SYSTEM AND METHOD OF COMMUNICATING WITH A NODE IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK THROUGH AN INTERMEDIARY NODE

• US 20140044007A1
• Filed: 08/10/2012
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Smadi, Mohammed Nawaf
• Granted Patent: US 8,891,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

The disclosure describes a system, method, device and server for establishing communication links in a network for a device. Communications may be carried from the device through an intermediary communication device to an access point in a wireless communication network. The method comprises: monitoring for a first trigger condition to seek the intermediary communication device, where the trigger condition is related to at least one of the communication device or the network; and upon detection of the first trigger condition identifying the intermediary communication device in the network, establishing a first connection between the communication device and the intermediary communication device and a second connection between the intermediary communication device and the access point to transmit communications from the communication device to the access point and transmitting a message from the communication device for the access device using the first connection and the second connection.

Claims

1. A method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device to carry communications from the communication device destined to an access point in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

monitoring for a first trigger condition to seek the intermediary communication device, where the first trigger condition is related to at least one of the communication device or the network; and

upon detection of the first trigger condition

identifying the intermediary communication device in the network;

establishing a first connection between the communication device and the intermediary communication device and a second connection between the intermediary communication device and the access point to transmit communications from the communication device to the access point; and

transmitting a message from the communication device for the access device using the first connection and the second connection.

2. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising upon detection of the first trigger condition:

tearing down a direct connection between the communication device and the access point.

3. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the network is an 802.11 class network; and

the first connection provides a layer 2 bridge between the communication device and the intermediary communication device.

4. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first trigger condition is a threshold related to any one or more of a battery level of the communication device, a Specific Absorption Rate level of the communication device, and a communication bandwidth level between the communication device and the access point.

5. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring for a second trigger condition to re-establish the direct connection between the communication device and the access point; and

upon detection of the second trigger condition

re-establishing the direct connection between the communication device and the access point; and

tearing down the first connection and the second connection.

6. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the communication device shares account parameters with the intermediary communication device for communications managed by the network.

7. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the access point does not send a re-association message the communication device when the direct connection is re-established.

8. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trigger condition is the communication device having of a trusted status with the intermediary communication device.

9. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

providing a trusted service in the network that the intermediary communication device has been certified to access to the communication device through the first and second communication links based on the trusted status.

10. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

communications from the communication device to the access device carried over the first and second communication links are treated by the access device as communications sent from the intermediary communication device to the access device.

11. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the intermediary communication device is identified from a plurality of devices in the network based on a quality of a communication link between the communication device and the intermediary communication device.

12. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

a server communicating in the network identifies the intermediary communication device from the plurality of devices.

13. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the quality of the communication link between the communication device and the intermediary communication device relates to a proximity of the communication device to the intermediary communication device.

14. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the quality of the communication link between the communication device and the intermediary communication device relates to a second communication link in a second network between the communication device and the intermediary communication device.

15. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

the second network is a cellular network.

16. A method of identifying for a communication device a plurality of intermediary communication devices to carry communications from the communication device destined to an access point in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

monitoring for a trigger condition to seek the plurality of intermediary communication devices, where the trigger condition is related to at least one of the communication device or the network; and

upon detection of the trigger condition

identifying the plurality intermediary communication devices in the network;

establishing a first connection between the communication device and the plurality of intermediary communication devices, a plurality of connections among the plurality of intermediary communication devices and a second connection from one of the plurality of intermediary communication devices and the access point to transmit communications from the communication device to the access point;

tearing down a direct connection between the communication device and the access point; and

transmitting a message from the communication device for the access device using the first connection, the plurality of connections and the second connection.

17. A communication device communicating with an access point in a network, comprising:

a communication module to process communications with the network;

a processor;

a first module providing instructions to the processor to monitor for a trigger condition to seek an intermediary communication device in the network to communicate with the access point, where the trigger condition is related to at least one of the communication device or the network;

a second module that upon detection of the trigger condition provides instructions to the processor to

identify the intermediary communication device in the network; and

establish a first connection between the communication device and the intermediary communication device in the network and a second connection between the intermediary communication device and the access point in the network to transmit communications from the communication device to the access point;

and

a third module that after establishment of the first and second connections provides instructions to the processor to

transmit a message from the communication device for the access device using the first connection and the second connection.

18. The communication device in a network as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second module further provides instructions to the processor to:

tear down a direct connection between the communication device and the access point.

19. The communication device in a network as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

the network is an 802.11 class network; and

the first connection provides a layer 2 bridge between the communication device and the intermediary communication device.

20. The communication device in a network as claimed in claim 17, wherein the trigger condition is a threshold related to any one or more of a battery level of the communication device, a Specific Absorption Rate level of the communication device, and a communication bandwidth level between the communication device and the access point.