Method and apparatus for selective network access

• US 6,965,948 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Körling, Martin, Jonsson, Annika, Charas, Philippe, Eneborg, Mats, Larsson, Tony, Valko, Andras
• Primary Examiner(s): SALAD, ABDULLAHI ELMI
• Application Number:
  US09/438,431
• Time in Patent Office: 2,195 Days
• Field of Search: 709/225, 709/229, 709/236, 709238-242, 709227-228, 709/235, 709/250, 709/237, 370/352, 370/401, 379/211.02
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0019 adapted for mobile IP [MIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing selective access to a network, between an end device and a network such as the Internet through one or more access network terminating devices includes determining an access capability for each access network terminating device and comparing the access capability with a preferred access capability associated with a user preference. Best access is determined based on a comparison of the capabilities of the access network terminating devices and the preferred capabilities. Once a match is found, one of the access network terminating devices is selected based on the comparison and the end device is configured according to the access capability of the selected one of the access network terminating devices. Access capabilities include, for example, cost of access, coverage area, and QoS. While communicating with the network the end device continues to detect if new access network terminating devices are available. The access capability for each of the new access network terminating devices is determined and compared with the preferred access capability and/or the current access capabilities being provided to the end device. One of the new access network terminating devices can be selected based on the comparison and the end device configured according the access capability of the new access network terminating device.

Claims

1. A method of selectively accessing an Internet Protocol (IP) network utilizing an end device that includes an indirect interface capable of communicating with one or more access network terminating devices, each said access network terminating device being coupled to an associated access network that is further coupled to the IP network, the method comprising the steps of:

determining whether the end device has access to said IP network;

confirming the availability of said one or more access network terminating devices;

determining the access capability of each of said one or more access network terminating devices and ranking said access capability according to one or more predetermined factors;

comparing the determined access capability for each of said one or more access network terminating devices to said access network with a preferred access capability being associated with said end device;

selecting at least one of said one or more access network terminating devices having the highest ranking access capability to provide an optimum connection between said end device and said access network;

subsequent to connecting to said at least one of said one or more access network terminating devices, polling said indirect interface to detect if one or more new access network terminating devices are available to said end device;

determining an access capability for each of the detected one or more new access network terminating devices; and

comparing said access capability for each of the detected one or more new access network terminating devices with said preferred access capability of said end device to determine whether said detected one or more new access network terminating devices can improve the current connection of said end device to said access network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of configuring said end device according to the access capability of the selected at least one of said one or more access network terminating devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined factors of said one or more access network terminating devices comprise cost of access, coverage area, bandwidth delay, priority level and Quality of Service (QoS).

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

selecting one of the one or more new access network terminating devices based on the comparison; and

configuring said end device according to the access capability of the selected one of the one or more new access network terminating devices.

5. A system for providing selective access to an Internet Protocol (IP) network comprising:

an indirect interface included in an end device for connecting said end device to at least one access network terminating device;

an access network connected to said at least one access network terminating device, wherein said at least one access network terminating device is coupled to an associated access network that in turn is connected to said IP network;

means incorporated in said end device for;

detecting said at least one access network terminating device;

determining an access capability of said at least one access network terminating device to said IP network, said access capability comprising one or more predetermined factors;

comparing said one or more predetermined factors to preferred predetermined factors associated with said end device; and

selecting at least one preferred access network terminating device according to said comparison;

means for polling to detect if one or more new access network terminating devices are available to said end device;

means for determining an access capability for each of the one or more new access network terminating devices if detected; and

means for comparing said access capability for each of the one or more detected new access network terminating devices with a preferred access capability of said end device to determine whether said detected new access network terminating devices can improve the current connection to said network.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said predetermined factors include cost of access, coverage area, and Quality of service (QoS).

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said preferred predetermined factors include one or more of:

cost of access, coverage area, and QoS.

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising means for configuring the end device according to the access capability of the selected one of the one or more new access network terminating devices.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said end device is a cellular telephone.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said cellular telephone includes, as a direct interface, means for communicating over a cellular air interface and includes, as said indirect interface, means for communicating over a Bluetooth air interface, wherein said Bluetooth air interface is associated with each of said access network terminating devices.

11. An end device for connecting to an Internet Protocol (IP) network, comprising:

means for storing a preferred access capability for said end device, said access capability comprising predetermined factors;

means for communicating with at least one access network terminating device over an indirect interface that is included in said end device, each said access network terminating device being communicably coupled to an associated access network and each said access network being communicably coupled with said IP network;

means for comparing said stored preferred access capability to an access capability of each of said at least one access network terminating devices;

means for selecting a preferred access network terminating device, according to said comparison, to provide an optimum connection to said access network;

means for polling, via the indirect interface, to detect if one or more new access network terminating devices are available to said end device;

means for determining an access capability for each of the one or more new access network terminating devices; and

means for comparing said access capability for each of the one or more detected new access network terminating devices with said preferred access capability of said end device to determine whether said detected new access network terminating devices can improve the current connection to said network.

12. The end device of claim 11, wherein said indirect interface is a Bluetooth interface.

13. The end device of claim 11, wherein said predetermined factors comprise one or more of:

cost of access,

coverage area,

bandwidth delay,

priority level and

Quality of Service (QoS).

14. The end device of claim 11, further comprising means for communicating over a direct interface.

15. The end device of claim 14, wherein said end device can communicate simultaneously over said direct interface and said included indirect interface.

16. The end device of claim 14, wherein said direct interface is a cellular interface.