System and method of communicating with a node in a communication network through an intermediary node

• US 8,891,419 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2012
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Smadi, Mohammed Nawaf
• Primary Examiner(s): LEVITAN, DMITRY
• Application Number:
  US13/571,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20140044007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/315, 370/328, 370/338, 370/342, 370/345
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

The disclosure describes a system, method, device and server for establishing communication links in a network for a device. Communications may be carried from the device through an intermediary communication device to an access point in a wireless communication network. The method comprises: monitoring for a first trigger condition to seek the intermediary communication device, where the trigger condition is related to at least one of the communication device or the network; and upon detection of the first trigger condition identifying the intermediary communication device in the network, establishing a first connection between the communication device and the intermediary communication device and a second connection between the intermediary communication device and the access point to transmit communications from the communication device to the access point and transmitting a message from the communication device for the access device using the first connection and the second connection.

Claims

1. A method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device to carry communications from the communication device destined to an access point in a 802.11 network, the method comprising:

monitoring for a first trigger condition to seek the intermediary communication device, where the first trigger condition is related to at least one of the communication device or the 802.11 network; and

upon detection of the first trigger condition

identifying the intermediary communication device in the 802.11 network;

establishing a first connection between the communication device and the intermediary communication device in the 802.11 network and a second connection between the intermediary communication device and the access point in the 802.11 network to transmit communications from the communication device to the access point;

transmitting a message from the communication device for the access point using the first connection and the second connection;

tearing down a direct connection in the 802.11 network between the communication device and the access point;

sharing account parameters of the intermediary communication device with the communication device for communications managed by the 802.11 network; and

utilizing an agreed addressing procedure in processing communications from either the communication device or the intermediary communication device to the network.

2. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the intermediary communication device provides a layer 2 bridge for the communication device.

3. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first trigger condition is a threshold related to any one or more of a Specific Absorption Rate level of the communication device and a communication bandwidth level between the communication device and the access point.

4. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring for a second trigger condition to re-establish a direct connection between the communication device and the access point; and

upon detection of the second trigger condition

re-establishing the direct connection between the communication device and the access point; and

tearing down the first connection and the second connection.

5. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first trigger condition is the communication device having of a trusted status with the intermediary communication device.

6. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

providing a trusted service in the network that the intermediary communication device has been certified to access to the communication device through the first and second connections based on the trusted status.

7. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the intermediary communication device is identified from a plurality of devices in the 802.11 network based on a quality of a communication link between the communication device and the intermediary communication device.

8. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

a server communicating in the 802.11 network identifies the intermediary communication device from the plurality of devices.

9. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

the quality of the communication link between the communication device and the intermediary communication device relates to a proximity of the communication device to the intermediary communication device.

10. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

the quality of the communication link between the communication device and the intermediary communication device relates to a second communication link in a second network between the communication device and the intermediary communication device.

11. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

the second network is a cellular network.

12. The method of identifying for a communication device an intermediary communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first trigger condition is a threshold related to a battery level of the communication device.

13. A communication device communicating with an access point in a 802.11 network, comprising:

a communication module to process communications with the 802.11 network;

a processor;

a memory device;

a first module stored on the memory device and providing instructions to the processor to monitor for a first trigger condition to seek an intermediary communication device in the 802.11 network to communicate with the access point, where the trigger condition is related to at least one of the communication device or the 802.11 network;

a second module stored on the memory device that upon detection of the first trigger condition provides instructions to the processor to

identify the intermediary communication device in the 802.11 network; and

establish a first connection between the communication device and the intermediary communication device in the 802.11 network and a second connection between the intermediary communication device and the access point in the 802.11 network to transmit communications from the communication device to the access point;

tear down a direct connection between the communication device and the access point in the 802.11 network;

share account parameters of the intermediary communication device with the communication device shares for communications managed by the 802.11 network; and

utilize an agreed addressing procedure in processing communications from either the communication device or the intermediary communication device to the network; and

a third module stored on the memory device that after establishment of the first and second connections provides instructions to the processor to

transmit a message from the communication device for the access point using the first connection and the second connection in the 802.11 network.

14. The communication device in a network as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

the intermediary communication device provides a layer 2 bridge for the communication device.

15. The communication device in a network as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first trigger condition is a threshold related to any one or more of a Specific Absorption Rate level of the communication device and a communication bandwidth level between the communication device and the access point.