Method and apparatus for persistent connections to a device through the use of multiple physical network connections and connection hand-offs between multiple bands, modes and networks

• US 20060053223A1
• Filed: 04/29/2003
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unium, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: CoCo Communications, Corp.
• Inventors: Bruestle, Jeremy, Tucker, Mark L
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/28 involving a plurality of connections, e.g. multi-call or multi-bearer connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• 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

A method and system to provide multiple connections to a device from separate physical networks through the same logical network layer while keeping connections persistent. In order to keep connections persistent and change physical networks, at least one additional connection is needed to seamlessly accomplish the “hand-off”. If one or more signals from the network host to the device (35) are weak or degraded, then multiple connections can provide redundancy of data being sent from the host to the device reducing the amount of lost data. Multiple connections can be used to increase the amount of data that can be sent to the device at any given time. The system also contains various multiplex servers (49-42) that are assigned to one or more mobile devices, and acting as the device'"'"'s proxy in order to transfer data back and forth.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

maintaining a connection with a first network operating under a first protocol;

maintaining a connection with a second network operating under a second protocol.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first network is a voice network and said second network is a data network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first protocol is the 802.11 protocol and said second protocol is a cellular protocol.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said connection with said first network is terminated once said connection with said second network has been established.

5. (canceled)