Providing data to a mobile application accessible at a mobile device via different network connections without interruption

• US 9,066,370 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seven Networks LLC (FIG LLC (d/b/a Fortress Investment Group LLC))
• Original Assignee: Seven Networks Inc
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Suresh, Lee, Yuan Kang, Sengupta, Chaitali
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TIMOTHY X
• Application Number:
  US13/784,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20130229270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0221 power availability or consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0027 for a plurality of data sessions of end-to-end connections, e.g. multi-call or multi-bearer end-to-end data connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/185 using make before break
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

System and method of providing data to a mobile application accessible at a mobile device via different network connections without interruption are disclosed. The method, which may be implemented on a system includes, receiving data for the mobile application over a network connection different from a first network connection, and/or providing the data received over the network connection including any other data received from the first network connection, to the mobile application in a manner that is without interruption in data flow. The data is provided to the mobile application without interruption even when connections to the different network connections require change in IP addresses.

Claims

1. A method of providing data to a plurality of mobile applications accessible at a mobile device via multiple different network connections without interruption, the method comprising:

receiving, by a connectivity engine of the mobile device, data for a first and a second mobile application over a second network connection different than a first network connection;

anticipating that the first network connection is to be disconnected;

in response to anticipating that the first network connection is to be disconnected;

determining an amount of data to be received from the first network connection to provide a first mobile application with continuous data flow when connecting to the second network connection; and

determining an amount of data to be received from the first network connection to provide a second mobile application with continuous data flow when connecting to the second network connection; and

providing the determined amount of data received over the second network connection after providing, data received by the connectivity engine from the first network connection to the first mobile application and the second mobile application in a continuous data flow without interruption;

wherein the amount of the data received for the first mobile application and the second mobile application from the first network connection is determined based on connection quality or bandwidth of the second network connection or the first network connection;

wherein the connectivity engine anchors the continuous data flow such that different network connection parameters utilized by the second network connection and the first network connection are not visible to or detectable by the mobile application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, the data is provided to the first mobile application and the second mobile application without interruption even when the second network connection or the first network connections requires a change in IP address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, the second network connection and the first network connection are accessible to the mobile device at overlapping or partially overlapping periods of time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

aggregating by the connectivity engine, the data received over at least two of the multiple different networks connections to expedite data retrieval for the first mobile application and the second mobile application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, the data for the first mobile application and the data for the second mobile application is received over the second network connection in response to the first network connection being disconnected at the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, the anticipating or predicting is location based.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, the data for the mobile application is received over the first network connection different than the first network connection in response to the mobile device becoming connected to the second network connection in addition to the first network connection.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, the mobile device becomes connected to the second network connection to increase bandwidth.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, the second network connection is a cellular connection including one or more of 3G, 3.5G, HSPA, 4G or LTE connection and the first network connection includes a WIFI or WiMax connection.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein, the second network connection is a 3G connection and the first network connection is a 4G or LTE connection.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined amount of the data received from the first network connection is determined based on connection quality and bandwidth of the second network connection and the first network connection.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein, the determined amount of data received over the second network connection and the data received by the connectivity engine from the first network connection are retrieved or received at an interface able to identify an application class of the application to which the data is directed, wherein, the interface is associated with a relay for the application class based on a protocol utilized for the application class.

13. A mobile device having a plurality of mobile applications installed thereon, the mobile device comprising:

one or more radios each operable to connect to a first network and a second network;

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, causes the mobile device to;

anticipate that the first network is to be disconnected;

in response to anticipating that the first network is to be disconnected;

determine an amount of data to be received from the first network connection to provide a first mobile application with continuous data flow when connecting to the second network connection; and

determine an amount of data to be received from the first network connection to provide a second mobile application with continuous data flow when connecting to the second network connection;

service the first application using the determined data received via a radio connected to the second network and further service the first mobile application using additional data received using the radio or another radio connected to a different network,

service the second mobile application using data received via the radio connected to the second network and further service the second application using additional data received using the radio or another radio connected to a different network,

wherein the data and the additional data is received by the first and second mobile application in a continuous data flow without interruption,

wherein the amount of the additional data received from the additional network is determined based on connection quality or bandwidth of the first network or the second network;

wherein a connectivity engine of the mobile device anchors the continuous data flow such that second network connection parameters utilized by the first network and the second network are not visible to or detectable by the application.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, further comprising:

an interface coupled to the radios, the interface configured to aggregate data received from the radios and provide the aggregated data to the first and second mobile application in the continuous data flow without interruption.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein, the interface is configured to aggregate data received over the first and second networks to expedite data retrieval for the first and second mobile application, wherein the data is received over the at least two of the one or more network concurrently.

16. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein, the interface provides a socket to each of the first and second mobile application and provides the aggregated data to the first and second mobile application;

and wherein the socket is assigned based on a protocol used by each of the first and second mobile application.

17. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein, the radio is disconnected before the another radio is connected.

18. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein, the another radio is connected before the radio is disconnected.

19. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein, the data and the additional data is received by the first and second mobile application continuously even when the different network causes a new TCP session to be established.

20. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein, the radios include a cellular radio and or a Bluetooth radio.

21. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein, the radios include a WiFI or WLAN interface.

22. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein, the radios include a cellular radio able to connect to a 3G network, an LTE network, an enhanced 3G network or a 4G network.

23. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein, the each of the first and second mobile application includes one or more of, a mobile browser, a video application, a streaming service, an email service, and an FTP site/service.

24. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein, the first and second mobile application includes, one or more of, a VoiP application, a gaming application.

25. A system for providing data to a mobile application via multiple different network connections without interruption, the system comprising:

a connectivity engine configured for;

receiving data for a first mobile application and a second mobile application over a second network connection different from a first network connection;

anticipating that the first network connection is to be disconnected;

in response to anticipating that the first network connection is to be disconnected;

determining an amount of data to be received from the first network connection to provide a first mobile application with continuous data flow when connected to the second network connection; and

determining an amount of data to be received from the first network connection to provide a second mobile application with continuous data flow when connecting to the second network connection; and

providing the determined amount of data received over the second network connection after providing data received by the connectivity engine from the first network connection to the first mobile application and the second mobile application in a continuous data flow without interruption,

wherein the amount of the data received for the first mobile application and the second mobile application from the first network connection is determined based on connection quality or bandwidth of at least one of the second network connection or the first network connection,

wherein the connectivity engine anchors the continuous data flow such that different network connection parameters utilized by the second network connection and the first network connection are not visible to or detectable by the mobile application.

26. A method of providing data to a mobile application accessible at a mobile device via multiple different network connections without interruption, the method comprising:

receiving, by a connectivity engine of the mobile device, data for the mobile application over a second network connection different than a first network connection;

anticipating that the first network connection is to be disconnected;

in response to anticipating that the first network connection is to be disconnected, determining an amount of data to be received from the first network connection to provide the mobile application with continuous data flow when connecting to the second network connection;

providing the determined amount of data received over the second network connection after providing data received by the connectivity engine from the first network connection to the mobile application in a continuous data flow without interruption;

wherein the amount of the data received from the first network connection is determined based on connection quality or bandwidth of the second network connection or the first network connection;

wherein the connectivity engine anchors the continuous data flow such that different network connection parameters utilized by the network connection and the first network connection are not visible to or detectable by the mobile application,

wherein the determined amount of data received over the second network connection and the data received by the connectivity engine from the first network connection are retrieved or received at an interface able to identify an application class of the application to which the data is directed, wherein, the interface is associated with a relay for the application class based on a protocol utilized for the application class.