Cooperative network for mobile internet access

• US 8,862,736 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2010
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Truphone Limited
• Original Assignee: Truphone Limited
• Inventors: Tagg, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAIR, DOUGLAS B
• Application Number:
  US12/684,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20100115104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 709227-229
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00224 between packet switched [PS] and circuit switched [CS] network technologies, e.g. circuit switched fallback [CSFB]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0072 of resource information of target access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system for connecting mobile users to the Internet using cooperative interconnection. A node consists of a network element that has two connections methodologies—typically a node will have a radio link and a wired link to the Internet. To obtain a connection, a member of the service located themselves in proximity to a network node which is commonly provided by another member and the cooperative tunneling agent requests a secure link. All members of the service agree to give connection to the Internet upon request from another member.

Claims

1. A method of connecting a first system to a target network via a second system wherein the second system can access the target network comprising the steps of:

for each system, configuring the system to enable the cooperative networking capability of the system;

said configuring step comprising

(1) providing host and client tunneling software to the system,

(2) setting tunnel preferences of the system for provision of tunnels for use by other systems with cooperative networking enabled and

(3) setting access preferences of the system for use of tunnels provided by other systems with cooperative networking capability enabled, such that each system can act as a host system or a client system;

establishing a physical link between the first system and the second system;

said first system acting as a client and said second system acting as a host;

setting up a logical link between the second host system and the first client system on establishment of the physical link,

sending information about access preferences of the first client system from the first client system to the second host system through the logical link and comparing tunneling preferences of the second host system with access preferences of the first client system under control of matching software; and

when the tunnel preferences of the second host system match the access preferences of the first client system, establishing cooperative networking by establishing a tunnel from the first client system to the second host system through which encapsulated data packets can be sent, such that data packets from the first system can be sent to and from the target network via the second host system;

wherein the first system only accesses resources of the host system required for the cooperative networking.