Switching between connectivity types to maintain connectivity

• US 8,769,093 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• 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:
  US13/619,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/227, 709/202, 709/203, 709/223
• 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 type of communications connection between a mobile user device and a host, the first type of communications connection enabling an application on the mobile user device to begin a data exchange with the host;

establishing, during the data exchange and prior to termination of the first type of communications connection, a second type of communications connection between the mobile user device and the host, wherein the first type of communications connection and the second type of communications connection are different types; and

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

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

detecting a trigger event; and

establishing the second type of communications connection in response to the trigger event.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the trigger event indicates an interruption in the first type of communications connection.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the interruption in the first type of communications connection is a communication delay.

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

detecting a change in the first type of communications connection; and

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

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the change in the first type of communications connection comprises a communications speed change.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first type of communications connection and the second type of communications connection use different communication devices contained within the mobile user device.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first type of communications connection and the second type of communications connection have different bandwidths.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising continuing to exchange data using the second type of communications connection without interruption to the application.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising maintaining the first type of communications connection and the second type of communications connection simultaneously.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising translating between one or more data packets associated with the first type of communications connection and one or more data packets associated with the second type of communications connection.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising encapsulating between the one or more data packets associated with the first type of communications connection and the one or more data packets associated with the second type of communications connection.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising removing encapsulation between the one or more data packets associated with the first type of communications connection and the one or more data packets associated with the second type of communications connection.

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

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

16. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first type of communications connection or the second type of communications connection is a wireless connection.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the wireless connection is one of a Wi-Fi connection, a Bluetooth connection, or a wireless telephone network connection.

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

determining that a quality of service of a third type of communications connection is preferable to a quality of service of the second type of communications connection;

establishing the third type of communications connection between the mobile user device and the host; and

enabling the application on the mobile user device to continue to exchange data by way of the third type of communications connection based on the determination that the quality of service of the third type of communications connection is preferable to the quality of service of the second type of communications connection.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer system to:

establish a first type of communications connection between a mobile user device and a host, the first type of communications connection enabling an application on the mobile user device to begin a data exchange with the host;

establish, during the data exchange and prior to termination of the first type of communications connection, a second type of communications connection between the mobile user device and the host, wherein the first type of communications connection and the second type of communications connection are different types; and

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

20. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 19, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to continue to exchange data using the second type of communications connection without interruption to the application.

21. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 20, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to maintain the first type of communications connection and the second type of communications connection simultaneously.

22. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 21, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the least one processor, cause the computer system to enable display of an indication that the second type of communications connection is established.

23. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 22, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to translate between one or more data packets associated with the first type of communications connection and one or more data packets associated with the second type of communications connection.

24. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 20, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to:

detect a trigger event; and

establish the second type of communications connection in response to the trigger event.

25. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 20, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the least one processor, cause the computer system to:

determine that a quality of service of a third type of communications connection is preferable to a quality of service of the second type of communications connection;

establish the third type of communications connection between the mobile user device and the host; and

enable the application on the mobile user device to continue to exchange data by way of the third type of communications connection based on the determination that the quality of service of the third type of communications connection is preferable to the quality of service of the second type of communications connection.

26. A mobile user device comprising:

at least one processor; and

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

establish a first type of communications connection between the mobile user device and a host, the first type of communications connection enabling an application on the mobile user device to begin a data exchange with the host;

establish, during the data exchange and prior to termination of the first type of communications connection, a second type of communications connection between the mobile user device and the host, wherein the first type of communications connection and the second type of communications connection are different types; and

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

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 send authentication information for the second type of communications connection.

28. The mobile user device as recited in claim 27, 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 type of communications connection is established.

29. 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 maintain the first type of communications connection and the second type of communications connection simultaneously.

30. 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 between one or more data packets associated with the first type of communications connection and one or more data packets associated with the second type of communications connection.

31. 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:

detect a trigger event; and

establish the second type of communications connection in response to the trigger event.

32. 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:

determine that a quality of service of a third type of communications connection is preferable to a quality of service of the second type of communications connection;

establish the third type of communications connection between the mobile user device and the host; and

enable the application on the mobile user device to continue to exchange data by way of the third type of communications connection based on the determination that the quality of service of the third type of communications connection is preferable to the quality of service of the second type of communications connection.

33. The mobile user device as recited in claim 26, wherein at least one of the first type of communications connection or the second type of communications connection is a wireless connection.

34. The mobile user device as recited in claim 33, wherein the wireless connection is one of a Wi-Fi connection, a Bluetooth connection, or a wireless telephone network connection.