METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FACILITATING NETWORK CONNECTIVITY
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method for testing network connectivity for a network device, comprising:
- connecting to a network provider;
pinging a first server with the aid of the network provider by directing a data packet to a static interne protocol (IP) address of said first server;
pinging a second server with the aid of the network provider by directing a data packet to a dedicated uniform resource locator (URL) of said second server;
determining whether to maintain connectivity to said network provider based on whether a response was received by said network device from said first server and/or whether a response was received by said network device from said second server; and
connecting to another network provider based on at least one criterion selected from the group consisting of bandwidth of the another network provider, cost to maintain connectivity to the another network provider, cost to transmit information with the aid of the another network provider, a download rate of the another network provider, and an upload rate of the another network provider.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for connecting an electronic device to a network. In some situations, the electronic device connects to a first network provider and pings a first server having a static internet protocol address and a second server having a dedicated uniform resource locator. If the electronic device receives a response from the first and second server, the electronic device maintains its connection to the first network provider. Otherwise, the electronic device connects to a second network provider and pings the first and second servers.
16 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for testing network connectivity for a network device, comprising:
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connecting to a network provider; pinging a first server with the aid of the network provider by directing a data packet to a static interne protocol (IP) address of said first server; pinging a second server with the aid of the network provider by directing a data packet to a dedicated uniform resource locator (URL) of said second server; determining whether to maintain connectivity to said network provider based on whether a response was received by said network device from said first server and/or whether a response was received by said network device from said second server; and connecting to another network provider based on at least one criterion selected from the group consisting of bandwidth of the another network provider, cost to maintain connectivity to the another network provider, cost to transmit information with the aid of the another network provider, a download rate of the another network provider, and an upload rate of the another network provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 31, 32, 33)
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10. A computer-implemented method for testing network connectivity for a network device, comprising:
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connecting to a first network provider; pinging a first server with the aid of the first network provider by directing a data packet to a static internet protocol (IP) address of said first server; pinging a second server with the aid of the first network provider by directing a data packet to a dedicated uniform resource locator (URL) of said second server; determining whether to maintain connectivity to said first network provider based on whether a response was received by said network device from said first server and/or whether a response was received by said network device from said second server; and connecting to an additional network provider, wherein said additional network provider uses a network connectivity interface different from a network connectivity interface of the first network provider and is selected from the group consisting of a wireless router, Bluetooth router, wired router, cellular network router, radiofrequency (RF) device and optoelectronic device; pinging the first server with the aid of the additional network provider; pinging the second server with the aid of the additional network provider; and determining whether to maintain connectivity to the additional network provider based on whether a response was received by the network device from the first server and/or whether a response was received by the network device from the second server. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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13. (canceled)
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15. A computer-implemented method for selecting a network provider for a network device, comprising:
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connecting to a first network provider; directing, with the aid of the first network provider, a first data packet to a static internet protocol (IP) address of a first server and a second data packet to a static uniform resource locator (URL) of a second server; and terminating a connection to said first network provider based upon any one network termination condition selected from the group consisting of (a) a response was not received by the network device from said first server and/or said second server after said directing, (b) a network bandwidth of another network provider is higher than a network bandwidth of said first network provider, (c) a network cost of another network provider is lower than a network cost of said first network provider, (d) network access provided by another network provider is more robust than network access provided by said first network provider, (e) connectivity between the network device and another network provider is via wired connection and connectivity between the network device and said first network provider is via wireless connection and (f) another network provider is in closer proximity to the network device than said first network provider; connecting to a second network provider, wherein said second network provider uses a network connectivity interface that is different from a network connectivity interface of the first network provider and is selected from the group consisting of a wireless router, Bluetooth router, wired router, cellular network router, radiofrequency (RF) device and optoelectronic device; directing, with the aid of the second network provider, a first data packet to said static IP address of said first server and a second data packet to said static URL of said second server; and determining whether to maintain connectivity to said second network provider based on whether a response was received by the network device from the first server and/or whether a response was received by the network device from the second server. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 19, 20)
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18. (canceled)
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21. A method for establishing network connectivity for a network device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) connecting to a first network provider; (b) directing, with the aid of the first network provider, a first data packet to a static internet protocol (IP) address of a first server and a second data packet to a dedicated uniform resource locator (URL) of a second server; and (c) selecting a second network provider over said first network provider if, in response to said directing step (b), said second network provider meets a criterion unmet by said first network provider, wherein said criterion is selected from the group consisting of;
(i) whether a response was received by the network device from said first server and/or said second server after said directing, (ii) whether a network bandwidth of said second network provider is higher than a network bandwidth of said first network provider, (iii) whether a network cost of said second network provider is lower than a network cost of said first network provider, (iv) whether network access provided by said second network provider is more robust than network access provided by said first network provider, (v) whether connectivity between said network device and said second network provider is via wired connection and connectivity between said network device and said first network provider is via wireless connection, and (vi) whether said second network provider is in closer proximity to the network device than said first network provider. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. (canceled)
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27. A system for establishing network connectivity for a network device, comprising:
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a) a network connectivity controller for locating network providers, the network connectivity controller having a processor for executing machine-readable code to; establish a connection to a first network provider; direct a first data packet to a static interne protocol (IP) address of a first server with the aid of the first network provider; direct a second data packet to a static uniform resource locator (URL) of a second server with the aid of the first network provider; determine whether to maintain connectivity to said first network provider based on whether a response was received by said network device from said first server and/or whether a response was received by said network device from said second server; establish a connection to a second network provider, wherein said second network provider uses a network connectivity interface that is different from a network connectivity interface of the first network provider and is selected from the group consisting of a wireless router, Bluetooth router, wired router, cellular network router, radiofrequency (RF) device and optoelectronic device; direct a third data packet to said static IP address of said first server with the aid of the second network provider; direct a fourth data packet to said static URL of said second server with the aid of the second network provider; and determine whether to maintain connectivity to said second network provider based on whether a response was received by said network device from said first server and/or whether a response was received by said network device from said second server; and b) a graphical user interface for displaying a list of network providers to a user, the list of network providers generated with the aid of one or more network connectivity criteria. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification