Patent ID: 7797437
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of maintaining communication between a first unit and a second unit, wherein said first unit is comprised of a geographically mobile unit and includes a first protocol stack adapted to act between a first communications hardware used for communication via a first communications network and one or more first software components, and wherein said second unit includes a second protocol stack adapted to act between a second communications hardware used for communication via a second communications network and one or more second software components, the method comprising the steps of: providing said first unit with a first session layer which is adapted to act as an interface between said first protocol stack and said first software components; providing said second unit with a second session layer which is adapted to act as an interface between said second protocol stack and said second software components; causing said first session layer to indicate a first identity corresponding to said second unit and said second software components; causing said second session layer to indicate a second identity corresponding to said first unit and said first software components; causing said first and said second session layers to use a common session protocol to ensure that traffic belonging to different first sockets in said first software components are directed by traffic intended for said second software components to different second sockets in said second software components uniquely corresponding to said different first sockets, and that traffic belonging to different second sockets in said second software components are directed by traffic intended for said first software components to different first sockets in said first software components uniquely corresponding to said different second sockets; providing said first unit with one or more first communications hardware with associated drive routines adapted to different communications networks; in the event of said first unit switching from said first communications network to a third communications network, causing said first session layer to maintain said communication between said first unit and said second unit by selecting necessary first communications hardware and drive routines for said third communications network; and causing said second session layer to retain said second identity during the switching of said first unit from said first communications network to said third communications network.