KR20060103422A - System and method for seamless for roaming between wireless networks - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for the seamless switching of a wireless device between wireless wide area networks (WWANs) and wireless local area networks (WLANs) includes automatically detecting the available WWANs and WLANs, selecting one of the available networks for use by the wireless device, and connecting the wireless device to the selected network. The method also includes maintaining the network connectivity (112) by monitoring the connection and, upon determining that the connection has been lost (114), selecting another available network for use and connecting the wireless device the other network (120). Additionally, the method communicates information about the availability networks and connection status to a user of the wireless device, which allows the user to manually switch the wireless device connection from the automatically selected available network to another available network. Further, a wireless device implements the above- described method.

Description

System and method for seamless roaming between wireless networks {SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEAMLESS FOR ROAMING BETWEEN WIRELESS NETWORKS}

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to wireless technology, and more particularly, to seamless roaming between wireless networks.

Wireless technology has recently become widespread, allowing electrical devices to communicate with other electrical devices without the use of physical lines (ie, wire or fiber optic cables). There are various types of access networks in wireless technology, for example, wireless local area networks (WLANs) and wireless wide area networks (WWANs). Wireless wide area networks (WWANs) are used by traditional cellular operators to provide high mobility access (eg, for users traveling by car) in large coverage areas. Wireless local area networks (WLANs) may be used in buildings (eg, homes or stores) for fixed or low mobility access.

While wireless local area networks (WLANs) provide high throughput (for example, in the range of 11 Mbps to 54 Mbps), such networks generally do not provide wide area coverage and are therefore not always suitable for high mobility access. Wireless wide area networks (WWANs), on the other hand, provide large areas of coverage while generally having low throughput.

Previously developed techniques have provided both wireless local area network (WLAN) and wireless wide area network (WWAN) connectivity in one mobile device. In this prior art separate device applications have been used to independently support and manage different kinds of connections. That is, one application is used for a wireless wide area network (WWAN) connection and the other application is used for a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection. This was problematic in that the two applications were independent and therefore did not provide the ability to consolidate connections to other types of wireless networks. Therefore, whenever a mobile device moves out of one type of wireless network coverage area and moves to another type of wireless network coverage area and a connection loss occurs, the conventionally developed technology could not automatically switch the connection. Instead, the user had to manually switch from one application that manages the hardware for the connection of the first type of wireless network to another application that manages the hardware for the connection of the second type of wireless network. For this manual switching, the user is required to turn off all the applications using the external network connection and perform the switching, then reinitialize network connectivity and restart all the applications. Thus, the techniques developed in the past are disruptive, time consuming and not useful to the user.

Therefore, there is a need for a method for automatic and continuous switching between different types of wireless networks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding, features, and advantages of the present invention, detailed description is provided with accompanying drawings.

1 illustrates an environment in which systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may operate.

2 illustrates an exemplary system for seamless roaming between wireless networks in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

3 illustrates an exemplary user interface component in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

4 illustrates an exemplary core component in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

5 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method for seamless roaming between wireless networks in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

6 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method for monitoring and maintaining network connectivity in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention provide a continuous and ubiquitous wireless connection with seamless handoffs between different types of networks. Therefore, the application is not affected when the user moves between the wireless local area network (WLAN) and the wireless wide area network (WWAN). Embodiments of the present invention may also make efficient use of available wireless wide area network (WWAN) bandwidth and allow users to handoff to a wireless local area network (WLAN) when possible, even at higher cost. Important technical advantages of the present invention are apparent to those skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions and claims.

First, in coordination with the terminology in the specification, the following detailed description is directed to a near or remote central processing unit (CPU), a processor, a server, or other suitable processing device associated with a general purpose or specialized computer system, effectively associated with the processing device. Represented by a process and symbolic representations of operations performed by conventional computer components such as memory storage devices and connected local or remote display devices. Such operations may include processing of data bits by the processing device and maintaining these bits in a data structure residing in one or more memory storage devices. Such data structures impose physical organization on a set of data bits stored in computer memory and represent particular electrical or magnetic components. These symbolic representations are the means used by those skilled in the computer programming and computer construction arts to efficiently teach others skilled in the art.

For purposes of explanation, an application, process, method, routine or subroutine is generally considered to be a sequence of steps performed by a computer that produces a desired result. These steps usually require processing of physical quantities. In general, these physical quantities, although not always necessary, take the form of electrical, magnetic, or optical signals that can be stored, modified, combined, compared, or otherwise manipulated. For those skilled in the art, it is apparent that such signals are referred to as bits, values, elements, symbols, symbols, text, terms, numbers, records, files, or equivalent. However, it is to be understood that these and other terms are associated with appropriate physical quantities for computer computation, and that these terms are simple conventional labels applied to physical quantities that exist during computation of the computer.

In addition, it should be understood that automatic processes within a computer system are often referred to in terms such as adding, comparing, moving, searching, typically associated with manual operations performed by a human operator. . In most cases it should be understood that in the present invention most preferably no human operator involvement is required. However, some of the operations described below are machine operations performed in conjunction with human operators or users who interact with a computer or system. Therefore all operations are assumed to be automatic unless specified as manual or user operated.

Also, it is to be understood that the programs, processes, methods, and equivalents described below are exemplary implementations of the invention and are not related to or limited to any particular computer, system, apparatus, or computer language. Rather, various types of general purpose computing machines or devices may be used with the program constructed in accordance with the description below. Similarly, a dedicated computer system having hard-wired logic or programs stored in nonvolatile memory, such as ROM (Read Only Memory), specialized for carrying out one or more method steps described below. It may be desirable to configure the device, or the hardware device.

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Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention provide for automatic and seamless roaming between wireless networks including other types of wireless networks (eg, wireless local area network (WLAN) and wireless wide area network (WWAN)). do. Embodiments of the present invention may provide seamless access between two different types of radio access technologies, such as wireless local area network (WLAN) and wireless wide area network (WWAN). The systems and methods of the present invention may provide or support automatic detection and connectivity for wireless local area networks (WLANs) and wireless wide area networks (WWANs).

Seamless  Roaming system

1 is a diagram illustrating an environment 10 in which the present invention operates. As shown, the environment 10 includes a number of wireless networks through which the wireless device 12 travels and performs communications. Such networks are, for example, a wireless wide area network (WWAN) 14, a first wireless local area network (WLAN) 16, and a second wireless local area network (WLAN) 18.

Each wireless network 14, 16, 18 may be a communication network supporting wireless communication. Each network supports at least one wireless link or device connection. As such, the network includes analog cellular systems, digital cellular systems, personal communication systems (PCS), cellular digital packet data (CDPD), ARDIS, RAM movement data, Metricom Ricochet, paging, and Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio (ESMR). It can support various communication. However, it is not limited thereto. Wireless networks 14, 16, 18 may utilize and support a variety of protocols. Protocols for wireless local area networks (WLAN) 16, 18 include IEEE 802.11, HomeRF, Bluetooth, HyperLAN, and the like. Protocols for Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWAN) 14 include Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), 1xRTT, and General Packet Radio Service, such as IS-136. ), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), and Intergrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) packet data. Each connection of the wireless network may have a respective identifier, such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address. The transmission in the wireless network 14, 16, 18 may be analog or digital. Wireless networks are private systems (e.g., cellular systems) implemented as public switched telephone networks (PSTNs) and / or multiple switches, wire lines, fiber optic cables, ground-based transmission towers, space-based satellite transponders, and the like. ) Or can be supported by it. In embodiments, the wireless network may include other suitable communication systems, such as a Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) system. Each wireless network 14, 16, 18 may have a respective operating range. The operating ranges covered by different wireless networks can overlap each other.

The wireless network 114, 16, 18 may be maintained or operated by the same or different service providers. In general, a service provider may be an entity that delivers services to one or more users, for example, accessing a network with a wireless device. Such services may include wireless services and may include as many other services as possible, such as, for example, Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), digital telephone service, cellular service, pager service, and the like. The user of wireless device 12 may be a subscriber to one or more services provided by one or more service providers with wireless network 14, 16, 18.

The wireless device 12 may be an electronic device capable of communicating with a wireless technology. Thus, wireless device 12 may be, for example, a laptop or desktop computer, a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, or other wireless capable electronic device. The wireless device 12 may be used by each user to move or pass between the effective ranges of operation of the various wireless networks 14, 16, 18. If the wireless device 12 is within range of a particular wireless network, the wireless device 12 may communicate over a link of that particular wireless network. The wireless device 12 may execute one or more applications that exchange data / information over the wireless network when the application is executed. Such an application may be, for example, a network browser exchanging information with a distributed application known as the "World Wide Web." Another example is an e-mail or instant messaging service.

