Apparatus and method for intelligent routing of data between a remote device and a host system

• US 6,826,405 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mobile Sonic Incorporated (Absolute Software Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Padcom Incorporated (NetMotion Software, Inc.)
• Inventors: Houvig, Flex, Doviak, William, Whitmore, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US10/164,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20030017845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426.1, 455/453, 455/454, 455/458, 455/466, 455/459, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/556, 455/557, 455/445, 455/517, 379/114, 379/210, 379/211, 379/207, 379/214, 379/220, 379/272, 379/274, 379/279, 370/237, 370/238, 370/259, 370/244, 370/271, 370/310, 370/410, 370/466, 370/400, 370/401, 370/250
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• 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 45/851 Dynamic network selection or re-selection, e.g. after degradation of quality
• 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 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for transparent communication between a remote or mobile device and a fixed communication host network. The apparatus and method may include a remote network controller that logically resides between the host network and the existing infrastructure(s) that are used to provide communications network contact with one or more remote devices. The remote network controller is connected to the host communication network as a protocol-appropriate communications controller so that remote devices are indistinguishable to the host network from the locally-attached devices. Each remote device may be provided with an asynchronous serial data interface to communicate with a mobile data controller. The mobile data controller, in combination with the remote network controller, provides end-to-end data communication such that incompatible protocols are transparent to the remote device and host communication network. A router may be provided which selects a communications network in accordance with user configured parameters. The router communicates over a plurality of incompatible networks and is capable of using a variety of different protocols. Switching between the plurality of incompatible networks is transparent to the remote device and host communication network.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the method comprising:

maintaining a priority of each wireless network, the priorities indicating a most preferred path;

determining availability of each wireless network based upon status information associated with each wireless network;

indicating a current most preferred network from the wireless networks determined to be available, the indication being based upon the network priorities;

switching from a current network, which is dissimilar from the current most preferred network, to the current most preferred network during a transmission, at least one of the current network and current most preferred network being time continuous; and

remaining connected to the current network for a period of time after switching to the current most preferred network.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the multiple wireless networks are simultaneously in coverage.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining priorities based upon user defined criteria.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the switching further comprises switching to a higher priority network when the higher priority network becomes available.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the switching further comprises not switching to a lower priority network when a higher priority network is available.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising dynamically modifying the priority of each wireless network.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the selecting further comprises selecting based upon information in addition to the network priorities.

8. The method of claim 7, in which the information comprises cost for each transmission.

9. The method of claim 1, in which the determining availability further comprises determining if a previous network is available;

and

the selecting further comprises selecting the previous network as the current most preferred network when the previous network is available and the previous network is a higher priority than a current network.

10. The method of claim 9, in which the determining availability further comprises determining if a next network is available when the previous network is not available;

and

the selecting further comprises selecting the next network as the current most preferred network when the next network is available and the next network is a higher priority than the current network.

11. The method of claim 10, in which the determining availability further comprises determining if a next network is available when the previous network is a lower priority than the current network;

and

the selecting further comprises selecting the next network as the current most preferred network when the next network is available and the next network is a higher priority than the current network.

12. A method for transmitting data from a local device through a plurality of dissimilar parallel wireless networks, at least two of the networks having different transmission formats, the method comprising:

receiving data from the local device in a first format;

selecting a first network from the plurality of wireless networks;

switching to the first wireless network;

converting the received data from the first format to a second format that is required by the selected first wireless network;

transmitting the converted data through the selected first wireless network;

restoring the data to the first format after transmission through the first wireless network occurs;

selecting a second network from the plurality of wireless networks, the second network being dissimilar from the first network;

switching to the second network; and

transmitting the data received in the first format through the selected second wireless network;

wherein a transmission occurs from the local device while switching from the first wireless network to the second wireless network and/or while switching from the second wireless network to the first wireless network;

and wherein after switching networks the local device remains connected to both the first network and the second network for a period of time.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

converting the data received from the first format to a third format required by the selected second wireless network, after switching to the second network;

wherein the transmitting of the data received in the first format further comprises transmitting the data converted to the third format through the selected second wireless network and restoring the data to the first format after the transmission through the second wireless network occurs.

14. The method of claim 13, in which the second format comprises an IP based format and the third format comprises a non-IP based format.

15. The method of claim 13, in which the second format comprises a non-IP based format and the third format comprises another non-IP based format that is dissimilar from the second format.

