Abstract:
A router system is disclosed. The router system comprises a wireless router and a cradle comprising a router interface configured to receive the router. One or more connections are positioned at the router interface for communicating with the router. Methods and systems for communicating between a router and the internet are also disclosed.

Description:
The present disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/266,949, filed on Dec. 4, 2009, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Routers allow client devices in a local area network (LAN) to access a wide area network (WAN). Connections between client devices and the router may be wired or wireless. Similarly, connections between the router and the Wide Area Network may be wired or wireless. Wireless connections to the WAN may be through a cellular network. 
     Portable, wireless routers are well known in the art. Such routers can connect to the internet using a data exchanger. The router can provide a wireless link to local client devices. In addition, the router may provide a wireless link to an internet service provider. However, wireless links to internet service providers can sometimes provide relatively slow data transfer and/or be costly to use. 
     In addition, wireless routers may suffer from poor signal strength between the router and the client devices and/or the internet service provider. Further, the router may run on batteries that are rechargeable, or need to operate continuously for a period of time that is longer than some batteries will allow. 
     The present disclosure is directed to addressing on or more of the problems discussed above. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure is direct to a method for communicating between a router and the internet. The method comprises establishing a first remote link between the router and an internet service provider using a primary data exchanger. A second remote link is established between the router and an internet service provider using an alternate data exchanger. The alternate data exchanger is embedded in a cradle configured to receive the router. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a router system. The router system comprises a wireless router comprising a data exchanger interface and a cradle configured to hold the wireless router. The cradle comprises an alternate data exchanger embedded in the cradle. The data exchanger interface is configured to communicate with the alternate data exchanger when the router is positioned in the cradle. 
     Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a router cradle. The router cradle comprises a router interface configured to receive a router. One or more connections are positioned at the router interface for communicating with the router. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a router system. The router system comprises a wireless router and a cradle comprising a router interface configured to receive the router. One or more connections are positioned at the router interface for communicating with the router. 
     Still another embodiment of the present disclosure is direct to a method for communicating between a router and the internet. The method comprises establishing a first remote link between the router and an internet service provider using a primary data exchanger. A second remote link is established between the router and an internet service provider using an alternate data exchanger. The alternate data exchanger is embedded in a wireless gateway. The router is configured to automatically establish the second remote link when in communication range of the wireless gateway. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are block diagrams of systems comprising a router, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing illustrating a router system comprising a router and a cradle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic drawing illustrating a router system comprising a router and a wireless gateway, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are block diagrams of routers, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a router system comprising a cradle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure allow a user to connect to the internet using a device such as an internet enabled cellular telephone, wireless modem or other cellular data access device. With a router, multiple users of computing devices, such as lap top computers, desktop computers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs), can access the internet simultaneously through the data capabilities of the cellular data access device. The combination of the router and the cellular data access device can provide an internet-connected local wireless network anywhere that there is cellular data coverage. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates exemplary environment  1  in which various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. Environment  1  includes router  10 , client devices  12 ,  14 , and  16  and local link  18 . Router  10 , discussed in more detail later, represents generally a device capable of routing network communications between client devices  12 ,  14 , and  16  and internet  26  via a data exchanger  20 A. Client devices  12 ,  14 , and  16  represent generally any computing devices capable of communicating with router  10 . 
     Local link  18  interconnects router  10  and client devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 . Local link  18  represents generally a cable, wireless, or remote link via a telecommunication link, an infrared link, a radio frequency link, or any other connector or system that provides electronic communication between devices  10 ,  12 ,  14 , and  16 . In  FIG. 1 , the path followed by link  18  between devices  10 ,  12 ,  14 , and  16  represents the logical communication path between these devices, not necessarily the physical path between the devices. Devices  10 ,  12 ,  14 , and  16  can be connected at any point and the appropriate communication path established logically between the devices. 
