System and method for dynamically routing messages transmitted from mobile platforms

• US 6,522,884 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2001
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Union Pacific Railroad Company (Union Pacific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nexterna, Inc.
• Inventors: Conley, Todd M., Wilmes, Dave J., Vaiskunas, Thomas J., Edeid, Nader, Tennison, Lynden L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perez-Gutierrez, Rafael
• Application Number:
  US09/790,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20020046292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/517, 455/422, 455/426, 370/351, 370/352, 370/356, 370/255, 370/400, 370/428, 370/355, 370/357
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5087 wherein the managed service relates to voice services management of VoIP services H04M7/0081
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5093 wherein the managed service relates to messaging or chat services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7414 QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 : Selecting a network or a communication service
• 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 client device has access to multiple data communications networks when sending a message to a server. An included network management functionality evaluates on an individual message by message basis a number of factors and selects one of the networks over which the message is to be communicated to the server. The selection process involves having the network management functionality identify a particular selection rule containing a network clause relating to each potentially useable communications network. The particular selection data comprising each network clause are then evaluated in the context of the message transmission to select for the message the particular one of the networks to be used for the communication.

Claims

1. A communications system, comprising:

a mobile client, the mobile client including hardware for supporting the transmission of mobile client data messages over a plurality of wired/wireless data networks, the mobile client executing a number of software applications, wherein each software application has a need to communicate remotely from the mobile client, the mobile client further operating responsive to receipt of a software application originated data message including a software application specified rule governing transmission of that message to;

identify from the specified rule a certain one of a plurality of predetermined business rules, each one of the plurality of predetermined business rules being associated with a plurality of network clauses wherein each network clause is associated with one of the plurality of transmission networks and defines criteria for selecting that transmission network for data message communication;

evaluate the criteria for each network clause associated with the identified certain predetermined business rule to identify one network clause whose criteria is satisfiable in the context of data message transmission; and

initiate transmission of the received data message over the transmission network that is associated with the identified network clause whose criteria is satisfied.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data message includes the specified rule and also network selection information for that data message, and wherein the mobile client operation to evaluate comprises operations to:

evaluate the criteria of each network clause against the message network selection information to identify the network clause whose criteria can be met by the network selection information for the data message.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile client operation to identify comprises operations to:

receive with the message a logical name of a rule to be applied to the network selection for that data message; and

map the logical name to a physical business rule.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising mobile client operations to:

store the received data message; and

delay initiating transmission of the message pending selection of the transmission network.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of wired/wireless networks include:

a wired network comprising a PSTN/Internet network; and

a wireless network comprising a cellular data communications network.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of wired/wireless networks include:

a wired network comprising a local area network; and

a wireless network comprising cellular data communications network.

7. The system of claim 1 further including a server in communication with the mobile client over the plurality of wired/wireless networks.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile client is a laptop computer.

9. A method for software application originated data message routing over a selected one of a plurality of transmission networks, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the software application originated data message, the data message including a software application specified rule governing transmission of that message;

identifying from the specified rule a certain one of a plurality of predetermined business rules, each one of the plurality of predetermined business rules being associated with a plurality of network clauses, wherein each network clause is associated with one of the plurality of transmission networks and defines criteria for selecting that transmission network for data message communication;

evaluating the criteria for each network clause associated with the identified certain predetermined business rule to identify one network clause whose criteria is satisfiable in the context of data message transmission; and

initiating transmission of the received data message over the transmission network that is associated with the identified network clause whose criteria is satisfied.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the data message includes the specified rule and also network selection information for that data message, and wherein the step of evaluating comprises the step of:

evaluating the criteria of each network clause against the message network selection information to identify the network clause whose criteria can be met by the network selection information for the data message.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of identifying comprises the steps of:

receiving with the message a logical name of a rule to be applied to the network selection for that data message; and

mapping the logical name to a physical business rule.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

storing the received data message; and

wherein the step of initiating transmission of the message is delayed pending selection of the transmission network.