MULTIPATH COMMUNICATION DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20150032860A1
• Filed: 10/11/2014
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Competitive Access Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eric M. Delangis
• Inventors: Delangis, Eric M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,350,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/24 Multipath
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/54 Organization of routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/821 Prioritising resource allocation or reservation requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/168 specially adapted for link layer protocols, e.g. asynchronous transfer mode [ATM], synchronous optical network [SONET] or point-to-point protocol [PPP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/052 software update
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/60 related to security aspects in telephonic communication systems network architectures or network communication protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/007 Access interface units for simultaneous transmission of speech and data, e.g. digital subscriber line [DSL] access interface units DSL access multiplexers H04Q11/0478, and H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/121 Details of network access arrangements or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The Residential Communications Gateway (RCG) is a broadband communications device that combines all voice, data and video communications to and from a typical residence or small business for transmission over a single, or a plurality of Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) lines separately or in conjunction with, a wireless broadband backbone. The RCG does this by employing packetized data with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies combined with RF communications technologies. A key consideration to the design of the RCG is that no additional or special transmission equipment must be installed at the Central Office or anywhere else in the network to enable new calling features provided by the RCG as is the case with DSL and Cable systems. By eliminating the requirement for costly infrastructure enhancements, ubiquitous high speed communications and services can be deployed to every POTS subscriber.

Claims

1. A method for establishing and sending data across multiple paths between a server and an initiating device, comprising:

receiving at the server information of each of a plurality of devices selected to participate in a multipath connection, the multipath connection comprising each the devices being connected with the initiating device; and

the server performing at least one of (i) dividing data into groups of data packets and sending different ones of the groups of data packets to each of the devices participating in the multipath connection, (ii) sending separate streams of data to each of the devices participating in the multipath connection, and (iii) sending combinations of separate streams and groups of data packets to each of the devices participating in the multipath connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information includes a connection ID that is is generated by one of the server, one of the plurality of devices, the initiating device and a network device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving at the server information of additional devices able to participate in the multipath connection, the additional devices being associated with the connection ID.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving at the server information about which devices are to be removed from the multipath connection, the devices to be removed being associated with the connection ID.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the server determining which devices are to be removed from the multipath connection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the server is one of a multipath link aggregator, network relay, and multipath link server.

7. A method for establishing and sending data across multiple paths in different multipath connections from a server, comprising:

the server receiving connection requests for a plurality of multipath connections;

the server associating a connection ID for each connection request associated with each of the multipath connections;

the server receiving information of each of a plurality of devices participating in a particular multipath connection having a particular connection ID; and

the server sending data associated with the particular connection ID to each of the devices participating in the multipath connection associated with the connection ID.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving at the server information of additional devices participating in the particular multipath connection, the additional devices being associated with the particular connection ID.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving at the server identification of devices to be removed from the particular multipath connection, the devices to be removed being associated with the particular connection ID.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the server determining which devices are to be removed from the multipath connection.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the server is one of a multipath link aggregator, network relay, and multipath link server.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the connection ID is generated by one of the server, one of the plurality of devices, or a network device.

13. A method for establishing and sending data across multiple paths between a device and a server, comprising:

selecting one or more remote devices to participate in a multipath connection, wherein the multipath connection comprises a connection between the device and each of the selected one or more remote devices;

receiving data concurrently at the device via the selected one or more remote devices during the multipath connection.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving at the device information about the one or more remote devices confirmation of a capability of participating in the multipath connection.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the device is one of a cell phone, a tablet, a router, a computer, a Wi-Fi device, a Wi-Max device, a communications device, a mobile communications device, and a Bluetooth device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the devices are one or more routers, modems, cell phones, tablets, computers, cellular towers, wireless towers, base stations, wireless base stations, repeaters, wireless repeaters, Wi-Fi devices, networking devices, hot spot devices, Wi-MAX devices, LTE devices, GSM devices, consumer electronic devices, and an Internet-ready device.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the selected one or more remote devices is capable of connecting to another remote device which is capable of participating in the multipath connection, and further comprising relaying data from the another remote device to the device through the selected one or more remote devices.

18. A communications device comprising:

at least one interface capable of connecting concurrently to a plurality of remote devices; and

a processor coupled to the at least one interface that

selects one or more remote devices to participate in a multipath connection, wherein the multipath connection comprises a connection between the device and each of the selected one or more remote devices;

receiving data concurrently at the device via the selected one or more remote devices during the multipath connection.

19. The communications device of claim 19, wherein the device is one of a cell phone, a tablet, a router, a computer, a Wi-Fi device, a Wi-Max device, a mobile communications device, and a Bluetooth device.

20. The communications device of claim 19, wherein each of the remote devices comprises one or more communications devices, cellular devices, tablet devices, router devices, computer devices, satellite devices, Wi-MAX devices, wireless devices, mobile communications devices, Bluetooth devices, and Wi-Fi devices.