Architecture and protocol for a wireless communication network to provide scalable web services to mobile access devices

• US 6,785,255 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2002
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bharat Sastri, Shiv Balakrishnan
• Original Assignee: Bharat Sastri, Shiv Balakrishnan
• Inventors: Sastri, Bharat, Balakrishnan, Shiv
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuongchau Ba
• Application Number:
  US10/099,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20020143856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 370/228, 370/328, 370/351, 370/352, 370/356, 370/389, 370/392, 370/401, 370/329, 370/468, 370/338, 370/341, 370/521, 370/465, 709/224, 709/227, 709/236, 379/88.17, 379/93.01, 455/11.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/569.1, 455/466
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2895 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data provider application, e.g. reverse proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5683 Storage of data provided by user terminals, i.e. reverse caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy

Abstract

A network architecture for small, low-cost, high functionality portable wireless devices which shifts many of the functions performed in typical handheld communication devices to a central Application Server (AS) computer. Communication between the AS and the portable devices is performed using standard Internet Protocol (IP) packets. The AS includes a Client Proxy Server (CPS) which interfaces to applications on the server, and Device Personality Objects (DPOs) that handle the special characteristics of each different types of portable devices. Each portable device has a unique CPS/DPO pair running on the AS that accepts input from the portable devices and provides input to the various applications on the AS and which accepts outputs from the various applications and passes it to the portable devices. Communication from the portable devices to the AS is entirely via IP packets.

Claims

1. A system including a wireless access network that supports a plurality of portable devices, each said portable device incorporating a software configurable radio module that supports multiple wireless and data access protocols including wireless LAN protocols or wireless cellular WAN protocols;

each said portable device capable of sending and receiving a payload containing data and commands, and said payload being embedded within a standard Internet Protocol (IP) packet for compatibility with existing Internet Protocol routing mechanisms for internet communication;

at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server and said at least one set of distributed Function server and Application server capable of executing at least one set of software programs including a Device Personality Object (DPO) software program and a Client Services Proxy Object (CSPO) software program which provide internet communication for each said portable device;

each said portable device incorporating a packetizer/de-packetizer module for processing, sending and receiving said payload embedded in said standard IP packets exchanged between said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server and said portable device;

a communication protocol for sending and receiving said payload between said portable device and said at least one set of Function server or base station executing said at least one set of Device Personality Object (DPO) software and said corresponding Application server executing said Client Services Proxy Object (CSPO) software;

said at least one set of Device Personality Object (DPO) software and Client Services Proxy Object (CPSO) software providing internet communication between said portable device and a target internet application program or service;

whereby, said portable device merely functions as a minimal input/output device, which when combined with said at least one set of Device Personality Object software (DPO) and Client Services Proxy Object (CSPO) software processes said standard IP packets containing said embedded payload, for sending and receiving data over the internet in order to provide compatible access to target application programs and services available on the internet, in a manner where associated computation, data manipulation and storage required to service said portable device is performed on said at least one set of distributed Function server and Application server distributed in said network.

2. The system recited in claim 1 where each of said portable devices includes a Software Defined Radio that automatically configures the portable device for a particular radio communication protocol selected from a plurality of available wireless radio communication protocols including wireless LAN protocols or wireless cellular WAN protocols;

said radio communication protocol is supported by an available wireless access point and said software defined radio in combination with its associated said at least one set of Device Personality Object (DPO) software and Client Service Proxy Object software executing on said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server, sends and receives said standard IP packets which include said payload sent and received by said portable devices to communicate with other components in said network.

3. The system recited in claim 1 where each of said portable devices includes an Application Specific Device module that identifies the functional characteristics such as the input/output capabilities, display capabilities and the associated data transformation requirements of the particular said portable device to the target said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application servers for proper service.

4. A system which includes a plurality of portable devices, said portable devices having a plurality of input/output and processing characteristics and at least one input/output device;

each said portable device incorporating a software configurable radio module that supports multiple wireless and data access protocols including wireless LAN protocols and wireless cellular WAN protocols;

each said portable device capable of sending and receiving a payload containing data and commands, and said payload being embedded within a standard Internet Protocol (IP) packet for compatibility with existing Internet Protocol routing mechanisms for internet communication;

at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server; and

;

said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server capable of executing at least one set of software programs including a Device Personality Object (DPO) software program and a Client Services Proxy Object (CSPO) software program which provide internet communication for each said portable device;

each said portable device incorporating a packetizer/de-packetizer module for processing, sending and receiving said payload embedded in said standard IP packets exchanged between said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server and said portable device;

a communication protocol for sending and receiving said payload between said portable device and said at least one set of distributed Function server executing said at least one set of Device Personality Object (DPO) software and said corresponding Application server executing said Client Services Proxy Object (CSPO) software;

said at least one set of Device Personality Object (DPO) software and Client Services Proxy Object (CPSO) software providing internet communication between said portable device and target internet application program or service;

a communication protocol that supports the generation and processing of said standard IP packets including said payload by combining functions of said portable device and its corresponding said at least one set of Device Personality Object software and Client Service Proxy Object software executing on said at least one set of distributed Function server base station and Application server, providing a network access point for said portable device;

whereby, said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server is selected by either physical proximity to said portable device or by the quality of the communication channel between said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server and said portable device, to provide a network connection for said portable device;

whereby an input to said portable device is formatted and assembled into said payload and transmitted to said at least one set of Device Personality Object (DPO) software executing on the said at least one set of distributed Function server and Application server providing said network connection to said portable device;

whereby said Device Personality Object (DPO) software, executing on said at least one set of distributed Function server and Application Server, assembles said standard IP packet, complete with IP packet header and including said payload generated by said portable device and creates an IP request packet;

