Federated multiprotocol communication

• US 7,197,569 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Eric M. Dowling
• Inventors: Dowling, Eric Morgan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B.
• Application Number:
  US11/094,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20050195842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 709/21, 709/219, 709/227, 709/230, 709/217, 370/338, 370/349, 370/401, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/38 by fixed network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and business techniques are disclosed for use in distributed communication systems comprising a plurality of communication protocols. In one embodiment a first air interface is used to initiate communication between a wireless client and a remote server at least partially using a first wireless access point. The server sends the wireless client a stub of a distributed object. The stub is used to instantiate an object class. The object class defines an interface that the remote client can use to communicate with the remote server using an upper layer interface. The distributed object stub also provides an implementation of a software radio configuration for a set of lower protocol layers in a second air interface. The wireless client can thereby communicate with a second wireless access point using said second air interface protocol. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are disclosed that focus on toll-tag and electronic-commerce related highway systems, distributed federated wireless access systems, and wide area wireless system capacity augmentation.

Claims

1. For use in a system comprising at least a first wireless access point that uses a first air interface protocol and a second wireless access paint that uses a second air interface protocol, wherein the first and second wireless access points are both coupled to an Internet, a mobile unit communicates via the Internet at a transport layer or above with a roam management server system to facilitate a system-level roam operation from the first wireless access point to the second wireless access point, and the mobile unit couples to the Internet using a first connection via the first wireless access point prior to the system-level roam operation, a method comprising:

receiving at the roam management server system an indication that the mobile unit is in a radio contact range of the second wireless access point;

determining whether a second connection between the mobile unit and the second wireless access point is preferable to the first connection, wherein the determining is performed by the roam management server system in accordance with an optimization strategy; and

sending from the roam management server system to the mobile unit an indication to switch from the first connection to the second connection in the event that the roam management server system determines that the second connection is preferable.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first air interface protocol is a satellite communications air interface protocol, the second air interface protocol is a terrestrial cellular communications air interface protocol, the first wireless access point is a part of a satellite overlay network and the second wireless access point is a part of a terrestrial cellular communications network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first air interface protocol is a satellite communications air interface protocol, the second air interface protocol is a wireless local area network air interface protocol, the first wireless access point is a part of a satellite overlay network and the second wireless access point is a part of a wireless local area network.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first air interface protocol is a terrestrial cellular communications air interface protocol, the second air interface protocol is a wireless local area network air interface protocol, the first wireless access point is a part of a terrestrial cellular communications network and the second wireless access point is a part of a wireless local area network.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first wireless access point uses a low power radio transceiver and the second wireless access point uses a cellular base station transceiver.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the second wireless access point uses a low power radio transceiver that has a local coverage area less than a quarter mile.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the wireless local area network comprises a plurality of wireless access points, and the plurality of wireless access points are interconnected into a subnetwork configuration that supports a local subnetwork level roaming protocol to allow the mobile unit to roam among different ones of the plurality of wireless access points without the intervention of the roam management server system.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the system-level, roam operation comprises switching a voice telephony call between the mobile unit and a remote endpoint from a voice-over-cellular connection via the terrestrial cellular communications network to a voice-over-Internet connection via the wireless local area network.

9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the system-level roam operation comprises switching a voice telephony call between the mobile unit and a remote endpoint from the terrestrial cellular communications network to a voice-over-Internet connection via the wireless local area network.

10. The method according to claim 4, wherein the terrestrial cellular communications network and the wireless local area network are operated by different wireless access service providers.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first air interface protocol is a wireless wide area network air interface protocol, and the second air interface is a wireless local area network air interface protocol.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the second wireless access point has a local coverage area less than one mile, and the first wireless access point has a wide coverage area substantially larger than the local coverage area.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the second wireless access point uses a low power radio transceiver that has a local coverage area less than one mile, and the first wireless access point has a wide coverage area substantially larger than the local coverage area.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Internet is a member of the group consisting of the ubiquitous global Internet, a corporate intranet, an intranet, a virtual private network, and a virtual private network that is embedded within another network.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless access point is a part of a second wireless access network that comprises a plurality of wireless access points that use the second air interface protocol, and the second wireless access network supports a local roaming protocol to allow the mobile unit to locally roan among different ones of the plurality of wireless access points without the assistance of the roam management server system.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

after the system-level roam operation is complete, the mobile unit receiving from a communication server a temporary Internet address in accordance with a mobile Internet Protocol (Mobile IP) for use while the mobile unit is connected to the second wireless access point.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

the mobile unit interacting with a session initiation protocol (SIP) server to support a voice-over-Internet telephony call between the mobile unit and a remote endpoint.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the system-level roam operation further comprises switching the voice-over-Internet telephony call, wherein the voice-over-Internet telephony call routes at least partially via the first wireless access point prior to the system-level roam operation and routes at least partially via the second wireless access point after the system-level roam operation.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the system-level roam operation further comprises switching a voice-over-Internet telephony call between the mobile unit and a remote endpoint, wherein the voice-over-Internet telephony call routes at least partially via the first wireless access point prior to the system-level roam operation and routes at least partially via the second wireless access point after the system-level roam operation.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile unit includes a front end circuit that supports a plurality of frequency bands and a software radio processor that enables a plurality of second air interface protocols to be implemented in the mobile unit at least partially via software reconfiguration and execution.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

sending from the roam management server system to the mobile unit one or more executable software modules in order to implement a feature of the second air interface protocol.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the optimization strategy takes into account at least one user preference.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least a cost of service criterion and a connection speed criterion.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least a quality of service criterion.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least a cost of service criterion.

26. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at the roam management server system from the mobile unit a feedback data related to a current network performance measure.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the feedback data includes network information related to current network loading conditions.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the optimization strategy factors in the feedback data.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the optimization strategy factors in the feedback data and at least one user preference.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the at least one user preference is at least one member of the group consisting of a cost of service criterion and a connection speed criterion.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least a quality of service criterion.

32. The method according to claim 29, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least a cost of service criterion.

33. The method according to claim 29, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least both a cost of service criterion and a quality of service criterion.

34. The method according to claim 27, wherein the roam management server system uses the feedback data to update a database of network information regarding current network quality conditions, and the optimization strategy factors in the network information.

35. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at the roam management server system from the mobile unit to a feedback data that indicates a quality measurement indicative that a communication parameter of the first wireless access point has dropped below a specified level, and the determining is based at least partially on the feedback data.

36. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at the roam management server system from the mobile unit to a feedback data that indicates a measurement of a parameter related to wireless communication has crossed a specified level, and the determining is based at least partially on the feedback data.

37. The method according to claim 36, further comprising:

the roam management server system collecting a second feedback data indicative of current network loading conditions from a plurality of wireless access points provided by a plurality of different access service provider networks; and

wherein the optimization strategy takes into account the cut-rent network loading conditions, at least one user preference, and a cost variable related to a cost for the mobile unit to connect to the different ones of the plurality of different access service provider networks.

38. The method according to claim 1, wherein the roam management server system is implemented on one or more server platforms end includes a mobile unit authentication function.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the mobile unit authentication function authenticates the mobile unit via communications with an authentication server of a home cellular network associated with the mobile unit.

40. The method according to claim 1, wherein the roam management server system is implemented on one or mare sewer platforms and includes a billing function.

41. The method according to claim 1, wherein the roam management server system is implemented on one or more server platforms and includes an accounting function.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the accounting function maintains a record of an amount of usage by the mobile unit of different ones of a plurality of different wireless access network service providers that each supply one or more wireless access points.

43. The method according to claim 41, wherein the accounting function maintains a record of an amount of usage of a cellular network by the mobile unit, wherein the first wireless access point belongs to the cellular network.

44. The method according to claim 41, wherein the accounting function maintains a database of user account information which includes billing arrangements with a plurality of wireless access service providers.

45. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point are operated by different wireless access service providers and the roam management server keeps track of money owed to each for providing wireless access services.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein the roam management server system manages revenue sharing between the different wireless access service providers.

47. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

the roam management server system maintaining a database that includes information regarding geographical locations of a plurality of wireless access points.

48. The method according to claim 47, further comprising:

the roam management server system maintaining in the database indications of current communication quality conditions of the plurality of wireless access points based on feedback information collected from a plurality of mobile units that access different ones of the plurality of wireless access points.

