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

• US 7,602,782 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Netmotion Wireless Holdings, Inc. (NetMotion Software, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Padcom Incorporated (NetMotion Software, Inc.)
• Inventors: Houvig, Flex, Doviak, William, Whitmore, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Thong H
• Application Number:
  US11/743,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20070206591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 370/259, 370/335, 370/350, 370/338, 455/277, 455/557, 455/405, 455/67, 455/552, 455/556
• US Class Current: 370/389
• 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 wireless device for communicating with a destination device, the communicating including transmitting and receiving at least one of a voice signal and a data signal over a plurality of wireless communications media that are autonomous and differ at a data link layer, the wireless device comprising:

an application executable to communicate the at least on of a voice signal and a data signal to the destination device;

a plurality of communication interfaces configured to enable communicating over the plurality of wireless communications media;

a network availability determiner section configured to determine at least one metric;

a user configuration processor configured to receive at least one parameter;

a decider section configured to generate a deciding signal based on the at least one metric and the at least one parameter;

a core section configured to generate a selecting signal based on the deciding signal;

a selector section configured to select one of the plurality of communication interfaces based on the selecting signal, the selected one of the plurality of communication interfaces communicating over one of the plurality of wireless communications media,

the selector section being further configured to select another one of the plurality of communication interfaces transparently to said application for communication over another one of the plurality of wireless communications media while the selected one of the plurality of communication interfaces communicates over the one of the plurality of wireless communications media.

2. A method for communicating with a destination device, including transmitting and receiving at least one of a voice signal and a data signal over a plurality of wireless communications media that are autonomous and differ at a data link layer, the method comprising:

enabling a plurality of communication interfaces to communicate over the plurality of wireless communications media;

communicating the at least one of a voice signal and a data signal from an application to the destination device;

determining at least one metric;

receiving at least one parameter;

generating a selecting signal based on the at least one metric and the at least one parameter;

selecting one of the plurality of communication interfaces based on the selecting signal, the selected one of the plurality of communication interfaces communicating over one of the plurality of wireless communications media; and

selecting another one of the plurality of communication interfaces transparently to said application for communication over another one of the plurality wireless communications media while the selected one of the plurality of communication interfaces communicates over the one of the plurality of wireless communications media.

3. A computer readable medium embodying a program executable for communicating at least one of a voice signal and a data signal from an application over a plurality of wireless communications media that are autonomous and differ at a data link layer, the computer readable medium comprising:

a communication code segment being executable to communicate the at least one of a voice signal and a data signal from the application to the destination device;

a communication interface code segment being executable to enable communicating over the plurality of wireless communications media;

a metric determiner code segment being executable to determine at least one metric;

a user configuration code segment being executable to receive at least one parameter;

a core configuration code segment being executable to generate a selecting signal based on the at least one metric and the at least one parameter;

a selector code segment being executable to select a first interface of a plurality of communication interfaces based on the selecting signal, the selected communication interface enabling communication over a first one of the plurality of wireless communications media,

the selector code segment being further executable to select a second interface of the plurality of communication interfaces transparently to the application for enabling communication over a second one of the plurality wireless communications media while the first communication interface continues to enable communication over the first one of the plurality of wireless communications media.