     Data exchanger  20 A represents generally any combination of hardware and/or programming that can be utilized by router  10  to connect to a remote network such as the internet. In the example of  FIG. 1 , the data exchanger  20 A and router  10  are incorporated within the same device and can be connected, for example, by using internal connections. In an embodiment, the data exchanger may take the form of a separate device card that can be inserted into a slot provided by router  10 , or otherwise connected to the router  10  through an I/O port. Alternatively, the data exchanger may be fully integrated into router  10 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates another embodiment that is similar to  FIG. 1 , except that data exchanger  20 A is separate from the router  10 . For example, the data exchanger  20 A can be an internet enabled cellular telephone. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , device link  28  interconnects router  10  and data exchanger  20 A. Device link  28  represents generally any combination of a cable, wireless, or remote connection via a telecommunication link, an infrared link, a radio frequency link, or any other connector or system that provides electronic communication between devices  10  and  20 A. As examples, device link  28  may incorporate a physical connection such as a USB cable or direct connection between USB connectors, or radio waves carrying Bluetooth communications. 
     The data exchangers  20 A employed in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be any suitable type of data exchanger that will provide the desired connection to the internet. Examples of data exchangers include but are not limited to DSL modems, cable modems and cellular data modems. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , service provider  22 A represents generally any infrastructure configured to provide internet related data services to subscribers such as an owner of data exchanger  20 A. For example, where data exchanger  20 A is an internet enabled cellular telephone or cellular modem, service provider  22 A may be a cellular telephone service provider capable of providing voice and data services to subscribers allowing access to internet  26 . Where data exchanger  20 A is a DSL or cable modem, service provider  22  may be a more traditional internet service provider (ISP) providing data access to internet  26  through wired means. 
     Remote link  24  interconnects data exchanger  20 A and service provider  22 A and represents generally any combination of a cable, wireless, or remote connection via a telecommunication link, an infrared link, a radio frequency link, or any other connector or system that provides electronic communication between data exchanger  20 A and service provider  22 A. Remote link  24 A may represent an intranet, an internet, or a combination of both. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the router  10  provides a local link  18  so that client devices  12 ,  14 ,  16  can communicate with the internet  26  via remote link  24 A. If the remote link  24 A is a wireless radio connection, then the router  10  may be easily moved and used by client devices  12 ,  14 ,  16  in various locations, or while in motion. 
     However, in some situations, communication through an alternate remote link would be preferable. For example, when a router  10  is in use and there is an alternative remote link available, the alternative remote link may provide faster data transmission rates or less expensive transmission, or have some other preferential aspect of use. It would be advantageous if the router  10  could use the alternate remote link when the alternate remote link is available and preferred. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in order to provide connections to alternate remote links, router  10  has an alternate device link  28  that provides a connection to an alternate data exchanger  20 B, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This alternate data exchanger  20 B works through an alternate remote link  24 B, and alternate service provider  22 B to provide access to the internet  26 . 
     In an embodiment, when alternate data exchanger  20 B is not available, then router  10  can communicate with the internet  26  through the primary remote link  24 A. However when alternate data exchanger  20 B is available, router  10  may use alternate device link  28  to access the internet  26 . 
     For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the alternate data exchanger  20 B may be embedded in a cradle  174 . When router  10  is placed in the cradle, a data connection can be made between the router  10  and the cradle  174 . That connection can provide the device link  28 , allowing the router  10  to communicate with the alternate data exchanger  20 B. The cradle  174  can also include a remote link  24 B, which in this example, is a wired connection to a wall jack  172  that provides wired connection to a wired service provider  22 B. For example, this may be a DSL or a cable internet service provider. 
     In an embodiment, client devices  12 ,  14 ,  16  can remain connected to the router  10  through the local link  18  when router  10  switches between using data exchanger  20 A and data exchanger  20 B, and can thus still have access to the internet  26 . Thus, if desired, access to the internet for the client devices  12 ,  14 ,  16  can remain constant, or substantially constant, whether the router  10  uses the primary remote link  24 A or the alternate remote link  24 B, or a combination of the primary and alternate remote links  24 A,  24 B. 