16. The method of claim 13, in which the second format comprises an IP based format and the third format comprises another IP based format that is dissimilar from the second format.

17. A computer readable medium storing a program for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the medium comprising:

a priority code segment that maintains a priority of each wireless network, the priorities indicating a most preferred path;

an availability code segment that determines availability of each wireless network based upon status information associated with each wireless network;

an indicating code segment that indicates a current most preferred network from the wireless networks determined to be available, the indication being based upon the network priorities;

a switching code segment that switches from a current network, which is dissimilar at a link layer from the current most preferred network, to the current most preferred network during a transmission while remaining connected to the current network for a period of time after switching to the current most preferred network.

18. The medium of claim 17, further comprising a defining code segment that defines priorities based upon user defined criteria.

19. The medium of claim 17, further comprising a modifying code segment that dynamically modifies the priority of each wireless network.

20. The medium of claim 17, in which the selecting code segment further selects based upon information in addition to the network priorities.

21. The medium of claim 20, in which the information comprises cost for each transmission.

22. The medium of claim 17, in which the availability code segment further comprises determining if a previous network is available;

and

the selecting code segment further comprises selecting the previous network as the current most preferred network when the previous network is available and the previous network is a higher priority than a current network.

23. The medium of claim 22, in which the availability code segment further comprises determining if a next network is available when the previous network is not available;

and

the selecting code segment further comprises selecting the next network as the current most preferred network when the next network is available and the next network is a higher priority than the current network.

24. The medium of claim 23, in which the availability code segment further comprises determining if a next network is available when the previous network is a lower priority than the current network;

and

the selecting code segment further comprises selecting the next network as the current most preferred network when the next network is available and the next network is a higher priority than the current network.

25. A computer readable medium storing a program for transmitting data from a local device through a plurality of dissimilar parallel wireless networks, at least two of the networks having different transmission formats, the medium comprising:

a receiving code segment that receives data from the local device in a first format;

a first selecting code segment that selects a first network from the plurality of wireless networks;

a first switching code segment that switches to the first wireless network;

a first converting code segment that converts the received data from the first format to a second format that is required by the selected first wireless network;

a first transmitting code segment that transmits the converted data through the selected first wireless network;

a first restoring code segment that restores the data to the first format after transmission through the first wireless network occurs;

a second selecting code segment that selects a second network from the plurality of wireless networks, the second network being dissimilar from the first network;

a second switching code segment that switches to the second network; and

a second transmitting code segment that transmits the data received in the first format through the selected second wireless network;

wherein a transmission occurs from the local device while switching from the first wireless network to the second wireless network and/or while switching from the second wireless network to the first wireless network, and

wherein after switching networks the local device remains connected to both the first network and the second network for a period of time.

26. The medium of claim 25, further comprising:

a second converting code segment that converts the data received from the first format to a third format required by the selected second wireless network, after switching to the second network;

wherein the second transmitting code segment further comprises transmitting the data converted to the third format through the selected second wireless network and a second restoring code segment that restores the data to the first format after the transmission through the second wireless network occurs.

27. The medium of claim 26, in which the second format comprises an IP based format and the third format comprises a non-IP based format.

28. The medium of claim 26, in which the second format comprises a non-IP based format and the third format comprises another non-IP based format that is dissimilar from the second format.

29. The medium of claim 26, in which the second format comprises an IP based format and the third format comprises another IP based format that is dissimilar from the second format.

30. A router for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the router comprising:

a priority system that maintains a priority of each wireless network, the priorities indicating a most preferred path;

a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter operating with one of the wireless networks;

a determining system that determines availability of each wireless network based upon status information associated with each wireless network;

an indicator that indicates a current most preferred network from the wireless networks determined to be available, the indication being based upon the network priorities; and

a switch that switches from a current network, which is dissimilar from the current most preferred network, to the current most preferred network during a transmission while remaining connected to the current network for a period of time after switching to the current most preferred network.

31. The router of claim 30, further comprising a modification system that dynamically modifies the priority of each wireless network.

