Patent ID: 9106559
Filing Date: 2015-08-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for automatically selecting a local communication channel for downloading data from a data source via a network, the method comprising: downloading a first block of data from the data source using a first local communication channel; downloading a second block of data from the data source using a second local communication channel, the second block of data being of the same size as the first block of data; separately computing for both local communication channels a data transfer rate of the channel, a time required to download a remainder of data from the data source using the channel, and an energy cost associated with downloading the remainder using the channel; comparing the calculated data transfer rates of the two local communication channels; and in response to determining that the data transfer rate of the first local communication channel is greater than the data transfer rate of the second local communication channel, selecting the first local communication channel to download the remainder of data if: (i) the energy cost associated with downloading the remainder of data over the first local communication channel is less than the energy cost associated with downloading the remainder of data over the second local communication channel or (ii) the time required to download the remainder of data using the second local communication channel is greater than a maximum acceptable download time for the first local communication channel.