Unified networking system and device for heterogeneous mobile environments

This technology is a system for creating a unified networking experience across network interfaces and devices.

Unmet Need: Networking system that provides a seamless user experience

Mobile communication devices utilize multiple network interfaces, including Wi-Fi, WiMAX, LTE, and wired LAN. However, many devices can connect to only one network interface at a time, and connectivity can be intermittent as users travel to regions with limited service options. While some individual applications may be able to control network selection, users cannot easily specify which types of network interfaces to use for different applications or data types. In view of this, there remains a need for a general framework to control network selection functionality across applications.

The Technology: A method and device for unified networking

This technology consists of a method and device for creating a unified networking experience in a heterogeneous networking environment. This includes maintaining and monitoring active network interfaces, managing network access security, and enabling disruption tolerance support, among many other tasks. The networking device contains multiple layers that communicate with one another to manage network channel configuration, network discovery and authentication, and mapping and policy control. As such, this technology enables users to seamlessly move between networks on a given device and to seamlessly use the same applications across multiple devices.

Applications:

• Mobile phones
• Laptop computers and tablets
• Websites and applications accessed across devices
• Device-to-device communication

Advantages:

• Provides a seamless user experience
• Takes advantage of multiple networks
• Enables disruption tolerance support for applications
• Provides seamless secure handovers between networks
• Manages network access security
• Enables service sharing and session mobility
• Monitors for network events
• Can offload tasks to the cloud if device parameters are exceeded

Lead Inventor:

Henning Schulzrinne, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Status

Related Publications:

• Singh A, Ormazabal G, Schulzrinne H, Zou Y, Thermos P, Addepalli S. “Unified heterogeneous networking design” IPTCOMM. 2013 Oct: 1-7.

• Dutta A, Das S, Famolari D, Ohba Y, Taniuchi K, Fajardo V, Lopez RM, Kodama T, Schulzrinne H. “Seamless proactive handover across heterogeneous networks” Wireless Personal Comm. 2007 Jun; 43: 837-855.

• Chiba T, Yokota H, Idoue A, Dutta A, Das S, Lin FJ, Schulzrinne H. “Mobility management schemes for heterogeneity support in next generation wireless networks” Next Gen Int Netwks. 2007 May: 143-150.

Tech Ventures Reference:

• IR CU13012

• Licensing Contact: Greg Maskel