32. The router of claim 30, in which the selector selects based upon information in addition to the network priorities.

33. The router of claim 32, in which the information comprises cost for each transmission.

34. A router for transmitting data from a local device through a plurality of dissimilar parallel wireless networks, at least two of the networks having different transmission formats, the router comprising:

a receiver that receives data from the local device in a first format;

a first selector that selects a first network from the plurality of wireless networks;

a first switch that switches to the first wireless network;

a first converter that converts the received data from the first format to a second format that is required by the selected first wireless network;

a first transmitter that transmits the converted data through the selected first wireless network;

a first restoring system that restores the data to the first format after transmission through the first wireless network occurs;

a second selector that selects a second network from the plurality of wireless networks, the second network being dissimilar from the first network;

a second switch that switches to the second network; and

a second transmitter that transmits the data received in the first format through the selected second wireless network;

wherein a transmission occurs from the local device while switching from the first wireless network to the second wireless network and/or while switching from the second wireless network to the first wireless network, and

wherein after switching networks the local device remains connected to both the first network and the second network for a period of time.

35. The router of claim 34, further comprising:

a second converter that converts the data received from the first format to a third format required by the selected second wireless network, after switching to the second network;

wherein the second transmitter transmits the data converted to the third format through the selected second wireless network and

the router further comprises a second restoring system that restores the data to the first format after the transmission through the second wireless network occurs.

36. The router of claim 35, in which the second format comprises an IP based format and the third format comprises a non-IP based format.

37. The router of claim 35, in which the second format comprises a non-IP based format and the third format comprises another non-IP based format that is dissimilar from the second format.

38. The router of claim 35, in which the second format comprises an IP based format and the third format comprises another IP based format that is dissimilar from the second format.

39. A computer readable medium storing a program for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the medium comprising:

an availability code segment that ascertains availability of at least two of the wireless networks based upon the status information;

a determining code segment that determines whether to switch between networks when at least two networks are available, in response to a user configuration and each network'"'"'s speed; and

a switching code segment that switches from a first available network to a second available network, which is dissimilar at a link layer from the first available network, during a transmission while remaining connected to both the first network and the second network for a period of time.

40. The medium of claim 39, in which the availability code segment further comprises a pinging code segment that pings at least two of the wireless networks.

41. The medium of claim 39, in which the status information comprises a received signal strength of each wireless network.

42. The medium of claim 39, in which the switching occurs when the second network is faster than the first network.

43. The medium of claim 39, in which the switching occurs when the second network has a higher priority than the first network.

44. The medium of claim 39, further comprising a packet size code segment that determines a packet size prior to transmitting data.

45. The medium of claim 39, in which one of the dissimilar networks comprises a CDPD network.

46. The medium of claim 39, in which one of the dissimilar networks comprises a GSM network.

47. The medium of claim 39, in which one of the dissimilar networks comprises a EDACS network.

48. The medium of claim 39, in which one of the dissimilar networks comprises a satellite network.

49. The medium of claim 39, in which the availability code segment further comprises periodically checking the status of the networks.

50. A method for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the method comprising:

ascertaining availability of at least two of the wireless networks based upon the status information;

determining whether to switch between networks when at least two networks are available, in response to a user configuration and each network'"'"'s speed;

switching from a first available network to a second available network during a transmission, the second network being dissimilar from the first network;

stopping transmitting over the first available network after switching to the second available network; and

remaining connected to the first network for a period of time after switching to the second network.

51. A computer readable medium storing a program for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the medium comprising:

an availability code segment that determines availability of at least two of the wireless networks;

an identifying code segment that identifies a current most preferred network from the wireless networks determined to be available, the identification being based upon a type of data being transmitted; and

a switching code segment that switches from a current network, which is dissimilar from the current most preferred network, to the current most preferred network during a transmission and remains connected to the current network for a period of time after switching.

52. The medium of claim 51 in which the availability code segment further comprises a pinging code segment that pings at least two of the wireless networks.

53. The medium of claim 51 in which the status information comprises a received signal strength of each wireless network.

54. The medium of claim 51, in which the availability code segment further comprises periodically checking the status of the networks.

55. The medium of claim 51, in which the switching occurs when the current most preferred network has a higher priority than the current network.

56. The medium of claim 51, further comprising a packet sizing code segment that determines a packet size prior to transmitting data.

57. The medium of claim 51, in which one of the dissimilar networks comprises a CDPD network.

58. The medium of claim 51, in which one of the dissimilar networks comprises a GSM network.

59. The medium of claim 51, in which one of the dissimilar networks comprises a EDACS network.

60. The medium of claim 51, in which one of the dissimilar networks comprises a satellite network.

61. A method for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the method comprising:

determining availability of at least two of the wireless networks;

identifying a current most preferred network from the wireless networks determined to be available, the identification being based upon a type of data being transmitted;

switching from a current network, which is dissimilar from the current most preferred network, to the current most preferred network during a transmission; and

remaining connected to the current network for a period of time after switching to the current most preferred network.

