Patent ID: 8446830

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a first interface module configured to interface with one or more user devices through a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection, the first interface module comprising an access point (AP) function configured to allow the one or more user devices to connect to the apparatus, and a client function configured to allow the apparatus to communicate with carrier hotspots; a second interface module configured to interface with a wireless communication network through a wireless wide area network (WWAN) connection; and a controller configured to: detect availability of carrier hotspots; if no carrier hotspot is detected, route traffic to and from the one or more user devices through the WWAN connection; and if a carrier hotspot is detected, route traffic to and from the one or more user devices through the detected carrier hotspot, the apparatus functioning as a mobile and dynamic WLAN access point for the user devices and a mobile and dynamic WLAN client for the detected carrier hotspot.