FEDERATED MULTIPROTOCOL COMMUNICATION

• US 20090119417A1
• Filed: 01/08/2009
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rpx-Nw Acquisition LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Dowling, Eric Morgan
• Granted Patent: US 7,937,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/249
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• 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: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/38 by fixed network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and business techniques are disclosed for use in distributed communication systems comprising a plurality of communication protocols. In one embodiment a first air interface is used to initiate communication between a wireless client and a remote server at least partially using a first wireless access point. The server sends the wireless client a stub of a distributed object. The stub is used to instantiate an object class. The object class defines an interface that the remote client can use to communicate with the remote server using an upper layer interface. The distributed object stub also provides an implementation of a software radio configuration for a set of lower protocol layers in a second air interface. The wireless client can thereby communicate with a second wireless access point using said second air interface protocol. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are disclosed that focus on toll-tag and electronic-commerce related highway systems, distributed federated wireless access systems, and wide area wireless system capacity augmentation.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An apparatus comprising:

means for coupling a mobile unit to a first wireless system over a first air interface;

means for coupling said mobile unit to a second wireless system over a second air interface, wherein said first and second wireless systems are enabled to provide federated access services to said mobile unit;

means for receiving at least a portion of said means for coupling said mobile unit to said second wireless system over said first air interface; and

means for selectively operatively switching from using said first air interface to using said second air interface during an on-going communication session.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first wireless system comprises a cellular communications system and said second wireless system comprises a wireless local area network system.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said portion of said means for coupling said mobile unit to said second wireless system comprises, at least in part, executable software unavailable in said mobile unit.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for identifying if said mobile unit is in a coverage area of said second wireless system.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said means for receiving at least said portion of said means for coupling said mobile unit to said second wireless system over said first air interface comprises:

means for receiving at least said portion of said means for coupling said mobile unit to said second wireless system over said first air interface during said on-going communication session.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said means for selectively operatively switching from using said first air interface to using said second air interface comprises:

means for selecting between using said first wireless system and using said second wireless system based, at least in part on, at least one of an economic cost parameter, a communication quality parameter, a communication bandwidth parameter, a battery optimization parameter, and/or a location parameter.

27. An apparatus comprising;

means for coupling a first wireless system to a mobile unit over a first air interface;

means for selectively providing to said mobile unit, over said first air interface, at least a portion of a means for coupling said mobile unit to a second wireless system over a second air interface, wherein said first and second wireless systems are enabled to provide federated access services to said mobile unit; and

means for enabling handover of said mobile unit from said first wireless system to said second wireless system during an on-going communication session.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said means for selectively providing to said mobile unit, over said first air interface, at least said portion of said means for coupling said mobile unit to said second wireless system over said second air interface comprises:

means for selectively providing to said mobile unit, over said first air interface during said on-going communication session, at least said portion of said means for coupling said mobile unit to said second wireless system over said second air interface.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said portion of said means for coupling said mobile unit to said second wireless system comprises, at least in part, executable software unavailable in said mobile unit.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

means for identifying if said mobile unit is in a coverage area of said second wireless system.

31. An article comprising:

a computer readable medium having executable software stored thereon which if implemented by one or more processors within a mobile unit operatively enables said mobile unit to;

communicate to a first wireless system over a first air interface;

receive additional executable software associated with a second wireless system over said first air interface, wherein the second wireless system comprises a second wireless air interface wherein said first and second wireless systems are enabled to provide federated access services to said mobile unit; and

selectively operatively switch from communicating over said first air interface to communicating over said second air interface during an on-going communication session.

32. The article of claim 31, wherein said additional executable software associated with said second wireless system is associated with a protocol.

33. The article of claim 31, wherein said first wireless system comprises a cellular communications system and said second wireless system comprises a wireless local area network system.

34. The article of claim 31, further comprising executable software stored thereon which if implemented by one or more processors within a mobile unit operatively enables the mobile unit to:

identify if said mobile unit is in a coverage area of said second wireless system.

35. The article of claim 31, wherein said additional executable software is received during said on-going communication session.

36. The article of claim 31, further comprising executable software stored thereon which if implemented by one or more processors within a mobile unit operatively enables the mobile unit to:

select between using said first wireless system and using said second wireless system based, at least in part on, at least one of an economic cost parameter, a communication quality parameter, a communication bandwidth parameter, a battery optimization parameter, and/or a location parameter.

37. An article comprising:

a computer readable medium having executable software stored thereon which if implemented by one or more processors within a device of a first wireless system operatively enables said device to;

communicate with a first wireless system to a mobile unit over a first air interface;

selectively provide to said mobile unit, over said first air interface, additional executable software for use by said mobile unit to communicate with a second wireless system over a second air interface wherein said first and second wireless systems are enabled to provide federated access services to said mobile unit; and

enable handover of said mobile unit from said first wireless system to said second wireless system during an on-going communication session.

38. The article of claim 37, wherein said additional executable software is provided during said on-going communication session.

39. The article of claim 37, wherein said additional executable software is associated with a protocol.

40. The article of claim 37, further comprising executable software stored thereon which if implemented by said one or more processors within said device operatively enables said device to:

identify if said mobile unit is in a coverage area of said second wireless system.