Method and apparatus for distributed data transfer over multiple independent wireless networks

• US 7,917,129 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Inseego Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Inseego Corp.)
• Inventors: Souisse, Slim Salah, Andrews, Michael Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US11/754,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20080037541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.2, 455/414.4, 455/557, 455/556.2, 455/556.1
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/14 Channel dividing arrangements , i.e. in which a single bit stream is divided between several baseband channels and reassembled at the receiver
• 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 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The present invention provides for methods and apparatus for fragmenting a single message and sending the message fragments over multiple independent networks to a single receiving unit. The receiving unit then reassembles the message fragments to generate the original message. The preferred apparatus embodiment is a wireless radio frequency modem that can both receive and transmit fragmented messages over multiple independent networks.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a message to a single receiving unit over a plurality of independent transmitting sources, the method comprising:

selecting at least two available transmitting sources for transmitting message fragments of the message to the receiving unit;

splitting the message into a plurality of said message fragments according to at least one predetermined criteria;

transmitting each of the message fragments to the receiving unit via a separate one of the selected transmitting sources;

receiving each transmitted signal at the receiving unit and extracting the corresponding message fragment from the received signal; and

combining the message fragments to reconstruct the message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the message fragments includes a data file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the message fragments include voice signals.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the message fragments includes an identifier of where the message fragment was located in the message and wherein the message fragments are combined as a function of the identifiers.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the message fragments is a file.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the message fragments includes either a video stream or a voice stream.

4. A method for transmitting a message to a single receiving unit over a plurality of independent transmitting sources, the method comprising:

selecting at least two available transmitting sources for transmitting message fragments of the message to the receiving unit;

splitting the message into a plurality of said message fragments according to at least one predetermined criteria;

transmitting each of the message fragments to the receiving unit via a separate one of the selected transmitting sources,

wherein each transmitted signal is configured to be received at a receiving unit, and

wherein the message fragments are configured to be recombined at the receiving unit to reconstruct the message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the message fragments includes a data file.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the message fragments include voice signals.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the message fragments includes an identifier of where the message fragment was located in the message and wherein the message fragments are combined as a function of the identifiers.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the message fragments is a file.

15. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the message fragments includes a video stream.

16. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the message fragments includes a voice stream.

7. A method for receiving a message over a plurality of independent transmitting sources, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of message fragments corresponding to the message over a plurality of transmitting sources; and

combining the message fragments to reconstruct the message.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the message fragments includes a data file.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the message fragments include voice signals.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the message fragments includes an identifier of where the message fragment was located in the message and wherein the message fragments are combined as a function of the identifiers.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the message fragments is a file.

19. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the message fragments includes a video stream.

20. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the message fragments includes a voice stream.