49. The method according to claim 47, further comprising:

the roam management server system maintaining in the database indications of current traffic loading conditions of the plurality of wireless access points based on feedback information collected from a plurality of mobile units that access different ones of the plurality of wireless access points provided by a plurality of different wireless access service providers.

50. The method according claim 1, further comprising:

the roam management server system maintaining a database that keeps track of current communication quality parameters of the plurality of wireless access points.

51. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a transport layer connection via the Internet between the mobile unit and a remote application server, wherein the transport layer connection is supported at least in part by the first connection before the system-level roam operation and at least in part by the second connection after the system-level roam operation.

52. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining an application layer connection via the Internet between the mobile unit and a remote application server, wherein the application layer connection is supported at least in part by the first connection before the system-level roam operation and at least in part by the second connection after the system-level roam operation.

53. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication that the mobile unit is in radio contact range of the second wireless access point is provided after the mobile unit receives a packet broadcast onto an access channel by the second wireless access point.

54. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication that the mobile unit is in radio contact range of the second wireless access point is provided after the mobile unit performs a channel scanning protocol.

55. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication to switch from the first connection to the second connection indicates to the mobile unit to switch one or more first lower protocol stack layers that use the first air interface protocol to one or more second lower protocol stack layers that use the second air interface protocol.

56. The method according to claim 55, further comprising:

the mobile unit switching the one or more first lower protocol stack layers tat use the first air interface protocol to the one or more second lower protocol stack layers that use the second air interface protocol.

57. The method according to claim 55, wherein the second connection is established at least in part by inserting the second lower protocol stack layers into the protocol stack of the mobile unit in response to the indication to switch.

58. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Internet is the ubiquitous global Internet.

59. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile unit includes a front end circuit that supports a plurality of frequency bands and modulation formats.

60. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless access point is associated with a second wireless network, the method further comprising:

sending from the roam management server to an entity associated with the second wireless network a digital code, wherein second wireless network requires the digital code in order to supply access service to the mobile unit.

61. The method according to claim 60, wherein the entity is the second wireless access point.

62. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

the roam management server collecting information relating to capabilities of the mobile unit.

63. The method according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a server that causes software to be sent to the mobile unit so that the mobile unit can use previously unknown protocols or previously unknown protocol features.

64. For use in a system comprising at least a first wireless access point that uses a first air interface protocol and a second wireless access point that uses a second air interface protocol, wherein the first and second wireless access points are both coupled to an Internet, a mobile unit communicates via the Internet at a transport layer or above with a roam management server system to facilitate an system-level roam operation from the first wireless access point to the second wireless access point, a method comprising:

communicating with the roam management server system via a first connection between the mobile unit and the first wireless access point, wherein the first connection is used to couple the mobile unit to the Internet;

receiving an indication that the mobile unit is in a coverage area of the second wireless access point;

determining in accordance with an optimization strategy whether the first connection is desired over a second connection between the mobile unit and the second wireless access point;

providing to the mobile unit an indication to switch from the first connection to the second connection in the event that the determining determines that the second connection is desired; and

switching from the first connection to the second connection in response to receiving the indication to switch at the mobile unit;

wherein at least the receiving, determining, and providing are performed by the roam management server system.

65. The method according to claim 64, wherein the first air interface protocol is a satellite communications air interface protocol, the second air interface protocol is a terrestrial cellular communications air interface protocol, the first wireless access point is a part of a satellite overlay network and the second wireless access point is a part of a terrestrial cellular communications network.

66. The method according to claim 64, wherein the first air interface protocol is a satellite communications air interface protocol, the second air interface protocol is a wireless local area network air interface protocol, the first wireless access point is a pan of a satellite overlay network and the second wireless access point is a part of a wireless local area network.

67. The method according to claim 64, wherein the first air interface protocol is a terrestrial cellular communications air Interface protocol, the second air interface protocol is a wireless local area network air interface protocol, the first wireless access point is a pan of a terrestrial cellular communications network and the second wireless access point is a part of a wireless local area network.

68. The method according to claim 67, wherein the first wireless access point uses a low power radio transceiver and the second wireless access point uses a cellular base station transceiver.