In general, wireless local area networks (WLANs) provide high throughput rates (for example, 11 Mbps to 54 Mbps or more), but are used in high mobility applications (for example, when the user is in a car). It doesn't work. Wireless wide area networks (WWANs) can be used in high mobility applications, but do not provide the same throughput as wireless local area networks (WLANs). Therefore, in order to increase the throughput for the user of the wireless device 12, it is recommended to connect to the wireless local area network (WLAN) if the wireless local area network (WLAN) is valid and the connection to the wireless local area network (WLAN) is possible. On the other hand, if the wireless local area network (WLAN) connection is not valid and the connection to the wireless local area network (WLAN) is impossible, it is preferable to connect to the wireless wide area network (WWAN).

In order to provide a continuous and efficient wireless connection to the wireless device 12 in the illustrated environment 10, the present invention provides a wireless local area network and a wireless local area network when the wireless device 12 roams between a wireless local area network and a wireless wide area network. A wireless wide area network provides a system and method that enables automatic and seamless handoff of communication with a wireless device 12. At this time, the application running in the wireless device 12 is not disturbed.

Seamless  Roaming system

2 is a diagram illustrating a system for seamless roaming between wireless networks according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, this system may be integrated or included in the wireless device 12. The wireless device 12 may be any suitable electronic device such as, for example, a portable personal computer (PC), a wireless PDA, or a cellular phone that can accommodate a wireless network with data processing equipment supported by (internal or external) memory. Can be.

Many networking hardware devices, such as WLAN hardware 26, WWAN hardware 28, and combination hardware 30 support the connection between wireless device 12 and various networks. WLAN hardware 26 supports connection with a wireless local area network (WLAN). WWAN hardware 28 supports connection with a wireless wide area network (WWAN). The combination hardware 30 supports connection with either a wireless local area network or a wireless wide area network. The networking hardware device may be a wireless modem, a wireless network interface card (NIC), or other suitable hardware peripheral device that supports a wireless connection. In other embodiments, such devices may be implemented in a combination of hardware and software. Driver layer 32, which may be implemented in software or hardware, or both, functions as a hardware controller for WLAN hardware 26, WWAN hardware 28, and combination hardware 30.

The user interface (I / F) 34 generally executes an application (eg, word processing), browses the Internet, and e-mails (E) so that the user can interact with the wireless device 12. -mail) to check. The functionality of the user interface 34 may include one or more suitable input devices (eg, keyboards, touch screens, input ports, pointing devices, microphones, and / or other devices capable of accepting user input information) and one or And any other suitable output device (e.g., video display, output port, speaker, or other device for conveying information including digital data, visual information, or audio information). In one embodiment, each user interface 34 has at least one having a plurality of interactive devices, such as buttons, windows, pull-down menus, etc. to facilitate entry, viewing and / or recovery of information. May include a graphical user interface (GUI) and display a graphical user interface.

Wireless device 12 operates under the control of an operating system (OS) 20 such as MS-DOS, MAC OS, WINDOS NT, WINDOWS 95, WINDOWS CE, OS / 2, UNIX, LINUX, LINDOWS, XENIX, PALM OS, and the like. do. One or more software applications 22 run on the wireless device 12. Each application 22 may interact with the operating system 20. These applications 22 may be a variety of services such as document sharing, billing, word processing, application sharing, file transfer, remote control, browser, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), user authentication, address book, files and folders, database management, or the like. It can support functions. When the application 22 is run on the wireless device 12, at least some of these applications 22 may require information exchange with other electronic devices in the wireless network.

The connectivity application 24 provided at the software layer operates as a virtual router of network addresses and connectivity. The connectivity application 24 logically resides between the operating system 20 and the driver layer 32 of the hardware controller. Connectivity application 24 may be logically located on top of operating system 20. Connectivity application 24 may support detection of a valid wireless connection to wireless device 12 at any given location. This connection includes both wireless local area network (hereinafter referred to as "WLAN") and wireless wide area network (hereinafter referred to as "WWAN") connections. Furthermore, unlike conventionally developed technologies, connectivity application 24 maintains information and handles connections to different types of wireless networks. As such, the connectivity application 24 may coordinate the connection of the wireless device 12 with other wireless networks. This provides for seamless transitions or handoffs between WLAN connections or between WWAN connections, as well as between networks, including handoffs from WLAN connections to WWAN connections and vice versa. The connectivity application 24 may provide the operating system 20 with the IP address of the wireless connection currently being used. The operating system 20 in turn passes the IP address to all applications 22. As noted above, in one embodiment, connectivity application 24 is user interface (UI) component 36, core component 38, WLAN interface component 40, WWAN interface component 42, and combination interface. Includes component 44.