whereby said IP request packet is routed to said associated Client Services Proxy Object (CSPO) software executing on said at least one set distributed Function Server and Application server;

whereby said at least one set of Client Services Proxy Object (CSPO) software processes said received IP request packet into an appropriate format for an application program request protocol or service request protocol and forwards the said IP request packet to a target application program or service provider;

whereby a response from a target application program or service is processed by said associated Client Services Proxy Object (CSPO) software and reformatted into a new response using said standard IP packet including said IP header and a response payload to be sent to the said portable device that generated said request and associated data;

said IP response packet is sent back to said associated Device Personality Object (DPO) executing on said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server, which processes said response payload containing application or service data contained in said IP packet, formats said response payload to ensure that said response payload is compatible with data and format required by intended said portable device and forwards said response payload to said portable device, which converts said response payload into an appropriate output stream;

said at least one set of Device Personality Object (DPO) software and Client Services Proxy Object (CSPO) software, being providing hardware and access protocol independence between said portable devices and internet applications and services executing on said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server, whereby said portable devices with a plurality of input-output characteristics and functions are able access the same internet applications and services without the need to rewrite said applications and services to accommodate the individual input-output characteristics of each individual said portable device type;

said at least one set of Device Personality Object (DPO) software and Client Services Proxy Object (CSPO) software providing a mapping between the input and output characteristics expected by the said application program or service being requested and the actual input and output characteristics of said portable devices requesting access to said applications and services and permitting graceful interaction.

5. The system recited in claim 4 where each of said portable devices includes a Software Defined Radio that

automatically configures the portable device for a particular radio communication protocol selected from a plurality of available wireless radio communication protocols including wireless LAN protocols or wireless cellular WAN protocols;

said radio communication protocol is supported by an available wireless access point and said software defined radio in combination with its associated said at least one set of Device Personality Object (DPO) software and Client Service Proxy Object software executing on said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server, sends and receives said standard IP packets which include said payload sent and received by said portable devices to communicate with other components in said network.

6. The system recited in claim 4 where each of said portable devices includes an Application Specific Device (ASD) module that identifies the functional characteristics such as the input/output capabilities, display capabilities and the associated data transformation requirements of the particular said portable device to the target said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application servers for proper service.

7. A system including, a plurality of portable devices, a centralized application and services mechanism implemented as at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server that provides a virtual central server infrastructure;

each said portable device incorporating a software configurable radio module that supports multiple wireless and data access protocols including wireless LAN protocols and wireless cellular WAN protocols;

each said portable device capable of sending and receiving a payload containing data and commands, and said payload being embedded within a standard Internet Protocol (IP) packet for compatibility with existing Internet Protocol routing mechanisms for internet communication;

said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server executing at least one set of software programs including a Device Personality Object (DPO) software program and a Client Services Proxy Object (CSPO) software program which provide internet communication for each said portable device;

a radio communication network for transmitting and receiving said payload embedded within said standard IP packets between said portable devices and said virtual central server;

a plurality of application programs and services available on said virtual central server infrastructure;

said at least one set of Device Personality Object (DPO) software and Client Services Proxy Object (CSPO) software executing on the virtual central server infrastructure, processing input and output messages and providing the processing required to present data in the appropriate format and using the correct protocol between said portable devices and a plurality of application programs and services,

whereby said portable device serves as input/output device, communicating with said central server infrastructure using standard IP packets with said embedded payload and computation and data storage associated with said application is performed on the said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application servers that form said virtual central server infrastructure; and

whereby said portable devices can be very simple low-cost devices with minimal input/output capability and can still provide full access to said application programs and services while consuming very low amounts of power.

8. The system recited in claim 7 where each said portable devices includes a Software Defined Radio that

automatically configures the portable device for a particular radio communication protocol selected from a plurality of available wireless radio communication protocols including wireless LAN protocols or wireless cellular WAN protocols;

said radio communication protocol is supported by an available wireless access point and said software defined radio in combination with its associated said at least one set of Device Personality Object (DPO) software and Client Service Proxy Object software executing on said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server, sends and receives said standard IP packets which include said payload sent and received by said portable devices to communicate with other components in said network.

9. The system recited in claim 7 where each of said portable devices includes an Application Specific Device (ASD) module that identifies the functional characteristics such as the input/output capabilities, display capabilities and the associated data transformation requirements of the particular said portable device to the target said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application servers for proper service.

10. A method of providing a plurality of portable devices connection to standard Application programs and Services available on computer servers distributed throughout a network including at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server;

whereby said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server appear to be a virtual central server;

said virtual central server including at least one Application program or Service;

at least one set of Device Personality Object (DPO) software and Client Services Proxy Object (CSPO) software executing on said virtual central server infrastructure, processing input and output messages and providing the processing required to present data in the appropriate format and using the correct protocol between said portable devices and said standard applications and services;

each said portable device having input and output capability and each said portable device not including a web browser function or web browser program;

each said portable device with its associated said at least one set of Device Personality Object software and Client Services Proxy Object software executing on said at least one set of distributed Function server or base station and Application server, generating and receiving standard IP packets containing payload originated by or received at said portable device;

said Client Service Proxy Object software extracting said payload from the received IP packet at said Application or Service server, parsing and formatting the commands embedded in the payload to generate a particular protocol stream required to interact with target application program or service and generate response to the requesting said portable device;

said Client Service Proxy Object software generating IP packets including said payload specific to a particular said portable device after appropriate processing of the output of said target application program or service and forwarding such IP packets for further payload processing, data transformation and streaming performed by said Device Personality Object (DPO) associated with particular said portable device to provide device specific output packet stream to said portable device for presentation to the user of said portable device;

whereby said portable devices communicate with standard application programs and services available as a virtual central resource.