US7680081B2 — Mobile node

Claim 1

Independent Claim 244 words

A mobile node having a capability of performing communications on a mobile IP (Internet Protocol) network, comprising: a network device having a function of interfacing with said network; a network quality monitor to monitor a quality of said network, based on at least one of an intensity and a radio bandwidth of a radio wave received by said network device; a hand-over controller to execute a hand-over operation of transmitting a care of address to an address registering destination in response to a state of said network quality before disconnecting a communication, changing a route of communication information, and switching a connecting destination into a new network; and a network controller to receive a response that indicates an update of said care of address in said address registering destination and to keep a function of receiving data from the previous network before being switched until said communication is disconnected, wherein: said network quality monitor includes a shortage threshold value for detecting a shortage of said radio bandwidth currently available and a recovery threshold value for detecting a recovery from said shortage of said radio bandwidth, said recovery threshold value being higher than said shortage threshold value; said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation accompanied with a lower network quality if said radio bandwidth is lower than said shortage threshold value; and said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation accompanied with a recovered network if said radio bandwidth is higher than said recovery threshold value.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 244 words

A mobile node having a capability of performing communications on a mobile IP (Internet Protocol) network, comprising: a network device having a function of interfacing with said network; a network quality monitor to monitor a quality of said network, based on at least one of an intensity and a radio bandwidth of a radio wave received by said network device; a hand-over controller to execute a hand-over operation of transmitting a care of address to an address registering destination in response to a state of said network quality before disconnecting a communication, changing a route of communication information, and switching a connecting destination into a new network; and a network controller to receive a response that indicates an update of said care of address in said address registering destination and to keep a function of receiving data from the previous network before being switched until said communication is disconnected, wherein: said network quality monitor includes a shortage threshold value for detecting a shortage of said radio bandwidth currently available and a recovery threshold value for detecting a recovery from said shortage of said radio bandwidth, said recovery threshold value being higher than said shortage threshold value; said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation accompanied with a lower network quality if said radio bandwidth is lower than said shortage threshold value; and said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation accompanied with a recovered network if said radio bandwidth is higher than said recovery threshold value.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

The mobile node according to claim 1 , wherein when said network quality monitor recognizes the quality of the network being currently active in communication becomes lower, said hand-over controller switches said connecting destination into a new network.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

The mobile node according to claim 1 , wherein when said network quality monitor recognizes a recovery of the quality of said previous network before being switched, said hand-over controller returns said connecting destination into said previous network before being switched.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 41 words

The mobile node according to claim 1 , wherein said hand-over controller stores a priority sequence of connecting networks and hands the current network over to the network in a higher priority sequence according to the change of said network quality.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 94 words

The mobile node according to claim 1 , wherein said network quality monitor includes a lowering threshold value for detecting a lower quality of a radio wave and another recovery threshold value for detecting a recovered network quality, and said hand-over controller performs said hand-over operation accompanied with said lower network quality if the quality of the received radio wave is lower than said lowering threshold value or said hand-over operation accompanied with the recovery of said network if the quality of said received radio wave is higher than said another recovery threshold value.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 80 words

The mobile node according to claim 5 , wherein said network quality monitor recognizes said network quality becomes lower and outputs a hand-over request if the quality of said received radio wave is continuously lower than said lowering threshold value for a certain length of time or recognizes said network is recovered and outputs a hand-over request if the quality of said received radio wave is continuously higher than said another recovery threshold value for a certain length of time.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 62 words

The mobile node according to claim 1 , wherein said network quality monitor includes an abrupt degrade threshold value and recognizes said network quality becomes lower and promptly outputs a hand-over request if the quality of said received radio wave is lower than said abrupt degrade threshold value, and said hand-over controller performs said hand-over operation in response to said hand-over request.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 42 words

The mobile node according to claim 1 , wherein said network quality monitor performs at least one of the functions of: monitoring the network quality at fixed or variable periods; and monitoring the network quality each time a packet receipt is started.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 61 words

The mobile node according to claim 1 , wherein when said network controller detects a request for stopping said network device, said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation before said network device is stopped, while when said network controller detects a request for starting said network device, said hand-over controller performs said hand-over operation after completion of starting said network device.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 71 words

The mobile node according to claim 1 , wherein when said network controller detects a request for disconnecting a link with said network used by said network device, said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation before said link is disconnected, while when said network controller detects a request for connecting with said network device, said hand-over controller performs said hand-over operation after completing the process of connecting with said network device.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 41 words

The mobile node according to claim 1 , wherein said network quality monitor manages a network quality index calculated by weighting said network quality and the priority and said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation based on said network quality index.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 85 words