69. The method according to claim 67, wherein the second wireless access point uses a low power radio transceiver that has a local coverage area less than a quarter mile.

70. The method according to claim 67, wherein the wireless local area network comprises a plurality of wireless access points, and the plurality of wireless access points are interconnected into a subnetwork configuration that supports a local subnetwork level roaming protocol to allow the mobile unit to roam among different ones of the plurality of wireless access points without the intervention of the roam management server system.

71. The method according to claim 67, wherein the system-level roam operation comprises switching a voice telephony call between the mobile unit and a remote endpoint from a voice-over-cellular connection via the terrestrial cellular communications network to a voice-over-Internet connection via the wireless local area network.

72. The method according to claim 67, wherein the system-level roam operation comprises switching a voice telephony call between the mobile unit and a remote endpoint from the terrestrial cellular communications network to a voice-over-Internet connection via the wireless local area network.

73. The method according to claim 67, wherein the terrestrial cellular communications network and the wireless local area network are operated by different wireless access service providers.

74. The method according to claim 64, wherein the first air interface protocol is a wireless wide area network air interface protocol, and the second air interface is a wireless local area network air interface protocol.

75. The method according to claim 74, wherein the second wireless access point uses a low power radio transceiver that has a local coverage area less than one mile, and the first wireless access point has a wide coverage area substantially larger than the local coverage area.

76. The method according to claim 74, wherein the second wireless access point has a local coverage area less than one mile, and the first wireless access point has a wide coverage area substantially larger than the local coverage area.

77. The method according to claim 64, wherein the Internet is a member of the group consisting of the ubiquitous global Internet, a corporate intranet, an intranet, a virtual private network, and a virtual private network that is embedded within another network.

78. The method according to claim 64, wherein the second wireless access point is a part of a second wireless access network that comprises a plurality of wireless access points that use the second air interface protocol, and the second wireless access network supports a local roaming protocol to allow the mobile unit to locally roam among different ones of the plurality of wireless access points without the assistance of the roam management server system.

79. The method according to claim 64, further comprising:

after the system-level roam operation is complete, the mobile unit receiving from a communication server a temporary Internet address in accordance with a mobile Internet Protocol (Mobile IP) for use while the mobile unit is connected to the second wireless access point.

80. The method according to claim 79, further comprising:

the mobile unit interacting with a session initiation protocol (SIP) server to support a voice-over-Internet telephony call between the mobile unit and a remote endpoint.

81. The method according to claim 80, wherein the system-level roam operation further comprises switching the voice-over-Internet telephony call, wherein the voice-over-Internet telephony call mutes at least partially via the first wireless access point prior to the system-level roam operation and routes at least partially via the second wireless access point after the system-level rosin operation.

82. The method according to claim 64, wherein the system-level roam operation further comprises switching a voice-over-Internet telephony call between the mobile unit and a remote endpoint, wherein the voice-over-Internet telephony call routes at least partially via the first wireless access point prior to the system-level roam operation and routes at least partially via the second wireless access point after the system-level roam operation.

83. The method according to claim 64, wherein the mobile unit includes a front end circuit that supports a plurality of frequency bands and a software radio processor that enables a plurality of second air interface protocols to be implemented in the mobile unit at least partially via software reconfiguration and execution.

84. The method according to claim 83, further comprising:

sending from the roam management server system to the mobile unit one or more executable software modules in order to implement a feature of the second air interface protocol.

85. The method according to claim 64, wherein the optimization strategy takes into account at least one user preference.

86. The method according to claim 85, wherein the at least one user preference includes a cost of service criterion and a connection speed criterion.

87. The method according to claim 85, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least a quality of service criterion.

88. The method according to claim 85, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least a cost of service criterion.

89. The method according to claim 64, further comprising:

receiving at the roam management server system from the mobile unit a feedback data related to a current network performance measure.

90. The method according to claim 85, wherein the feedback data includes network information related to current network loading conditions.

91. The method according to claim 90, wherein the optimization strategy factors in the feedback data.

92. The method according to claim 90, wherein the optimization strategy factors in the feedback data and at least one user preference.

93. The method according to claim 92, wherein the at least one user preference is at least one member of the group consisting of a cost of service criterion and a connection speed criterion.

