WO2012099504A2

WO2012099504A2 - Router device and method

Info

Publication number: WO2012099504A2
Application number: PCT/RU2012/000026
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dennis SVERDLOV; Alim Polyakh
Original assignee: Yota Devices Ipr Ltd
Priority date: 2011-01-21
Filing date: 2012-01-23
Publication date: 2012-07-26
Also published as: WO2012099504A3; GB201101078D0

Abstract

The field of the invention relates to router devices, to methods relating to such devices, and to computer program products suitable for such methods and devices. There is provided a portable router device including a wide area network interface and a local area network interface, the portable router device operable to connect to a wide area network using the wide area network interface, the portable router device further operable to provide a local area network using the local area network interface in response to the device connection with the wide area network satisfying a connection condition.

Description

ROUTER DEVICE AND METHOD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The field of the invention relates to router devices, to methods relating to such devices, and to computer program products suitable for such methods and devices. 2. Technical Background

A router is a device that forwards data packets between computer networks, creating an overlay internetwork. A router is connected to two or more data lines from different networks. When a data packet comes in on one of the lines, the router reads the address information in the packet to determine its ultimate destination. Then, using information in its routing table or routing policy, it directs the packet to the next network on its journey. Routers perform the "traffic directing" functions on the Internet. A data packet is typically forwarded from one router to another through the networks that constitute the internetwork until it gets to its destination node.

The most familiar type of routers are home and small office routers that simply pass data, such as web pages and email, between the home computers and the owner's cable or digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, which connects to the Internet Service Provider (ISP). However more sophisticated routers range from enterprise routers, which connect large business or ISP networks up to the powerful core routers that forward data at high speed along the optical fiber lines of the Internet backbone.

3. Discussion of Related Art In WO201004234A2 there are described methods and apparatus for supporting multiple modes of communication operation, e.g., with different parameters and/or frequency bands being used in the different modes of operation. One or more adjustments are made based on a signal or signals received in a first frequency band from a second communications device, e.g., an access router with reliable timing. The communications device selects between and operates in either the first frequency band, e.g., a wide area network (WAN) frequency band, or in a second frequency band, e.g., a local area network (LAN) frequency band. The WAN and LAN frequency bands may be non-overlapping. One or more parameters used in the second frequency band have a predetermined relationship to one or more parameters used for communications in the first frequency band making the adjustment based on the signal received in the first frequency band relevant and useful to support communications in the second frequency band.

WI-FI is a registered USA trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance, 10900-B Stonelake Boulevard, Suite 126, Austin, TX 78759 United States, trademark Registration Number 2525795. A Wi- Fi enabled device such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player can connect to the Internet when within range of a wireless network connected to the Internet. The coverage of one or more (interconnected) access points— which may be called hotspots when offering public access— generally comprises an area the size of a few rooms but may be expanded to cover many square miles, depending on the number of access points with overlapping coverage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a portable router device including a wide area network interface and a local area network interface, the portable router device operable to connect to a wide area network using the wide area network interface, the portable router device further operable to provide a local area network using the local area network interface in response to the device connection with the wide area network satisfying a connection condition.

The portable router device may be one wherein the wide area network interface is operable to provide a wireless connection.

The portable router device may be one wherein the connection condition includes that the device is connected to the wide area network.

The portable router device may be one wherein the connection condition includes wide area network signal strength being in a predefined range of wide area network signal strength. The portable router device may be one wherein the local area network interface is operable to provide a wireless connection.

The portable router device may be one wherein the local area network interface includes a Wi- Fi interface.

The portable router device may be one wherein the local area network interface includes a personal network interface.

The portable router device may be one wherein the local area network interface includes a campus network interface.

The portable router device may be one wherein the local area network interface is operable to provide a wired connection.

The portable router device may be one wherein the portable router device is a mobile device.

The portable router device may be one wherein the portable router device is further operable to provide the local area network using the local area network interface only when the device connection with the wide area network satisfies the connection condition.

The portable router device may be one wherein the portable router device is further operable to deactivate the local area network using the local area network interface in response to a disconnection of the device from the wide area network.

The portable router device may be one wherein the portable router device is further operable to deactivate the local area network using the local area network interface in response to a predefined range of wide area network signal strength.

The portable router device may be one wherein the portable router device is further operable to deactivate the local area network using the local area network interface in response to a predefined range of wide area network signal strength occurring for a predefined time interval. The portable router device may be one wherein the portable router device is further operable to maintain the local area network activation in response to a communication between devices on the local area network. The portable router device may be one wherein the router device when switched on reduces power consumption when the local area network interface is deactivated.

The portable router device may be one wherein the router device includes a display. The portable router device may be one wherein the display is operable to display a message indicating that a local area network interface is not provided.

The portable router device may be one wherein the display is operable to display a message indicating that a local area network interface is not provided because a wide area network is not available.

The portable router device may be one wherein the display is operable to display a message indicating that a local area network interface is not provided because a wide area network signal is too weak.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is operable to provide instant and automatic sharing of a wireless network in response to a single action by a user, the single action comprising a physical contact gesture with the portable router device by the user, or a voice activation command by the user.

The portable router device may be one wherein the portable router device includes a hard switch, wherein the single gesture by the user comprises pressing the hard switch of the portable router device. The portable router device may be one wherein the portable router device includes a soft switch, wherein the single gesture by the user comprises pressing the soft switch of the portable router device. The portable router device may be one wherein the portable router device includes a hidden mechanical button, wherein the single gesture by the user comprises pressing the hidden mechanical button of the portable router device. The portable router device may be one wherein the portable router device includes a squeeze control, wherein the single gesture by the user comprises activating the squeeze control of the portable router device.

The portable router device may be one wherein the portable router device includes capacitor sensor strips operable to detect when the user has picked up the device, wherein the single action by the user comprises picking up the portable router device.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is operable to connect to the internet via a mobile phone network.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is adapted to enable a further device to access files on the portable router device via the local area network.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is connectable to a 4G mobile phone network.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is connectable to a 3G mobile phone network. The portable router device may be one wherein the device is connectable to a 2G mobile phone network.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is a bar form factor device. The portable router device may be one wherein the device comprises a touch screen

The portable router device may be one wherein the device comprises a further bistable screen. The portable router device may be one wherein the bistable screen is operable to be refreshed wholly or partially.

