Methods and apparatus for implementing a speed sensitive mobile router

• US 7,417,961 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2003
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lau, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong; Quochien B
• Application Number:
  US10/732,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20050124339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/328, 370/901, 370/908, 370/351, 370/395.52, 370/912, 370/913, 455/12.1, 455/414.1, 455/441, 455/456.1, 455/427, 455/432.1, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/344, 455/345, 455/346
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0231 based on communication conditions dynamic wireless traffic scheduling definition based on channel quality criteria H04W72/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/913 Wireless or radio

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for implementing a speed sensitive mobile network device (e.g., Mobile Router). The speed of the mobile network device is detected. The values of one or more operating characteristics of one or more interfaces of the mobile network device are ascertained, where the values correspond to the speed of the mobile network device. One of the interfaces having a desired set of values of the operating characteristics at the speed of the mobile network device is then selected.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile network device, comprising:

detecting a speed of the mobile network device;

ascertaining one or more values of one or more operating characteristics of each of two or more interfaces of the mobile network device, the one or more values of the one or more operating characteristics of each of the two or more interfaces corresponding to the speed of the mobile network device; and

selecting one of the two or more interfaces using the values of the one or more operating characteristics of each of the two or more interfaces at the speed of the mobile network device, the selected one of the two or more interfaces having a desired set of values of the operating characteristics at the speed of the mobile network device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

applying the set of values of the operating characteristics to the selected interface of the mobile network device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

registering with a Home Agent via the selected interface.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

transmitting one or more packets via the selected interface.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

receiving one or more packets from the Home Agent via the selected interface.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting one or more packets via the selected interface.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more packets from a Home Agent via the selected interface.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein detecting a speed of the mobile network device is performed by a GPS.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile network device is a Mobile Router.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the operating characteristics include at least one of bandwidth, quality of service, or percentage or fraction of the bandwidth allocated to one or more types of traffic.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the one or more types of traffic include voice traffic.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein ascertaining one or more values of one or more operating characteristics of two or more interfaces of the mobile network device comprises:

ascertaining the values of one or more operating characteristics of a single one of the two or more interfaces from a profile, the profile indicating one or more values of the one or more operating characteristics of each of the two or more interfaces of the mobile network device at one or more speeds at which the mobile network device is capable of operating.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the values of the one or more operating characteristics of the single one of the two or more interfaces correspond to values of the one or more operating characteristics of one or more devices to which the interface is to connect.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the devices are wireless devices.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the values of the one or more operating characteristics of each of the two or more interfaces corresponds to values of the one or more operating characteristics of a device to which the corresponding interface is to connect.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the device is a wireless device.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the device is an Access Point.

18. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the one or more speeds include a first speed at which the mobile network device is non-mobile and one or more additional speeds at which the mobile network device is capable of operating while traveling.

19. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the one or more operating characteristics include at least one of bandwidth, quality of service, or percentage or fraction of the bandwidth allocated to one or more types of traffic.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the one or more types of traffic include at least one of voice traffic or video traffic.

21. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the profile includes one or more values of the one or more operating characteristics of each of the two or more interfaces of the mobile network device at a plurality of sets of speeds, each of the sets of speeds including one or more speeds at which the mobile network device is capable of operating.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein one of the plurality of sets of speeds includes a first set at which the mobile network device is non-mobile and one or more additional sets at which the mobile network device is capable of operating while traveling.

23. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising

configuring the mobile network device with the profile, the profile indicating one or more values of the one or more operating characteristics of each of the two or more interfaces of the mobile network device in relation to one or more speeds at which the mobile network device is capable of operating.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the one or more speeds includes a first speed at which the mobile network device is non-mobile and one or more additional speeds at which the mobile network device is capable of operating while traveling.

25. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the one or more operating characteristics include at least one of bandwidth, quality of service method, or percentage or fraction of the bandwidth allocated to one or more types of traffic.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the one or more types of traffic include voice traffic.

27. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising:

modifying one or more of the values of one or more of the operating characteristics of one or more of the interfaces of the mobile network device that are present at one or more speeds of the mobile network device.

28. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein configuring comprises:

setting the values of the operating characteristics of one of the interfaces of the mobile network device such that the values correspond to operating characteristics of a device to which the interface of the mobile network device is connected.

29. A computer-readable medium storing thereon computer-readable instructions for operating a mobile network device, comprising:

instructions for detecting a speed of the mobile network device;

instructions for ascertaining one or more values of one or more operating characteristics of each of two or more interfaces of the mobile network device, the one or more values of the one or more operating characteristics of each of the two or more interfaces corresponding to the speed of the mobile network device; and

instructions for selecting one of the two or more interfaces using the values of the one or more operating characteristics of each of the two or more interfaces at the speed of the mobile network device, the selected one of the two or more interfaces having a desired set of values of the operating characteristics at the speed of the mobile network device.

30. An apparatus for operating a mobile network device, comprising:

means for detecting a speed of the mobile network device;

means for ascertaining one or more values of one or more operating characteristics of each of two or more interfaces of the mobile network device, the one or more values of the one or more operating characteristics of each of the two or more interfaces corresponding to the speed of the mobile network device; and

means for selecting one of the two or more interfaces using the values of the one or more operating characteristics of each of the two or more interfaces at the speed of the mobile network device, the selected one of the two or more interfaces having a desired set of values of the operating characteristics at the speed of the mobile network device.

31. An apparatus for operating a mobile network device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, at least one of the processor or the memory being adapted for;

detecting a speed of the mobile network device;

ascertaining one or more values of one or more operating characteristics of each of two or more interfaces of the mobile network device, the one or more values of the one or more operating characteristics of each of the two or more interfaces corresponding to the speed of the mobile network device; and

selecting one of the two or more interfaces using the values of the one or more operating characteristics of each of the two or more interfaces at the speed of the mobile network device, the selected one of the two or more interfaces having a desired set of values of the operating characteristics at the speed of the mobile network device.