94. The method according to claim 92, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least a quality of service criterion.

95. The method according to claim 92, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least a cost of service criterion.

96. The method according to claim 92, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least both a cost of service criterion and a quality of service criterion.

97. The method according to claim 90, wherein the roam management server system uses the feedback data to update a database of network information regarding current network quality conditions, and the optimization strategy factors in the network information.

98. The method according to claim 64, further comprising:

sending from the mobile unit to the roam management sewer system a feedback data that indicates a quality measurement indicative that a communication parameter of the first wireless access point has dropped below a specified level, and the determining is based at least partially on the feedback data.

99. The method according to claim 64, further comprising:

sending from the mobile unit to the roam management server system a feedback data that indicates a measurement of a parameter related to wireless communication has crossed a specified level, and the determining is based at least partially on the feedback data.

100. The method according to claim 99, further comprising:

the roam management server system collecting a second feedback data indicative of current network loading conditions from a plurality of wireless access points provided by a plurality of different access service provider networks; and

wherein the optimization strategy takes into account the current network loading conditions, at least one user preference, and a cost variable related to a cost for the mobile unit to connect to the different ones of the plurality of different access service provider networks.

101. The method according to claim 64, wherein the roam management server system is implemented on one or more server platforms and includes a mobile unit authentication function.

102. The method according to claim 101, herein the mobile unit authentication function authenticates the mobile unit via communications with an authentication server of a home cellular network associated wit the mobile unit.

103. The method according to claim 64, wherein the roam management server system is implemented on one or more server platforms and includes a billing function.

104. The method according to claim 64, wherein the roam management server system is implemented on one or more server platforms and includes an accounting function.

105. The method according to claim 104, wherein the accounting function maintains a record of an amount of usage by the mobile unit of different ones of a plurality of different wireless access network service providers that each supply one or more wireless access points.

106. The method according to claim 104, wherein the accounting function maintains a record of an amount of usage of a cellular network by the mobile unit, wherein the first wireless access point belongs to the cellular network.

107. The method according to claim 104, wherein the accounting function maintains a database of user account information which includes billing arrangements with a plurality of wireless access service providers.

108. The method according to claim 64, wherein the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point are operated by different wireless access service providers and the roam management server keeps tack of money owed to each for providing wireless access services.

109. The method according to claim 108, wherein the rosin management server system manages revenue sharing between the different wireless access service providers.

110. The method according to claim 64, further comprising:

the roam management server system maintaining a database that includes information regarding geographical locations of a plurality of wireless access points.

111. The method according to claim 110, further comprising:

the roam management server system maintaining in the database indications of current communication quality conditions of the plurality of wireless access points based on feedback information collected from a plurality of mobile units that access different ones of the plurality of wireless access points.

112. The method according to claim 110, further comprising:

the roam management server system maintaining in the database indications of current traffic loading conditions of the plurality of wireless access points based on feedback information collected from a plurality of mobile units that access different ones of the plurality of wireless access points provided by a plurality of different wireless access service providers.

113. The method according claim 64, further comprising:

the roam management server system maintaining a database that keeps tack of current communication quality parameters of the plurality of wireless access points.

114. The method according to claim 64, further comprising:

maintaining a transport layer connection via the Internet between the mobile unit and a remote application server, wherein the transport layer connection is supported at least in part by the first connection before the system-level roam operation and at least in part by the second connection after the system-level roam operation.

115. The method according to claim 64, further comprising:

maintaining an application layer connection via the Internet between the mobile unit and a remote application server, wherein the application layer connection is supported at least in part by the first connection before the system-level roam operation and at least in part by the second connection after the system-level roam operation.

116. The method according to claim 64, wherein the indication that the mobile unit is in radio contact range of the second wireless access point is provided after the mobile unit receives a packet broadcast onto an access channel by the second wireless access paint.

117. The method according to claim 64, wherein the indication that the mobile unit is in radio contact range of the second wireless access point is provided after the mobile unit performs a channel scanning protocol.

118. The method according to claim 64, wherein the indication to switch from the first connection to the second connection indicates to the mobile unit to switch one or more first lower protocol stack layers that use the first air interface protocol to one or more second lower protocol stack layers that use the second air interface protocol.