The portable router device may be one wherein the bistable screen is operable to be refreshed starting with any pixel in a screen area.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is operable to define a limited set of users who may connect to the device to enable sharing of the local area network with the limited set of users.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is operable to provide a wireless connection to a personal computer, to enable that computer to connect to the internet.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is operable to provide a wireless connection to two personal computers, to enable file sharing or resource sharing between those two personal computers.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is operable to provide for file synchronization for files that are shared using sharing of a local area network via the portable router device.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is a mobile phone.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is a video game console.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is a smartphone. The portable router device may be one wherein the device is a digital audio player. The portable router device may be one wherein the device is a personal computer. The portable router device may be one wherein the device is a tablet computer. The portable router device may be one wherein the device is a personal device. The portable router device may be one wherein the device is operable to provide instant and automatic sharing of a wireless network in response to a single action by a user, the single action comprising a physical contact gesture with the portable router device by the user, or a voice activation command by the user, when the portable router device is already turned on and connected to a mobile phone network.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is operable to connect to a wireless dongle, the portable router device further operable to view a file structure of files stored on the wireless dongle.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is operable to view the file structure of files stored on the wireless dongle in a web browser running on the portable router device. The portable router device may be one wherein the device is operable to print a file on the dongle at a printer in connection with the dongle.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device is operable to print a file on the dongle at a printer in connection with the portable router device.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device has a curved shape.

The portable router device may be one wherein the device has a concave front face and a convex rear face.

The portable router device may be one wherein the concave front face and the convex rear face have a similar magnitude of curvature.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of providing a local area network using a portable router device, the device including a wide area network interface and a local area network interface, the portable router device operable to connect to a wide area network using the wide area network interface, the portable router device further operable to provide a local area network using the local area network interface, the method comprising the step of: (i) the portable router providing the local area network in response to the device satisfying a connection condition with the wide area network.

The method may further comprise the step of:

(ii) the portable router deactivating the local area network in response to the device not satisfying the connection condition to the wide area network.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program product adapted to provide a local area network when the program is executing on a portable router device, the device including a wide area network interface and a local area network interface, the portable router device operable to provide the local area network using the local area network interface, the computer program product adapted to connect the portable router device to a wide area network using the wide area network interface, the computer program product further adapted to provide the local area network in response to the device satisfying a connection condition with the wide area network.

The computer program product may be further adapted to deactivate the local area network in response to the device not satisfying a connection condition with the wide area network. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows an example of a customer proposition for a mobile router.

Figure 2 shows an example of a mobile router specification.

Figure 3 shows an example of a mobile router industrial design.

Figure 4 shows an example of a mobile router industrial design.

Figure 5 shows an example of a mobile router hardware specification.

Figure 6 shows examples of chipsets for mobile router devices.

Figure 7 shows an example specification for a back screen of a mobile router device.

Figure 8 shows an example software architecture of a mobile router device.

Figure 9 shows examples of aspects of an example mobile router device.

Figure 10 shows examples of an applications concept for a mobile router device.

Figure 11 shows examples of applications for a mobile router device.

Figure 12 shows further examples of applications for a mobile router device. Figure 13 shows an example of a mobile router device with two cameras, with a screen between the cameras.

Figure 14 shows an example of a mobile router device in which the microphone is placed in a hole in the body of the mobile device, in the SIM card's eject hole.

Figure 15 shows an example of a mobile router device with a wireless WAN connection to a WAN network, in which the mobile router device provides LAN connections to devices on a LAN.

Figure 16 shows an example of a mobile router device with no wireless WAN connection to a WAN network, in which the mobile router device provides no LAN connections to devices.

Figure 17 shows an example of a mobile router device with a weak wireless WAN connection to a WAN network, in which the mobile router device provides no LAN connections to devices.

Figure 18 shows an example of a mobile router device with no wireless WAN connection to a WAN network, in which the mobile router device provides LAN connections to devices on a LAN.

Figure 19 shows an example of a mobile device which informs its user that no local area network is available at the present time.

Figure 20 shows an example of a mobile device which informs its user that no local area network is available because a wide area network is not available.

Figure 21 shows an example of a mobile device which informs its user that no local area network is available because a wide area network signal is too weak.

Figure 22 shows an example of a mobile router which informs its user that no local area network is provided at the present time.

Figure 23 shows an example of a mobile router which informs its user that no local area network is provided because a wide area network is not available.

Figure 24 shows an example of a mobile router which informs its user that no local area network is provided because a wide area network signal is too weak. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

LAN connectivity management (Wi-Fi interface management for portable devices) A portable router device is provided with a Wide Area Network (WAN) interface (using for instance standardized telecommunications such as 2G/3G/4G/LTE) and a Local Area Network (LAN) interface (for instance WiFi networks, campus networks, personal networks including Bluetooth and other short range network connectivity). The WAN may be a wireless WAN, as shown for example in Figure 15. The LAN interface may provide for wireless connectivity, for wired connectivity, or for wired and wireless connectivity, for example as indicated schematically in Figure 15. The LAN interface may be switched on only when the device has connected to the WAN. For example, in Figure 16 there is no wireless WAN connection, and the LAN interface of the mobile router device is not operable.

The LAN interface may be switched on only within a predefined range of WAN signal strength. The WAN signal strength may be detected by the portable router device. For example, in Figure 17 there is only a weak wireless WAN connection, and the LAN interface of the mobile router device is not operable. Other devices are able to connect, through the router, to the WAN network (for example to the internet) via the LAN interface when the LAN interface is activated, as indicated schematically in Figure 15.

The LAN interface of the router device may be deactivated when the device is not connected to a WAN network. For example, in Figure 16 there is no wireless WAN connection, and the LAN interface of the mobile router device is not operable. The LAN interface of the router device may be deactivated when the WAN signal strength is below a predefined level. For example, in Figure 17 there is only a weak wireless WAN connection, and the LAN interface of the mobile router device is not operable. In one example the signal level has to be below the threshold for a certain time before the LAN interface is deactivated. The router device may maintain the LAN activation if for instance there is communication between other devices on the LAN, even when otherwise it would have deactivated the LAN interface because for example there is no connection to a WAN network or the WAN signal strength is below a predefined level. For example, in Figure 18 there is no wireless WAN connection, but the LAN interface of the mobile router device is operable because there is communication between other devices on the LAN.

The router device reduces power consumption (it is powered for instance with a battery or powered by mains electricity) when the LAN interface is switched off. The router device may include a battery. When the WAN connection is absent, or the WAN signal strength is too weak, deactivating the LAN interface will also provide the correct user experience for users of other LAN devices possibly using the router device. For example, this prevents a user of a device connected to the LAN being made to wait some time while his device is unresponsive, when the user would not wait if he knew the WAN connection is absent, or is too weak to provide a reliable service or a service with an acceptably fast data rate. Figure 19 provides an example of a message provided to a user of a mobile device informing him that a LAN interface is not available. Figure 20 provides an example of a message provided to a user of a mobile device informing him that a LAN interface is not available because a WAN network is not available. Figure 21 provides an example of a message provided to a user of a mobile device informing him that a LAN interface is not available because a WAN signal is too weak. Figure 22 provides an example of a message provided to a user of a mobile router informing him that a LAN interface is not provided. Figure 23 provides an example of a message provided to a user of a mobile router informing him that a LAN interface is not provided because a WAN network is not available. Figure 24 provides an example of a message provided to a user of a mobile router informing him that a LAN interface is not provided because a WAN signal is too weak. The other LAN devices will for instance not try to connect to the internet using the router, if the router is in a low WAN signal strength area (non-serviceable area).

