Seamless network interface selection, handoff and management in multi-IP network interface mobile devices
First Claim
1. A mobile multi-interface device (MID) having a plurality of network interfaces, comprising:
- a multi-interface mobility management (MIMM) client residing on said MID, said MIMM client including an interface monitor that monitors status of said plurality of network interfaces, and a mobility manager that determines which one of said plurality of network interfaces should be used by said MID and when said MID should switch from one interface to another, using information from said interface monitor;
wherein said plurality of network interfaces provide access to a plurality of subnets, and said MIMM client further includes a plurality of virtual subnet devices, with each of said virtual subnet devices corresponding to a respective one of said plurality of subnets, wherein each of said virtual subnet devices aggregates a plurality of physical interfaces that are connected to the respective subnet, and wherein each of said virtual subnet devices is assigned an IP address from the respective subnet and is configured to appear as a network interface to IP and higher layers,further including each of said virtual subnet devices performing layer two handoffs between network interfaces in response to signals from said mobility manager.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A Multi-Interface Mobility Management (MIMM) client is provided on a mobile Multi-Interface Device (MID) to support seamless network connectivity and switching of the MID. The MIMM client communicates with a MIMM Server. The MIMM Server collects information from MIMM Clients and provides information to the MIMM Clients pertaining to the network(s) to which the mobile MID has access, such as information concerning the availability of a network, the quality of network connectivity, etc. The MIMM Client is responsible for determining whether and when a handoff or roaming operation should be initiated by the mobile MID, and which network interface the mobile MID should use after the handoff/roam operation has been completed. The MIMM Client also is responsible for performing mobility-related functions that are required prior and subsequent to the handoff/roam operation. The MIMM Client uses the information received from the MIMM Server in order to make these determinations.
25 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A mobile multi-interface device (MID) having a plurality of network interfaces, comprising:
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a multi-interface mobility management (MIMM) client residing on said MID, said MIMM client including an interface monitor that monitors status of said plurality of network interfaces, and a mobility manager that determines which one of said plurality of network interfaces should be used by said MID and when said MID should switch from one interface to another, using information from said interface monitor; wherein said plurality of network interfaces provide access to a plurality of subnets, and said MIMM client further includes a plurality of virtual subnet devices, with each of said virtual subnet devices corresponding to a respective one of said plurality of subnets, wherein each of said virtual subnet devices aggregates a plurality of physical interfaces that are connected to the respective subnet, and wherein each of said virtual subnet devices is assigned an IP address from the respective subnet and is configured to appear as a network interface to IP and higher layers, further including each of said virtual subnet devices performing layer two handoffs between network interfaces in response to signals from said mobility manager. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A multi-interface mobility management system, comprising:
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a mobile multi-interface device (MID) having a plurality of network interfaces; a multi-interface mobility management (MIMM) client residing on said MID, said MIMM client including an interface monitor that monitors status of said plurality of network interfaces, and a mobility manager that determines which one of said plurality of network interfaces should be used by said MID and when said MID should switch from one interface to another, using information from said interface monitor and from a MIMM server; and a multi-interface mobility management (MIMM) server that collects information from said mobile MIDs, collects information from entities on other networks, and provides information to said mobile MIDs concerning whether and when to execute handoff operations to switch from an active network interface of said plurality of network interfaces to an alternative network interface of said plurality of network interfaces; wherein said plurality of network interfaces provide access to a plurality of subnets, and said MIMM client further includes a plurality of virtual subnet devices, with each of said virtual subnet devices corresponding to a respective one of said plurality of subnets, wherein each of said virtual subnet devices aggregates a plurality of physical interfaces that are connected to the respective subnet, and wherein each of said virtual subnet devices is assigned an IP address from the respective subnet and is configured to appear as a network interface to IP and higher layers, further including each of said virtual subnet devices performing layer two handoffs between network interfaces in response to signals from said mobility manager. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A multi-interface mobility management system, comprising:
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a mobile multi-interface device (MID) having a plurality of network interfaces; a multi-interface mobility management (MIMM) client residing on said MID, said MIMM client including an interface monitor that monitors status of said plurality of network interfaces, and a mobility manager that determines which one of said plurality of network interfaces should be used by said MID and when said MID should switch from one interface to another; wherein in connection with determination of when said MID should switch from one interface to another, said mobility manager utilizes a plurality of predefined network signal threshold levels; wherein said mobility manager activates a selected interface for a future handoff operation prior to said handoff operation being determined as being necessary when signal strength drops below a first threshold, but does not use the new interface unless signal strength drops below a second threshold lower than said first threshold.
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Specification