119. The method according to claim 118, further comprising:

the mobile unit switching the one or more first lower protocol stack layers that use the first air interface protocol to the one or more second lower protocol stack layers that use the second air interface protocol.

120. The method according to claim 118, wherein the second connection is established at least in part by inserting the second lower protocol stack layers into the protocol stack of the mobile unit in response to the indication to switch.

121. The method according to claim 64, wherein the Internet is the ubiquitous global Internet.

122. The method according to claim 64, wherein the mobile unit includes a front end circuit that supports a plurality of frequency bands and modulation formats.

123. The method according to claim 64, wherein the second wireless access point is associated with a second wireless network, the method further comprising:

sending from the roam management server to an entity associated with the second wireless network a digital code, wherein second wireless network requires the digital code in order to supply access service to the mobile unit.

124. The method according to claim 123, wherein the entity is the second wireless access point.

125. The method according to claim 64, further comprising:

the roam management server collecting information relating to capabilities of the mobile unit.

126. The method according to claim 64, wherein the system further comprises a server that causes software to be sent to the mobile unit so that the mobile unit can use previously unknown protocols or previously unknown protocol features.

127. For use in a system comprising at least a first wireless access point that uses a first air interface protocol and a second wireless access point that uses a second air interface protocol, wherein the first and second wireless access points are both coupled to an Internet, a mobile unit communicates via the Internet at a transport layer or above with a roam management server system to facilitate an system-level roam operation from the first wireless access point to the second wireless access point, a method comprising:

establishing a first connection between the mobile unit and the first wireless access point, wherein the first connection is used to couple the mobile unit to the Internet;

sending to the roam management server system an indication that the mobile unit is in a coverage area of the second wireless access point;

receiving from the roam management server system an indication to switch from the first connection to a second connection between the mobile unit and the second wireless access point; and

in response to receiving the indication to switch, switching from the first connection to the second connection;

wherein the roam management server system determines in accordance with an optimization strategy whether the second connection is desired over the first connection, and in the event that it is determined that the second connection is desired, the roam management server system sends the indication to switch to the mobile unit.

128. The method according to claim 127, wherein the first air interface protocol is a satellite communications air interface protocol, the second air interface protocol is a terrestrial cellular communications air interface protocol, the first wireless access point is a part of a satellite overlay network and the second wireless access point is a part of a terrestrial cellular communications network.

129. The method according to claim 127, wherein the first air interface protocol is a satellite communications air interface protocol, the second air interface protocol is a wireless local area network air interface protocol, the first wireless access point is a part of a satellite overlay network and the second wireless access point Is a part of a wireless local area network.

130. The method according to claim 127, wherein the first air interface protocol is a terrestrial cellular communications air interface protocol, the second air interface protocol is a wireless local area network air interface protocol, the first wireless access point is a part of a terrestrial cellular communications network and the second wireless access point is a pan of a wireless local area network.

131. The method according to claim 130, wherein the first wireless access point uses a low power radio transceiver and the second wireless access point uses a cellular base station transceiver.

132. The method according to claim 130, wherein the wireless local area network comprises a plurality of wireless access points, and the plurality of wireless access points are interconnected into a subnetwork configuration that supports a local subnetwork level roaming protocol to allow the mobile unit to roam among different ones of the plurality of wireless access points without the intervention of the roam management server system.

133. The method according to claim 130, wherein the system-level roam operation comprises switching a voice telephony call between the mobile unit and a remote endpoint from a voice-over-cellular connection via the terrestrial cellular communications network to a voice-over-Internet connection via the wireless local area network.

134. The method according to claim 130, wherein the system-level roam operation comprises switching a voice telephony call between the mobile unit and a remote endpoint from the terrestrial cellular communications network to a voice-over-Internet connection via the wireless local area network.

135. The method according to claim 130, wherein the terrestrial cellular communications network and the wireless local area network are operated by different wireless access service providers.

136. The method according to claim 127, wherein the first air interface protocol is a wireless wide area network air interface protocol, and the second air interface is a wireless local area network air interface protocol.