Already existing devices such as portable routers and phones with a portable router function, will provide the option to enable or disable the LAN interface, but not depending on if the device is connected to WAN network or not.

There is provided a portable router device; it has WAN interface (eg. Wireless, eg. 2G/3G/4G) and LAN interface (eg. WiFi). In the case in which we have a WAN (eg. Wireless, eg. 2G, 3G, 4G) signal, the LAN (eg. Wi-Fi) interface is switched on and Wi-Fi devices are able to connect to the WAN through the router. In the case in which we don't have WAN signal, we turn the LAN interface (eg. Wi-Fi) off to save the battery power and to provide the right user experience in Wi-Fi devices such as iPhone: they'll not try to connect to internet through the router in the case in which the router is in a non-serviceable area. Mobile hot spot - ('Instant 4G', for example)

We provide a simple hard (or soft) switch on a mobile phone (eg. one that is a router), to enable instant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the phone as a mobile hot spot. For example, a user can instantly share internet access using this switch on the phone, instead of a complex user interface (UI). So one use could be at a party to instantly enable friends to access the internet via your phone. Files on the phone could then also be shared (access control would prevent other files from being shared). Alternatively, files on the phone could be shared without providing internet access. A simple hard (or soft) switch on the mobile phone may be provided to disable sharing of a WiFi network.

We provide a simple hard (or soft) switch on a mobile device (eg. one that is a router), to enable instant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the device as a mobile hot spot. For example, a user can instantly share internet access using this switch on the device, instead of a complex user interface (UI). So one use could be at a party to instantly enable friends to access the internet via your mobile device. Files on the mobile device could then also be shared (access control would prevent other files from being shared). The mobile device may be a mobile phone, a mobile smart phone, or a mobile tablet computer device, for example. Alternatively, files on the mobile device could be shared without providing internet access. A simple hard (or soft) switch on the mobile device may be provided to disable sharing of a WiFi network.

We provide a hidden mechanical button on a mobile phone (eg. one that is a router), to enable instant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the phone as a mobile hot spot. For example, a user can instantly share internet access using this hidden mechanical button on the phone, instead of a complex user interface (UI). So one use could be at a party to instantly enable friends to access the internet via your phone. Files on the phone could then also be shared (access control would prevent other files from being shared). Alternatively, files on the phone could be shared without providing internet access. A hidden mechanical button on the mobile phone may be provided to disable sharing of a WiFi network.

We provide a hidden mechanical button on a mobile device (eg. one that is a router), to enable instant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the device as a mobile hot spot. For example, a user can instantly share internet access using this hidden mechanical button on the device, instead of a complex user interface (UI). So one use could be at a party to instantly enable friends to access the internet via your mobile device. Files on the mobile device could then also be shared (access control would prevent other files from being shared). The mobile device may be a mobile phone, a mobile smart phone, or a mobile tablet computer device, for example. Alternatively, files on the mobile device could be shared without providing internet access. A hidden mechanical button on the mobile device may be provided to disable sharing of a WiFi network.

We provide squeeze control on a mobile phone (eg. one that is a router), to enable instant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the phone as a mobile hot spot. For example, a user can instantly share internet access using this squeeze control on the phone, instead of a complex user interface (UI). So one use could be at a party to instantly enable friends to access the internet via your phone. Files on the phone could then also be shared (access control would prevent other files from being shared). Alternatively, files on the phone could be shared without providing internet access. Squeeze control on the mobile phone may be provided to toggle on/off the sharing of a WiFi network.

We provide squeeze control on a mobile device (eg. one that is a router), to enable instant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the device as a mobile hot spot. For example a user can instantly share internet access using this squeeze control on the device, instead of a complex user interface (UI). So one use could be at a party to instantly enable friends to access the internet via your mobile device. Files on the mobile device could then also be shared (access control would prevent other files from being shared). The mobile device may be a mobile phone, a mobile smart phone, or a mobile tablet computer device, for example. Alternatively, files on the mobile device could be shared without providing internet access. Squeeze control on the mobile device may be provided to toggle on/off the sharing of a WiFi network.

We provide capacitor sensor strips in a mobile phone (eg. one that is a router), so that the mobile phone can know if a user has picked it up, such that when a user has picked it up, this enables instant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the phone as a mobile hot spot. For example, a user can instantly share internet access by picking up the phone, instead of a complex user interface (UI). So one use could be at a party to instantly enable friends to access the internet via your phone. Files on the phone could then also be shared (access control would prevent other files from being shared). Alternatively, files on the phone could be shared without providing internet access. Instant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network may be disabled when the user puts the phone down. We provide capacitor sensor strips in a mobile device (eg. one that is a router), so that the mobile device can know if a user has picked it up, such that when a user has picked it up, this enables instant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the device as a mobile hot spot. For example a user can instantly share internet access by picking up the device, instead of a complex user interface (UI). So one use could be at a party to instantly enable friends to access the internet via your mobile device. Files on the mobile device could then also be shared (access control would prevent other files from being shared). The mobile device may be a mobile phone, a mobile smart phone, or a mobile tablet computer device, for example. Alternatively, files on the mobile device could be shared without providing internet access. Instant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network may be disabled when the user puts the device down.

The mobile phone (eg. one that is a router) may be connected to a 4G mobile phone network. The mobile phone (eg. one that is a router) may be connected to a 3G mobile phone network. The mobile phone (eg. one that is a router) may be connected to a 2G mobile phone network. The mobile device (eg. one that is a router) may be connected to a 4G mobile phone network. The mobile device (eg. one that is a router) may be connected to a 3G mobile phone network. The mobile device (eg. one that is a router) may be connected to a 2G mobile phone network.

The mobile device (eg. one that is a router) (eg. mobile phone) may be a bar form factor device. The device case may be a single block. The device may have a touch screen. The device operating system may be Google Android. The device may have a bistable screen. The device may have a touch screen and a further bistable screen. The bistable screen may be one which can be refreshed wholly or partially, such as for a limited screen area or the whole screen area, starting with any pixel in that screen area. A glass substrate of the device may be curved in conformity with device surface curvature.

The bar form factor display device may comprise a plurality of display screens. Bar form factors include slab, slate, block, bar and candybar. Bar form factor display devices, eg. slate devices such as the iPhone™ and the iPad™, are known. However, these devices comprise only a single display screen. A bar form factor device may be a slate device.

The mobile device (eg. one that is a router) (eg. mobile phone) may be used to define a limited set of users who may connect to the device to enable instant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network with the limited set of users.

The mobile device (eg. one that is a router) (eg. mobile phone) may provide a wireless connection to a personal computer, to enable that computer to connect to the internet.

The mobile device (eg. one that is a router) (eg. mobile phone) may provide a wireless connection to two personal computers, to enable file sharing or resource sharing (eg. sharing of application software) between those two personal computers via a trusted intermediary: the mobile device.