The WLAN interface component 40, the WWAN interface component 42, and the combination interface component 44 are each hardware of a networking hardware device (eg, WLAN hardware 26, WWAN hardware 28, and combination hardware 30). It provides or supports an interface with a driver layer 32 containing device drivers that can be supplied by the product. WLAN interface component 40 may, for example, coordinate all communication with a WiFi compliant 802.11a card and its drive. The WLAN interface component 40 may, for example, interface with an application program interface (API) of the WLAN card. The WLAN interface component 40 implements a standard interface as well as communicating with the WLAN card to recover common information such as status, signal length, media access controller (MAC) address, firmware version, and the like. The WLAN interface component 40 also coordinates sending and receiving messages to the card. The WWAN interface component 42 and the combination interface component 44 have similar functionality to the WLAN counterpart except that they are executed to communicate with the API of the WWAN card.

The user interface component 36 provides support for the presentation of information related to the wireless connection to the wireless device 12 (ie, visual, audio, physical, etc.). Such information may include, for example, network information for the WWAN 14 and the WLANs 16 and 18. The user interface component 36 can also allow a user to configure or set up (eg, activate and deactivate) a wireless connection to the device 12. In one embodiment, for example, the user interface component 36 is a wireless network connection (e.g., WWAN (e.g., WWAN) that a user can easily and easily manually or automatically without adverse effects on applications running on the wireless device 12). 14) to another wireless network connection (e. G., For WLAN 16).

The core component 38 is in communication with the user interface component 36, the WLAN interface component 40, the WWAN interface component 42 and the combination interface component 44. The core component 38 executes logic to track, coordinate and manage connectivity to the wireless network and logic to inform the operating system 20 of the change. The core component 38 may also be responsible for automated switching of the connection (eg rule-based switching). The core component 38 may automatically authenticate and connect the wireless device 12 to the detected preferred wireless network.

In operation, when the wireless device 12 moves between the effective ranges of various networks (WLAN or WWAN), the connectivity application 24 functions to change the connection from one wireless network to another. . In one aspect, the change in the wireless connection may be automatic. For example, upon loss of connectivity from either connection, connectivity application 24 automatically initiates a new connection and passes each IP address to operating system 20. Then, when the application 22 is continuously played using the IP connection, the application 22 will automatically select a new IP address for wireless connectivity and start using the new address (eg, core According to the instructions of component 38). This occurs to the user of the wireless device 12 without significant loss of connectivity. In another aspect, the change of the wireless connection can be initiated manually by the user. Connectivity application 24 supports the detection of valid wireless connections at any given location. The user can access information regarding a valid wireless connection from the connectivity application 24 via the user interface 34. The user can then select a wireless connection to use for connectivity (eg, to the Internet).

The system according to an embodiment of the present invention provides access to wireless data everywhere when using wireless data and provides efficiency of frequency usage in the cellular band. Thus, for example, the Internet enabled application 22 does not suffer from a loss of connectivity as a result of the loss of connection of the wireless device 12 with the WWAN or WLAN. In addition, the application 22 does not suffer a connection loss as a result of the transition from one wireless network to another (e.g., from WWAN to WLAN). Furthermore, even if wireless data occupies all of the cellular network's available capacity, the system does not require cellular service providers to present 2.5 generation ("2.5G") network (e.g., GPRS, CDMA 1xRTT, but not limited to). And wireless data services supported by a combination of IEEE 802.11 WLAN networks (e.g., but not limited to, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, etc.).

User interface components

3 is a diagram illustrating a user interface component 36 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the user interface component 36 is completely separate from the core functionality (eg, connection management) provided by the core component 38 (of FIG. 2) of the connectivity application 24. Can be. This separation may be done to allow a user of the connectivity application 24 to provide its user interfaces to the connectivity application 24. At this point, each of the user interfaces has a look and feel (with branding) designed by a particular service provider. As shown, the user interface component 36 includes a third generation (3G) user interface subcomponent 50, a WLAN user interface component 52, an intersubcomponent communication module 54, and a core interface (I / F) sub. Component 56.

