Apparatus and method for intelligent routing of data between a remote device and a host system

• US 6,198,920 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2000
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mobile Sonic Incorporated (Absolute Software Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Padcom Incorporated (NetMotion Software, Inc.)
• Inventors: Houvig, Flex, Doviak, William, Whitmore, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, May
• Assistant Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US09/527,014
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426, 455/466, 455/552, 455/553, 455/556, 455/557, 455/459, 455/560, 455/561, 455/462, 455/464, 455/453, 455/454, 455/458, 455/31.3, 455/31.2, 379/114, 379/210, 379/211, 379/201, 379/207, 379/214, 379/220, 379/272, 379/274, 379/279, 370/466, 370/467, 370/259, 370/271, 370/244, 370/310, 370/410, 370/237, 370/238, 370/352
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/851 Dynamic network selection or re-selection, e.g. after degradation of quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security 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 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for transparent communication between a remote or mobile device and a fixed communication host network. The apparatus and method may include a remote network controller that logically resides between the host network and the existing infrastructure(s) that are used to provide communications network contact with one or more remote devices. The remote network controller is connected to the host communication network as a protocol-appropriate communications controller so that remote devices are indistinguishable to the host network from the locally-attached devices. Each remote device may be provided with an asynchronous serial data interface to communicate with a mobile data controller. The mobile data controller, in combination with the remote network controller, provides end-to-end data communication such that incompatible protocols are transparent to the remote device and host communication network. A router may be provided which selects a communications network in accordance with user configured parameters. The router communicates over a plurality of incompatible networks and is capable of using a variety of different protocols. Switching between the plurality of incompatible networks is transparent to the remote device and host communication network.

Claims

1. A router for use in a system comprising a first device and a plurality of remote devices, the first device being connected to a plurality of networks so that the plurality of networks can be monitored during a transmission, each of the remote devices being connected to one network or the plurality of networks so that the plurality of networks can be monitored during the transmission, at least two of the networks being dissimilar, autonomous, parallel, and connected to both the first device and a selected one of the remote devices, the router comprising:

a first interface for connecting to the plurality of parallel dissimilar networks;

a second interface for connecting to the selected remote device;

a monitoring system that monitors the status of the plurality of parallel dissimilar networks connected to the selected remote device, the plurality of parallel dissimilar networks being available for data transmission; and

a selector that selects at least one available network from the plurality of parallel dissimilar networks for transporting data between the first device and the selected remote device when a single transmission is initiated,

wherein the transmission can occur over the plurality of parallel dissimilar networks when the single transmission is initiated; and

wherein the transmission occurs while the router switches from a first one of the plurality of parallel dissimilar networks to a second one of the plurality of parallel dissimilar networks.

2. The router of claim 1, in which the router switches networks immediately after transporting a first data packet and before transporting a subsequent consecutive data packet.

3. The router of claim 1, in which the status comprises at least one of installation status, network health, configuration status, and network availability.

4. The router of claim 1, in which the monitoring system determines whether a next network is available for data transport.

5. The router of claim 4, in which the selector selects a next available network from the plurality of networks in accordance with network selection criteria when the monitoring system determines that the at least one available network becomes unavailable for data transport.

6. The router of claim 5, in which the router switches to the next available network, immediately after transporting a first data packet and before transporting a subsequent consecutive data packet, when the monitoring system determines that the at least one available network is unavailable for data transport.

7. The router of claim 1, in which the plurality of parallel dissimilar networks comprise wireless networks.

8. The router of claim 1, in which the plurality of parallel dissimilar networks comprise at least one wireless network and at least one wireline network.

9. The router of claim 1, further comprising a system for interfacing protocolized data into the plurality of parallel dissimilar networks using different protocols.

10. The router of claim 1, in which the plurality of parallel dissimilar networks comprise switched networks.

11. The router of claim 1, in which the plurality of parallel dissimilar networks comprise dedicated networks.

12. The router of claim 1, in which the plurality of parallel dissimilar networks comprise switched networks and dedicated networks.

13. The router of claim 1, in which the plurality of parallel dissimilar networks comprise at least one of digital networks and analog networks.

14. The router of claim 1, in which at least one of the plurality of networks comprises a packet based wireless network.

15. The router of claim 1, in which the data comprises digital data.

16. The router of claim 15, in which the digital data further comprises digital voice.