The mobile device (eg. one that is a router) (eg. mobile phone) may provide for file synchronization for files that are shared using automatic sharing of a WiFi network via the mobile device. The mobile device (eg. one that is a router) may be a personal computer, a video game console, a smartphone, a digital audio player, a mobile phone or a tablet computer, for example. The mobile device may include an integral GPS antenna.

The mobile device (eg. one that is a router) (eg. mobile phone) may provide instant and automatic sharing of a wireless network in response to a single action by a user, the single action comprising a physical contact gesture by the user with the mobile device, or a voice activation command, when the device is already turned on and connected to a mobile phone network. Sharing may be with a device of another user, or with a plurality of other user devices.

Virtual Web-USB interface for wireless devices iPhone/iPad has no universal serial bus (USB) connector - a major disadvantage. We provide a WiFi connection from a WiFi dongle with a USB interface; a mobile device (eg. one that is a router) can then interface to a memory in the WiFi dongle, plus any external device that the USB dongle is plugged into, just as though the USB interface was native to the mobile device. So you could view the file structure of files stored on the USB dongle itself in a web browser on the mobile device, or print to a printer the USB dongle is interfaced to, or print to a printer the mobile phone is connected to, for example. The mobile device (eg. one that is a router) (eg. mobile phone) may provide automatic wireless network sharing.

USB stick for in-vehicle audio In-vehicle (eg. in-car) audio systems often have USB interfaces for MP3 files, but have no way of accessing internet radio (that is currently only available on really high-end systems). We provide a wireless data enabled USB dongle that can receive streaming radio (e.g. for internet radio stations, Spotify etc.) The wireless data enabled USB dongle may interface wirelessly with a mobile phone or other mobile device (eg. one that is a router). The mobile phone or other mobile device may provide automatic wireless network sharing. The mobile phone or other mobile device may provide wireless access to the internet, thereby providing access via the internet to radio stations that cannot be received by a vehicle radio broadcast receiver. The USB dongle captures a data stream and converts it to a sequence of files - just like the MP3 files the in-vehicle (eg. in-car) audio is designed to read. This enables even a basic in-vehicle (eg. in-car) audio device to have playback/rewind, store etc. functionality for internet radio.

The streamed audio is stored as at least two separate files, which allows the user to choose to skip to the next track using the car audio system software. The user can listen to music online in his vehicle (eg. a car) with no modifications to the in-vehicle (eg. in-car) audio system. An online interface is used for setting up the service, selecting stream source. The online interface may be provided by the mobile phone or other mobile device.

Device with no visible mechanical buttons Example

The mobile device (eg. one that is a router) (eg. mobile phone) may present a seamless, unibody surface - although it can still have hidden mechanical buttons e.g. for volume up, volume down. Squeeze control Example

The mobile device (eg. one that is a router) (eg. mobile phone) may be turned on or off by squeezing it.

Curved phone Example

A unique and organic phone shape - essential for rapid product differentiation in a crowded space. The mobile phone (eg. one that is a router) has a concave front face and a convex rear face, which may be of same or similar magnitude of curvature. Concave front may match a path of a finger as wrist rotates. Hence it's very natural to use. Having a curved surface as the vibrating distributed mode loudspeaker (DML) speaker is also better since if the main screen (eg. LCD) with the speaker exciters was instead a flat surface, then it would sound unpleasant if that flat surface is placed down against a tabletop. Curving the surface prevents this happening. Preferred curvature of front and back is cylindrical, rather than spherical or aspherical.

The convex back can have a bistable display. Since the normal resting position is front face down, the back screen with bi-stable display is normally displayed when phone is in the resting position. This resting position is stable. If phone is placed back down (ie convex face down), the phone could spin, which is unstable. Hence a user will likely place phone front face (i.e. concave face) down, with the bi-stable screen showing.

When the phone is in a pocket, the front face (concave face) can face inwards, since this better matches leg curvature. This can be the better configuration (as opposed to front face up) for antenna reception.

Curved device Example A unique and organic device shape - essential for rapid product differentiation in a crowded space. The mobile device has a concave front face and a convex rear face, which may be of same or similar magnitude of curvature. Concave front may match a path of a finger as wrist rotates. Hence it's very natural to use. Having a curved surface as the vibrating DML speaker is also better since if the main screen (eg. LCD) with the speaker exciters was instead a flat surface, then it would sound unpleasant if that flat surface is placed down against a tabletop. Curving the surface prevents this happening. Preferred curvature of front and back is cylindrical, rather than spherical or aspherical. The convex back can have a bistable display. Since the normal resting position is front face down, the back screen with bi-stable display is normally displayed when device is in the resting position. This resting position is stable. If the device is placed back down (ie convex face down), the device could spin, which is unstable. Hence a user will likely place device front face (i.e. concave face) down, with the bi-stable screen showing.

When the device is in a pocket, the front face (concave face) can face inwards, since this better matches leg curvature. This can be the better configuration (as opposed to front face up) for antenna reception. The curved device (eg. one that is a router) may be a mobile phone, a mobile smart phone, a mobile tablet computer device, a personal computer, a video game console, or a digital audio player, for example.

Capacitive 'Hold' sensors Example

With a conventional phone, one has to manually activate the home screen if the phone is in its idle state, usually by pressing a button. We use capacitor sensor strips in the phone, so that the phone can know if the user has picked it up and then automatically wake-up - e.g. activate the start-up/home screen.

This could be used instead of a soft or hard key lock on the phone as well as for the screen brightness.

Note

It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are only illustrative of the application for the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. While the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred example(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth herein.

APPENDIX 1: Wi-Fi PRIMER

The Alliance has generally enforced the use of 'Wi-Fi' to describe only a narrow range of connectivity technologies including wireless local area network (WLAN) based on the IEEE 802.1 1 standards, device to device connectivity (such as Wi-Fi Peer to Peer, also known as Wi-Fi Direct), and a range of technologies that support PAN (Personal area network), LAN (Local area network) and even WAN (Wide area network) connections.

A Wi-Fi enabled device such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone or digital audio player can connect to the Internet when within range of a wireless network connected to the Internet. The coverage of one or more (interconnected) access points— which may be called hotspots— can comprise an area as small as a few rooms or as large as many square miles. Coverage in the larger area may depend on a group of access points with overlapping coverage. Wi-Fi technology has been used in wireless mesh networks, for example, in London, UK. In addition to private use in homes and offices, Wi-Fi can provide public access at Wi-Fi hotspots provided either free-of-charge or to subscribers to various commercial services. Organizations and businesses - such as those running airports, hotels and restaurants - often provide free-use hotspots to attract or assist clients. A wireless access point (WAP) connects a group of wireless devices to an adjacent wired LAN. An access point resembles a network hub, relaying data between connected wireless devices in addition to a (usually) single connected wired device, most often an ethernet hub or switch, allowing wireless devices to communicate with other wired devices.

