Method and apparatus for automatic VPN login on interface selection

• US 9,077,622 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Tse, Chi Chiu, Ho, Alan Pak-Lun, Mazzuca, Elliott Michael Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Javaid, Jamal
• Application Number:
  US13/717,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20130215740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 370/228, 370/255, 455/552.1, 455/557, 455/434, 455/62
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/086 using security domains
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method and device for automatic login of a virtual private network on an interface change, the method: associating a virtual private network profile with a plurality of connection interfaces, each connection interface within the plurality of connection interfaces having a priority; monitoring the plurality of connection interfaces for availability; if a connection interface with a higher priority than the connection interface currently used by the virtual private network becomes available, utilizing the higher priority connection interface for the virtual private network; and if the connection interface currently used by the virtual private network becomes unavailable, transferring the virtual private network to a highest priority available connection interface within the plurality of connection interfaces.

Claims

1. A method at a computing device, the method comprising:

accessing, at the computing device, a prioritized list of connection interfaces available for virtual private network connection;

associating, at the computing device, a virtual private network profile with a plurality of connection interfaces from the prioritized list;

upon initiation of a virtual private network connection without a specified interface, selecting at the computing device from the prioritized list of connection interfaces, a highest priority available connection interface associated to the virtual private network profile;

monitoring the plurality of connection interfaces for availability;

if a connection interface with a higher priority than the connection interface currently used by the virtual private network becomes available, utilizing the higher priority connection interface for the virtual private network; and

if the connection interface currently used by the virtual private network becomes unavailable, transferring the virtual private network to a highest priority available connection interface within the prioritized list.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the prioritized list of connection interfaces is sorted based on connection type.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sorting comprises ranking connections used for virtual private network interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the prioritized list of connection interfaces is different from a network routing order.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the associating is performed based on a successful connection by the virtual private network using a connection interface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the associating is further performed based on an unsuccessful connection by the virtual private network using a connection interface.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

checking whether an interface within the prioritized list of connection interfaces becomes available, and if yes, adjusting a priority level for the interface; and

filtering out connection interfaces unusable for virtual private network connections.

8. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a communications subsystem,

wherein the processor and communications subsystem are configured to;

access a prioritized list of connection interfaces available for virtual private network connection;

associate a virtual private network profile with a plurality of connection interfaces from the prioritized list;

upon initiation of a virtual private network connection without a specified interface, select from the prioritized list of connection interfaces, a highest priority available connection interface associated to the virtual private network profile;

monitor the plurality of connection interfaces for availability;

if a connection interface with a higher priority than the connection interface currently used by the virtual private network becomes available, utilize the higher priority connection interface for the virtual private network; and

if the connection interface currently used by the virtual private network becomes unavailable, transfer the virtual private network to a highest priority available connection interface within the prioritized list.

9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the prioritized list of connection interfaces is sorted based on connection type.

10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the sorting comprises ranking connections used for virtual private network interface.

11. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the prioritized list of connection interfaces is different from a network routing order.

12. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the processor and communications subsystem are configured to associate based on a successful connection by the virtual private network using a connection interface.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein said associating is based on an unsuccessful connection by the virtual private network using a connection interface.

14. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the processor and communications subsystem are configured to:

check whether an interface within the prioritized list of connection interfaces becomes available, and if yes, adjusting a priority level for the interface; and

filter out connection interfaces unusable for virtual private network connections.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor of a computing device, the instructions comprising code for:

accessing, at the computing device, a prioritized list of connection interfaces available for virtual private network connection;

associating a virtual private network profile with a plurality of connection interfaces from the prioritized list;

upon initiation of a virtual private network connection without a specified interface, selecting at the computing device from the prioritized list of connection interfaces, a highest priority available connection interface associated to the virtual private network profile;

monitoring the plurality of connection interfaces for availability;

if a connection interface with a higher priority than the connection interface currently used by the virtual private network becomes available, utilizing the higher priority connection interface for the virtual private network; and

if the connection interface currently used by the virtual private network becomes unavailable, transferring the virtual private network to a highest priority available connection interface within the prioritized list.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the prioritized list of connection interfaces is sorted based on connection type.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the sorting comprises ranking connections used for virtual private network interface.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the prioritized list of connection interfaces is different from a network routing order.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the associating is performed based on a successful connection by the virtual private network using a connection interface.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the associating is further performed based on an unsuccessful connection by the virtual private network using a connection interface.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, the instructions further comprising code for:

checking whether an interface within the prioritized list of connection interfaces becomes available, and if yes, adjusting a priority level for the interface; and

filtering out connection interfaces unusable for virtual private network connections.