The mobile node according to claim 1 , wherein when said network includes a first access point and a second access point, when said network quality monitor recognizes that the network quality of said first access point being currently active in communication becomes lower and that said mobile node itself may be connected with said second access point based on the network quality of said second access point, said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation from said first access point to said second access point.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 239 words

A hand-over method of performing a hand-over operation with respect to communications executed on a mobile IP network, comprising: a mobile node including a plurality of interface network devices mounted therein and is moving among a plurality of networks, monitoring a network quality based on at least one of an intensity and a radio bandwidth of a radio wave received by said network device; transmitting a care of address to an address registering destination in response to a state of said network quality before a communication is disconnected; receiving a response that indicates an update of said care of address in said address registering destination and keeping a function of receiving data from a network before being switched until said communication is disconnected; and performing a hand-over operation of changing a route of communication information after said care of address is transmitted and switching a connecting destination into a new network, wherein: a shortage threshold value for detecting a shortage of said radio bandwidth currently available and a recovery threshold value for detecting a recovery from said shortage of said radio bandwidth are provided, said recovery threshold value being higher than said shortage threshold value; if said radio bandwidth is lower than said shortage threshold value, said hand-over operation is executed according to a lower network quality; and if said radio bandwidth is higher than said recovery threshold value, said hand-over operation is executed according to a recovered network.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 239 words

A hand-over method of performing a hand-over operation with respect to communications executed on a mobile IP network, comprising: a mobile node including a plurality of interface network devices mounted therein and is moving among a plurality of networks, monitoring a network quality based on at least one of an intensity and a radio bandwidth of a radio wave received by said network device; transmitting a care of address to an address registering destination in response to a state of said network quality before a communication is disconnected; receiving a response that indicates an update of said care of address in said address registering destination and keeping a function of receiving data from a network before being switched until said communication is disconnected; and performing a hand-over operation of changing a route of communication information after said care of address is transmitted and switching a connecting destination into a new network, wherein: a shortage threshold value for detecting a shortage of said radio bandwidth currently available and a recovery threshold value for detecting a recovery from said shortage of said radio bandwidth are provided, said recovery threshold value being higher than said shortage threshold value; if said radio bandwidth is lower than said shortage threshold value, said hand-over operation is executed according to a lower network quality; and if said radio bandwidth is higher than said recovery threshold value, said hand-over operation is executed according to a recovered network.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 32 words

The hand-over method according to claim 13 , wherein when the lower quality of the network being currently active in communication is recognized, said connecting destination is switched into a new network.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 36 words

The hand-over method according to claim 13 , wherein when a recovery of the quality of the previous network before being switched is recognized, said connecting destination is returned into the previous network before being switched.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 40 words

The hand-over method according to claim 13 , further comprising storing a priority sequence of connecting networks and handing the current network over to a network located in a higher priority sequence according to the change of said network quality.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 88 words

The hand-over method according to claim 13 , wherein a lowering threshold value for detecting a lower quality of a radio wave and another recovery threshold value for detecting a quality recovery are provided and the hand-over operation is executed according to the lower network quality if the quality of a received radio wave is lower than said lowering threshold value or the hand-over operation is executed according to the recovered network if the quality of said received radio wave is higher than said another recovery threshold value.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 89 words

The hand-over method according to claim 17 , wherein the lower network quality is recognized and the hand-over operation is executed according to said lower network quality if the quality of said received radio wave is continuously lower than said lowering threshold value for a certain length of time or the recovered network is recognized and the hand-over operation is executed according to the network recovery if the quality of said received radio wave is continuously higher than said another recovery threshold value for a certain length of time.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 46 words

The hand-over method according to claim 13 wherein an abrupt degrade threshold value is provided and if the quality of a received radio wave is lower than said abrupt degrade threshold value, it means that the lower network quality and said hand-over operation is promptly executed.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 41 words

The hand-over method according to claim 13 , wherein said network quality performs at least one of the functions of: monitoring the network quality at fixed or variable periods; and monitoring the network quality each time a packet receipt is started.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 59 words

The hand-over method according to claim 13 , wherein in the case of detecting a request for stopping said network device, said hand-over operation is executed before said network device is stopped or, in the case of detecting a request for starting said network device, said hand-over operation is executed after completing the process of starting said network device.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 66 words

The hand-over method according to claim 13 , wherein in the case of detecting a request for disconnecting the link with the network being used by said network device, said hand-over operation is executed before said link is disconnected, while in the case of detecting a request for connection of said network device, said hand-over operation is executed after completing the connection of said network device.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 29 words

The hand-over method according to claim 13 , wherein said hand-over operation is executed based on a network quality index calculated by weighting the network quality and a priority.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 73 words