Wireless adapters allow devices to connect to a wireless network. These adapters connect to devices using various external or internal interconnects such as PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect), miniPCI (mini Peripheral Component Interconnect), USB (Universal Serial Bus), ExpressCard, Cardbus and PC Card (originally PCMCIA Card; PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association). As of 2010, most newer laptop computers come equipped with internal adapters. Internal cards are generally more difficult to install.

Wireless routers integrate a Wireless Access Point, ethernet switch, and internal router firmware application that provides IP (Internet Protocol) routing, NAT (Network address translation), and DNS (Domain Name System) forwarding through an integrated WAN- interface. A wireless router allows wired and wireless ethernet LAN devices to connect to a (usually) single WAN device such as a cable modem or a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) modem. A wireless router allows all three devices, mainly the access point and router, to be configured through one central utility. This utility is usually an integrated web server that is accessible to wired and wireless LAN clients and often optionally to WAN clients. This utility may also be an application that is run on a desktop computer such as Apple's AirPort.

Wireless network bridges connect a wired network to a wireless network. A bridge differs from an access point: an access point connects wireless devices to a wired network at the data-link layer. Two wireless bridges may be used to connect two wired networks over a wireless link, useful in situations where a wired connection may be unavailable, such as between two separate homes. Wireless range-extenders or wireless repeaters can extend the range of an existing wireless network. Strategically placed range-extenders can elongate a signal area or allow for the signal area to reach around barriers such as those pertaining in L-shaped corridors. Wireless devices connected through repeaters will suffer from an increased latency for each hop. Additionally, a wireless device connected to any of the repeaters in the chain will have a throughput limited by the "weakest link" between the two nodes in the chain from which the connection originates to where the connection ends.

APPENDIX 2: CONCEPTS A. Yota introduction

1. The main focus for Yota's IP protection strategy will be its new LTE phone. The LTE phone will include innovative software, hardware and provide an innovative user experience. B. List of Concepts

1. 'Meet Camera' - seeing eye-to-eye when video conferencing

Conventional video phones give a very poor user experience because there's rarely eye-to- eye contact - instead, the caller seems to be looking away from you since he's looking away from the camera. We place cameras on either side of the LCD screen to create a virtual camera in the centre of the screen, using an algorithm based on the two images. The image taken by the virtual camera is what is shown to the other party: this gives the impression to the other party that you are looking directly at them - a much better user experience.

One advantage of Meet Camera is that one can approach a large panel display with always on video-conferencing and talk directly to the person shown on it - giving the feeling of eye-to- eye contact.

The face displayed by the virtual camera can be placed in the centre of the screen, even if the face of the person whose image is being captured moves significantly away from the centre of the screen. This placement can be accomplished by a tracking algorithm. See Figure 13.

2. Capacitive 'Hold' sensors

This could be used instead of a soft or hard key lock on the phone as well as for the screen brightness. 3. DML Phone speaker

It's hard to get good quality audio performance, unless you have a large speaker with a large and ugly speaker hole. We use NXT pic distributed mode loudspeaker (DML) technology here to vibrate the entire phone screen - the whole screen surface acts as the speaker. The speaker hole can be fully eliminated. One can use two small drivers/exciters under the glass to make the screen vibrate. DML has never been used before to drive a screen surface in a mobile phone. Haptic feedback can be provided by the drivers too - a new use for the DML exciters.

4. Mobile hot spot - 'Instant 4G'

We provide a simple hard (or soft) switch on phone, to enable instant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the phone as a mobile hot spot. A user can instantly share internet access using this switch on the phone, instead of a complex user interface (UI). So one could use be at a party to instantly enable friends to access the internet via your phone. Files on the phone could then also be shared (access control would prevent other files from being shared). 5. Virtual Web-USB interface for wireless devices iPhone/iPad has no USB connector - a major disaadvantage. We provide a WiFi connection from a WiFi dongle with a USB interface; the iPhone/iPad can then interface to a memory in the WiFi dongle, plus any external device that the USB dongle is plugged

into, just as though the USB interface was native to the iPhone. So you could view the file structure of files stored on the USB dongle itself in a web browser on the iPhone, or print to a printer the USB dongle is interfaced to.

6. USB stick for in-car audio

In-car audio systems often have USB interfaces for MP3 files, but will have no way of accessing internet radio (that is currently only available on really high-end systems). We provide a wireless data enabled USB dongle that can receive streaming radio (e.g. for internet radio stations, Spotify etc.) The USB dongle captures the data stream and converts it to a sequence of files - just like the MP3 files the in-car audio is designed to read. This enables even a basic in-car audio device to have playback/rewind, store etc. functionality for internet radio.

The streamed audio is stored as at least two separate files, which allows the user to choose to skip to the next track using the car audio system software. The user can listen to music online in his car with no modifications to the in-car audio system. An online interface is used for setting up the service, selecting stream source.

7. User experience (UX) to identify sound sources

Individual sound sources (different people speaking at a phone in hands-free mode) are identified with two or more inbuilt microphones. Then the individual sources are graphically represented on the device relative to their position in the room. A visual interface on the phone enables selection by hand of which sound source to record e.g. to optimise the noise cancellation/sonic focus for the selected sound source. This could be advantageous in for instance meetings where one person is talking and you want to aggressively noise cancel everything else.

8. Phone with no visible mechanical buttons

The phone presents a seamless, unibody surface - although it can still have hidden mechanical buttons e.g. for volume up, volume down.

9. Squeeze control

You can turn the phone on or off by squeezing it.

10. Curved phone A unique and organic phone shape - essential for rapid product differentiation in a crowded space. The mobile phone has a concave front face and a convex rear face, of same or similar magnitude of curvature. Concave front matches path of finger as wrist rotates. Hence it's very natural to use. Having a curved surface as the vibrating DML speaker is also better since if the LCD with the speaker exciters was instead a flat surface, then it would sound unpleasant if that flat surface is placed down against a tabletop. Curving the surface prevents this happening. Preferred curvature of front and back is cylindrical, rather than spherical or aspherical. The convex back can have a bistable display. Since the normal resting position is front face down, the back screen with bi-stable display is normally displayed when phone is in the resting position. This resting position is stable. If phone is placed back down (ie convex face down), the phone could spin, which is unstable. Hence a user will likely place phone front face (i.e. concave face) down, with the bi-stable screen showing.

When the phone is in a pocket, the front face (concave face) can face inwards, since this better matches leg curvature. This can be the better configuration (as opposed to front face up) for antenna reception. 11. Microphone in SIM card "eject hole"

The microphone is placed in a hole in the body of the mobile device, in the SIM card's eject hole. See Figure 14. 12. Tactile casing of mobile device

The casing of the mobile device consists of a material that can change its tactile properties from wood to metal ("morphing"). APPENDIX 3 : PRIMER ON LTE

3 GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), is the latest standard in the mobile network technology tree that produced the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies. It is a project of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), operating under a name trademarked by one of the associations within the partnership, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute.