137. The method according to claim 136, wherein the second wireless access point uses a low power radio transceiver that has a local coverage area less than one mile, and the first wireless access paint has a wide coverage area substantially larger than the local coverage area.

138. The method according to claim 136, wherein the second wireless access point has a local coverage area less than one mile, and the first wireless access point has a wide coverage area substantially larger than the local coverage area.

139. The method according to claim 136, wherein the second wireless access point uses a low power radio transceiver that has a local coverage area less than a quarter mile.

140. The method according to claim 127, wherein the Internet is a member of the group consisting of the ubiquitous global Internet, a corporate intranet, an intranet, a virtual private network, and a virtual private network that is embedded within another network.

141. The method according to claim 127, wherein the second wireless access point is a part of a second wireless access network that comprises a plurality of wireless access points that use the second air interface protocol, and the second wireless access network supports a local roaming protocol to allow the mobile unit to locally roam among different ones of the plurality of wireless access points without the assistance of the roam management server system.

142. The method according to claim 127, further comprising:

after the system-level roam operation is complete, the mobile unit receiving from a communication server a temporary Internet address in accordance with a mobile Internet Protocol (Mobile IP) for use while the mobile unit is connected to the second wireless access point.

143. The method according to claim 142, further comprising:

the mobile unit interacting with a session initiation protocol (SIP) sewer to support a voice-over-Internet telephony call between the mobile unit and a remote endpoint.

144. The method according to claim 143, wherein the system-level roam operation further comprises switching the voice-over-Internet telephony call, wherein the voice-over-Internet telephony call routes at least partially via the first wireless access point prior to the system-level roam operation and routes at least partially via the second wireless access point after the system-level roam operation.

145. The method according to claim 127, wherein the system-level roam operation further comprises switching a voice-over-Internet telephony call between the mobile unit and a remote endpoint, wherein the voice-over-Internet telephony call routes at least partially via the first wireless access point prior to the system-level roam operation and routes at least partially via the second wireless access point after the system-level roam operation.

146. The method according to claim 127, wherein the mobile unit includes a front end circuit that supports a plurality of frequency bands and a software radio processor that enables a plurality of second air interface protocols to be implemented in the mobile unit at least partially via software reconfiguration and execution.

147. The method according to claim 146, further comprising:

receiving at the mobile unit from the roam management server system one or more executable software modules in order to implement a feature of the second air interface protocol.

148. The method according to claim 127, wherein the sending is performed by the mobile unit.

149. The method according to claim 127, wherein the optimization strategy takes into account at least one user preference.

150. The method according to claim 149, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least a quality of service criterion.

151. The method according to claim 149, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least a cost of service criterion.

152. The method according to claim 127, further comprising:

sending from the mobile unit to the roam management server system a feedback data related to a current network performance measure.

153. The method according to claim 152, wherein the feedback data includes network information related to current network loading conditions.

154. The method according to claim 153, wherein the optimization strategy factors in the feedback data.

155. The method according to claim 153, wherein the optimization strategy factors in the feedback data and at least one user preference.

156. The method according to claim 155, wherein the at least one user preference is at least one member of the group consisting of a cost of service criterion and a connection speed criterion.

157. The method according to claim 155, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least a quality of service criterion.

158. The method according to claim 155, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least a cost of service criterion.

159. The method according to claim 155, wherein the at least one user preference includes at least both a cost of service criterion and a quality of service criterion.

160. The method according to claim 127, further comprising:

wirelessly receiving at the mobile unit an executable software;

wherein executable software enables the mobile unit to use a previously unknown protocol feature.

161. The method according to claim 153, wherein the roam management server system uses the feedback data to update a database of network information regarding current network quality conditions, and the optimization strategy factors in the network information.

162. The method according to claim 127, further comprising:

sending from the mobile unit to the roam management server system a feedback data that indicates a quality measurement indicative that a communication parameter of the first wireless access point has dropped below a specified level, and the determining is based at least partially on the feedback data.

163. The method according to claim 127, further comprising:

sending from the mobile unit to the roam management server system a feedback data that indicates a measurement of a parameter related to wireless communication has crossed a specified level, and the determining is based at least partially on the feedback data.

