Method and Apparatus for Intelligent Seamless Network Switching
First Claim
1. An apparatus for intelligent, seamless switching between a plurality of data or communications networks, comprising:
- a mobile electronics device;
a network connection means, operable on said mobile electronics device, for connecting said mobile electronics device to said plurality of networks;
a network monitoring means capable of measuring at least one quality of connection parameter for said plurality of networks; and
a selection means, responsive to at least one pre-selected user preference and responsive to said at least one quality of connection parameter, for selectively connecting said mobile electronics device to one of said networks.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus that enable a mobile electronic device to automatically and seamlessly maintain optimal network connectivity by selectively connecting to the most appropriate, currently available data or communications network. Guidelines for what constitutes optimal network connectivity are provided by pre-selected user preferences or objectives. These are combined into one or more rules that can be interpreted by a software module operating on the mobile electronics device, and used to switch between the available networks in a way that makes intelligent use of the mobile device resources, and provides seamless support for any applications running on the device while roaming through regions of changing network availability, or as the service quality of available networks varies.
79 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for intelligent, seamless switching between a plurality of data or communications networks, comprising:
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a mobile electronics device;
a network connection means, operable on said mobile electronics device, for connecting said mobile electronics device to said plurality of networks;
a network monitoring means capable of measuring at least one quality of connection parameter for said plurality of networks; and
a selection means, responsive to at least one pre-selected user preference and responsive to said at least one quality of connection parameter, for selectively connecting said mobile electronics device to one of said networks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15)
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9. A method of intelligent, seamless switching between networks, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a mobile electronic device;
providing a first and a second network connection capability operational on said mobile electronic device;
providing a rule comprising at least one pre-selected user preference and at least one quality of connection parameter; and
selecting one of said first and second network connection capabilities responsive to said rule. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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16. A computer-readable medium, operable in conjunction with a mobile electronic device having a first and a second network connection capability, said computer-readable medium comprising instructions for:
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parsing a rule comprising at least one pre-selected user preference and at least one quality of connection parameter for said networks; and
selecting one of said first and second network connection capabilities responsive to said rule.
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17. A computing device comprising:
- a computer-readable medium operable in conjunction with a mobile electronic device having a first and a second network connection capability, said computer-readable medium comprising instructions for;
parsing a rule comprising at least one pre-selected user preference and at least one quality of connection parameter for said networks; and
selecting one of said first and second network connection capabilities responsive to said rule.
- a computer-readable medium operable in conjunction with a mobile electronic device having a first and a second network connection capability, said computer-readable medium comprising instructions for;
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18. A method of maintaining an optimal network connection, comprising the steps of;
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providing a mobile electronics device;
running one or more applications on said mobile electronics device, said applications requiring data to be sent to a remote server;
automatically detecting, by a network switching software module running on said mobile electronics device, two or more available wireless communications networks suitable for sending said data to said remote server;
automatically selecting one of said two or more available wireless communications networks by said network switching software module running on said mobile electronics device, responsive to at least one pre-loaded rule comprising a connection cost factor;
automatically establishing a communications connection, by said network switching software module running on said mobile electronics device, using said selected wireless communications network; and
sending said data from said application to said remote server. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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22. An apparatus for maintaining an optimal network connection, comprising;
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a mobile electronics device;
one or more software applications operable in conjunction with said mobile electronics device, said applications requiring data to be sent to a remote server; and
a network switching software module, operable in conjunction with said mobile electronics device, said network switching software module comprising instructions for;
automatically detecting two or more available wireless communications networks suitable for sending said data to said remote server;
automatically selecting one of said two or more available wireless communications networks responsive to at least one pre-loaded rule comprising a connection cost factor;
automatically establishing a communications connection using said selected wireless communications network; and
sending said data from said application to said remote server. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification