Network selection terminal
First Claim
1. A telecommunications system for the automatic selection of the preferred network in a multiple communications network environment, the system comprising:
- at least two communications networks in the environment;
a network layer protocol shared by all the networks;
a network selection server connected to the networks using the shared protocol; and
a multi-mode terminal in communication with the selection server, wherein the terminal scans the network environment for the available networks, collects data on the available networks, transmits the collected data to the selection server, and communicates over the network selected by the server, whereby the network selection server selects the preferred network for the terminal based on the collected data and the terminal automatically communicates over the selected network.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system enhances communication services delivered across multiple (homogeneous and heterogeneous) access network environments. A user terminal (via a software client) passively collects the performance related parameters of all available access networks while being connected to only one of those access networks (the “active network”). The collected information is communicated over the active network to a central server. The central server uses the information to enhance the overall service performance by using it for intelligent network selection, handoff, load-balancing, monitoring, and other purposes. Computer readable media contain instructions for a computer to perform functions within the system.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A telecommunications system for the automatic selection of the preferred network in a multiple communications network environment, the system comprising:
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at least two communications networks in the environment;
a network layer protocol shared by all the networks;
a network selection server connected to the networks using the shared protocol; and
a multi-mode terminal in communication with the selection server, wherein the terminal scans the network environment for the available networks, collects data on the available networks, transmits the collected data to the selection server, and communicates over the network selected by the server, whereby the network selection server selects the preferred network for the terminal based on the collected data and the terminal automatically communicates over the selected network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for communicating over a preferred network in a multi-network environment, the method comprising:
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providing a network layer protocol shared by all the networks in the environment;
providing a network selection server connected to the networks by the shared protocol;
providing a multi-mode terminal in communication with the selection server;
scanning the environment for the available networks;
collecting data about the available networks;
transmitting the collected data to the selection server;
selecting the preferred network on the basis of the collected data; and
communicating with the terminal over the network selected by the server. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A multi-mode telecommunications terminal comprising:
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a scanner that scans a multi-network environment for available networks that share a communication protocol;
a data collector that collects data obtained from the scanner;
a transmitter in communication with a network selection server to transmit the collected data to the selection server; and
a network selection client that automatically hands off communications to the network selected by the network selection server. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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24. A multi-mode telecommunications terminal having one or more computer-readable media containing one or more computer programs for operation of the terminal, the terminal comprising:
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a scanner that scans a multi-network environment for available networks that share a communication protocol;
a data collector that collects data obtained from the scanner;
a transmitter in communication with a network selection server to transmit the collected data to the selection server; and
a network selection client that automatically hands off communications to the network selected by the network selection server. - View Dependent Claims (25, 27)
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31. A computer readable medium containing instructions for execution by a computer, wherein the instructions instruct the terminal to:
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scan the network environment for the available networks that share a network layer protocol, collect data about the available networks;
transmit the collected data to a network selection server; and
automatically communicate over the network selected by the server.
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32. A propagated signal containing the instructions for execution by a computer terminal, wherein the instructions instruct the terminal to:
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scan the network environment for the available networks that share a network layer protocol, collect data about the available networks;
transmit the collected data to a network selection server; and
automatically communicate over the network selected by the server.
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Specification