Handset cradle

• US 7,764,784 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2004
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CradlePoint Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: CradlePoint Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Sewall, Patrick M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): DABNEY, PHYLESHA LARVINIA
• Application Number:
  US10/936,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20060050866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,148 Days
• Field of Search: 379/428.02, 379454-455, 379/441, 379/428.01, 379/428.04, 379/420.04, 379/426, 455/569.1, 455/563, 455/575.1, 455/452.2
• US Class Current: 379/428.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/06 Hooks; Cradles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

An embodiment of a handset cradle includes a base component and a handset component configured to couple with the base component. The handset component provides an interface with a particular type of handset selected from a plurality of handset types. This interface enables an exchange of data between the base component and a handset interfacing with the handset component.

Claims

1. A system for routing network communications selectively using a session limiter and a bandwidth limiter, comprising a base component and a handset component, wherein:

the base component including a local network interface, a router, and limiter comprising at least one of the session limiter and the bandwidth limiter;

the handset component being connected to the base component and so as to enable an exchange of data between the base component and a handset interfacing with the handset component, wherein the handset is configured to provide the base component with a wireless data connection to an external network;

the local network interface being configured to supply an interface for inbound and outbound network communications between the router and a plurality of network devices; and

the router being configured to route each particular outbound network communication received from one of the plurality of network devices to be transmitted by the handset to an external network as targeted by that particular outbound network communication and to route each particular inbound network communication received by the handset from an external network to a specified one of the plurality of network devices as targeted by that particular inbound network communication;

wherein, if the limiter comprises the session limiter, the session limiter is operable to prevent the router from routing an outbound communication that would cause a number of concurrent outbound network device sessions to exceed an identified maximum number of concurrent sessions allowed; and

wherein, if the limiter comprises the bandwidth limiter, the bandwidth limiter is operable to select bandwidth available to the router to route one or both of the inbound and outbound network communications according to policy.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the handset component includes a handset interface configured to physically interface with the particular type of handset.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the handset component includes:

a handset interface configured to physically interface with the particular type of handset; and

a handset driver operable to translate electronic data between a first format for the base component and a second format for the particular handset type.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the handset component is a first handset component and the particular handset type is a first particular handset type and wherein the base component is configured to be selectively coupled with the first handset component and with a second handset component configured to provide an interface with a second type of handset of selected from the plurality of handset types.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the base component includes a handset module operable to:

receive an input signal indicative of an action to be performed with respect to a handset interfacing with the handset component; and

send an output signal to the handset component instructing the performance of the action.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the handset component includes a handset driver operable to receive the output signal instructing the performance of the action and to initiate the action with respect to the handset interfacing with the handset component.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the limiter includes the session limiter and the session limiter is operable to identify the maximum number of concurrent sessions allowed.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the limiter comprises the bandwidth limiter and the bandwidth limiter is operable to select the selectively limit bandwidth available to the router for routing network communications according to policy based on observed behaviors.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the bandwidth limiter is operable to select the bandwidth available for routing network communications according to policy based on observed behaviors by identifying that network communications routed by the router transfer, on average, a specified number files of a particular type over a set duration and blocking the transfer by the router of files of the particular type upon a determination that, during a subsequent duration equal to the set duration, a number of files transferred of the particular type has exceeded the specified number by a threshold amount.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the bandwidth limiter is operable to selectively limit bandwidth available for routing network communications according to policy based on observed behaviors by identifying that network communications routed by the router transfer, on average, blocks of a given size and reducing the bandwidth available to the router to route network communications upon a determination that, during a given duration, transferred block sizes exceed the average by a threshold level.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the base component includes a connector operable to send a signal for a handset interfacing with the handset component to connect with an external network to which the handset can transmit outbound communications.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the limiter includes the session limiter and wherein the handset component is operable to receive information identifying the maximum number of concurrent sessions allowed from the handset interfacing with the handset component and to pass that information on to the session limiter, and wherein the session limiter is operable to prevent the routing of an outbound communication that would cause a number of concurrent outbound network device sessions to exceed the maximum number identified by the information.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the limiter includes the bandwidth limiter and wherein the policy specifies bandwidth availability for outbound and inbound network communications transferring files of a specific type or size and wherein the bandwidth limiter is operable to reduce the bandwidth available to the router for routing communications that transfer files of the specified type or size according to the specified bandwidth availability.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the limiter includes the bandwidth limiter and wherein the policy specifies a first duration for which network communications routed by the router can consume a first bandwidth and a second duration for which network communications routed by the router can consume a second bandwidth that is less than the first bandwidth, and wherein the bandwidth limiter is operable to reduce the bandwidth available to the router down to the second bandwidth upon a determination that the routed network communications have consumed the first bandwidth for a duration in excess of the first duration, the bandwidth limiter being operable to subsequently reduce the bandwidth available to the router down to a third bandwidth upon a determination that the routed network communications have consumed the second bandwidth for a duration in excess of the second duration, the third bandwidth being less than the second bandwidth.

