US7249183B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method to enable continuous mobility across wired and wireless network interfaces
Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Ltd
•
Filing: 2002-06-04
•
Granted: 2007-07-24
•
Expires: 2022-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A method for switching between an individual computer's network interface technologies without interrupting any pending data transmissions on the existing network connection. The method include detecting when an existing network connection is no longer connected and if there are any available network connections on different network interface technologies. In addition, the method determines the address of the new connection and reassociates all existing data flow with the new network connection. Data is then routed to the new network connection whether it is on the same subnet or a different subnet.
Inventors
- 👤 Barani Subbiah
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:04
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/382; G06F13/387; G06F2213/00; G06F2213/38; G06F2213/3814
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of automatically switching a host device from an Ethernet network interface device to a wireless network interface device, while maintaining a network connection, wherein the Ethernet network interface device has a first unique device address, and the wireless network interface device, a second unique device address, the method comprising the steps of: (a) detecting removal of the host device from an Ethernet network interface associated with said Ethernet network interface device; and (b) establishing a wireless network interface associated with said wireless network interface device; wherein (i) the establishment of said wireless network interface involves determining whether the wireless network interface is on the same subnet as the Ethernet network interface; (ii) upon determining that the wireless network interface is on the same subnet, broadcasting a signal to update lookup tables in other devices in the subnet to associate the wireless network interface with the second unique device address of the wireless network interface device; and (iii) upon determining that the wireless network interface is on a different subnet, effecting the tunneling of data packets pertaining to the network connection from the subnet of the Ethernet network interface to the subnet of the wireless network interface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of automatically switching a host device from an Ethernet network interface device to a wireless network interface device, while maintaining a network connection, wherein the Ethernet network interface device has a first unique device address, and the wireless network interface device, a second unique device address, the method comprising the steps of: (a) detecting removal of the host device from an Ethernet network interface associated with said Ethernet network interface device; and (b) establishing a wireless network interface associated with said wireless network interface device; wherein (i) the establishment of said wireless network interface involves determining whether the wireless network interface is on the same subnet as the Ethernet network interface; (ii) upon determining that the wireless network interface is on the same subnet, broadcasting a signal to update lookup tables in other devices in the subnet to associate the wireless network interface with the second unique device address of the wireless network interface device; and (iii) upon determining that the wireless network interface is on a different subnet, effecting the tunneling of data packets pertaining to the network connection from the subnet of the Ethernet network interface to the subnet of the wireless network interface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless network interface device is an 802.11-compliant network interface device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first unique device address is a MAC address.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the second unique device address is a MAC address.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is implemented with computer-executable instructions that execute on the host device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal that is broadcast to update lookup tables is an address resolution protocol (ARP) packet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein: after detection of removal of the host device from an ethernet network interface, the host device searches for an available wireless network interface device; if an available wireless network interface device is not found within a predetermined time period, the host device notifies a user that the network connection will be terminated; and if an available wireless network interface device is found, the host device proceeds to said step of establishing a wireless network interface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: effecting the tunneling of data packets at the subnet of the wireless network interface, after said tunneling of data packets, and whereby, the data packets are routed to the second unique device address of the wireless network interface device.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of automatically switching a host device from an wireless network interface device to another network interface device, while maintaining a network connection, and wherein the wireless network interface device has a first unique device address, and the other network interface device has a second unique device address, the method comprising the steps of: (a) detecting removal of the host device from an wireless network interface associated with said wireless network interface device; and (b) establishing another network interface associated with said other network interface device; wherein (i) the establishment of said other network interface involves determining whether the other network interface is on the same subnet as the wireless network interface, (ii) upon determining that the other network interface is on the same subnet, broadcasting a signal to update lookup tables in other devices in the subnet to associate the other network interface with the second unique device address of the other network interface device, and (iii) upon determining that the other network interface is on a different subnet, effecting the tunneling of data packets pertaining to the network connection from the subnet of the wireless network interface to the subnet of the other network interface.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of automatically switching a host device from an wireless network interface device to another network interface device, while maintaining a network connection, and wherein the wireless network interface device has a first unique device address, and the other network interface device has a second unique device address, the method comprising the steps of: (a) detecting removal of the host device from an wireless network interface associated with said wireless network interface device; and (b) establishing another network interface associated with said other network interface device; wherein (i) the establishment of said other network interface involves determining whether the other network interface is on the same subnet as the wireless network interface, (ii) upon determining that the other network interface is on the same subnet, broadcasting a signal to update lookup tables in other devices in the subnet to associate the other network interface with the second unique device address of the other network interface device, and (iii) upon determining that the other network interface is on a different subnet, effecting the tunneling of data packets pertaining to the network connection from the subnet of the wireless network interface to the subnet of the other network interface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the wireless network interface device is an 802.11-compliant network interface device, and said other network interface device is an Ethernet network interface device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the first unique device address is a MAC address.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the second unique device address is a MAC address.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the method is implemented with computer-executable instructions that execute on the host device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the signal that is broadcast to update lookup tables is an address resolution protocol (ARP) packet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein: after detection of removal of the host device from a wireless network interface, the host device searches for an available Ethernet network interface device; if an available Ethernet network interface device is not found within a predetermined time period, the host device notifies a user that the network condition will be terminated; and if an available Ethernet network interface device is found, the host device proceeds to said step of establishing a Ethernet network interface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of: effecting the detunneling of data packets at the subnet of the Ethernet network interface, after said tunneling of data packets, and whereby, the data packets are routed to the second unique device address of the Ethernet network interface device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US6392990B1
Cited
US20030221034A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-07-23 | 2011-01-22 | 2011-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-07-23 | 2015-01-22 | 2015-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-07-23 | 2019-01-22 | 2019-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |