Method of and apparatus for adaptively managing connectivity for mobile devices through available interfaces
First Claim
1. A method of adaptively managing connectivity for a mobile device comprising:
- a. obtaining a signal from each access point available to the mobile device, wherein the signal includes source information; and
b. obtaining characteristic information about each access point and characteristics of service provided by the access point using the source information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of and apparatus for adaptively managing connectivity for mobile devices through available interfaces allows a user to seamlessly move from one access point to another while the user'"'"'s mobile device manages the connection for the user. The user'"'"'s mobile device continuously probes for access points, identifies access points within range of the device and chooses to connect to the access point that fits defined criteria. Information within the access point'"'"'s beacon signal is used to obtain information regarding the access point and the characteristics of service provided by the access point through out of band communications. Preferably, the mobile device utilizes a separate IPv6 address for each application used by the mobile device so that communications are associated with the appropriate application utilizing this address.
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Citations
69 Claims
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1. A method of adaptively managing connectivity for a mobile device comprising:
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a. obtaining a signal from each access point available to the mobile device, wherein the signal includes source information; and
b. obtaining characteristic information about each access point and characteristics of service provided by the access point using the source information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of adaptively managing connectivity for a mobile device comprising:
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a. managing communications for the mobile device using a plurality of applications; and
b. associating a separate IPv6 address for communications relative to each separate application. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of adaptively managing connectivity for a mobile device comprising:
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a. obtaining a beacon signal from each access point available to the mobile device, wherein the beacon signal includes source information;
b. obtaining characteristic information about each access point and characteristics of service provided by the access point using the source information; and
c. determining a preferred access point by comparing the characteristic information to criteria and determining the access point which most closely matches the criteria. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A network connection manager configured to adaptively manage connectivity for a mobile device, the network connection manager comprising:
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a. a communications interface configured to receive communications from access points available to the mobile device, the communications including a beacon signal from each available access point, wherein the beacon signal includes source information; and
b. a controller coupled to the communications interface to obtain characteristic information about each access point and characteristics of service provided by the access point using the source information. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A network connection manager for adaptively managing connectivity for a mobile device comprising:
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a. means for interfacing for receiving communications from access point available to the mobile device, the communications including a beacon signal from each available access point, wherein the beacon signal includes source information; and
b. means for controlling coupled to the means for interfacing for obtaining characteristic information about each access point and characteristics of service provided by the access point using the source information. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A network connection manager configured to adaptively manage connectivity for a mobile device, the network connection manager comprising:
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a. a plurality of interfaces each configured to send and receive communications for one of a plurality of applications used by the mobile device; and
b. a controller coupled to the plurality of interfaces to associate a separate IPv6 address for communications relative to each separate application, wherein only communications having an address corresponding to an application and a corresponding interface are sent and received through the interface.
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57. A network of devices comprising:
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a. a plurality of access points each including;
i. a wireless interface through which access point communications are sent and received including a beacon signal having source information; and
ii. a server interface configured to couple to one or more internet servers to provide internet communications with the servers for devices communicating through the wireless interface;
b. a mobile device configured to communicate with the wireless interface and including a network connection manager which adaptively manages connectivity for the mobile device, the network connection manager comprising;
i. a communications interface configured to receive the access point communications; and
ii. a controller coupled to the communications interface to obtain characteristic information about each access point available to the mobile device and characteristics of service provided by the access points using the source information. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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Specification