Virtual connection of a remote unit to a server

• US 8,291,010 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aido Mobility LLC (Endpoint IP LLC), Communication Interface Technologies LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: East Texas Technology Partners, LP
• Inventors: Dowling, Eric Morgan, Anastasi, Mark Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mejia, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US12/194,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20080310392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/203, 370/349
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods are provided which allow a remote user to maintain a virtual session with a server. A virtual session allows a remote and possibly mobile user to maintain a virtual presence in an office environment without actually being present. Using the present invention, a remote user can access a central application program such as an Internet service provider, a database system, an inventory system or billing system. Likewise, the remote user can receive calls and other forms of communications as though he or she were present in an office environment. A virtual session does not require a physical connection to be continuously present in order to provide a virtual connectivity. This is especially important for mobile applications where the remote user may incur long distance and/or wireless toll charges. Also, methods are presented to allow a remote unit to rapidly reconnect in a transparent and seamless way without burdening the user with the need to connect and reconnect or to upload and download information. Related methods are provided to allow the virtual session to be established, operated and maintained.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing, at a computing device, a communication session supporting communication between a first program executing at an application layer of the computing device and a remote server;

subsequent to deactivation of the established communication session, the computing device receiving an incoming communication from the remote server, wherein the incoming communication is not in response to a request sent by the computing device;

at the application layer, the computing device reading a set of information included in the incoming communication;

in response to determining that the set of information read at the application layer includes information identifying the first program executing at the computing device, the computing device reactivating the communication session between the first program and the remote server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a mobile handset.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication session is established over one of:

a public switched telephone network (PSTN);

a cellular network, a PCS network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication session is established over an Internet connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming communication corresponds to a web page.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deactivating the communication session in response to a prediction generated by the computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing the communication session includes establishing a first physical layer connection between the computing device and the remote server.

22. The method of claim 7,

wherein the deactivation of the established communication session includes disconnecting the first physical layer connection;

and

wherein the reactivating the communication session includes establishing a second physical layer connection between the computing device and the remote server.

8. A mobile handset, comprising:

a wireless communication interface configured to communicate over a wireless network with a remote entity;

a processor unit;

memory storing program instructions executable by the mobile handset, using the processor unit, to cause the mobile handset to;

establish a communication session supporting communication between the remote entity and one or more programs executing on the mobile handset;

inactivate the established communication session;

while the communication session is inactive, receive a set of information encoded on a wireless signal received from the remote entity via the wireless communication interface, wherein the set of information was not sent in response to a request from the mobile handset;

at an application layer, read identifying information within the received set of information;

in response to determining that the identifying information read at the application layer identifies a first program of the one or more programs executing on the mobile handset, reactivate the communication session between the remote entity and the one or more programs.

9. The mobile handset of claim 8, wherein the first program is a messaging program.

10. The mobile handset of claim 8, wherein the first program is a browser program.

11. The mobile handset of claim 10, wherein the received set of information corresponds to a requested web page.

12. The mobile handset of claim 8, wherein the communication session is established over a physical layer connection, wherein the physical layer connection is disconnected when the communication session is inactive, and wherein the communication session is reactivated by reestablishing the physical layer connection.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

an external communication interface configured to couple to one or more networks external to the apparatus;

memory storing program instructions that, in response to execution by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising;

establishing a virtual session with a remote entity;

inactivating the established virtual session;

receiving a set of information from the remote entity while the virtual session is inactive, wherein the set of information was not sent in response to a request from the apparatus; and

reactivating the virtual session in response to determining, at an application layer, that identifying information in the received set of information identifies a first application layer program that is stored on the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first application-layer program is a messaging program.

15. A mobile handset, comprising:

a wireless communication interface configured to communicate via one or more wireless networks;

a processor unit;

memory storing program instructions executable by the mobile handset, using the processor unit, to cause the mobile handset to;

establish a communication session with a remote entity via the wireless communication interface;

inactivate the established communication session;

while the communication session is inactive, receive a first communication from the remote entity, wherein the first communication was not initiated by the remote entity in response to a previous communication from the mobile handset;

reactivate the communication session in response to determining that the received first communication includes information identifying an application at the mobile handset.

16. The mobile handset of claim 15, wherein the communication session is inactive while a wireless physical layer connection between the remote entity and the mobile handset is connected.

17. A method performed by a computing device, the method comprising:

during a communication session that has previously been established with a remote entity and that is currently inactive, receiving a first communication initiated by the remote entity, wherein the first communication has not been initiated by the remote entity in response to a previous communication from the computing device;

in response to determining that the received first communication includes information identifying an application at the computing device, reactivating the communication session with the remote entity.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the computing device is a mobile handset.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first communication is a wireless communication, and wherein the communication session is a virtual session.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

a wireless communication interface configured to couple the apparatus to a remote entity;

one or more processors;

memory storing program instructions executable by the apparatus, using the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to;

establish a virtual session with the remote entity;

subsequent to inactivation of the established virtual session, receive a wireless communication from the remote entity that is not responsive to a previous communication from the apparatus;

reactivate the virtual session in response to determining that the received wireless communication includes information identifying an application at the apparatus.

21. A system, comprising:

a mobile phone storing a first program executable at an application layer of the mobile phone; and

a server configured to;

maintain a communication session between the server and the mobile phone, the communication session supporting communication with a first program stored on the mobile phone; and

subsequent to deactivation of the communication session, send a wireless signal to the mobile phone, wherein the wireless signal includes a set of information identifying the first program, wherein sending the wireless signal to the mobile phone is not in response to request from the mobile phone;

wherein the mobile phone is configured to;

receive the wireless signal sent by the server subsequent to the deactivation of the communication session;

at the application layer of the mobile phone, read the set of information included in the wireless signal; and

in response to determining that the set of information identifies the first program, reactivate the communication session.