HIERARCHICAL ROUTING AND INTERFACE SELECTION FOR MULTI-PROCESSOR MULTIMODE NETWORK DEVICES

• US 20110191484A1
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: VANGALA, Venkata Satish Kumar, BABBAR, Uppinder Singh
• Granted Patent: US 9,411,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5011 the resources being hardware resources other than CPUs, Servers and Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/12 Protocol engines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• 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 74/004 in the uplink, i.e. towards network

Abstract

The embodiments simplify the development of applications for current and future wireless communication devices, resolving the deficiencies of current methods by providing a hierarchical routing layer which abstracts the actual proximity of the network connection. An application can request and receive a type of network connection without having to address details of the actual connection established. A hierarchical routing layer is provided within the software architecture of each processor within the computing device. The hierarchical routing layer abstracts the actual proximity of the network connectivity on the modem from the applications using proxy network interfaces. The hierarchical routing layers on each processor cooperate to identify a best network interface for an application network request. The routing layer enables response to an application request for a network interface in a simple manner regardless of whether the network interface is provided on the application host processor or another processor.

Claims

16. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a wireless receiver circuit coupled to the processor and configured to receive signals from a wireless communication network,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request comprises:

receiving in a first processor an application request for a network access including network selection policy parameters from an application running on the first processor; and

forwarding a network interface selection request, including the network selection policy parameters, to one or more secondary processors coupled to the first processor via a proxy interface.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request further comprises:

receiving in the first processor from each secondary processor information about a selected best network interface available via each secondary processor if one is available;

evaluating how well each network interface available on the first processor satisfies the network selection policy parameters; and

selecting a best network interface for the application request based upon the information about a selected best network interface received from each secondary processor and how well the network interfaces available on the first processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request further comprises initiating a network configuration for the selected best network interface.

20. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that an application or connection manager initiates network configuration for the selected best network interface.

21. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that initiating a network configuration for the selected best network interface comprises:

determining whether the selected best network interface is an interface available on the first processor or on a different processor;

initiating a standard network configuration if the selected best network interface is an interface available on the first processor; and

automatically connecting a data path to the selected best network connection if the selected best network connection is available on the different processor.

26. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

receiving the network interface selection request in each secondary processor via the proxy interface coupled to the first processor;

evaluating how well each network interface available on each secondary processor satisfies the network selection policy parameters;

selecting a best network interface available via each secondary processor for the application request based upon how well the network interfaces available on the secondary processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters; and

sending to the first processor information about the selected best network interface available via each secondary processor if one is available.

27. The mobile device of claim 26, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that:

evaluating how well each network interface available on the first and each secondary processor satisfies the network selection policy parameters comprises computing an interface match index I; and

selecting a best network interface comprises selecting the network interface with a largest interface match index I.

28. The mobile device of claim 26, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

forwarding the network interface selection request, including the network selection policy parameters, from a secondary processor to a tertiary processor coupled to the secondary processor; and

receiving in the secondary processor from the tertiary processor information about a selected best network interface available via each tertiary processor if one is available,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that selecting a best network interface available via the secondary processor for the application request based upon how well the network interfaces available on the second processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters comprises selecting a best network interface for the application request based upon the information about a selected best network interface received from the tertiary processor and how well network interfaces available on the secondary processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters.

29. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising binding the secondary processor to the selected best network interface on the tertiary processor.

30. The mobile device of claim 29, wherein the tertiary processor has another proxy interface established with the secondary processor.

22-1. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 51, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that setting up a data path to the selected best network connection if the selected best network connection is available on the different processor comprises:

binding a proxy interface of the first processor to a corresponding interface on the different processor; and

binding the corresponding interface to the selected best network interface.

31. A mobile device, comprising:

means for performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request.

32. The mobile device of claim 31, wherein means for performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request comprises:

means for receiving in a first processor an application request for a network access including network selection policy parameters from an application running on the first processor; and

means for forwarding a network interface selection request, including the network selection policy parameters, to one or more secondary processors coupled to the first processor via a proxy interface.

33. The mobile device of claim 32, wherein means for performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request further comprises:

means for receiving in the first processor from each secondary processor information about a selected best network interface available via each secondary processor if one is available;

means for evaluating how well each network interface available on the first processor satisfies the network selection policy parameters; and

means for selecting a best network interface for the application request based upon the information about a selected best network interface received from each secondary processor and how well the network interfaces available on the first processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters.

