Patent ID: 7885185
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: H04L,H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method for substantially real-time comparison of quality-of-interfaces by mobile devices having multiple heterogeneous interfaces that communicate over heterogeneous radio networks, comprising: comparing in substantially real-time the qualities of multiple interfaces of a mobile device that connect to heterogeneous networks using independent QoI metrics and methods used to obtain QoI measurement, whether measured by a path through a radio network alone or a path through both a radio network and through a wired network, said comparing including collecting observation samples of a communication path of a currently used interface, and making a value estimate of a quality of said currently used interface based on these collected samples; said comparing further including collecting observation samples of a communication path of a new interface heterogeneous to said current interface, and making a value estimate of a quality of said new interface based on these collected samples; the mobile node determining if the value estimate of the new interface sufficiently exceeds the value estimate of the current interface, and, if so, thereafter rendering a decision to switch communication from said current interface to said new interface regardless of whether communication via said first interface was sufficient or above an acceptable threshold.