Method and apparatus for providing mobile and other intermittent connectivity in a computing environment
First Claim
1. In a mobile computing network including at least one peer computing system and at least one mobile computing device coupled to the network via a link, an improvement comprising a server coupled to the network, said server having a transport protocol engine that provides at least one transport protocol for communicating via the network, said server proxying communications between the mobile computing device and the peer computing system so as to maintain a continuous data communication session between the mobile computing device and the peer computing system during times when the link is temporarily interrupted, said server proxying said communications transparently to said server transport protocol engine and said peer computing system.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seamless solution transparently addresses the characteristics of nomadic systems, and enables existing network applications to run reliably in mobile environments. The solution extends the enterprise network, letting network managers provide mobile users with easy access to the same applications as stationary users without sacrificing reliability or centralized management. The solution combines advantages of existing wire-line network standards with emerging mobile standards to create a solution that works with existing network applications. A Mobility Management Server coupled to the mobile network maintains the state of each of any number of Mobile End Systems and handles the complex session management required to maintain persistent connections to the network and to other peer processes. If a Mobile End System becomes unreachable, suspends, or changes network address (e.g., due to roaming from one network interconnect to another), the Mobility Management Server maintains the connection to the associated peer task—allowing the Mobile End System to maintain a continuous connection even though it may temporarily lose contact with its network medium. In one example, Mobility Management Server communicates with Mobile End Systems using Remote Procedure Call and Internet Mobility Protocols.
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Citations
76 Claims
- 1. In a mobile computing network including at least one peer computing system and at least one mobile computing device coupled to the network via a link, an improvement comprising a server coupled to the network, said server having a transport protocol engine that provides at least one transport protocol for communicating via the network, said server proxying communications between the mobile computing device and the peer computing system so as to maintain a continuous data communication session between the mobile computing device and the peer computing system during times when the link is temporarily interrupted, said server proxying said communications transparently to said server transport protocol engine and said peer computing system.
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21. A method of maintaining a persistent session with at least one mobile computing device in a mobile computing environment despite intermittent connections, said mobile computing device permitting execution of at least one networked application that is not designed especially for said mobile computing environment, said mobile computing device including an application network interface that interfaces with said application, said mobile computing device further including a transport interface existing between a transport protocol engine and at least said application, said transport interface interfacing with said transport protocol engine, said method including:
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managing, at said transport interface, at least one session between said mobile computing device and at least one further computing device in a manner that is transparent to both said transport protocol engine and said application, and maintaining the session even when the mobile computing device becomes unreachable, suspends or changes network address. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A server for maintaining a persistent connection with at least one mobile computing device in a mobile computing environment including at least one further computing peer, said mobile computing device executing at least one communication source or destination, said server having a transport protocol engine providing a server transport protocol, said server including:
a session manager that manages at least one session between said mobile computing device and said at least one further communications peer, said session manager maintaining the session even when the mobile computing device becomes unreachable, or changes network address in a manner that is transparent to the mobile computing device communication source or destination, the communications peer, and said server transport protocol. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. In a mobile computing environment including a proxy server, a mobile computing device that maintains a persistent virtual connection with at least one further computing device during times when the mobile computing device becomes unreachable, suspends or changes network address, said mobile computing device permitting execution of at least one networked application that is not designed especially for said mobile computing environment, said mobile computing device including an application network interface that interfaces with said application, said mobile computing device further including a transport protocol engine, said mobile computing device including:
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a transport interface existing between said transport protocol engine and at least said application, said transport interface interfacing with said transport protocol engine, and a mobile interceptor coupled to said transport interface, said mobile interceptor intercepting, transparently to said application, requests for network services at said transport interface, generating Remote Procedure Calls responsive to said requests for network services, and forwarding said Remote Procedure Calls to said proxy server. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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Specification