The third generation user interface subcomponent 50 may coordinate connected / disconnected functionality for various WWANs, which may be 2.5G, or 3G mobile communication technologies. Examples of such techniques include GPRS, CDMA 1xRTT and iDEN packet data services (2.5G) and W-CDMA based services (3G) such as UMTS and CDMA 3xRTT. However, it is not limited thereto. Compared to first generation (eg analog cellular) and second generation (eg digital PCS), 2.5 generation and 3 generation technologies provide increased bandwidth. For example, 3G technology delivers up to 384 Kbps when the wireless device is stationary or walking at speeds, 128 Kbps in cars, and 2 Mbps in fixed applications. The third generation user interface subcomponent 50 provides or displays information on the type of connection (e.g. circuit switched or packet switched) as well as the signal strength of each valid WWAN (e.g. 2.5G or 3G) connection. can do. This subcomponent 50 may also display or provide information about the validity of the WWAN service or the lack of the WWAN service.

WLAN user interface subcomponent 52 can track and / or display all identified WLANs among others at a particular location of wireless device 12, as well as track their current connection and encryption status ( Or). The WLAN user interface subcomponent 52 may also coordinate the selection by the user and the connection of the wireless device 12 to various WLANs.

The third generation user interface subcomponent 50 and the WLAN user interface subcomponent 52 provide the user of the wireless device 12 with a real-time view of all available connections to the various wireless networks and direct the user to an accessible location. can do. The user of wireless device 12 may switch the connection between WWAN and WLAN by interacting with third generation user interface subcomponent 50 and WLAN user interface subcomponent 52.

The inter subcomponent communication module 54 informs the states of each of the subcomponents 50 and 52. The inter subcomponent communication module 54 may notify the core component 38 of the change in the connection state for each of these subcomponents 50 and 52. Core interface subcomponent 56 interacts with core component 38 of connectivity application 24. The core interface subcomponent 56 can inform the core component 38, among others, of the status of the wireless connection and the user interaction with the user interface component 36.

Core components

4 illustrates an exemplary core component 38 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the core component 38 generally functions to coordinate and manage connectivity for the wireless network, and informs the operating system 20 of any changes. As described, the core component 38 includes an active connection selection 60 and a command engine 62.

The activity connection selection 60 tracks the various wireless connections available immediately (including WLAN and WWAN connections) and also tracks the specific wireless connections currently in use by the wireless device 12. Activity link selection 60 informs operating system 20 of activity link information. That is, active connection selection 60 provides operating system 20 with information (eg, an IP address) about the current wireless connection. The currently used wireless connection may be changed by direct user intervention or by modifying (or toggling) the current activity connection 60 by the result of one or more commands in the command engine 62.

Command engine 62 may implement and execute a number of commands for automated switching of wireless connections, and authentication and connection of wireless device 12 to a preferred wireless network. These commands define, for example, what to do if you lose a GPRS connection. The command engine 62 may also allow the command itself to be created, modified or deleted, thereby defining the characteristic behavior of the core component 38.

The command engine 62 determines which wireless network (e.g., WWAN 14, WLAN 16, or WLAN 18) to connect in case of loss of connectivity or validity of multiple wireless networks. do. The core component 38 automatically detects a valid wireless network in the area of the wireless device 12 and uses the command engine 62 to determine which network to connect to. Command engine 62 is based on predefined commands provided by one or more service providers (service providers operating or maintaining wireless networks and / or providing services to users) as well as input combinations from users. Function. Two examples of the operation of the command engine 62 according to the invention are described below.

The first example illustrates the operation of a user supplied command. There are two wireless networks, Network A and Network B, near the user. Network A provides fast connectivity but is unreliable and saves about 50% of the time. Network B is highly reliable but only provides about 50% data rate of network A. The user generates a command in the command engine 62 that gives Network A a higher priority than Network B. When the core component 38 uses the command engine 62 to determine which of the detected networks it will connect to, the command engine 62 will recommend that the wireless device 12 connect to network A. If the connectivity between the wireless device 12 and network A is lost, the core component 38 uses the command engine 62 again, which causes the wireless device 12 to network for the second time. Returns a recommendation to connect to B.

The second example illustrates the operation of the service provider provision command. The service provider provides the WWAN service through the network P and the WLAN service through the network Q. For technical reasons, such as protecting spectrum validity in a WWAN (Network P) service, a service provider may issue a command engine 62 with a recommendation command that a user currently serving WWAN should intelligently switch to a WLAN service when the WLAN service becomes available. Please specify. This can reduce the number of users who are serving WWAN.