62. A method for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the method comprising:

determining availability of at least two of the wireless networks;

identifying a current most preferred network, when multiple wireless networks are determined to be available, the identification being based upon a speed of each available network; and

switching from a current network, which is dissimilar at a link layer from the current most preferred network, to the current most preferred network during a transmission; and

remaining connected to the current network for a period of time after switching to the current most preferred network.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising determining a packet size prior to transmitting data.

64. The method of claim 62, in which one of the dissimilar networks comprises a CDPD network.

65. The method of claim 62, in which one of the dissimilar networks comprises a GSM network.

66. The method of claim 62, in which one of the dissimilar networks comprises a EDACS network.

67. The method of claim 62, in which one of the dissimilar networks comprises a satellite network.

68. A mobile system, comprising:

a local device comprising a database server application, the local device residing on a local area network;

a server connected to the local device via the local area network, the server being connected to a plurality of incompatible wireless networks; and

a mobile device connected to the plurality of incompatible wireless networks, the mobile device being associated with a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter operating with one of the dissimilar networks, the mobile device comprising a client application that enables a remote user to send and retrieve data from the database server application via the server, the mobile device sending data to the database server application via at least two of the plurality of incompatible wireless networks while switching between the at least two incompatible wireless networks, and remaining connected to the at least two incompatible wireless networks for a period of time after switching.

69. A mobile system, comprising:

a local device residing on a local area network, the local device storing a list of jobs to be performed by field service personnel;

a server connected to the local device via the local area network, the server being connected to a plurality of incompatible wireless networks; and

a mobile device connected to the plurality of incompatible wireless networks, the mobile device comprising a client application that retrieves the list of jobs to be performed by field service personnel, and that updates ajob status, the updated job status being sent to the local device via the server to inform a dispatcher of locations of field service personnel, the updated status being transmitted via at least two of the plurality of incompatible wireless networks while switching between the at least two incompatible wireless networks, and remaining connected to the at least two incompatible wireless networks for a period of time after switching.

70. A computer readable medium storing a program that enables switching between a plurality of incompatible wireless networks connected between a server and a mobile device, the server being connected to a local device via a local area network, comprising:

a transmitting code segment that transmits an updated job status via the server to the local device to inform a dispatcher of locations of field service personnel, the updated status being transmitted via at least two of the plurality of incompatible wireless networks while switching between the at least two incompatible wireless networks, and remaining connected to the at least two incompatible wireless networks for a period of time after switching, the job status being updated by an application that also retrieves a list of jobs to be performed by field service personnel from the local device.

71. A method for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the multiple wireless networks being simultaneously in coverage, each wireless network being associated with a transmitter, the method comprising:

maintaining a priority of each wireless network, the priorities indicating a most preferred network;

determining availability of each wireless network based upon status information associated with each wireless network, including determining if a previous network is available, and determining if a next network is available when the previous network is not available or is a lower priority than a current network;

indicating a current most preferred network from the wireless networks determined to be available, the indication being based upon the network priorities, the current most preferred network comprising the previous network when the previous network is available and the previous network is a higher priority than the current network, which is dissimilar at the link layer from the current most preferred network;

switching from the current network to the current most preferred network, which has a higher priority, during a transmission when the higher priority network becomes available;

interrupting transmitting over the current network after switching to the current most preferred network; and

remaining connected to the current network for a period of time after switching to the current most preferred network.

72. A computer readable medium storing a program that enables switching between a plurality of dissimilar wireless networks, at least one of the dissimilar networks comprising a GSM network connected between a server and a mobile device, the server being connected to a local device via a local area network, comprising:

an availability code segment that periodically checks the status of the dissimilar networks, including the GSM network; and

a transmitting code segment that transmits an updated job status via the server to the local device to inform a dispatcher of locations of field service personnel, the updated status being transmitted via at least two of the plurality of dissimilar networks while switching between the at least two dissimilar networks when a second of the dissimilar networks is faster than a first of the dissimilar networks and when the second network has a higher priority than the first network, and remaining connected to the at least two dissimilar networks for a period of time after switching, the job status being updated by an application that also retrieves a list of jobs to be performed by field service personnel from the local device.