     In another example configuration, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the router  10  may communicate wirelessly with a wireless gateway  176 . The router  10  can behave as a client or peer to the wireless gateway  176 . The wireless gateway  176  has an embedded data exchanger  20 B and communicates with the internet  26  in a manner comparable to the cradle  174 , as shown in  FIG. 3  and described above. In an embodiment, the router  10  may be within communication range of the wireless gateway  176 , and not in physical contact with the wireless gateway  176 . The router  10  and the wireless gateway  176  may be preconfigured to establish a secure connection when router  10  and wireless gateway  176  are within range of communication. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating exemplary physical and logical components of router  10 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As described above, router  10  represents generally any combination of hardware and/or programming capable functioning as a router for directing network communications between client devices on the local network, or between client devices and the internet via a data exchanger such as an internet enabled cellular telephone, cellular modem, DSL modem, or cable modem. 
     In the example of  FIG. 5 , router  10  includes local network interface  30  and data exchanger interface  32 . Local network interface  30  represents generally any combination of hardware and/or program instructions capable of supplying a communication interface between router  10  and client devices  12 ,  14 , and  16  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     Data exchanger interface  32  represents any combination of hardware and/or programming enabling data to be communicated between router  10  and a data exchanger  20 A and/or  20 B shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     For example, interfaces  30  and  32  may include a transceiver operable to exchange network communications utilizing a wireless protocol such as ultrawideband (UWB), Bluetooth, or 802.11. Alternatively, interfaces  30  and  32  may include physical ports or other physical connection points enabling wired communication. 
     In an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , router  10  can also include an embedded data exchanger  20  in addition to the data exchanger interface  32 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , data exchanger  20  allows router  10  to connect directly to ISP  22 A via remote link  24 A, as opposed to employing a separate data exchanger device. In the case of a data exchanger being embedded in router  10 , router  10  can include a data exchanger interface such as, for example, a slot for a device card, such as a cellular modem, or the like, which allows communication with the embedded data exchanger. Alternatively, the embedded data exchanger can be fully integrated into the router, in which case the data exchanger interface may be replaced with internal device connections. 
     In an embodiment, router  10  can also include router services  36  and web server  38 . Routing services  36  represents generally any combination of hardware and/or programming for routing network communication received through network interface  30  to be transmitted by data exchanger  20  to internet  26 . Routing services  36  can also be responsible for routing inbound network communications received from internet  26  and directed via network interface  30  to a specified client device  12 ,  14 , or  16 . Outbound and inbound network communications, for example can be IP (internet protocol) packets directed to a target on internet  26  or to a particular network device  12 ,  14 , or  16  on a local area network. 
     Web server  38  represents generally any combination of hardware and/or programming capable of serving interfaces such as web pages to client devices  12 ,  14 , and  16 . Such web pages may include web pages that when displayed by a network device allows a user to provide or otherwise select settings related to the operation of router  10 . 
     Router  10  can optionally include a connector  34 . Connector  34  represents generally any combination of hardware and/or programming for sending a signal to data exchangers  20 A,  20 B to establish a data connection with service providers  22 A,  22 B, so that access can be made to internet  26 . For example, where a data exchanger  20 A or  20 B is a cellular telephone, connector  34  may send a signal causing the cellular telephone to establish a data link with service provider  22 A or  22 B. In an embodiment, the router  10  does not include a connector  34 . In an embodiment, the hardware and/or programming for establishing a data connection with a service provider is included in, for example, a cellular modem that is employed as the data exchanger  20 , which may be incorporated into router  10 , as described above. 
     The router can optionally include a limiter  40 . Limiter  40  represents generally any combination of hardware and/or programming capable of distinguishing among the users of devices such as client devices  12 ,  14 , and  16 , and applying different internet access rules for different users. For example, certain internet access rules may apply to the owner of router  10 . In this context, the term owner refers to an individual or entity that is a subscriber with respect to a service provider such as service provider  22  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The owner typically has physical possession or otherwise has control of router  10 . Other internet access rules can apply to users authorized by the owner. Yet other internet access rules apply to anonymous users. Where network interface  30  provides for a wireless connection with client devices, a user of a particular client device might not be known by the owner. As such, internet access rules for such users may be quite limiting. The limiter  40  and operation thereof are discussed in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/673,956, filed Feb. 12, 2007, in the name of Pat Sewall, et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     In an embodiment, router  10  may include a battery  170  or other form of self contained source of power to provide electrical power for the router  10  to function. 
