Local network proxy for a remotely connected mobile device operating in reduced power mode

• US 20070004436A1
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 3, LLC
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Stirbu, Vlad
• Granted Patent: US 7,809,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/503
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/164 at the network layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/166 at the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/288 taking into account the usage mode, e.g. hands-free, data transmission, telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile device is coupled to an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer local area network via a public network. A secure data connection is created between the mobile device and an access point of the local area network so that the mobile device operates in an address space of the local network. A proxy for the mobile device is operated on the local network. The proxy maintains one or more state variables related to operation of the mobile device on the local network. The proxy simulates a reduced power mode of the mobile device on the local network for purposes of shaping traffic over the secure data connection and provides the state variables to entities of the local network on behalf of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of connecting a mobile device to an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer local area network via a public network, comprising:

coupling the mobile device to the public network;

creating, via the public network, a secure data connection between the mobile device and an access point of the local area network so that the mobile device operates in an address space of the local network;

operating a proxy for the mobile device on the local network, the proxy maintaining one or more state variables related to operation of the mobile device on the local network;

simulating a reduced power mode of the mobile device on the local network via the proxy for purposes of shaping traffic over the secure data connection; and

providing the state variables to entities of the local network via the proxy on behalf of the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering, via the access point, multicast messages originating from the local network that are targeted for the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to a network event targeted for the mobile device, receiving a wake up signal at the proxy on behalf of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the secure data connection comprises establishing a virtual private network between the mobile device and the access point of the local area network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the state variables to the entities of the local network comprises reserving an IP address of the local network on behalf of the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein reserving the IP address of the local network for the mobile device comprises issuing an address resolution protocol (ARP) response on behalf the mobile device to reserve the IP address on an auto-configured IP network.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising detecting an addressing mode of the local area network, and wherein the IP address is reserved for the mobile device only if the addressing mode includes IP auto-configure.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the mobile device to the public network comprises coupling the device to a packet-switched radio network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the mobile device to the public network comprises coupling the device to the Internet.

10. A computing arrangement comprising:

a first network interface capable of being coupled to an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer local area network;

a second network interface capable of being coupled to a public network;

a processor coupled to the first and second network interfaces; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory containing instructions that cause the processor to,

establish a secure data connection between a mobile device coupled to the public network and the local area network so that the mobile device operates in an address space of the local network;

simulate a reduced power mode of the mobile device on the local area network for purposes of shaping network traffic communicated via the secure data connection; and

provide to entities of the local network one or more state variables related to operation of the mobile device on behalf of the mobile device.

11. The computing arrangement of claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to filter multicast messages originating from the local network that are targeted for the mobile device.

12. The computing arrangement of claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to, in response to a network event targeted for the mobile device, receive a wake up signal on behalf of the mobile device.

13. The computing arrangement of claim 10, wherein establishing the secure data connection comprises establishing a virtual private network between the mobile device and the computing arrangement.

14. The computing arrangement of claim 10, wherein providing the state variables to the entities of the local network comprises reserving an IP address of the local network on behalf of the mobile device.

15. The computing arrangement of claim 14, wherein reserving the IP address of the local network for the mobile device comprises issuing an address resolution protocol (ARP) response on behalf the mobile device to reserve the IP address on an auto-configured IP network.

16. The computing arrangement of claim 15, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to detect an addressing mode of the local area network, and wherein the IP address is reserved for the mobile device only if the addressing mode includes IP auto-configure.

17. The computing arrangement of claim 10, wherein the public network comprises a packet-switched radio network.

18. The computing arrangement of claim 10, wherein the public network comprises the Internet.

19. A processor-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a data processing arrangement capable of being coupled to an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer local area network and a public network, the instructions executable by the data processing arrangement for performing steps comprising:

establishing, via the public network, a secure data connection between a mobile device coupled to the public network and the local area network so that the mobile device operates in an address space of the local network;

simulating a reduced power mode of the mobile device on the local area network for purposes of shaping network traffic communicated via the secure data connection; and

providing to entities of the local network one or more state variables related to operation of the mobile device on behalf of the mobile device.

