System, method and computer program product for providing an IP datalink multiplexer

• US 7,936,693 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Network Resonance Incorporated
• Inventors: Rescorla, Eric Kenneth, Dick, Kevin Stewart
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo; Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zaidi; Iqbal
• Application Number:
  US11/379,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20060239282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,842 Days
• Field of Search: 370200-253, 370272-309, 370431-546, 370/392, 370400-401
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/46 Interconnection of networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/56 Packet switching systems
• 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: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/04 based on wireless node resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for transmitting a datagram in a wireless multiplexing framework. A datagram destined to a destination in a network is received and a wireless connection is then selected from a set of wireless connections. The received datagram is then processed to associate an intermediary destination with the datagram. The datagram is subsequently transmitted to the associated intermediary destination via the selected wireless connection. From the associated intermediary destination, the datagram is then forwarded to the destination utilizing the network.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a datagram in a multiplexing framework, comprising:

from a plurality of parallel established connections to a network providing simultaneous network connections for a client, selecting at least one of the connections based on information about the performance of each established connection, each established connection having an unique address associated therewith, the plurality of parallel established connections including at least two dissimilar access mediums, the information about the performance of each established connection from which the selection of the selected connection is based comprising performance information specific to an end application associated the datagram, the performance information further comprising information about at least of R-factor and mean opinion score, the information about performance of each established connection from which the selection of the selected connection is based further including information identifying those established connections operating below a minimum quality threshold; and

transmitting, via the selected connection, a datagram intended for a destination to an associated intermediary destination for subsequent forwarding to the intended destination utilizing the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about the performance of each established connection from which the selection of the selected connection is based on an identification of the one or more most reliable established connections.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the identification of the one or more most reliable established connections is obtained from an end user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the one or more most reliable established connections is obtained from a source external to the network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about the performance of each established connection from which the selection of the selection connection includes information about the location of one or more of the established connections.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the established connections are wireless connections.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to transmitting to the intermediary, the datagram is encapsulated.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein selection of the connection from the set of established connections for the given datagram is further based on at least one of:

latency, bandwidth, load and cost of all of the established connections.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the datagram is obtained, prior to transmission, from a source utilizing a local area network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the connection is decoupled from the connection traversed by one or more other datagrams transmitted across the plurality of parallel established connections.

11. A system, comprising:

a unit for receiving a datagram destined to an intended destination in a network;

a plurality of parallel established connections connecting the unit to an intermediary destination coupled to the network to provide simultaneous network connections for the unit, each of the established connections having a unique address associated therewith, the plurality of parallel established connections including at least two dissimilar access mediums;

the unit having logic for selecting one of the established connections based on information about the performance of each established connection and logic for transmitting the datagram to the intermediary destination via the selection connection for subsequent forwarding the datagram from the intermediary destination to the intended destination utilizing the network, wherein the information about the performance of each established connection from which the selection of the selected connection is based comprises performance information specific to an end application associated the datagram, the performance information further comprising information about at least of R-factor and mean opinion score, the information about performance of each established connection from which the selection of the selected connection is based further including information identifying those established connections operating below a minimum quality threshold.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the selected established connection is based on information about a comparison between the established connection of at least one of latency, bandwidth, load and cost of the established connections.

13. A non-transitory storage medium storing computer code capable of being read and executed by a computer, the computer code comprising:

computer code for selecting, from a plurality of parallel established connections to a network providing simultaneous network connections for a client, at least one of the connections based on information about the performance of each established connection, each established connection having an unique address associated therewith, the plurality of parallel established connections including at least two dissimilar access mediums, the information about the performance of each established connection from which the selection of the selected connection is based comprising performance information specific to an end application associated the datagram, the performance information further comprising information about at least of R-factor and mean opinion score, the information about performance of each established connection from which the selection of the selected connection is based further including information identifying those established connections operating below a minimum quality threshold; and

computer code for transmitting, via the selected connection, a datagram intended for a destination to an associated intermediary destination for subsequent forwarding to the intended destination utilizing the network.