Communications channel selection

• US 6,122,514 A
• Filed: 01/03/1997
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cellport Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cellport Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Klingenstein, Kenneth J., Braitberg, Michael F., Kennedy, Patrick J., Spaur, Charles W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Armstrong, Darnell R.
• Application Number:
  US08/778,897
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 455/440, 455/436, 455/448, 455/428, 455/512, 370/468, 370/466, 370/477
• US Class Current: 455/448
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. 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

A communications system is provided for sending and receiving information relative to a mobile unit in which a number of network channels are available through which the information can be transferred. The system includes a link selector for selecting an acceptable network channel using application requirements for the particular channel, together with channel operating parameter values. When such a channel does not become available, the link selector is also involved with recovery procedures. These network channel operating parameters include bandwidth, information transfer costs and information transfer packet loss, latency and jitter. Weighting vectors are also utilized with such channel operating parameters in determining suitability values associated with the available network channels. The link selector communicates with a link scheduler that has responsibility for determining when information should be transferred including when there should be a change in the timing of the information transfer. The link selector also receives data from a controller/monitor that obtains such dynamic data associated with selected network channel operation in connection with determining whether a switch should be made from the currently selected network channel to different network channel.

Claims

1. A method for transferring information when a number of different network channels are available over which the information can be transferred, comprising:

providing first information for transfer relative to a mobile unit;

providing second information for transfer relative to said mobile unit;

selecting a first network channel from a plurality of different network channels, including said first network channel and a second network channel, over which at least said first information is to be transferred relative to said mobile unit, wherein said network channels communicate directly with network interfaces located with the mobile unit including said first network channel communicating with a first network interface and said network channel communicating with a second network interface;

deciding after said selecting step that said second network channel is to be used to transfer said second information, said deciding step taking into account a position of said mobile unit; and

controlling within said mobile unit a use of said second network interface in transferring said second information relative to said mobile unit, said controlling step including a switching from using said first network channel to using said second network channel, wherein said controlling step is conducted free of any request related to change communicated to said second network channel from said first network channel.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said providing step includes preparing said first information for transfer using a first predetermined network protocol.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first information includes sets of information and said providing step includes buffering each of said sets of information so that each of said sets is transferred at different times.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said controlling step includes associating an address with said second information, said address depending upon said second network channel.

5. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said selecting step includes determining that said first network channel is selected for transfer using first cost-related and first transfer rate related values, with said determining step including applying a first weighting vector to said first transfer rate related value and applying a second weighting vector to said first cost related value, said first and second weighting vectors being different from zero and one and said second weighting vector being different from said first weighting vector.

6. A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said selecting step includes relying on a number of application requirements associated with said information to be transferred, said application requirements including at least one of the following;

packet loss, packet jitter and packet latency.

7. A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said selecting step includes checking whether a determined value associated with said first cost-related value is satisfied including one of checking;

(a) whether said first cost-related value is greater than a threshold magnitude and (b) whether said first cost-related value is less than said threshold magnitude.

8. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said selecting step includes storing a number of application requirements for said first information to be transferred and storing a number of channel operating parameters for each of said network channels, with said application requirements being related to said channel operating parameters.

9. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said deciding step includes altering priority of said information to be transferred.

10. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said deciding step includes checking whether application requirements have changed related to transfer of said first information, said application requirements including cost-related and transfer rate related values.

11. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said deciding step includes ascertaining whether said position of said mobile unit has changed sufficiently to discontinue use of said first network channel.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said ascertaining step includes using velocity related information associated with said mobile unit.

13. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said deciding step includes monitoring at least one of packet loss, packet latency and packet jitter.

14. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said deciding step includes utilizing a time related value in order to use of said second network channel.

15. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said steps of providing said first and second information are conducted at substantially the same time.

16. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said steps of providing said first and second information are conducted at different times.

17. An apparatus for transferring first and second information when a plurality of different network channels including a first network channel and a second network channel are available over which the information can be transferred, comprising:

network interfaces located with a mobile unit that communicate with the plurality of network channels including a first network interface communicating with the first network channel and a second network interface communicating with the second network channel;

a protocol stack located with the mobile unit and in communication with said network interfaces; and

a link selector held with the mobile unit that is used in determining that the first network channel is to be used for transferring at least the first information, said link selector is also used in determining that a change is to be made from using the first network channel to using the second network channel to transfer the second information, said protocol stack receiving an indication that the second network channel is to be used and provides second network channel addressing information to said second network interface that is used in directing the second information to the second network channel for transfer, with the second information then being transferred using the second network channel and all control for said change to using the second network channel being conducted interiorly of the mobile unit.

18. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 17, further including:

transport means for preparing the at least first information to be compatible with the first network channel.

19. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said protocol stack includes addressing means for associating an address with the at least first information to be transferred using the first network channel.

20. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said network interface means receives the at least first information with at least one address related to the first network channel.

21. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 17, further including:

an applications requirements storage that includes an applications requirement database for storing cost-related and transfer rate related values associated with at least a first predetermined application.

22. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said link selector uses a number of channel operating parameters in determining that the first network channel is to be used to transfer the at least first information, said channel operating parameters include parameters obtained from a group that includes;

packet latency, packet jitter, packet loss, bandwidth, network channel coverage, network channel setup cost, network channel cost per packet, and network security.

23. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 22, wherein:

said link selector applies a weighting vector to each of the first network channel first operating parameters, said first weighting vector being different from zero and one.

24. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 17, further including:

monitor means for monitoring dynamic data during transfer of the at least first information over the first network channel.

25. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 17, further including:

scheduler means for regulating when the second information is to be transferred.

26. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

said scheduler means utilizes position information and velocity information in determining when the second information is to be transferred.

27. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

said scheduler means receives priority related information in connection with determining when the second information is to be transferred.

28. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said network interfaces communicate with at least some of the following;

CDPD, satellite, SMR, FM-subcarrier, DAB, infrared and two-way messaging.

29. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 17, further including:

an applications requirement storage that stores first application requirements and an error recovery routine in determining that first information is to be transferred using the first network channel when the first network channel fails to meet said first application requirements for sending the information.