Method and apparatus for enabling connectivity between arbitrary networks using a mobile device

• US 7,292,587 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Knauerhase, Robert C., Deshpande, Nikhil M., Nguyen, Du V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper; Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/966,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20030058832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,231 Days
• Field of Search: 370/315, 370/338, 370/401, 370/412, 370428-429, 370/466
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4604 LAN interconnection over a backbone network, e.g. Internet, Frame Relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A mobile device includes network interfaces for communicating wirelessly with two different networks. The mobile device may operate as a gateway between the two networks by switching between the two network interfaces in order to pass information from one network intended for the other network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

communicating with a first network via a first wireless communication link in a first communication mode;

receiving encrypted data from the first network;

decrypting the encrypted data to form unencrypted data;

detecting that the unencrypted data is intended to be communicated to a second network;

storing the unencrypted data;

switching to a second communication mode after the unencrypted data is stored; and

transmitting the unencrypted data to the second network via a second communication link in the second communication mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting the unencrypted data to the second network comprises transmitting the data via a wireless communication link.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving data from the second network;

detecting that said data is intended to be communicated to the first network;

storing said data;

switching to the first communications mode; and

transmitting the data from the second network to the first network via the first wireless communications link in the first communications mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said switching comprises switching communications from a first network interface adapted for communication with the first network to a second network interface adapted for communication with the second network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said communicating with the first network comprises communicating with a first IP-based network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said communicating with the first network comprises communicating with an ad hoc network in compliance with the IEEE 802.11 standard.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said communicating with the second network comprises communicating with a second IP-based network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said communicating with the second network comprises communicating with an infrastructure network in compliance with the IEEE 802.11 standard.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said communicating with the second network comprises communicating with an ad hoc network in compliance with the IEEE 802.11 standard.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said communicating with the second network comprises communicating with a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network.

11. Apparatus comprising:

an antenna operative to communicate on a wireless communications link;

a first network interface operative to format data for communication with a first network;

a second network interface operative to format data for communication with a second network;

a memory to store data;

a multiplexing device operative to switch a connection to the antenna between the first network interface and the second network interface; and

a controller operative to control the multiplexing device to switch the connection in response to detecting data intended to be communicated between the first network and the second network and after the detected data is stored in the memory.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a storage device operative to store the data intended to be communicated between the first network and the second network.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first and second networks comprise IP-based networks including wireless communications links.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first network interface comprises an 802.11 network interface adapted for use in an ad hoc network.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second network interface comprises an 802.11 network interface adapted for use in an infrastructure network.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second network interface comprises an 802.11 network interface adapted for use in a second ad hoc network.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second network interface comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network interface.

18. An article comprising a computer-readable medium which stores computer-executable instructions, the instructions causing a computer to:

communicate with a first network via a first wireless communication link in a first communication mode;

receive encrypted data from the first network;

decrypt the encrypted data to form unencrypted data;

detect that the unencrypted data is intended to be communicated to a second network;

store the unencrypted data;

switch to a second communication mode after the unencrypted data is stored; and

transmit the unencrypted data to the second network via a second communication link in the second communication mode.

19. The article of claim 18, wherein the instructions causing the computer to transmit the data to the second network comprise instructions causing the computer to transmit the data via a wireless communication link.

20. The article of claim 18, further comprising instructions causing the computer to:

receive data from the second network;

detect that said data is intended to be communicated to a second network;

store said data;

switch to the first communications mode; and

transmit the data from the second network to the first network via the first wireless communications link in the first communications mode.

21. The article of claim 18, wherein the instructions causing the computer to switch modes comprise instructions causing the computer to switch communications from a first network interface adapted for communication with the first network to a second network interface adapted for communication with the second network.

22. The article of claim 18, wherein the first network comprises a first P-based network.

23. The article of claim 22, wherein first network comprises an ad hoc network in compliance with the IEEE 802.11 standard.

24. The article of claim 18, wherein the second network comprises a second IP-based network.

25. The article of claim 24, wherein the second network comprises an infrastructure network in compliance with the IEEE 802.11 standard.

26. The article of claim 24, wherein the second network comprises an ad. hoc network in compliance with the IEEE 802.11 standard.

27. The article of claim 24, wherein the second network comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network.