METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SEAMLESS DATA ROAMING ACROSS MULTIPLE OPERATOR BEARERS

• US 20080200168A1
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Original Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Inventors: Jiang, John Yue Jun
• Application Number:
  US12/015,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200168A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1093 Some peer nodes performing special functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

A system and method for seamless data roaming across multiple operator bearers is provided. The system allows a client device to seamlessly select most preferred available operator bearer without losing a data session. It also allows the server to control dynamically both the operator preference list on the client and the data usage across multiple operator bearers.

Claims

1. A system for seamless data roaming of a subscriber having a subscriber communication device across multiple operator bearers and operator networks, the system comprising:

a client installed on the subscriber communication device for selecting a bearer from an operator bearer preference list, wherein the operator bearer preference list is dynamically compiled by the client; and

a server infrastructure comprising;

at least one login server for initiating a data session upon receiving a login request from the client;

a plurality of super nodes for communicating on behalf of the client; and

at least one redirection server for dynamically providing the client with an updated operator bearer preference list, when the subscriber communication device enters a first operator network from a second operator network.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the client configures and receives the operator bearer preference list, and secures access information for one of the multiple operator bearers.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the subscriber provides an order of preference of operator bearers;

wherein selecting a bearer comprises searching available bearers from the operator bearer preference list; and

wherein the searching is performed based on the order of preference provided by the subscriber.

4. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the received login request from the client is for a first bearer selected from the operator bearer preference list.

5. The system recited in claim 4, wherein initiating the data session includes authenticating the client upon receiving the login request.

6. The system recited in claim 5, wherein initiating the data session further includes selecting a super node from the plurality of super nodes, the super node being selected based on pre-specified application logic.

7. The system recited in claim 6, wherein initiating the data session further includes assigning a session ID to the client.

8. The system recited in claim 1, wherein a super node of the plurality of super nodes comprises a storage memory for buffering a session between the client and the super node of the plurality of super nodes.

9. The system recited in claim 1, the server infrastructure further comprising:

at least one external data server, wherein communicating on behalf of the client includes encapsulating and decapsulating IP packets between the client and the at least one external data server.

10. The system recited in claim 1, wherein a super node of the plurality of super nodes comprises a peer-to-peer architecture for accessing and downloading Internet multimedia content.

11. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the client comprises an integrated module for facilitating faster downloads.

12. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a support module for push services, wherein the push services include at least one selected from a group consisting of pushing emails, messages, calls and advertisements.

13. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one tracker server for enabling communication among the plurality of super nodes.

14. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one external data server, wherein the external data server includes at least one selected from a group consisting of Internet, email, web and Virtual Private Network (VPN).

15. A method for seamless data roaming of a subscriber communication device having a client installed thereon across multiple operator bearers and operator networks, the method comprising:

selecting a first bearer from a plurality of operator bearers included in a first operator bearer preference list for a first operator network;

initiating a data session with the selected first operator bearer, the data session being initiated via a connection, the connection having a connection characteristic;

assigning a super node from a network of super nodes, each super node having a super node characteristic, for communicating on behalf of the client by masking the connection characteristic with the assigned super node characteristic;

receiving a second operator bearer preference list upon entry of the subscriber communication device into a second operator network; and

switching the subscriber communication device to a selected second bearer from operators bearers included in the second operator bearer preference list;

wherein the switching is controlled by the super node, the super node maintaining the masked connection characteristic with the assigned super node characteristic; and

the switching is performed without interrupting the data session.

16. The method recited in claim 15, wherein selecting a first bearer comprises:

receiving an order of preference of operator bearers; and

searching available bearers from the first operator bearer preference list;

wherein the searching is performed based on the received order of preference of operator bearers.

17. The method recited in claim 15, wherein selecting a first bearer includes:

configuring and receiving the first operator bearer preference list; and

securing access information for the first operator bearer.

18. The method recited in claim 15, wherein initiating the data session comprises:

receiving a login request from the client, wherein the received login request from the client is for a first bearer selected from the operator bearer preference list.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein initiating the data session further comprises:

authenticating the client on receiving the login request.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein initiating the data session further comprises:

selecting a super node from the plurality of super nodes, the super node being selected based on pre-specified application logic.

21. The method recited in claim 15, wherein initiating the data session further comprises:

assigning a session ID to the client.