Switching between connectivity types to maintain connectivity

• US 8,578,025 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meenan, Patrick, Chiles, David Clyde, Damick, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN GILLES, JUDE
• Application Number:
  US13/619,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-226, 370/320, 370/352, 370/364, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/93.07, 379/93.08
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0663 Performing the actions predefined by failover planning, e.g. switching to standby network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1066 Session management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment

Abstract

Techniques are provided for leveraging narrowband connectivity (such as dial-up communications or other types of low bandwidth communications) to provision or configure broadband connectivity between a broadband access provider and a broadband device, such as a DSL modem or a cable modem. Specifically, because narrowband connectivity does not require advance configuration or provisioning by the host system of connectivity parameters for an access-seeking device, a modem at an access-seeking device may be leveraged to establish a narrowband connection between that device and a host system and to enable an exchange or negotiation of connectivity parameters necessary to enable future broadband connectivity. Thus, once established, the narrowband connection may be used as a conduit for communicating required provisioning information between the broadband-enabling host and the access-seeking device to enable broadband connectivity by the device in the future.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a first communications connection between a mobile user device and a host, the first communications connection enabling an application on the mobile user device to exchange data using a first bandwidth;

detecting, using at least one processor, availability of a second communications connection, the second communications connection using a second bandwidth that is greater than the first bandwidth;

establishing, in response to the detected availability of the second communications connection, the second communications connection between the mobile user device and the host; and

enabling the application on the mobile user device to continue to exchange data with the host by way of the second communications connection.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising sending authentication information for the second communications connection.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the authentication information comprises at least one of a user identifier, an access password, or a token.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

detecting availability of a third communications connection using a third bandwidth;

determining that the third bandwidth is greater than the second bandwidth of the second communications connection;

establishing the third communications connection between the mobile user device and the host based on the determination that the third bandwidth is greater than the second bandwidth; and

enabling the application on the mobile user device to continue to exchange data by way of the third communications connection.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising enabling display of an indication that the second communications connection is established.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile user device comprises at least one of a mobile phone, a portable computer, or a personal digital assistant.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in the first communications connection; and

establishing the second communications connection in response to the change in the first communications connection.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the change in the first communications connection comprises at least one of a communications speed change, an interruption, or a communication failure.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising enabling display of an indication of the change in the first communications connection.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the indication of the change in the first communications connection comprises a display message.

11. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising masking the change in the first communications connection from the application on the mobile user device.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein masking the change in the first communications connection comprises translating from data packets associated with the second communications connection to data packets associated with the first communications connection.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first communications connection and the second communications connection use different connection types or protocols.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein a first connection type of the first communications connection comprises a wireless telephone network connection and a second connection type of the second communications connection comprises at least one of a Wi-Fi connection or a Bluetooth connection.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first communications connection and the second communications connection use connection types or protocols that are the same.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein a first connection type of the first communications connection and a second connection type of the second communications connection comprises at least one of a wireless telephone network connection, a Wi-Fi connection, or a Bluetooth connection.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including a set of instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform the steps comprising:

establishing a first communications connection between a mobile user device and a host, the first communications connection enabling an application on the mobile user device to exchange data using a first bandwidth;

detecting availability of a second communications connection, the second communications connection using a second bandwidth that is greater than the first bandwidth;

establishing, in response to the detected availability of the second communications connection, the second communications connection between the mobile user device and the host; and

enabling the application on the mobile user device to continue to exchange data with the host by way of the second communications connection.

18. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 17, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform the step of enabling display of an indication that the second communications connection is established.

19. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 18, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform the steps of:

detecting availability of a third communications connection using a third bandwidth;

determining that the third bandwidth is greater than the second bandwidth of the second communications connection;

establishing the third communications connection between the mobile user device and the host based on the determination that the third bandwidth is greater than the second bandwidth; and

enabling the application on the mobile user device to continue to exchange data by way of the third communications connection.

20. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 18, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform the step of enabling display of an indication that the third communications connection is established.

21. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 17, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform the steps of:

detecting a change in the first communications connection; and

establishing the second communications connection in response to the change in the first communications connection.

22. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 21, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform the step of masking the change in the first communications connection from the application on the mobile user device.

23. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 22, wherein masking the change in the first communications connection comprises translating from data packets associated with the second communications connection to data packets associated with the first communications connection.

24. A mobile user device comprising:

at least one processor; and

a computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processors, cause the mobile user device to;

establish a first communications connection between the mobile user device and a host, the first communications connection enabling an application on the mobile user device to exchange data using a first bandwidth;

detect availability of a second communications connection, the second communications connection using a second bandwidth that is greater than the first bandwidth;

establish, in response to the detected availability of the second communications connection, the second communications connection between the mobile user device and the host; and

enable the application on the mobile user device to continue to exchange data with the host by way of the second communications connection.

25. The mobile user device as recited in claim 24, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the mobile user device to send authentication information for the second communications connection.

26. The mobile user device as recited in claim 25, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the mobile user device to continue to exchange data using the second communications connection without interruption to the application on the mobile user device.

27. The mobile user device as recited in claim 26, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the mobile user device to enable display of an indication that the second communications connection is established.

28. The mobile user device as recited in claim 24, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the mobile user device to:

detect a change in the first communications connection; and

establish the second communications connection in response to the change in the first communications connection.

29. The mobile user device as recited in claim 28, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the mobile user device to enable display of an indication of the change in the first communications connection.

30. The mobile user device as recited in claim 29, wherein the indication of the change in the first communications connection comprises a display message that describes that the second communications connection is established.

31. The mobile user device as recited in claim 28, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the mobile user device to mask the change in the first communications connection from the application on the mobile user device.

32. The mobile user device as recited in claim 29, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the mobile user device to translate data packets associated with the second communications connection to data packets associated with the first communications connection.

33. The mobile user device as recited in claim 24, wherein the first communications connection and the second communications connection use different connection types or protocols.

34. The mobile user device as recited in claim 33, wherein a first connection type of the first communications connection comprises a wireless telephone network connection and a second connection type of the second communications connection comprises at least one of a Wi-Fi connection or a Bluetooth connection.

35. The mobile user device as recited in claim 24, wherein the first communications connection and the second communications connection use connection types or protocols that are the same.

36. The mobile user device as recited in claim 35, wherein a first connection type of the first communications connection and a second connection type of the second communications connection comprises at least one of a wireless telephone network connection, a Wi-Fi connection, or a Bluetooth connection.