The current generation of mobile telecommunication networks are collectively known as 3G (for "third generation"). Although LTE is often marketed as 4G, first-release LTE does not fully comply with the IMT Advanced 4G requirements. The pre-4G standard is a step toward LTE Advanced, a 4th generation standard (4G) of radio technologies designed to increase the capacity and speed of mobile telephone networks. LTE Advanced is backwards compatible with LTE and uses the same frequency bands, while LTE is not backwards compatible with 3G systems.

MetroPCS and Verizon Wireless in the United States and several worldwide carriers announced plans, beginning in 2009, to convert their networks to LTE. The world's first publicly available LTE-service was opened by TeliaSonera in the two Scandinavian capitals Stockholm and Oslo on the 14th of December 2009. LTE is a set of enhancements to the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) which was introduced in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP) Release 8. Much of 3 GPP Release 8 focuses on adopting 4G mobile communication's technology, including an all-IP flat networking architecture. On August 18, 2009, the European Commission announced it will invest a total of€18 million into researching the deployment of LTE and the certified 4G system LTE Advanced.

While it is commonly seen as a cell phone or common carrier development, LTE is also endorsed by public safety agencies in the US as the preferred technology for the new 700 MHz public-safety radio band. Agencies in some areas have filed for waivers hoping to use the 700 MHz spectrum with other technologies in advance of the adoption of a nationwide standard.

The LTE specification provides downlink peak rates of at least 100 Mbps, an uplink of at least 50 Mbps and RAN round-trip times of less than 10 ms. LTE supports scalable carrier bandwidths, from 1.4 MHz to 20 MHz and supports both frequency division duplexing (FDD) and time division duplexing (TDD).

Part of the LTE standard is the System Architecture Evolution, a flat IP -based network architecture designed to replace the GPRS Core Network and ensure support for, and mobility between, some legacy or non-3 GPP systems, for example GPRS and WiMAX respectively.

The main advantages with LTE are high throughput, low latency, plug and play, FDD and TDD in the same platform, an improved end-user experience and a simple architecture resulting in low operating costs. LTE will also support seamless passing to cell towers with older network technology such as GSM, cdmaOne, UMTS, and CDMA2000. The next step for LTE evolution is LTE Advanced and is currently being standardized in 3 GPP Release 10.

APPENDIX 4: PRIMER ON LTE ADVANCED

LTE Advanced is a preliminary mobile communication standard, formally submitted as a candidate 4G system to ITU-T in late 2009, was approved into ITU, International Telecommunications Union, IMT-Advanced and expected to be finalized by 3 GPP in early 201 1. It is standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) as a major enhancement of the 3 GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard.

The LTE format was first proposed by NTT DoCoMo of Japan and has been adopted as the international standards. LTE standardization has come to a mature state by now where changes in the specification are limited to corrections and bug fixes. The first commercial services were launched in Scandinavia in December 2009 followed by the United States and Japan in 2010. More first release LTE networks are expected to be deployed globally during 2010 as a natural evolution of several 2G and 3G systems, including Global system for mobile communications (GSM) and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) (3 GPP as well as 3GPP2).

Being described as a 3.9G (beyond 3G but pre-4G) technology the first release LTE does not meet the IMT Advanced requirements for 4G also called IMT Advanced as defined by the International Telecommunication Union such as peak data rates up to 1 Gbit/s. The ITU has invited the submission of candidate Radio Interface Technologies (RITs) following their requirements as mentioned in a circular letter. The work by 3 GPP to define a 4G candidate radio interface technology started in Release 9 with the study phase for LTE-Advanced. The requirements for LTE-Advanced are defined in 3 GPP Technical Report (TR) 36.913, "Requirements for Further Advancements for E-UTRA (LTE-Advanced)." These requirements are based on the ITU requirements for 4G and on 3GPP operators' own requirements for advancing LTE. Major technical considerations include the following:

• Continual improvement to the LTE radio technology and architecture

• Scenarios and performance requirements for interworking with legacy radio access technologies • Backward compatibility of LTE- Advanced with LTE. An LTE terminal should be able to work in an LTE- Advanced network and vice versa. Any exceptions will be considered by 3 GPP.

• Account taken of recent World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07) decisions regarding new IMT spectrum as well as existing frequency bands to ensure that LTE-

Advanced geographically accommodates available spectrum for channel allocations above 20 MHz. Also, requirements must recognize those parts of the world in which wideband channels are not available. Likewise, 802.16m, 'WiMAX 2', has been approved by ITU into the IMT Advanced family. WiMAX 2 is designed to be backward compatible with WiMAX 1/1.5 devices. Most vendors now support ease of conversion of earlier 'pre-4G', pre-advanced versions and some support software defined upgrades of core base station equipment from 3G. The mobile communication industry and standardization organizations have therefore started to work on 4G access technologies such as LTE Advanced. At a workshop in April 2008 in China 3GPP agreed the plans for future work on Long Term Evolution (LTE). A first set of 3 GPP requirements on LTE Advanced has been approved in June 2008. Besides the peak data rate 1 Gbit/s that fully supports the 4G requirements as defined by the ITU-R, it also targets faster switching between power states and improved performance at the cell edge. Detailed proposals are being studied within the working groups.

APPENDIX 5: PRIMER ON ROUTERS

The most familiar type of routers are home and small office routers that simply pass data, such as web pages and email, between the home computers and the owner's cable or DSL modem, which connects to the Internet (ISP). However more sophisticated routers range from enterprise routers, which connect large business or ISP networks up to the powerful core routers that forward data at high speed along the optical fiber lines of the Internet backbone. When multiple routers are used in interconnected networks, the routers exchange information about destination addresses, using a dynamic routing protocol. Each router builds up a table listing the preferred routes between any two systems on the interconnected networks. A router has interfaces for different physical types of network connections, (such as copper cables, fiber optic, or wireless transmission). It also contains firmware for different networking protocol standards. Each network interface uses this specialized computer software to enable data packets to be forwarded from one protocol transmission system to another.

Routers may also be used to connect two or more logical groups of computer devices known as subnets, each with a different sub-network address. The subnets addresses recorded in the router do not necessarily map directly to the physical interface connections. A router has two stages of operation called planes:

Control plane: A router records a routing table listing what route should be used to forward a data packet, and through which physical interface connection. It does this using internal pre- configured addresses, called static routes.

Forwarding plane: The router forwards data packets between incoming and outgoing interface connections. It routes it to the correct network type using information that the packet header contains. It uses data recorded in the routing table control plane.

Routers may provide connectivity within enterprises, between enterprises and the Internet, and between internet service providers (ISPs) networks. The largest routers (such as the Cisco CRS-1 or Juniper T1600) interconnect the various ISPs, or may be used in large enterprise networks. Smaller routers usually provide connectivity for typical home and office networks. Other networking solutions may be provided by a backbone Wireless Distribution System (WDS), which avoids the costs of introducing networking cables into buildings.

