Mobility policy manager for mobile computing devices

• US 20060294582A1
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: D'Agostino, Anthony, Ubriaco, Charles, Zancola, Ronald, Still, Gary, La Rosa, Dean V., Peretz, Eyal, Faith, Michael, Linsley-Hood, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,650,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/6
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile computing device that dynamically and automatically manages all network adapters on the device to obtain the best and most effective balance of network connectivity and power consumption without requiring operator or user application intervention. Performance is increased by lowering power consumption (longer battery life) and decreasing transaction latencies, providing a device that has flexibility and ease of use. According to one aspect is a system that includes a data analysis component that monitors parameters associated with a device and a mobility policy manager component that provides balance of network connectivity and power consumption based at least in part upon the monitored stimuli.

Claims

1. A portable communication device comprising:

a data analysis component that monitors stimuli associated with a device; and

a mobility policy manager (MPM) component that provides balancing of network connectivity and power consumption based at least in part upon the monitored stimuli.

2. The portable communication device of claim 1, the data analysis component monitors at least one of network traffic, an internet protocol address, and a port number.

3. The portable communication device of claim 1, the MPM component comprising a policy module that determines a policy based at least in part on the monitored stimuli.

4. The portable communication device of claim 1, the MPM component comprising an alter module that alters at least one policy to provide an optimal device power consumption.

5. The portable communication device of claim 4, the MPM component further comprising a tolerance parameter module that ensures the policy remains within a predetermined power consumption range.

6. The portable communication device of claim 1, the MPM component comprising a hysteresis module that prevents excessive altering between multiple device states.

7. The portable communication device of claim 1, the MPM component comprising a persistence module that allows the device to remain in a non-optimal state during a communication.

8. The portable communication device of claim 7, the non-optimal state is maintained until completion of the communication.

9. The portable communication device of claim 1, the MPM component comprising a packet route management module that controls a connectivity of a first network adapter and at least a second network adapter that are powered at a substantially similar time.

10. The portable communication device of claim 1, the MPM component comprising a designate module that designates at least one connection.

12. The portable communication device of claim 1, the MPM component comprising a route module that hinders traffic in the absence of an appropriate route.

13. The portable communication device of claim 12, the route module comprising a categorization module that categorizes connections that distinguishes between requirements to create a new route and preference of an existing route.

14. The portable communication device of claim 12, the route module comprising a firewall module that restricts traffic if an appropriate route is not available.

11. The portable communication device of claim 11, the designate module overrides a connection to force one of an outcome and a route.

15. A communication architecture, comprising:

a network that includes a plurality of resources;

a data analysis component that captures data about the plurality of resources; and

a mobility policy manager (MPM) component that determines a policy to obtain efficient network connectivity and power consumption based at least in part on the captured data.

16. The communication architecture of claim 15, the captured data comprising at least one statistic based on network traffic associated with an Internet Protocol address or a port number end point.

17. The communication architecture of claim 15, the MPM component dynamically alters a predefined policy based at least in part upon the captured data.

18. A method for dynamically managing network connection performance, comprising:

creating an initial policy;

monitoring the initial policy; and

automatically altering the initial policy to achieve at least one policy objective.

19. The method of claim 18, the initial policy is created based upon at least one statistic derived from device conditions.

20. The method of claim 18, automatically altering the initial policy further comprising:

determining a state of a connection;

ascertaining if the connection is complete; and

maintaining the connection state until communication is complete.

21. The method of claim 18, automatically altering the initial policy further includes one of allowing, denying, and rejecting traffic.

22. A computer readable medium of a portable device to efficiently manage network connections, comprising:

a data analysis component operable to monitor device conditions; and

a mobility policy manager component that dynamically alters a policy to achieve at least one policy objective.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, the mobility policy manager provides balancing of network connectivity and power consumption based at least in part on the monitored device conditions.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22, an initial policy is created based at least in part on the monitored device conditions.

25. A portable communication system, comprising:

means for monitoring device connectivity and power consumption;

means for creating a policy based at least in part on the monitored device connectivity and power consumption; and

means for altering the policy based on monitored operating conditions.