34. The mobile device of claim 33, wherein means for performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request further comprises means for initiating a network configuration for the selected best network interface.

35. The mobile device of claim 34, wherein an application or connection manager initiates network configuration for the selected best network interface.

36. The mobile device of claim 34, wherein means for initiating a network configuration for the selected best network interface comprises:

means for determining whether the selected best network interface is an interface available on the first processor or on a different processor;

means for initiating a standard network configuration if the selected best network interface is an interface available on the first processor; and

means for automatically connecting a data path to the selected best network connection if the selected best network connection is available on the different processor.

37. The mobile device of claim 36, wherein means for setting up a data path to the selected best network connection if the selected best network connection is available on the different processor comprises:

means for binding a proxy interface of the first processor to a corresponding interface on the different processor; and

means for binding the corresponding interface to the selected best network interface.

38. The mobile device of claim 37, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that binding a proxy interface of the first processor to a corresponding interface on the different processor comprises binding a series of interfaces across multiple processors between the proxy interface and the corresponding interface on the different processor.

39. The mobile device of claim 37, wherein the proxy interface is used by a peripheral device.

40. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the peripheral device is a laptop computer.

41. The mobile device of claim 33, further comprising:

means for receiving the network interface selection request in each secondary processor via the proxy interface coupled to the first processor;

means for evaluating how well each network interface available on each secondary processor satisfies the network selection policy parameters;

means for selecting a best network interface available via each secondary processor for the application request based upon how well the network interfaces available on the secondary processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters; and

means for sending to the first processor information about the selected best network interface available via each secondary processor if one is available.

42. The mobile device of claim 41, wherein:

means for evaluating how well each network interface available on the first and each secondary processor satisfies the network selection policy parameters comprises means for computing an interface match index I; and

means for selecting a best network interface comprises means for selecting the network interface with a largest interface match index I.

43. The mobile device of claim 41, further comprising:

means for forwarding the network interface selection request, including the network selection policy parameters, from a secondary processor to a tertiary processor coupled to the secondary processor; and

means for receiving in the secondary processor from the tertiary processor information about a selected best network interface available via each tertiary processor if one is available,

wherein means for selecting a best network interface available via the secondary processor for the application request based upon how well the network interfaces available on the second processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters comprises means for selecting a best network interface for the application request based upon the information about a selected best network interface received from the tertiary processor and how well network interfaces available on the secondary processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters.

44. The mobile device of claim 42, further comprising means for binding the secondary processor to the selected best network interface on the tertiary processor.

45. The mobile device of claim 44, wherein the tertiary processor has another proxy interface established with the secondary processor.

46. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request.

1. A method for selecting a network connection for an application within a computing device, comprising performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request comprises:

receiving in a first processor an application request for a network access including network selection policy parameters from an application running on the first processor; and

forwarding a network interface selection request, including the network selection policy parameters, to one or more secondary processors coupled to the first processor via a proxy interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request further comprises:

receiving in the first processor from each secondary processor information about a selected best network interface available via each secondary processor if one is available;

evaluating how well each network interface available on the first processor satisfies the network selection policy parameters; and

selecting a best network interface for the application request based upon the information about a selected best network interface received from each secondary processor and how well the network interfaces available on the first processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request further comprises initiating a network configuration for the selected best network interface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein an application or connection manager initiates network configuration for the selected best network interface.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein initiating a network configuration for the selected best network interface comprises:

determining whether the selected best network interface is an interface available on the first processor or on a different processor;

initiating a standard network configuration if the selected best network interface is an interface available on the first processor; and

automatically connecting a data path to the selected best network connection if the selected best network connection is available on the different processor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein setting up a data path to the selected best network connection if the selected best network connection is available on the different processor comprises:

binding a proxy interface of the first processor to a corresponding interface on the different processor; and

binding the corresponding interface to the selected best network interface.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein binding a proxy interface of the first processor to a corresponding interface on the different processor comprises binding a series of interfaces across multiple processors between the proxy interface and the corresponding interface on the different processor.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the proxy interface is used by a peripheral device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the peripheral device is a laptop computer.

11. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving the network interface selection request in each secondary processor via the proxy interface coupled to the first processor;

evaluating how well each network interface available on each secondary processor satisfies the network selection policy parameters;

selecting a best network interface available via each secondary processor for the application request based upon how well the network interfaces available on the secondary processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters; and

sending to the first processor information about the selected best network interface available via each secondary processor if one is available.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

evaluating how well each network interface available on the first and each secondary processor satisfies the network selection policy parameters comprises computing an interface match index I; and

selecting a best network interface comprises selecting the network interface with a largest interface match index I.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

forwarding the network interface selection request, including the network selection policy parameters, from a secondary processor to a tertiary processor coupled to the secondary processor; and

receiving in the secondary processor from the tertiary processor information about a selected best network interface available via each tertiary processor if one is available,

wherein selecting a best network interface available via the secondary processor for the application request based upon how well the network interfaces available on the second processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters comprises selecting a best network interface for the application request based upon the information about a selected best network interface received from the tertiary processor and how well network interfaces available on the secondary processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising binding the secondary processor to the selected best network interface on the tertiary processor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the tertiary processor has another proxy interface established with the secondary processor.

22. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that setting up a data path to the selected best network connection if the selected best network connection is available on the different processor comprises:

binding a proxy interface of the first processor to a corresponding interface on the different processor; and

binding the corresponding interface to the selected best network interface.

23. The mobile device of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that binding a proxy interface of the first processor to a corresponding interface on the different processor comprises binding a series of interfaces across multiple processors between the proxy interface and the corresponding interface on the different processor.

24. The mobile device of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the proxy interface is used by a peripheral device.

25. The mobile device of claim 24, wherein the peripheral device is a laptop computer.

47. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request comprises:

receiving in a first processor an application request for a network access including network selection policy parameters from an application running on the first processor; and

forwarding a network interface selection request, including the network selection policy parameters, to one or more secondary processors coupled to the first processor via a proxy interface.

48. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 47, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request further comprises:

receiving in the first processor from each secondary processor information about a selected best network interface available via each secondary processor if one is available;

evaluating how well each network interface available on the first processor satisfies the network selection policy parameters; and

selecting a best network interface for the application request based upon the information about a selected best network interface received from each secondary processor and how well the network interfaces available on the first processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters.

49. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 48, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that performing a hierarchical interface selection procedure among a plurality of processors in order to select an interface best matching network selection policy parameters received in a network access request further comprises initiating a network configuration for the selected best network interface.

50. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that an application or connection manager initiates network configuration for the selected best network interface.

51. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that initiating a network configuration for the selected best network interface comprises:

determining whether the selected best network interface is an interface available on the first processor or on a different processor;

initiating a standard network configuration if the selected best network interface is an interface available on the first processor; and

automatically connecting a data path to the selected best network connection if the selected best network connection is available on the different processor.

56. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 48, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising:

receiving the network interface selection request in each secondary processor via the proxy interface coupled to the first processor;

evaluating how well each network interface available on each secondary processor satisfies the network selection policy parameters;

selecting a best network interface available via each secondary processor for the application request based upon how well the network interfaces available on the secondary processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters; and

sending to the first processor information about the selected best network interface available via each secondary processor if one is available.

57. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 56, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that:

evaluating how well each network interface available on the first and each secondary processor satisfies the network selection policy parameters comprises computing an interface match index I; and

selecting a best network interface comprises selecting the network interface with a largest interface match index I.

58. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 56, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising:

forwarding the network interface selection request, including the network selection policy parameters, from a secondary processor to a tertiary processor coupled to the secondary processor; and

receiving in the secondary processor from the tertiary processor information about a selected best network interface available via each tertiary processor if one is available,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that selecting a best network interface available via the secondary processor for the application request based upon how well the network interfaces available on the second processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters comprises selecting a best network interface for the application request based upon the information about a selected best network interface received from the tertiary processor and how well network interfaces available on the secondary processor satisfy the network selection policy parameters.

59. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising binding the secondary processor to the selected best network interface on the tertiary processor.

60. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 59, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that the tertiary processor has another proxy interface established with the secondary processor.

53. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 52, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that binding a proxy interface of the first processor to a corresponding interface on the different processor comprises binding a series of interfaces across multiple processors between the proxy interface and the corresponding interface on the different processor.

54. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 52, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that the proxy interface is used by a peripheral device.

55. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 54, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that the peripheral device is a laptop computer.