All sizes of routers may be found inside enterprises. The most powerful routers are usually found in ISPs, academic and research facilities. Large businesses may also need more powerful routers to cope with ever increasing demands of intranet data traffic. A three-layer model is in common use, not all of which need be present in smaller networks.

CONCEPTS

There are provided multiple concepts in this disclosure. The following may be of assistance in defining some of these concepts.

A. Portable router device operable to provide a local area network in response to the device connection with a wide area network satisfying a connection condition.

There is provided a router device including a wide area network interface and a local area network interface, the portable router device operable to connect to a wide area network using the wide area network interface, the portable router device further operable to provide a local area network using the local area network interface in response to the device connection with the wide area network satisfying a connection condition. Further aspects may include:

• the wide area network interface is operable to provide a wireless connection.

• the connection condition includes that the device is connected to the wide area network.

• the connection condition includes wide area network signal strength being in a predefined range of wide area network signal strength.

• the local area network interface is operable to provide a wireless connection.

• the local area network interface includes a Wi-Fi interface.

• the local area network interface includes a personal network interface.

• the local area network interface includes a campus network interface.

• the local area network interface is operable to provide a wired connection.

• the portable router device is a mobile device.

• the portable router device is further operable to provide the local area network using the local area network interface only when the device connection with the wide area network satisfies the connection condition.

• the portable router device is further operable to deactivate the local area network using the local area network interface in response to a disconnection of the device from the wide area network. the portable router device is further operable to deactivate the local area network using the local area network interface in response to wide area network signal strength being in a predefined range of wide area network signal strength,

the portable router device is further operable to deactivate the local area network using the local area network interface in response to a predefined range of wide area network signal strength occurring for a predefined time interval.

the portable router device is further operable to maintain the local area network activation in response to a communication between devices on the local area network, the router device when switched on reduces power consumption when the local area network interface is deactivated,

the router device includes a display.

the display is operable to display a message indicating that a local area network interface is not provided.

the display is operable to display a message indicating that a local area network interface is not provided because a wide area network is not available.

the display is operable to display a message indicating that a local area network interface is not provided because a wide area network signal is too weak.

the device is operable to provide instant and automatic sharing of a wireless network in response to a single action by a user, the single action comprising a physical contact gesture with the portable router device by the user, or a voice activation command by the user.

the portable router device includes a hard switch, wherein the single gesture by the user comprises pressing the hard switch of the portable router device.

the portable router device includes a soft switch, wherein the single gesture by the user comprises pressing the soft switch of the portable router device.

the portable router device includes a hidden mechanical button, wherein the single gesture by the user comprises pressing the hidden mechanical button of the portable router device.

the portable router device includes a squeeze control, wherein the single gesture by the user comprises activating the squeeze control of the portable router device,

the portable router device includes capacitor sensor strips operable to detect when the user has picked up the device, wherein the single action by the user comprises picking up the portable router device. • the device is operable to connect to the internet via a mobile phone network.

• the device is adapted to enable a further device to access files on the portable router device via the local area network.

• the device is connectable to a 4G mobile phone network.

• the device is connectable to a 3G mobile phone network.

• the device is connectable to a 2G mobile phone network.

• the device is a bar form factor device.

• the device comprises a touch screen.

• the device comprises a further bistable screen.

• the bistable screen is operable to be refreshed wholly or partially.

• the bistable screen is operable to be refreshed starting with any pixel in a screen area.

• the device is operable to define a limited set of users who may connect to the device to enable sharing of the local area network with the limited set of users.

• the device is operable to provide a wireless connection to a personal computer, to enable that computer to connect to the internet.

• the device is operable to provide a wireless connection to two personal computers, to enable file sharing or resource sharing between those two personal computers.

• the device is operable to provide for file synchronization for files that are shared using sharing of a local area network via the portable router device.

• the device is a mobile phone.

• the device is a video game console.

• the device is a smartphone.

• the device is a digital audio player.

• the device is a personal computer.

• the device is a tablet computer.

• the device is a personal device.

• the device is operable to provide instant and automatic sharing of a wireless network in response to a single action by a user, the single action comprising a physical contact gesture with the portable router device by the user, or a voice activation command by the user, when the portable router device is already turned on and connected to a mobile phone network. • the device is operable to connect to a wireless dongle, the portable router device further operable to view a file structure of files stored on the wireless dongle.

• the device is operable to view the file structure of files stored on the wireless dongle in a web browser running on the portable router device.

• the device is operable to print a file on the dongle at a printer in connection with the dongle.

• the device is operable to print a file on the dongle at a printer in connection with the portable router device.

• the device has a curved shape.

• the device has a concave front face and a convex rear face.

• the concave front face and the convex rear face have a similar magnitude of curvature.

There is provided a method of providing a local area network using a portable router device, the device including a wide area network interface and a local area network interface, the portable router device operable to connect to a wide area network using the wide area network interface, the portable router device further operable to provide a local area network using the local area network interface, the method comprising the step of:

(i) the portable router providing the local area network in response to the device satisfying a connection condition with the wide area network.

The method may further comprise the step of:

(ii) the portable router deactivating the local area network in response to the device not satisfying a connection condition to the wide area network. There is provided a computer program product adapted to provide a local area network when the program is executing on a portable router device, the device including a wide area network interface and a local area network interface, the portable router device operable to provide the local area network using the local area network interface, the computer program product adapted to connect the portable router device to a wide area network using the wide area network interface, the computer program product further adapted to provide the local area network in response to the device satisfying a connection condition with the wide area network. The computer program product may be further adapted to deactivate the local area network in response to the device not satisfying a connection condition with the wide area network.

B. USB dongle for streamed files, eg. audio (eg. internet radio), video or image files

There is provided a wireless data enabled USB dongle operable to receive streamed files. Further features may include:

• Files may be audio, video, or images.

• streamed audio is internet radio

• USB dongle may interface wirelessly with a mobile phone or other mobile device (eg. a portable router device)

• The mobile phone or other mobile device may provide automatic wireless network sharing

• USB dongle operable to connect to an in-vehicle USB socket, wherein an in-vehicle computer system is operable to play audio files on the dongle.

• mobile phone or other mobile device may provide wireless access to the internet

• mobile phone or other mobile device may provide wireless access to the internet, wherein access is provided via the internet to radio stations that cannot be received by a vehicle radio broadcast receiver

• USB dongle operable to capture a data stream and converts it to a sequence of files

• Files may be MP3 files

• Files may be audio files

• Files may be video files

• Files may be images

• USB dongle enables an in-vehicle (eg. in-car) audio system to have playback/rewind, store etc. functionality for audio files.

• USB dongle enables an in-vehicle (eg. in-car) display system to have playback/rewind, store etc. functionality for video files.

