System and method for reliable communications over multiple packet RF networks

• US 8,077,735 B1
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lincoln J. Unruh
• Inventors: Unruh, Lincoln J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US12/039,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20110310749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/329, 370/430, 370/437, 709/220
• US Class Current: 370/430
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/06 based on traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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 invention is a method and system for mobile communications. A mobile communicator communicates with a network routing center. The communicator monitors each of two or more wireless carriers for a service characteristic. The communicator selects, based on the monitored service characteristic, one of the two or more wireless carriers. The mobile communicator can then communicate with the network routing center using the selected wireless carrier.

Claims

1. A transceiver comprising:

(a) a medium access controller;

(b) a first set of control logic in the medium access controller for configuring the transceiver for communicating over two or more wireless carriers;

wherein one or more of the wireless carriers comprises a wireless frequency carrier;

(c) a second control logic in the medium access controller for monitoring each of the two or more wireless carriers for a service characteristic; and

(d) a third control logic in the medium access controller further for selecting, based on the monitored service characteristic, one of the two or more wireless carriers that the first control logic configures the transceiver to use to communicate.

2. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, and third control logic is selected from the group consisting of:

hardware based control logic, software based control logic and combination hardware-software based control logic.

3. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the service characteristic comprises a quality of service characteristic for the wireless carriers.

4. The transceiver of claim 3, wherein the quality of service characteristic comprises a bit error rate for the wireless carriers.

5. The transceiver of claim 3, wherein the quality of service characteristic comprises a signal to noise ratio for the wireless carriers.

6. The transceiver of claim 3, wherein the quality of service characteristic comprises a packet loss rate for the wireless carriers.

7. The transceiver of claim 3, wherein the quality of service characteristic comprises path fade for the wireless carriers.

8. The transceiver of claim 3, wherein the quality of service characteristic comprises packet latency for the wireless carriers.

9. The transceiver of claim 3, wherein the quality of service characteristic comprises network latency for the wireless carriers.

10. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the service characteristic comprises a least cost routing characteristic for the wireless carriers.

11. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein at least one of the wireless frequency carriers comprises an IEEE 802.11x wireless short-range local area network.

12. The transceiver of claim 11, wherein at least one of the wireless carriers comprises a cellular carrier, wherein the third control logic is for selecting between the cellular carrier and one of the wireless frequency carriers.

13. The transceiver of claim 12, wherein the monitored service characteristic comprises signal strength.

14. The transceiver of claim 12, wherein the monitored service characteristic comprises a signal-to-noise ratio.

15. In a transceiver, a method comprising:

(a) configuring the transceiver for communicating over two or more wireless carriers;

wherein one or more of the wireless carriers comprises a wireless frequency carrier;

(b) monitoring each of the two or more wireless carriers for a service characteristic; and

(c) selecting, based on the monitored service characteristic, one of the two or more wireless carriers for the transceiver to use to communicate.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the service characteristic comprises a quality of service characteristic for the wireless carriers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the quality of service characteristic comprises a bit error rate for the wireless carriers.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the quality of service characteristic comprises a signal to noise ratio for the wireless carriers.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the quality of service characteristic comprises a packet loss rate for the wireless carriers.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the quality of service characteristic comprises packet latency for the wireless carriers.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the wireless frequency carriers comprises an IEEE 802.11x wireless short-range local area network.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the wireless carriers comprises a cellular carrier, wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting between the cellular carrier and one of the wireless frequency carriers.