Persistent modem connection

• US 6,725,290 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2000
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Enfora Incorporated (Inseego Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Enfora Incorporated (Inseego Corp.)
• Inventors: Bohls, Doug, He, James, Glover, Kenneth Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, KIM NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/709,012
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 710/15, 710/17, 710/18, 709/227-229
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/327 in the session layer [OSI layer 5]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The invention provides systems, methods, and devices that automatically create and maintain a wireless connection to a remote computer network. In one embodiment, the method creates and maintains a persistent modem connection by searching for an unconnected modem, detecting an unconnected modem; and initiating a dial-up to a computer network.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a persistent modem connection, comprising:

searching for a single unconnected wireless modem;

detecting the single unconnected wireless modem; and

automatically initiating and running a dial-up to a single network for the single unconnected wireless modem regardless of whether an attempt to communicate with the network is detected;

wherein the automatic initiating and running occurs based on at least one of a following event from a group consisting of;

an initial availability of the single unconnected wireless modem; and

a disconnection of the single unconnected wireless modem from the single network after the wireless modem has been connected, wherein the disconnection is unintentional and may occur during a data transfer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the network is a wireless network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless modem is adapted to be coupled to a portable computing device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatic initiating runs a dial-up entry for an operating system.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring a PC Card Slot for a modem.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving an indication that indicates the modem should operate as a persistent modem connection.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the method runs in the background.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising requesting a user to enter an IP address.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting a connection to a computer network.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing a user command.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising saving a program.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting the disconnection of the wireless modem.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising restoring a program at a point prior to the disconnection of the wireless modem.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising reporting a modem status for display.

15. A data storage medium having thereon a means for establishing a persistent modem connection, comprising:

means for searching for a single unconnected wireless modem;

means for detecting the unconnected wireless modem; and

means for automatically initiating a dial up to a single network for the unconnected wireless regardless of whether an attempt to communicate with the network is detected modem;

wherein the means for initiating occurs based on at least one of a following event from a group consisting of;

an initial availability of the unconnected wireless modem; and

a disconnection of the unconnected wireless modem from the single network after the wireless modem has been connected, wherein the disconnection is unintentional and may occur during a data transfer.

16. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

searching for a single unconnected wireless modem;

detecting the unconnected wireless modem;

automatically dialing-up to a single network for the unconnected wireless modem regardless of whether an attempt to communicate with the network is detected;

automatically connecting the unconnected wireless modem to the network;

detecting a disconnect of the connected wireless modem from the network;

automatically dialing-up to the single network for the disconnected wireless modem; and

automatically connecting the disconnected wireless modem to the network;

wherein the disconnect is unintentional and may occur during a data transfer; and

wherein the unconnected modem and the disconnected wireless modem are a same modem.

17. A method for restoring a program, comprising:

searching for a single unconnected wireless modem;

detecting the unconnected wireless modem;

automatically dialing-up to a single network for the unconnected wireless modem regardless of whether an attempt to communicate with the network is detected;

automatically connecting the unconnected wireless modem to the network;

detecting a disconnect of the connected wireless modem from the network, wherein the disconnect is unintentional and may occur during a data transfer;

automatically dialing-up to the network for the disconnected wireless modem;

automatically connecting the disconnected wireless modem to the network; and

restoring a program in use during the disconnect detection, the restoring comprising;

retrieving the program in a form it was last saved; and

regenerating stored user commands related to the program.