Networked mobile router

• US 8,817,762 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Autonet Mobile, Inc.
• Inventors: Moeller, Douglas S, Pashby, Ronald W
• Primary Examiner(s): Rampuria, Sharad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zewari, Sayed T
• Application Number:
  US13/415,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20120203914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/338, 370/236
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

A mobile router, comprises a communications agent operable such that its initial communication to the network utilizes the main server information to establish a first communication with the main server. The mobile router further comprises a microprocessor operable with the communications agent to interact with the main server to upload configuration information to the main server. The communications agent is operable to receive group server identification information from the main server when communicating with the main server a second time. The microprocessor is operable to store the group server identification information. The group server information comprises information identifying one or more servers corresponding with a predetermined group assigned by the main server. The communications agent utilizes the group server identification information for subsequent communication via the network.

Claims

1. A mobile router, comprising:

an interface to a wireless communications link;

a memory for storing information comprising configuration information and main server information utilizable to identify a main network server;

a communications agent operable with said interface to establish communication via said wireless communications link to a network comprising a main server and a plurality of group servers;

said communications agent is operable such that its initial communication to said network utilizes said main server information to establish a first communication with said main server;

a microprocessor operable with said communications agent to interact with said main server to upload said configuration information from said memory to said main server via said network;

said communication agent is operable such that its second communication to said network utilizes said main server information to establish a second communication with said main server;

said communications agent is operable to receive group server identification information from said main server during said second communication;

said microprocessor is operable to store said group server identification information in said memory, said group server information comprising information identifying one or more servers corresponding to a predetermined group server to which said mobile router is assigned by said main server; and

said communications agent utilizes said group server identification information for subsequent communication via said network to communicate via said one or more servers.

2. A mobile router in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

said group server identification information is received by said communications agent from said main server the second time said mobile router establishes communication with said main server.

3. A mobile router in accordance with claim 2, comprising;

said communications agent utilizes said group server identification information to access one group server of said plurality of group servers.

4. A mobile router in accordance with claim 2, comprising:

said group server identification information comprises identification information for a predetermined number of group servers selectively assigned from said plurality of group servers.

5. A mobile router in accordance with claim 4, comprising:

said microprocessor is operable to select a group server from said predetermined number of group servers with which to communicate via said network.

6. A mobile router in accordance with claim 5, comprising:

said microprocessor selects said group server from said predetermined number of group servers in accordance with a predetermined selection algorithm.

7. A mobile router, comprising:

an interface to a wireless communications link;

a memory storing information comprising configuration information and main server information utilizable to identify a main network server;

apparatus operable to establish communication via said wireless communications link to a network comprising a main server and a plurality of group servers;

said apparatus is operable such that its initial communication to said network utilizes said main server information to establish a first communication with said main server;

said apparatus interacts with said main server to upload said configuration information to said main server via said network;

said apparatus receives of group server identification information from said main server;

said apparatus stores said group server identification information in said memory, said group server information comprising information identifying one or more servers corresponding to a predetermined group of servers assigned by said main server; and

said apparatus utilizes said group server identification information for subsequent communication over said network utilizing said one or more servers corresponding, to a predetermined group of servers.

8. A mobile router in accordance with claim 7, comprising:

said group server identification information is received from said main server the second time said mobile router establishes communication with said main server.

9. A mobile router in accordance with claim 8, comprising;

said apparatus utilizes said group server identification information to access one group server of said plurality of group servers for communications.

10. A mobile router in accordance with claim 8, comprising:

said group server identification information comprises identification information for a predetermined number of group servers selectively assigned from said plurality of group servers.

11. A mobile router in accordance with claim 10, comprising:

said apparatus selects a group server from said predetermined number of group servers to communicate with via said network.

12. A mobile router in accordance with claim 11, comprising:

said apparatus selects said group server from said predetermined number of group servers in accordance with a predetermined selection algorithm.

13. A mobile router, comprising:

an interface to a wireless communications link;

a memory to store information comprising configuration information and main server information utilizable to identify a main network server;

apparatus operable to;

establish initial communication via said wireless communications link to a network comprising a main server and a plurality of group servers;

direct said initial communication to said main server to establish a first communication with said main server;

upload said configuration information to said main server via said network;

establish a second communication to said main server;

receive group server identification information from said main server during said second communication;

store said group server identification information, said group server information comprising information identifying one or more servers corresponding to a predetermined group of servers assigned by said main server; and

utilize said group server identification information for subsequent communication via said network.

14. A mobile router in accordance with claim 13, wherein:

said apparatus receives said group server identification the second time said mobile router establishes communication with said main server.

15. A mobile router in accordance with claim 14, wherein;

said apparatus utilizes said group server identification information to access one group server of said plurality of group servers for communications.

16. A mobile router in accordance with claim 14, wherein:

said group server identification information comprises identification information for a predetermined number of group servers selectively assigned from said plurality of group servers.

17. A mobile router in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said apparatus selects a group server from said predetermined number of group servers to communicate with via said network.

18. A mobile router in accordance with claim 17, wherein:

said apparatus selects said group server from said predetermined number of group servers in accordance with a predetermined selection algorithm.