Location/motion sensitive computer connection

• US 6,477,581 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1996
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Carpenter, Mark Alan, Lection, David Bruce, Molander, Mark Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Application Number:
  US08/630,097
• Time in Patent Office: 2,401 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.57, 395/200.58, 395/200.59, 395/200.68, 395/200.69, 395/200.7, 395/200.71, 395/200.72, 395/200.73, 395/200.74, 364/449.1, 364/449.7, 370/238, 342/357, 342/385, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.1, 455/432, 455/433, 455/440, 455/456, 709/227, 709/228, 709/229, 709/238, 709/239, 709/240, 709/241, 709/242, 709/243, 709/244, 701/207, 701/213
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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

Abstract

A method, data processing system and program product for providing a connection from a portable data processor to a second data processor by acquiring a geographic location of the portable data processor and selecting a connection technique and/or a connection path associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor. The portable data processor then connects to the second data processor utilizing the selected connection technique and/or connection path. The connection technique and/or connection path may be selected from a plurality of connection techniques and/or connection paths which may be prioritized.

Claims

1. A method of providing a connection from a portable data processor to a second data processor, the method comprising:

acquiring a geographic location of the portable data processor;

determining if the portable data processor is in motion, and if so, determining a velocity at which said portable data processor is moving;

selecting a connection technique from one or more connection techniques associated with said acquired geographic location and said determined velocity when said determining step determines that the portable data processor is in motion;

selecting a connection path from one or more connection paths associated with said selected connection technique, said acquired geographic location, and said determined velocity when said determining step determines that the portable data processor is in motion; and

connecting the portable data processor to the second data processor utilizing the selected connection technique and the selected connection path.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said acquiring step comprises the step of accepting user input specifying the geographic location of the portable data processor.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said acquiring step comprises the step of acquiring the geographic location of the portable data processor through an automated position sensing system.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said acquiring step comprises the step of acquiring the geographic location of the portable data processor through a global positioning system.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said determined velocity prevents said selecting steps from selecting particular ones of said connection techniques and connection paths.

6. A data processing system for providing a connection to a second data processor, the data processing system comprising:

a portable data processor;

means for acquiring a geographic location of said portable data processor;

means for determining if said portable data processor is in motion, and if so, determining a velocity at which said portable data processor is moving;

means for selecting a connection technique from one or more connection techniques associated with the acquired geographic location and said determined velocity of said portable data processor when said means for determining determines that said portable data processor is in motion;

means for selecting a connection path from one or more connection paths associated with the selected connection technique, the acquired geographic location of said portable data processor, and the determined velocity of the portable data processor when said means for determining determines that said portable data processor is in motion; and

means for connecting said portable data processor to said second data processor utilizing the selected connection technique and the selected connection path.

7. A data processing system according to claim 6 wherein said means for acquiring comprises means for acquiring the geographic location of said portable data processor through an automated position sensing system.

8. A data processing system according to claim 6 wherein said means for acquiring comprises means for acquiring the geographic location of said portable data processor through a global positioning system.

9. A data processing system according to claim 6 wherein said means for acquiring comprises means for acquiring the geographic location of said portable data processor through a global positioning system.

10. A method of providing a connection from a portable data processor to a second data processor, the method comprising stops of:

recording each usage, by the portable data processor, of each of a plurality of connection techniques at one or more geographical locations;

acquiring a current geographic location of the portable data processor;

determining, based upon relative frequency of the recorded usages, which of the connection techniques has a highest historical usage by the portable data processor at the acquired current geographic location;

selecting the connection technique determined to have the highest historical usage at the acquired geographic location;

selecting a connection path from one or more connection paths associated with said selected connection technique; and

connecting the portable data processor to the second data processor utilizing the selected connection technique and the selected connection path.

11. A data processing system for providing a connection to a second data processor, the data processing system comprising:

a portable data processor;

means for recording each usage, by the portable data processor, of each of a plurality of connection paths at one or more geographical locations;

means for acquiring a current geographic location of the portable data processor;

means for determining, based upon relative frequency of the recorded usages, which of the connection paths has a highest historical usage by the portable data processor at the acquired current geographic location;

means for selecting a connection technique from one or more connection techniques associated with said acquired current geographic location;

means for selecting the connection path determined to have the highest historical usage at the acquired geographic location; and

means for connecting the portable data processor to the second data processor utilizing the selected connection technique and the selected connection path.