• USB dongle enables an in-vehicle (eg. in-car) display system to have step forward, step backward, store etc. functionality for image files. streamed audio is stored as at least two separate files, which allows the user to choose to skip to the next track using the car audio system software, streamed video is stored as at least two separate files, which allows the user to choose to skip to the next track using the car video system software.

The user can listen to audio (eg. music) online in his vehicle (eg. a car) with no modifications to the in-vehicle (eg. in-car) audio system.

The user can view video online in his vehicle (eg. a car) with no modifications to the in-vehicle (eg. in-car) video system.

An online interface is used for setting up the service, selecting stream source.

The online interface may be provided by the mobile phone or other mobile device. Dongle may be a USB stick for in-vehicle audio

Claims

1. Portable router device including a wide area network interface and a local area network interface, the portable router device operable to connect to a wide area network using the wide area network interface, the portable router device further operable to provide a local area network using the local area network interface in response to the device connection with the wide area network satisfying a connection condition.

2. Portable router device of Claim 1, wherein the wide area network interface is operable to provide a wireless connection.

3. Portable router device of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection condition includes that the device is connected to the wide area network.

4. Portable router device of Claim 3, wherein the connection condition includes wide area network signal strength being in a predefined range of wide area network signal strength.

5. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the local area network interface is operable to provide a wireless connection.

6. Portable router device of Claim 5, wherein the local area network interface includes a Wi-Fi interface.

7. Portable router device of Claims 5 or 6, wherein the local area network interface includes a personal network interface.

8. Portable router device any of Claims 5 to 7, wherein the local area network interface includes a campus network interface.

9. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the local area network interface is operable to provide a wired connection.

10. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the portable router device is a mobile device.

11. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the portable router device is further operable to provide the local area network using the local area network interface only when the device connection with the wide area network satisfies the connection condition.

12. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the portable router device is further operable to deactivate the local area network using the local area network interface in response to a disconnection of the device from the wide area network.

13. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the portable router device is further operable to deactivate the local area network using the local area network interface in response to wide area network signal strength being in a predefined range of wide area network signal strength.

14. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the portable router device is further operable to deactivate the local area network using the local area network interface in response to a predefined range of wide area network signal strength occurring for a predefined time interval.

15. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the portable router device is further operable to maintain the local area network activation in response to a communication between devices on the local area network.

16. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the router device when switched on reduces power consumption when the local area network interface is deactivated.

17. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the router device includes a display.

18. Portable router device of Claim 17, wherein the display is operable to display a message indicating that a local area network interface is not provided.

19. Portable router device of Claim 17, wherein the display is operable to display a message indicating that a local area network interface is not provided because a wide area network is not available.

20. Portable router device of Claim 17, wherein the display is operable to display a message indicating that a local area network interface is not provided because a wide area network signal is too weak.

21. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is operable to provide instant and automatic sharing of a wireless network in response to a single action by a user, the single action comprising a physical contact gesture with the portable router device by the user, or a voice activation command by the user.

22. Portable router device of Claim 21 , wherein the portable router device includes a hard switch, wherein the single gesture by the user comprises pressing the hard switch of the portable router device.

23. Portable router device of Claims 21 or 22, wherein the portable router device includes a soft switch, wherein the single gesture by the user comprises pressing the soft switch of the portable router device.

24. Portable router device of any of Claims 21 to 23, wherein the portable router device includes a hidden mechanical button, wherein the single gesture by the user comprises pressing the hidden mechanical button of the portable router device.

25. Portable router device of any of Claims 21 to 24, wherein the portable router device includes a squeeze control, wherein the single gesture by the user comprises activating the squeeze control of the portable router device.

26. Portable router device of any of Claims 21 to 25, wherein the portable router device includes capacitor sensor strips operable to detect when the user has picked up the device, wherein the single action by the user comprises picking up the portable router device.

27. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is operable to connect to the internet via a mobile phone network.

28. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is adapted to enable a further device to access files on the portable router device via the local area network.

29. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is connectable to a 4G mobile phone network.

30. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is connectable to a 3G mobile phone network.

31. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is connectable to a 2G mobile phone network.

32. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is a bar form factor device.

33. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device comprises a touch screen

34. Portable router device of Claim 33, wherein the device comprises a further bistable screen.

35. Portable router device of Claim 34, wherein the bistable screen is operable to be refreshed wholly or partially.

36. Portable router device of Claims 34 or 35, wherein the bistable screen is operable to be refreshed starting with any pixel in a screen area.

37. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is operable to define a limited set of users who may connect to the device to enable sharing of the local area network with the limited set of users.

38. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is operable to provide a wireless connection to a personal computer, to enable that computer to connect to the internet.

39. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is operable to provide a wireless connection to two personal computers, to enable file sharing or resource sharing between those two personal computers.

40. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is operable to provide for file synchronization for files that are shared using sharing of a local area network via the portable router device.

41. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is a mobile phone.

42. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is a video game console.

43. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is a smartphone.

44. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is a digital audio player.

45. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is a personal computer.

46. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is a tablet computer.

47. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is a personal device.

48. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is operable to provide instant and automatic sharing of a wireless network in response to a single action by a user, the single action comprising a physical contact gesture with the portable router device by the user, or a voice activation command by the user, when the portable router device is already turned on and connected to a mobile phone network.

49. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device is operable to connect to a wireless dongle, the portable router device further operable to view a file structure of files stored on the wireless dongle.

50. Portable router device of Claim 49, wherein the device is operable to view the file structure of files stored on the wireless dongle in a web browser running on the portable router device.

51. Portable router device of Claim 49, wherein the device is operable to print a file on the dongle at a printer in connection with the dongle.

52. Portable router device of Claim 49, wherein the device is operable to print a file on the dongle at a printer in connection with the portable router device.

53. Portable router device of any previous Claim, wherein the device has a curved shape.

54. Portable router device of Claim 53, wherein the device has a concave front face and a convex rear face.

55. Portable router device of Claim 54, wherein the concave front face and the convex rear face have a similar magnitude of curvature.

56. Method of providing a local area network using a portable router device, the device including a wide area network interface and a local area network interface, the portable router device operable to connect to a wide area network using the wide area network interface, the portable router device further operable to provide a local area network using the local area network interface, the method comprising the step of:

57. Method of Claim 56, further comprising the step of:

(ii) the portable router deactivating the local area network in response to the device not satisfying a connection condition to the wide area network.

58. Computer program product adapted to provide a local area network when the program is executing on a portable router device, the device including a wide area network interface and a local area network interface, the portable router device operable to provide the local area network using the local area network interface, the computer program product adapted to connect the portable router device to a wide area network using the wide area network interface, the computer program product further adapted to provide the local area network in response to the device satisfying a connection condition with the wide area network.

59. Computer program product of Claim 58, wherein the program is adapted to deactivate the local area network in response to the device not satisfying a connection condition with the wide area network.