15. A system for routing network communications selectively using a session limiter and a bandwidth limiter, comprising:

a handset component that includes;

a handset interface configured to provide an interface with a particular type of handset selected from a plurality of handset types; and

a handset driver operable to communicate with the particular type of handset; and

a base component coupled to the handset component, the base component including a local network interface, a router, and a limiter comprising at least one of the session limiter and the bandwidth limiter;

the local network interface being operable to supply an interface for inbound and outbound network communications between the router and a plurality of network devices;

the router being operable to route each particular outbound network communication received from one of the plurality of network devices to be transmitted by a handset interfacing with the handset component to an external network as targeted by that particular outbound network communication and to route each particular inbound network communication received by the handset interfacing with the handset component from an external network to a specified one of the plurality of network devices as targeted by that particular inbound network communication;

wherein, if the limiter comprises the session limiter, the session limiter is operable to prevent the router from routing an outbound communication that would cause a number of concurrent outbound network device sessions to exceed an identified maximum number of concurrent sessions allowed; and

wherein, if the limiter comprises the bandwidth limiter, the bandwidth limiter is operable to select a bandwidth available to the router to route one or both of the inbound and outbound network communications according to a policy.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the base component includes a connector operable to send, via the handset component, a signal instructing the handset interfacing with the handset component to connect with an external network to which the handset can transmit outbound network communications.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein limiter includes the session limiter and the session limiter is operable to identify the maximum number of concurrent sessions allowed.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the limiter includes the bandwidth limiter and the bandwidth limiter is operable to select bandwidth available to route one or both of the inbound and outbound network communications according to policy.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the handset driver is operable to translate signals between a first format compatible with the base component and a second format compatible with the particular handset type.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the handset component is a first handset component and wherein the base component is configured to be selectively coupled with the first handset component or with a second handset component configured to provide an interface with a second type of handset of selected from the plurality of handset types.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the limiter includes the session limiter and the session limiter is operable to obtain, from the external network, the data identifying the maximum number of concurrent sessions allowed.

22. A system for routing network communications selectively using a session limiter and a bandwidth limiter, comprising:

a base component including a local network interface, a router, and limiter comprising at least one of the session limiter and the bandwidth limiter; and

a handset configured to exchange data with the base component, the handset being configured to provide the base component with a wireless data connection to an external network;

the local network interface being configured to supply an interface for inbound and outbound network communications between the router and a plurality of network devices; and

the router being configured to route each particular outbound network communication received from one of the plurality of network devices to be transmitted by the handset to an external network as targeted by that particular outbound network communication and to route each particular inbound network communication received by the handset from an external network to a specified one of the plurality of network devices as targeted by that particular inbound network communication;

wherein, if the limiter comprises the session limiter, the session limiter is operable to prevent the router from routing an outbound communication that would cause a number of concurrent outbound network device sessions to exceed an identified maximum number of concurrent sessions allowed; and

wherein, if the limiter comprises the bandwidth limiter, the bandwidth limiter is operable to select bandwidth available to the router to route one or both of the inbound and outbound network communications according to policy.