Patent ID: 8831617

Claim:
A system traffic controller for integrating a number of disparate wireless communications networks into a multi-tiered communication system for providing multiple communication services through wireless links to a plurality of portable multi-mode access devices, said portable multi-mode access devices capable of operating at different levels of broadcast power using corresponding different communication protocols and corresponding different radio spectrum dependent on the type of wireless communication network being accessed, said multi-tiered communication system including at least a first tier network formed from a plurality of first gateways for establishing wireless links with at least one of said portable multi-mode access devices using a corresponding first communication protocol, broadcast power level and radio spectrum, and a second tier network formed from a plurality of second gateways for establishing wireless links with at least one of said multi-mode access devices using a corresponding second communication protocol, broadcast power level and radio spectrum, the first broadcast power level being less than the second broadcast power level, said controller comprising: a. a controller connector capable of providing a broadband pathway between each of said first and second tier networks and communication service providers corresponding thereto to supply communication services to said plurality of portable multi-mode access devices; and b. a cross-platform controller capable of receiving and monitoring information relating to an aggregate level of demand for wireless services within each said tier network and for controlling aggregate demand by: directing a new request for access to the one of said first or second tier networks having the capacity for providing the wireless service being requested by said request and allowing a wireless link to be established with a gateway in the network using the corresponding communication protocol, broadcast power level and radio spectrum appropriate for the gateway, or transitioning one or more existing communication links within one of said first or second tier networks to another one of said first or second tier networks by causing one or more portable multi-mode devices to transfer their wireless links from corresponding gateways in said one network to corresponding gateways in said another one tier network using the corresponding communication protocol, broadcast power level and radio spectrum for the gateways in said another one tier network.