System and method for host and OS agnostic management of connected devices through network controlled state alteration

• US 9,609,587 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2012
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synchronoss Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synchronoss Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Nair, Biju, Paul, Sumeet S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chacko, Joe
• Application Number:
  US13/362,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20120303823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,883 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A method and system for establishing network connectivity with a device is disclosed. A connectivity platform detects a plurality of networks. A network policy of each of the plurality of networks is determined. A signal quality of each of the plurality of networks is determined. The network policy and the signal quality of each of the plurality of networks is analyzed. A connection is established between the device and the first network of the plurality of networks based on the analysis of the network policy and the signal quality of each of the plurality of networks.

Claims

1. A method for managing network connectivity for a device, the method comprising:

detecting, by a connectivity platform, the device in response to powering on of the device, and establishing a connection with the device;

detecting, by the connectivity platform, a plurality of networks, wherein the platform is independent of and agnostic to the device;

determining, via the platform, a network policy relating to each of the plurality of networks;

receiving, via the platform, signal information from the device, wherein the signal information relates to at least one of the plurality of networks;

analyzing, via the platform, the network policy relating to each of the plurality of networks, and the signal information relating to the at least one of the plurality of networks, wherein the analyzing comprises at least one of;

(a) determining at least one policy implementation factor of the device and selecting an optimal network from the plurality of networks for connection with the device based on the at least one policy implementation factor;

(b) determining a device state of the device and selecting an optimal network from the plurality of networks for connection with the device based on the device state; and

(c) analyzing content being transmitted to or being requested by the device and selecting an optimal network from the plurality of networks for the content based on the network policy and the signal information relating to each of the plurality of networks; and

providing, via the platform, an instruction to the device for establishing or maintaining a connection between the device and a first network of the plurality of networks based on the analyzing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a plurality of networks comprises:

detecting a plurality of networks capable of establishing a connection with the device using at least one transceiver of the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a network policy relating to each of the plurality of networks comprises:

receiving the network policy relating to each of the plurality of networks from a policy server via a push policy based on the device being active.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving signal information from the device comprises:

receiving signal quality data associated with each of the plurality of networks in response to a pull policy of the device, the signal information comprising the signal quality data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the network policy relating to each of the plurality of networks, and the signal information relating to at least one of the plurality of networks comprises:

comparing the network policies of the plurality of networks to determine at least one network policy compatible with the device; and

comparing the signal information relating to each of the at least one network policy to determine an optimal network from the plurality of networks for establishing or maintaining a connection with the device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the optimal network is the first network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, via the platform, an instruction to the device for establishing or maintaining a connection between the device and a second network of the plurality of networks in response to the device losing the connection to the first network.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second network of the plurality of networks to establish or maintain a connection with the device in response to determining that the connection with the first network is insufficient to support continued data transfer; and

transferring the connection of the device from the first network to the second network.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a transceiver of a plurality of transceivers of the device to establish the connection between the device and the first network; and

transmitting an instruction to the device to power down transceivers not associated with the connection between the device and the first network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the connectivity platform is accessed by the device via an HTTP accessible user interface provided via the platform, wherein at least one of the signal information and the instruction is transmitted via the interface.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is associated with a device policy, and further comprising:

transmitting an instruction to the device to override the device policy and use the network policy of the first network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal information is informative of at least one of signal strength and signal availability.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the detecting, the receiving, and the providing is via an application protocol accessible interface provided via the platform to the device.

14. A system for managing network connectivity for a device, the system comprising:

a policy server storing a plurality of network policies associated with a plurality of networks, wherein the policy server storing a device policy associated with the device, wherein the policy server comprises a first processor and a first memory coupled to the first processor;

a connectivity platform independent of and agnostic to the device, wherein the connectivity platform comprises a second processor and a second memory coupled to the second processor, wherein the connectivity platform is in communication with the policy server, and configured to;

detect the plurality of networks;

determine the network policies associated with the plurality of networks;

receive signal information from the device, wherein the signal information relates to at least one of the plurality of networks;

analyze the network policies associated with the plurality of networks and the signal information relating to the at least one of the plurality of networks; and

provide an instruction to establish a connection between the device and a first network of the plurality of networks based on the analysis;

wherein the connectivity platform is further configured to perform at least one of;

(a) determine at least one policy implementation factor of the device; and

select an optimal network from the plurality of networks for connection with the device based on the at least one policy implementation factor;

(b) determine a device state of the device; and

select an optimal network from the plurality of networks for connection with the device based on the device state; and

(c) analyze content being transmitted to or being requested by the device; and

select an optimal network from the plurality of networks for the content based on the network policy and the signal information relating to each of the plurality of networks.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the connectivity platform is configured to detect the plurality of networks which are capable of establishing a connection with the device using at least one transceiver of the device.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the connectivity platform is further configured to:

receive the network policies associated with the plurality of networks from the policy server via a push policy based on the device being active.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the connectivity platform is further configured to:

receive signal quality data associated with each of the plurality of networks in response to a pull policy of the device, the signal information comprising the signal quality data.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the connectivity platform is further configured to:

compare the network policies associated with the plurality of networks to determine at least one network policy compatible with the device; and

compare the signal information relating to each of the at least one network policy to determine an optimal network from the plurality of networks for establishing or maintaining a connection with the device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the optimal network is the first network.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the connectivity platform is further configured to:

provide an instruction to establish or maintain a connection between the device and a second network of the plurality of networks in response to the device losing the connection to the first network.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the connectivity platform is further configured to:

determine a second network of the plurality of networks to establish or maintain a connection with the device in response to determining that the connection with the first network is insufficient to support continued data transfer; and

transfer the connection of the device from the first network to the second network.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the connectivity platform is further configured to:

select a transceiver of a plurality of transceivers of the device to establish the connection between the device and the first network; and

transmit an instruction to the device to power down transceivers not associated with the connection between the device and the first network.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the connectivity platform is accessed by the device via an HTTP accessible user interface provided via the platform, wherein at least one of the signal information and the instruction is transmitted via the interface.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the device is associated with a device policy;

and wherein the connectivity platform is further configured to;

transmit an instruction to the device to override the device policy and use the network policy of the first network.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the signal information is informative of at least one of signal strength and signal availability.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the platform is configured to perform at least one of the detecting, the receiving, and the providing is via an application protocol accessible interface provided via the platform to the device.

27. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with computer program instructions for managing network connectivity for a device, the computer program instructions when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform steps comprising:

detecting, via a connectivity platform, a plurality of networks, wherein the platform is independent of and agnostic to the device;

determining, via the platform, a network policy relating to each of the plurality of networks;

receiving, via the platform, signal information from the device, wherein the signal information relates to at least one of the plurality of networks;

analyzing, via the platform, the network policy relating to each of the plurality of networks and the signal information relating to the at least one of the plurality of networks; and

providing, via the platform, an instruction to the device for establishing or maintaining a connection between the device and a first network of the plurality of networks based on the analyzing;

wherein the computer program instructions causing the processor to perform the analyzing step further causes the processor to perform steps comprising at least one of;

(a) determining at least one policy implementation factor of the device and selecting an optimal network from the plurality of networks for connection with the device based on the at least one policy implementation factor;

(b) determining a device state of the device and selecting an optimal network from the plurality of networks for connection with the device based on the device state; and

(c) analyzing content being transmitted to or being requested by the device and selecting an optimal network from the plurality of networks for the content based on the network policy and the signal information relating to each of the plurality of networks.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the computer program instructions causing the processor to perform the step of detecting a plurality of networks, further causes the processor to perform the step comprising:

detecting a plurality of networks capable of establishing a connection with the device using at least one transceiver of the device.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the computer program instructions causing the processor to perform the step of determining a network policy relating to each of the plurality of networks, further causes the processor to perform the step comprising:

receiving the network policy relating to each of the plurality of networks from a policy server via a push policy based on the device being active.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the computer program instructions causing the processor to perform the step of receiving signal information from the device, further causes the processor to perform the step comprising:

receiving signal quality data associated with each of the plurality of networks in response to a pull policy of the device, the signal information comprising the signal quality data.

31. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the computer program instructions causing the processor to perform the step of analyzing the network policy relating to each of the plurality of networks and the signal information relating to at least one of the plurality of networks, further causes the processor to perform the steps comprising:

comparing the network policies of the plurality of networks to determine at least one network policy compatible with the device; and

comparing the signal information relating to each of the at least one network policy to determine an optimal network from the plurality of networks for establishing or maintaining a connection with the device.

32. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the optimal network is the first network.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising computer program instructions when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the step comprising:

providing an instruction to the device for establishing or maintaining a connection between the device and a second network of the plurality of networks in response to the device losing the connection to the first network.

34. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising computer program instructions when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps comprising:

determining a second network of the plurality of networks to establish a connection with the device in response to determining that the connection with the first network is insufficient to support continued data transfer; and

transferring the connection of the device from the first network to the second network.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising computer program instructions when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps comprising:

selecting a transceiver of a plurality of transceivers of the device to establish the connection between the device and the first network; and

transmitting an instruction to the device to power down transceivers not associated with the connection between the device and the first network.

36. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the connectivity platform is accessed by the device via an HTTP accessible user interface provided via the platform, wherein at least one of the signal information and the instruction to the device for establishing the connection between the device and the first network is transmitted via the interface.

37. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising computer program instructions when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the step comprising:

transmitting an instruction to the device to override a device policy associated with the device and use the network policy of the first network.

38. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the signal information is informative of at least one of signal strength and signal availability.

39. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein at least one of the detecting, the receiving, and the providing is via an application protocol accessible interface provided via the platform to the device.

40. A method for managing network connectivity for a device, the method comprising:

detecting, by a connectivity platform, a plurality of networks, wherein the platform is independent of and agnostic to the device;

determining, via the platform, a network policy relating to each of the plurality of networks;

receiving, via the platform, signal information from the device, wherein the signal information relates to at least one of the plurality of networks;

providing, via the platform, an instruction to the device for establishing or maintaining a plurality of connections between the device and the plurality of networks; and

providing, via the platform, an instruction to the device for terminating all except one of the plurality of connections between the device and the plurality of networks.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein providing an instruction to the device for terminating all except one of the plurality of connections between the device and the plurality of networks comprises at least one of:

(a) determining based on the network policy relating to each of the plurality of networks and the signal information relating to the at least one of the plurality of networks which one of the plurality of networks is most capable for data to be transmitted or requested from the device; and

(b) determining based on the network policy relating to each of the plurality of networks and the signal information relating to the at least one of the plurality of networks which one of the networks offers a highest data throughput rate.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

detecting a signal degradation in the one connection that has not been terminated;

transmitting a wake-up signal to a plurality of transceivers to wake and determine signal quality with respective networks capable of connecting with the plurality of transceivers, the device comprising the transceivers;

based on the determined signal quality, selecting a new network for connection.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein selecting a new network for connection is based upon at least one of:

(a) which signal quality is best suited for data transmitted or requested by the device; and

(b) which signal quality offers the highest data throughput signal.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein the device comprises a plurality of transceivers, wherein each of the transceivers is set to wake-up at a predetermined time to check signal quality with at least one of the plurality of networks.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein the signal information is informative of at least one of signal strength and signal availability.

46. The method of claim 40, wherein at least one of the detecting, the receiving, and at least one of the providing is via an application protocol accessible interface provided via the platform to the device.