Method for selecting among network interfaces, device with multiple network interfaces and application

• US 20060015636A1
• Filed: 06/15/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Banatre, Michel, Skraba, Ryan, Watts, Gregory, Weis, Frederic
• Application Number:
  US11/152,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20060015636A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/321 Interlayer communication protocols or service data unit [SDU] definitions; Interfaces between layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• 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

For enabling an application for a device with multiple network interfaces to select among network interfaces to transmit its data, an interface between the application and the network layer of a protocol stack is provided for providing information on network interface availability to the application (5), selecting the network interface by the application (61) and submitting the selected network interface as parameter to the network layer (62).

Claims

1. A method for enabling an application for a device with multiple network interfaces to select among network interfaces to transmit its data, by providing an interface between the application and the network layer of a protocol stack for

providing information on network interface availability to the application;

selecting the network interface by the application;

submitting the selected network interface as parameter to the network layer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the interface between the application and the network layer is a Java interface.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein an object containing information on the protocol and the network interface is generated by the application for submitting the selected network interface as parameter to the network layer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the information on network interface availability is provided by internal datagrams.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the information on network interface availability is provided by the application layer querying information from the network layer.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of calling an additional application on the network layer level.

7. A device with multiple network interfaces wherein it comprises means for the implementation of the method of any one of claims 1 to 6claim 1.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the device is mobile.

9. An application program for a device with multiple network interfaces wherein it implements the method of claim 1.