Patent ID: 7853261

Claim:
A multiple communication channel router comprising: a first device communications channel configured to send and receive communications from a wireless communications device, wherein said wireless communications device is configured to communicate with a wireless communications network using a wireless communications protocol; a second device communications channel configured to send and receive communications from a second communications device, wherein said second communications device is configured to communicate with a second communications network using a second communications protocol, said second communications protocol being different from said first communications protocol; a first network communications channel configured to send and receive communications from said wireless communications network via said wireless communications device; a second network communications channel configured to send and receive communications from said second communications network; logic for selecting from among said network communications channels upon receiving communications from said second communications device, wherein any of said network communications channels may be selected for said communications from said second communications device, said logic configured to: determine that said wireless communications device is in communication with said first device communications channel, retrieve a number of available minutes associated with said wireless communications device from said wireless communications network, determine that a destination of said communications from said second communications device is an in-network destination, determine a first cost for said first network communications channel based on said number of available minutes and the in-network destination, determine a second cost for said second network communications channel, and select said first network communications channel based on a comparison of said first cost and said second cost.