     In an embodiment, one or more of the functions shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  may not be included. For example, router  10  can include a local network interface  30 , a data exchanger interface  32 , a connector  34 , routing services  36 , a web server  38  and a data exchanger  20 , but not a limiter  40 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , and described above, router  10  may not have an embedded or enclosed data exchanger  20 , but instead may employ an external data exchanger  20  that is connected to the router through a device link  28 . Device link  28  may be any suitable link, such as a cable, or a direct physical connection between the data exchanger  20  and the router  10 , or a form of wireless communication. 
     In an embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 7 , cradle  174  may provide functions in addition to those already described above. As mentioned above, the router  10  and cradle  174  can be configured so that when router  10  is placed into the cradle  174 , a connection is made between the cradle  174  and the router  10 , thereby connecting the router  10  to the alternate data exchanger  20 B. In addition to the connection between the router  10  and the alternate data exchanger  20 B, there may also be a connection to a power source  178 , which provides power to operate the router  10  and/or to recharge the battery  170  located in the router  10 . The cradle  174  may also be outfitted with a local link antenna  180  and a remote link antenna  182 . These antennas  180 ,  182  may substitute for, or work in concert with, antennas embedded in the router  10 , or in the device link  28  attached to or embedded in the router  10 , in order to increase the signal strength of the local link  18  and the remote link  24 . In an embodiment, the benefits, such as increased signal strength, connection to a power source, and/or connection to an alternate data exchanger can occur simply by placing the router  10  in the cradle  174 . The client devices may be unaware of any change, and no change in configuration of the client devices is generally performed. 
     In yet another alternative configuration, the cradle  174  may contain one or more of the features shown in  FIG. 7  in any combination. For example, the cradle  174  may comprise all of the features shown in  FIG. 7 , with the exception that cradle  174  does not contain data exchanger  20 B or employ the associated remote link  24 B. In this situation, the cradle  174  provides no alternative connection to the internet  26 . However, when the router  10  is docked in the cradle  174 , the battery  170  is recharged, the router  10  can operate indefinitely from line power, and the signal strength of the local link  18  or the remote link  24 A, or both, is improved through the use of the local link antenna  180  and the remote link antenna  182  embedded or otherwise attached to the cradle  174 . In yet another embodiment, the cradle comprises the power source and antennas  180  and  182 , but instead of comprising an embedded data exchanger, the cradle provides a wireless or wired connection to a nearby home router (not shown) and/or data exchanger. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , cradle  174  or wireless gateway  176  may optionally comprise a wired or wireless router  10 B. This embodiment allows cradle  174  or wireless gateway  176  to perform typical wireless router functions for other client devices, whether or not the router  10  is connected to the cradle  174  or wireless gateway  176 . Router  10 B is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  as being separate from data exchanger  20 B in the cradle  174  and wireless gateway  176 . In an alternate embodiment, router  10 B can be embedded together with data exchanger  20 B in cradle  174  or wireless gateway  176 . One of ordinary skill in the art would readily be able to embed a router  10 B in a cradle or wireless gateway. 
     The schematic diagrams of the figures illustrate exemplary environments in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. Implementation, however, is not limited to these environments. The diagrams of the figures show the architecture, functionality, and operation of various embodiments of the present disclosure. A number of the blocks are defined as programs. Each of those blocks may represent in whole or in part a module, segment, or portion of code that comprises one or more executable instructions to implement the specified logical function(s). Each block may represent a circuit or a number of interconnected circuits to implement the specified logical function(s). 
     Also, the present disclosure can be embodied in any computer-readable media for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system such as a computer/processor based system or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or other system that can fetch or obtain the logic from computer-readable media and execute the instructions contained therein. “Computer-readable media” can be any media that can contain, store, or maintain programs and data for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system. Computer readable media can comprise any one of many physical media such as, for example, electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or semiconductor media. More specific examples of suitable computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, a portable magnetic computer diskette such as floppy diskettes or hard drives, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory, or a portable compact disc.