Systems and Methods for Splitting and Recombining Communications in Multi-Network Environments

• US 20140355522A1
• Filed: 06/03/2014
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walley, John, Rath, Kamlesh, Hayes, Raymond, Mese, Murat, Nuggehalli, Pavan, Ranjan, Rishi, DIAB, Wael, Chakraborty, Souman
• Granted Patent: US 9,730,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing dynamic substream definition and handover are provided. In embodiments, a user device includes a multiple radio access technology (RAT) communications modules and a communication controller. Each RAT communication module is further configured to communicate using a different RAT. The user device identifies available networks for communication. Then, the controller determines whether a need to split a communications stream exists (e.g., the user device is engaged in a bandwidth intensive application). If the communications stream is to be split, the controller defines the substreams (either equally or unequally) and assigns a first substream to a communication pathway in a first available network and assigns a second substream to a communication pathway in a second available network. The destination then recombines the substreams. In embodiments, the controller inserts synchronization in the substreams.

Claims

1. A network device comprising:

a first and second network communication module, wherein the first network communication module utilizes a first radio access technology and the second network communication module utilizes a second radio access technology; and

a controller module configured to split a communication stream into a first and second portion, the first portion to be transmitted across a first radio access technology pathway and the second portion to be transmitted across a second radio access technology pathway.

2. The network device of claim 1, wherein the first and second radio access technologies are different.

3. The network device of claim 1, wherein the network device is further configured to search for available networks.

4. The network device of claim 1, wherein the controller module is configured to split the outbound communication stream based on a type of data being transmitted.

5. The network device of claim 1, wherein the first network communication module is further configured to insert synchronization information into the first portion.

6. The network device of claim 5, wherein the synchronization information is used to recombine the first and second portion at a destination.

7. The network device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to define the first and second portion based on a throughput of the first radio access technology pathway and a throughput of the second radio access technology pathway.

8. The network device of claim 1, wherein the controller module is configured to assign the first and second portion to the first radio access technology pathway and the second radio access technology pathway based on the type of radio access technology used by each pathway.

9. The network device of claim 1, wherein the controller module is further configured to assign the first and second portion to the first radio access technology pathway and the second radio access pathway based on the importance of the data included in the first portion and the data included in the second portion.

10. The network device of claim 3, wherein the controller module is further configured to assign the first and second portion based on power constraints of the available networks.

11. A method for splitting an outbound communication stream in a wireless device having a first radio access technology module and a second radio access technology module, comprising:

identifying a plurality of available networks, wherein the wireless device is configured to communicate with a first network access device in a first network in the plurality of available networks and a second network access device in a second network in the plurality of available networks;

splitting a communication stream into a first and second substream; and

transmitting the first substream over the first network and the second substream over the second network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first network and the second network utilize different radio access technologies.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

assigning the first substream to the first network; and

assigning the second substream to the second network.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein splitting the communication stream includes splitting the communication stream based on a throughput of the first and second network.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein assigning the first substream includes assigning the first substream based on power capabilities of the first network and the second network.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising inserting synchronization information into the first substream.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving the first and second substream at a destination; and

synchronizing the first and second substreams based on the synchronization information.