The hand-over method according to claim 13 , wherein when the network includes a first and a second access points located thereon, if the lower network quality of said first access point being currently active in communication is recognized and the connection with said second access point is determined on the network quality of said second access point, the hand-over operation is executed from said first access point to said second access point.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 313 words

A mobile IP system for performing communications on a mobile IP network, comprising: a network device having a function of interfacing with networks; a mobile node having a network quality monitor to monitor a network quality based on at least one of an intensity and a radio bandwidth of a radio wave received by each of said network devices, a hand-over controller to perform a hand-over operation of transmitting a care of address to an address registering destination in response to a state of said network quality before a communication is disconnected, changing a route of communication information and switching a connecting destination into a new first network, and a network controller to receive a response that indicates an update of said care of address in said address registering destination and to keep a function of receiving data from a previous second network before being switched until said communication is disconnected; a home agent to receive said care of address and to recognize distribution and location of information destined for said mobile node; and a correspondent node being connected with a default router to receive said care of address and to transmit information through said second network until said communication is disconnected and communication data with said mobile node through said first network after said hand-over process, wherein: said network quality monitor includes a shortage threshold value determiner for detecting a shortage of said radio bandwidth currently available and a recovery threshold value for detecting a recovery from said shortage of said radio bandwidth, said recovery threshold value being higher than said shortage threshold value; said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation accompanied with a lower network quality if said radio bandwidth is lower than said shortage threshold value; and said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation accompanied with a recovered network if said radio bandwidth is higher than said recovery threshold value.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 313 words

A mobile IP system for performing communications on a mobile IP network, comprising: a network device having a function of interfacing with networks; a mobile node having a network quality monitor to monitor a network quality based on at least one of an intensity and a radio bandwidth of a radio wave received by each of said network devices, a hand-over controller to perform a hand-over operation of transmitting a care of address to an address registering destination in response to a state of said network quality before a communication is disconnected, changing a route of communication information and switching a connecting destination into a new first network, and a network controller to receive a response that indicates an update of said care of address in said address registering destination and to keep a function of receiving data from a previous second network before being switched until said communication is disconnected; a home agent to receive said care of address and to recognize distribution and location of information destined for said mobile node; and a correspondent node being connected with a default router to receive said care of address and to transmit information through said second network until said communication is disconnected and communication data with said mobile node through said first network after said hand-over process, wherein: said network quality monitor includes a shortage threshold value determiner for detecting a shortage of said radio bandwidth currently available and a recovery threshold value for detecting a recovery from said shortage of said radio bandwidth, said recovery threshold value being higher than said shortage threshold value; said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation accompanied with a lower network quality if said radio bandwidth is lower than said shortage threshold value; and said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation accompanied with a recovered network if said radio bandwidth is higher than said recovery threshold value.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 201 words

A mobile node for communication data on a mobile IP network, comprising: a network device having a function of interfacing with a plurality of different mobile IP networks; a network quality monitor to monitor each quality of said plurality of mobile IP networks, based on at least one of an intensity and a radio bandwidth of a radio wave received by said network device; and a hand-over controller to execute a hand-over operation of switching the mobile IP network being currently active in communication into another mobile IP network in response to a state of said each quality of said plurality of mobile IP networks, wherein: said network quality monitor includes a shortage threshold value determiner for detecting a shortage of said radio bandwidth currently available and a recovery threshold value for detecting a recovery from said shortage of said radio bandwidth, said recovery threshold value being higher than said shortage threshold value; said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation accompanied with a lower network quality if said radio bandwidth is lower than said shortage threshold value; and said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation accompanied with a recovered network if said radio bandwidth is higher than said recovery threshold value.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 201 words

A mobile node for communication data on a mobile IP network, comprising: a network device having a function of interfacing with a plurality of different mobile IP networks; a network quality monitor to monitor each quality of said plurality of mobile IP networks, based on at least one of an intensity and a radio bandwidth of a radio wave received by said network device; and a hand-over controller to execute a hand-over operation of switching the mobile IP network being currently active in communication into another mobile IP network in response to a state of said each quality of said plurality of mobile IP networks, wherein: said network quality monitor includes a shortage threshold value determiner for detecting a shortage of said radio bandwidth currently available and a recovery threshold value for detecting a recovery from said shortage of said radio bandwidth, said recovery threshold value being higher than said shortage threshold value; said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation accompanied with a lower network quality if said radio bandwidth is lower than said shortage threshold value; and said hand-over controller performs the hand-over operation accompanied with a recovered network if said radio bandwidth is higher than said recovery threshold value.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2013-03-15	2013-09-14	2014-03-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2017-03-15	2017-09-14	2018-03-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2021-03-15	2021-09-14	2022-03-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Mobile node

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