164. The method according to claim 163, further comprising:

the roam management server system collecting a second feedback data indicative of current network loading conditions from a plurality of wireless access points provided by a plurality of different access service provider networks; and

wherein the optimization strategy takes into account the current network loading conditions, at least one user preference, and a cost variable related to a cost for the mobile unit to connect to the different ones of the plurality of different access service provider networks.

165. The method according to claim 164, wherein the mobile unit authentication function authenticates the mobile unit via communications with an authentication server of a home cellular network associated with the mobile unit.

166. The method according to claim 127, wherein the sending is performed by the second wireless access point.

167. The method according to claim 127, wherein the roam management server system is implemented on one or more server platforms and includes an accounting function.

168. The method according to claim 167, wherein the accounting function maintains a record of an amount of usage by the mobile unit of different ones of a plurality of different wireless access network service providers that each supply one or more wireless access points.

169. The method according to claim 167, wherein the accounting function maintains a record of an amount of usage of a cellular network by the mobile unit, wherein the first wireless access point belongs to the cellular network.

170. The method according to claim 167, wherein the accounting function maintains a database of user account information which includes billing arrangements with a plurality of wireless access service providers.

171. The method according to claim 127, wherein the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point are operated by different wireless access service providers and the roam management server keeps track of money owed to each for providing wireless access services.

172. The method according to claim 171, wherein the roam management server system manages revenue sharing between the different wireless access service providers.

173. The method according to claim 172, wherein the roam management server system manages revenue sharing between the different wireless access service providers.

174. The method according to claim 127, further comprising:

the roam management server system maintaining a database tat includes information regarding geographical locations of a plurality of wireless access points.

175. The method according to claim 173, further comprising:

the roam management server system maintaining in the database indications of current communication quality conditions of the plurality of wireless access points based on feedback information collected from a plurality of mobile units that access different ones of the plurality of wireless access points.

176. The method according to claim 173, further comprising:

the roam management server system maintaining in the database indications of current traffic loading conditions of the plurality of wireless access points based on feedback information collected from a plurality of mobile units that access different ones of the plurality of wireless access points provided by a plurality of different wireless access service providers.

177. The method according claim 127, further comprising:

the roam management server system maintaining a database that keeps track of current communication quality parameters of the plurality of wireless access points.

178. The method according to claim 127, further comprising:

maintaining a transport layer connection via the Internet between the mobile unit and a remote application server, wherein the transport layer connection is supported at least in part by the first connection before the system-level roam operation and at least in part by the second connection after the system-level roam operation.

179. The method according to claim 127, further comprising.

180. The method according to claim 127, further comprising:

the mobile unit receiving a packet broadcast onto an access channel by the second wireless access point;

wherein the indication that the mobile unit is in radio contact range of the second wireless access point is provided after the packet is received.

181. The method according to claim 127,

the mobile unit performing a channel scanning protocol;

wherein the indication that the mobile unit is in radio contact range of the second wireless access point is provided after the mobile unit performs a channel scanning protocol.

182. The method according to claim 127, further comprising:

in response to the indication to switch from the first connection to the second connection, the mobile unit switching in a protocol stack one or more first lower protocol stack layers that use the first air interface protocol to one or more second lower protocol stack layers that use the second air interface protocol.

183. The method according to claim 182, further comprising:

establishing in the mobile unit an upper layer connection with the roam management server system at the transport layer or above of the protocol stack; and

maintaining the upper layer connection via the protocol stack at a protocol layer that is above the first and second lower protocol stack layers that are switched in response to the indication to switch.

184. The method according to claim 127, wherein the establishing, sending, receiving, and switching are preformed by the mobile unit.

185. The method according to claim 127, wherein the Internet is the ubiquitous global Internet.

186. The method according to claim 127, wherein the mobile unit includes a front end circuit that supports a plurality of frequency bands and modulation formats.

187. The method according to claim 127, wherein the second wireless access point is associated with a second wireless network, the method further comprising:

sending to the second wireless access point a digital code;

wherein the digital code is processed along coded information provided by the roam management server, and second wireless network will not provide service to the mobile unit unless the digital code comports with the coded information.

188. The method according to claim 127, further comprising:

sending from the mobile unit to the roam management server information relating to capabilities of the mobile unit.