20. The processor-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the steps further comprise filtering multicast messages originating from the local network that are targeted for the mobile device.

21. The processor-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the steps further comprise, in response to a network event targeted for the mobile device, receiving a wake up signal on behalf of the mobile device.

22. The processor-readable medium of claim 19 wherein establishing the secure data connection comprises establishing a virtual private network between the mobile device and the data processing arrangement.

23. The processor-readable medium of claim 19, wherein providing the state variables to the entities of the local network comprises reserving an IP address of the local network on behalf of the mobile device.

24. The processor-readable medium of claim of claim 23, wherein reserving the IP address of the local network for the mobile device comprises issuing an address resolution protocol (ARP) response on behalf the mobile device to reserve the IP address on an auto-configured IP network.

25. The processor-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the steps further comprise detecting an addressing mode of the local area network, and wherein the IP address is reserved for the mobile device only if the addressing mode includes IP auto-configure.

26. The processor-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the public network comprises a packet-switched radio network.

27. The processor-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the public network comprises the Internet.

28. A mobile terminal comprising:

a network interface capable of being coupled to a public network;

a processor coupled to the network interface; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory containing instructions that cause the processor to,

connect to an ad-hoc, local area network via a secure data connection operable over the public network;

communicate with entities of the local area network via a proxy that simulates a reduced power mode of the mobile terminal on the local area network for purposes of shaping network traffic communicated via the secure data connection, wherein the proxy is capable of maintaining one or more state variables related to operation of the mobile terminal on the local network;

enter a reduced power mode; and

utilize the one or more state variables on the local network via the proxy after transitioning from the reduced power mode to a normal activity mode.

29. The mobile terminal of claim 28, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to,

receive a wake up signal from the proxy;

and

enter the normal activity mode in response to the wake up signal.

30. The mobile terminal of claim 28, wherein the secure data connection comprises a virtual private network.

31. The mobile terminal of claim 28, wherein the one or more state variables comprises an IP address of the local network.

32. The mobile terminal of claim 28, wherein the public network comprises a packet-switched radio network.

33. The mobile terminal of claim 28, wherein the public network comprises the Internet.

35. The processor-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the steps further comprise:

receiving a wake up signal from the proxy; and

entering the normal activity mode in response to the wake up signal.

34. A processor-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a mobile terminal capable of being coupled to a public network, the instructions executable by the mobile terminal for performing steps comprising:

connecting to an ad-hoc, local area network via a secure data connection operable over the public network;

communicate with entities of the local area network via a low-power proxy that simulates a reduced power mode of the mobile terminal on the local area network for purposes of shaping network traffic communicated via the secure data connection, wherein the proxy is capable of maintaining one or more state variables related to operation of the mobile terminal on the local network;

entering a reduced power mode; and

utilizing the one or more state variables on the local network via the proxy after transitioning from the reduced power mode to a normal activity mode.

36. A system comprising:

a local area network configured to provide ad-hoc data exchanges between consumer electronics devices coupled to the local area network;

a publicly accessible network;

a mobile device capable of being coupled to the publicly accessible network;

means for creating, via the public network, a secure data connection between the mobile device and the local area network so that the mobile device operates in an address space of the local network;

means for maintaining one or more state variables related to operation of the mobile device on the local network;

means for simulating a reduced power mode of the mobile device on the local network for purposes of shaping traffic over the secure data connection; and

means for providing the state variables to entities of the local network on behalf of the mobile device.

37. The system of claim 36, further comprising means for filtering multicast messages originating from the local network and targeted for the mobile device.

38. The system of claim 36, further comprising means for sending from the access point a wake up signal to the mobile device in response to a network event targeted for the mobile device if the mobile device is in the reduced power mode.