Since core component 38 maintains information and coordinates connectivity for various types of wireless networks (e.g., WWAN and WLAN), connectivity application 24 can be connected to and from the WLAN connection to the WWAN connection. Conversely, it is possible to coordinate seamless transitions or handoffs between wireless networks, including between other WWAN connections or between WLAN connections. This seamless switching function can be coordinated by the clear implementation of well-known standards such as, for example, Mobile Internet Protocol (Mobile IP) or IPv6 (known as IPng, or the next generation of IP).

Seamless  How to roam

5 illustrates an exemplary method 100 for seamless roaming between wireless networks in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the method 100 is performed at least in part by a connectivity application 24 operating in a wireless device 12 that is mobile in a coverage area provided by one or more wireless networks. Can be. The method 100 begins at step 102 where the wireless device 12 finds a valid wireless network (eg, WWAN, WLAN, etc.). In step 104, connectivity application 24 measures whether at least one network has been detected. If no network is detected, the method 100 returns to step 102 where the wireless device 12 searches for a wireless network.

If at least one network is detected, then in step 106 the wireless device 12 checks the connectivity application 24 to confirm one or more applicable commands for connecting the wireless device 12 to one of the detected networks. Search command engine 62; In step 108, the connectivity application 24 causes the wireless device 12 to connect to the particular detected network at each recommendation of the command engine 62. Once connected, the connection is monitored and maintained at step 110 (described further below).

6 illustrates an example method for network connection monitoring and maintenance in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, connectivity application 24 monitors the current network connection at step 112. Such monitoring may include, for example, measuring the presence or strength of the current network connection or sensing the desirability of maintaining the current network connection. In step 114, the wireless device 12 measures whether there is a loss of the wireless connection. If there is a loss, the method 100 returns to step 102 where the wireless device 12 finds a valid wireless network. Otherwise, if there is no loss of the connection, in step 116, the connectivity application 24 initiates, for example, the interruption of the wireless device 12 by the user, the initiation of artificial switching of the wireless connection between different valid networks. Measure whether there is the same user intervention. If there is no user interference, the method 100 returns to step 112 to further monitor the current wireless connection.

On the other hand, if there was user interference in step 116, then in step 118 connectivity application 24 measures whether the user has initiated an instruction to artificially switch the connection to another wireless network. If so, then at step 120 connectivity application 24 causes wireless device 12 to connect to the network designated by the user. As soon as such user-driven switching occurs, the method 100 returns to step 112 and begins monitoring the new network connection. Otherwise, if there is user interference but does not begin artificial network connection switching, the method 100 ends.

Although certain embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in a broader sense. Therefore, the appended claims include all such changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (27)

