining a second characteristic associated with the plurality of data packets, applying a second rule of the one or more rules, the second rule corresponding to the second characteristic, and selecting one or more of the available communication links in accordance with the application;

generating a virtual path from the selected available communication links; and

communicating the plurality of data packets along the virtual path to a physician station by communicating the plurality of data packets to a plurality of communication devices, the plurality of communication devices comprising at least two heterogeneous communication devices.