A wireless device for seamless roaming between one or more wireless wide area networks (WWANs) and one or more wireless local area networks (WLANs), A user interface that allows a user to interact with the wireless device; One or more network interfaces coupled to the wireless device, the one or more wireless wide area networks (WWANs) and the one or more wireless local area networks (WLANs); An operating system operating in the wireless device; Including a connectivity application that operates on top of the operating system, The connectivity application, A core component coupled to the user interface; One or more network interface components coupled to the core component; And a driver layer that functions on top of the operating system and is coupled to the one or more network interface components and the one or more network interfaces. The method of claim 1, The user interface includes an input device and an output device, The input device includes a keypad; touch screen; Input port; Pointing device; And at least one of a microphone, The output device includes a video display; Output port; And at least one of a speaker. The method of claim 2, And at least one graphical user interface (GUI) having a plurality of interactive devices designed to facilitate user interaction with the wireless device through the input device and output device. The method of claim 1, The one or more network interface, And at least one of a wireless wide area network (WWAN) interface, a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface, and a combination wireless wide area network / wireless local area network (WWAN / WLAN) interface. The method of claim 4, wherein The wireless wide area network interface and the combination wireless wide area network / wireless local area network interface, Analog cellular network; Digital cellular networks; TDMA network; CDMA network; 1xRTT network; GPRS network; GSM network; EDGE network; UMTS network; And an iDEN packet data network. The method of claim 4, wherein The wireless local area network interface and the combination wireless wide area network / wireless local area network interface, IEEE 802.11 network; Home RF network; Bluetooth network; And a hyper LAN network. The method of claim 4, wherein Wherein at least one of the wireless wide area network interface, the wireless local area network interface and the combination wireless wide area network / wireless local area network interface is implemented by hardware. The method of claim 4, wherein And wherein at least one of the wireless wide area network interface, the wireless local area network interface, and the combination wireless wide area network / wireless local area network interface is implemented by software. The method of claim 4, wherein Wherein said wireless wide area network interface, a wireless local area network interface, and a combination wireless wide area network / wireless local area network interface are implemented by hardware and software. The method of claim 1, The operating system, MS-DOS; MAC OS; WINDOWS; OS / 2; UNIX; LINUX; LINDOWS; XENIX; And a PALM OS. The method of claim 1, The user interface component, Third generation subcomponent; Wireless local area network user interface subcomponents; An inter-subcomponent communication module coupled to the third generation subcomponent and a wireless local area user interface subcomponent; And a core interface subcomponent coupled to the inter-subcomponent communication module. The method of claim 11, The inter-subcomponent communication module is further coupled to a user interface component, and wherein the core interface subcomponent is further coupled to the core component. The method of claim 1, The core includes an active connection selection subcomponent and a command engine subcomponent, The active connection selection subcomponent detects validity for the one or more wireless wide area networks and the one or more wireless local area networks through the one or more network interface components, and the valid one or more wireless wide area networks. Establish and maintain a connection to a first of one or more wireless local area networks, and implement logic to inform a user of a validity and a connection state via the user interface component; The command engine subcomponent implements logic to define selection criteria for the active connection selection subcomponent to establish and maintain a connection to the first of the valid one or more wireless wide area networks and one or more wireless local area networks. Wireless device characterized in that. The method of claim 13, The active connection selection subcomponent is configured to be based on a selection criterion of the command engine subcomponent, the valid one or more wireless wide area networks from the first of the valid one or more wireless wide area networks and one or more wireless local area networks; And further implement logic for automatically switching to a second of one or more wireless local area networks. The method of claim 13, The active connection selection subcomponent may be configured to be based on an artificial switching selection of the user, the valid one or more wireless wide area networks and one or more of the valid one or more wireless wide area networks and one or more wireless local area networks. And further execute logic for automatically switching to a second of the more wireless local area networks. The method of claim 13, And wherein the user interface component indicates a validity and a connection state to a user through a user interface. The method of claim 1, And one or more other applications operating on top of the operating system and connected to one or more wireless wide area networks and one or more wireless local area networks through connectivity applications. A method for seamless switching of a wireless device between one or more wireless wide area networks (WWANs) and one or more wireless local area networks (WLANs), Detecting a valid network from the one or more wireless wide area networks (WWANs) and the one or more wireless local area networks (WLANs); Selecting one of the valid networks for use by the wireless device, The selection step, Searching the command engine to find applicable commands that define which of the valid networks to select; Applying the applicable command; Connecting the wireless device to the selected valid network; And Maintaining the connection of the wireless device. The method of claim 18, The one or more wireless wide area network, Analog cellular network; Digital cellular networks; TDMA network; CDMA network; 1xRTT network; GPRS network; GSM network; EDGE network; UMTS network; And at least one of an iDEN packet data network. The method of claim 18, The one or more wireless local area networks, IEEE 802.11 network; Home RF network; Bluetooth network; And at least one of a hyper LAN network. The method of claim 18, Wherein said detecting step, selecting step, connecting step and maintaining step are performed automatically. The method of claim 21, And the command engine includes one or more service provider commands. The method of claim 22, And wherein said one or more service provider instructions comprise a wireless local area network preference instruction. The method of claim 21, The maintaining step, Monitoring the selected valid network connection to measure a connection loss; And And as soon as the connection loss is measured, repeating the selection step and the connection step. The method of claim 18, Informing a user of the wireless device of network validity and connection status; And And enabling the user to artificially switch the wireless device connection from the selected valid network to another valid network. The method of claim 25, And facilitating customization of selection criteria to be included in the command engine. The method of claim 25, Enabling the user to artificially switch wireless device connections, Detecting interference by the user; Measuring whether the interference is a request by the user to switch the wireless device connection from the selected valid network; If the interference is the request, disconnecting the network device from the selected valid network and reconnecting the network device to another valid network; And And if the interference is not the request, terminating the connection of the network device.

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